Hi guys, I need some advice!
So I’m a freshman and I took the PSAT and got 214. I want to qualify for NSMQT and my state’s cutoff is around 220 so any tips to be a strong candidate from those that did qualify? I’m currently studying for the SAT and my weak point seems to be vocab (reading section) and grammar (writing section)- where are some places I can study for improvement in these areas? Also, I took a practice ACT at home and I’m a total STEM geek and I was surprised to find that I had to rush on the science part…any tips for bettering science scores and test-taking? I felt like I spent too much time reading instead of answering questions. I’m asking about all these tests this year because I need to take them next year to potentially qualify for a college program for high schoolers. Any resources/tips are most welcome!
Go through the vocab in the SAT practice book and make flashcards for the ones you don’t understand. I personally used quizlet.
For grammar I read through the Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar. There’s other advice on here if you wish to look for it but keeping it short and simple, these are what worked for me.
I didn’t take the ACT, so I wouldn’t know.
I’ll add some for ACT - the science section is not really science understanding/what you learned in biology, it’s scientific reading. I found that reading research papers helped, but I wouldn’t do that just to study.
IMO: practice tests practice tests practice tests. There are lots online, and taking them (timing yourself, of course) and then checking the answers and actually going over questions you’ve missed tends to help a lot for all sections.
Good luck, and remember to stay classy
By IMO you mean international math Olympiad right? Thanks for the help!
@horseshoe99 Remember that the SAT is changing for you. The test you will take hasn’t been released yet and it may test different concepts. If you don’t want to take the new test, get your SAT in before spring 2016.
Back to score raising: Grammar tests 15 rules. Be sure to memorize those in order to do well on the SAT!
Wait never mind, that was dumb, didn’t know what IMO stood for…
I’m a freshman too & I took the SAT back in 7th grade (& scored at the state level) as part of the Duke TIP program.
Try to READ as much as you can in your spare time; especially higher level newspapers like the Wall Street Journal & the Washington Post. (the later is free online) Also get a “word of the day” app if you have a smartphone; it takes maybe 1-2 minutes & you may see those words later on the test (I know I did!) One trick that worked really well for me was putting a list of vocab words on my mirror & than looking at them while I brushed my teeth, dried my hair, etc. It sounds simple but it really worked for me. Good luck!
Remember that the PSAT is changing this year…