@greeneggsandsam9 I’m pretty much doing the same strategy as you, except if I don’t do well on the old SAT I’ll try the new SAT or the ACT. So I’m gonna prepare over summer.
@dsi411 what was your PSAT score? Mine was bad 162 
but I didn’t study at all. I was hoping for a 2100+ on the real thing with intensive studying
@greeneggsandsam9 I’m hoping to take the old SAT and do well enough that I won’t feel like I need to take the new SAT at all. I’m not sure if I want to take the ACT or not.
By the way, I think my PSAT was 191 or 192. I also went in with no prep, other than taking the PSAT last year.
I had no prep and earned a 177. Meh, I think it’s indicative of where I’m at.
@greeneggsandsam9 I’m taking the old SAT and my test is literally in two weeks: March 14th. I’ve been prepping hard-core everyday for three months now, and so far, my projectile range is 2300-2350. I’m trying to make it get even higher!!! Literally, it’s about taking a bunch of practice tests. I used the Kaplan Math Workbook to learn the techniques for math.
It’s so weird though because my PSAT was a 191… and my SAT is coming out a lot better. I think it’s because I’m taking this SAT a lot seriously. I want to get such a high score that I won’t need the new SAT and I want to be able to use this SAT for my colleges.
@SallyStephens Wow good luck! Which books did you use to study? Did you use the Official Study Guide or not?
@Faultystart I wasn’t planning on taking the ACT either. My school doesn’t emphasize the ACT and mainly focuses on the SAT so I was going to take what everyone else at my school is taking for studying and stuff.
@greeneggsandsam9 Yeah I did use the official study guide for 2015! It’s HIGHLY useful for the practice tests. The lessons aren’t useful-I just the practice questions that come after the lessons for additional help. I also used Kaplan SAT Math Workbook for math centralized study. I also have 6 SAT books from past years in Princeton Review, Barron’s, and the old Study Guide from college-board and they range from as old as 2004. They’re super useful to practice, as well. i ALSO used the Princeton Review SAT Reading/Writing Workbook and it had 100 practice passages for Critical Reading, Vocabulary Lists, and 25 practice essay prompts and score samples to grade myself. There are also online tests that grade it for you just like an official SAT.
I guess you could say I’ve been preparing a lot!!!
@SallyStephens Did you take any prep classes whether in school or with a private tutor? My mom wants me to take a class with a private tutor, but if I can just do it myself it will save me cash.
YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF, trust me. I took two classes with a private tutor and he was $100 an hour and I went to him for two hours total. Like he was considered the best SAT tutor in our state but I was realizing how EVERYTHING he was making me do I could literally do by myself without needing to pay someone $200 to tell me.
Like he spent a whole session explaining what SAT is and what each section means and how much time I get for each section and “how to approach the questions” and his approaches were tactics such as “read the question carefully,” “use process of elimination” “If you can’t figure it out, skip and come back” “Some points is better than no points”
And then the next session he would assign me a test to do and when I come back he looks at what I missed and he would just tell me how to do it and then that’s thirty minutes, so the next thirty minutes was him once again showing me how to use process of elimination and I guess he ran out of things to say so he began to tell me that I should take as many tests as I can and when I’m reading the critical reading passages, I can skim them if I’m running out of time.
Are you freaking kidding me.
I’m sitting there thinking, “I’m pretty sure I read all your tactics in the Princeton Review book”… Like wow. He was reciting the book, all these cliche tips that every person knows. If I’m coming for help I’m looking for new information that will help me score a perfect 2400. It was just a waste of $200 and Idk what people considered him the number one tutor or whatever because I seriously am realizing now that studying by myself was 200% more productive than with him. Heck, we didn’t even study! I can literally take a practice test, score it, and look up the explanation myself.
In my opinion, the whole tutor thing seemed more like a babysitter. You can do everything by yourself and MORE.
Trust me… the best study partner for SAT is yourself. Don’t waste money! Take it from my experience… and this dude was considered the best and he got a perfect score on the SAT himself but I guess he either was holding back or that was all he really knew. Idk… just that’s my word of advice to you!!
