Any Tips for Improving test-taking skills?

twentyfourhundo
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:47:46 +0000

I took the SAT on January 28th, so I just got my scores back, and I received a 1950 (630 CR 670M 660 W)… Pretty disappointing. I took 4 practice tests, and 1950 was my lowest (and first score), after that, I improved every time, and my highest score was a 2080. Every practice test I took was a previously administered CB test, so the scores should have been legitimate. yet, I still did horrible. I took a practice test earlier today, and I scored (it was test 5 in the blue book, so i only got a range) a 1980-2250.

On test day, I didn’t feel any anxiety; I was completely confident in my abilities and preparation, and I felt as though I did pretty good after taking the test. This happens to me all of the time in school, mostly on math tests. In fact the last math test I took was fairly simple, I understood everything fine and I had the material pretty well mastered. Even after taking that test, I was thinking about 98%, but when I got the results, it was an 85% because of a bunch of stupid errors.

So, this leads me to my question: do you have any tips for test taking during the test? I eat a healthy breakfast, sleep enough, and that kinda stuff, so I guess maybe i’m just asking for a magic formula for the actual test here. Anyways, if you have any tips, they would be greatly appreciated.

Also, just in a vacuum, is 1950 good enough for Berkeley or university of minnesota-Twin Cities Econ&business double major?