My parents are trying to get me to go to SAT classes, which is why I’m not taking it anytime soon. I’m pretty sure I can do it on my own, but… I consistently score in the 2200s on SAT practice tests with my only prep being, well, practice tests (I should probably actually read my prep books, but…). I got a 216 on my PSAT with no prep, I’m pretty sure I can score 2300+ on my SAT with. My parents don’t understand that you’re no more likely to get a 2400 with prep than without.
…I wasn’t allowed to take the PSAT at my school…
@greeneggsandsam9 I got a 217 with a PSAT prep book. I’m just going to use some prep books to prepare for the real SAT, I don’t think my parents would like to pay for a class. But I don’t think I really need it. I’m not even aiming that high with colleges so it doesn’t have to be that high.
Okay everybody, ready for a shocker? Here is a taste of my world:
I am in Honors Bio this year
Next year I will take Chemistry
My school only has Standard Chemistry, and AP Chemistry (standard being the one filled with kids who are only taking it cause its a graduation requirement)
Yesterday I had to go apply to override my Honors Bio teachers recommendation for standard Chemistry (he only recommended 2 people out of my 25 student class.
I have straight As in his class, the class average is a B.
I have straight A+s in math, something they look at when you apply to AP Chem
I am currently taking 1 AP class this year, (and I’m doing well in it)
To override so that I can take AP Chem next year I have to get my
-Guidance Counselor’s signature
-My current teacher’s (the one who recommended 2 people) signature
-My teacher’s BOSSES’ signature
-My parent’s signature
I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SIGNATURE, HOWEVER…
…They are refusing to let me (a straight A student) take more than 2 APs as a JUNIOR.
That’s right, just 2 APs is considered too much.
I repeat, they think I won’t be able to handle more than 2 APs as a junior…
Literally no motivation from anyone in this situation…
BTW I got recommended for the other 2 AP courses. I currently take 7 classes, (1 AP, 4 Honors, 2 Standard)
This is the most annoying thing!! Let me challenge myself!
Is anyone else in a similar situation??
Your school thinks 2 AP’s is too much? They would have a heart attack on the spot if they saw my schedule… oops
I think that’s UNFAIR. I’m not in a similar situation but that’s not fair. You yourself can determine your own capabilities, not someone else lol. And yes you’re right, they must let you challenge yourself.
@Spiral7 Wow, that sucks. At my school, to override a teacher’s recommendation all you need is your parent’s signature and that’s it. And you are free to take as many AP/IB classes you want junior/senior year. Good luck in choosing your classes!
@SallyStephens I’m trying to override them. I want to take:
Junior:
APUSH
AP Lang
AP Chem
with the addition of:
H 3 Chinese
Precalc
H 5 Spanish
Ceramics (need the credit)
Senior:
AP Lit
AP Spanish
AP Chinese
AP Stat (or AP Calc, idk yet)
AP Psych
AP Econ
and possibly
AP Computer Science
but this ^^^ would give my school a heart attack even thought I’m sure I can handle the work load…
WELCOME TO THE 7 AP CLUB. (I’m doing 7 AP’s next year for Junior) @Spiral7
I say we can handle the workload :)))
Are you vying for a high class rank?
@SallyStephens my school doesn’t do class rank :(( :((
I have a high GPA for my school and grade level.
Lo and Behold: The Class System of my Grade:::::
There are about 480 kids in my grade.
The Burnouts: 80ish of them, who don’t give a sh!t, smoke anything they can get their hands on (yes there are at least 80/480 of them)
The Clueless, Confused, and Lost: 200ish of them, they are not the brightest/party people
A/B Students: 100ish of them, they are slackers, have ability but don’t use it to the full extent. The Athletes
Try Hards: 97ish of them, they are bright, take APs as sophomores. Most are in band/orchestra, (I am in this category, although I’m not in the music program)
Class Stars: 3 kids, they are taking multiple APs as sophomores and are in all junior classes BUT have no ECs besides being in orchestra.
I’m working up to Class Stars. My ECs are:
Yearbook Co-Captain (10,11,12)
Model UN (10,11,12)
ESL Tutor (9,10,11,12)
Link Crew (11,12)
Volleyball (9,10)
Volleyball Manager for Girls Team (11,12)
Volleyball Manager for Boys Team (10,11,12)
National Honors Society for Chinese, and Spanish, Hopefully National Honors Society in general.