<p>I need to remind you that the methods work differently for everyone. If you are happy with your techniques and you don’t want to change them, then don’t. Perhaps my method may not help you as much as it helped me. However, I can tell you that the best prep method everyone should use is Xiggis. You can find it here at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com…ead.php?t=68210%5B/url%5D”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com…ead.php?t=68210</a>. </p>
<p>If you are too lazy or don’t want to go to that link, here is the summary of his method: Keep taking practice tests. After you finish each test, review the answers and the explanations carefully for each problem, even the ones you got right. This is very important as you want to make sure you know why you got each problem right so you can start to recognize patterns and similar questions. The best book to take practice tests from is Collegeboards blue book. It’s very accurate. If you already marked every single tests in that book, go to Collegeboard’s website and take more practice tests. Practice, practice, practice. It really helps. Believe me.</p>
<p>I will write tips below. If you are curious, my scores increased 300 points from my first SAT and 660 points from PSAT.</p>
<p>PS: Sorry for grammatical mistakes: my brain is fried from studying for the exams. I just rushed and didn’t have enough time to correct them. Please bear with them. Thanks. :p</p>
<p>Know the typical errors: pronoun errors, singular-plural errors, idiom errors, comparison errors, and parallel structure errors. They are used over and over; for example, on every (or almost every) tests, you see “one” (a person) and “you” in the same sentence. Because it’s an error, you immediately know it’s wrong. Just know the typical errors, and of course, take practice tests.</p>
<p>I cannot tell you how to write your essay; however, I can tell you that the readers give high scores on very persuasive and organized essays. Here are some tips that gave me really high scores on SAT essays: State a short, concise thesis that answers the question. Avoid personal statements such as “I think”, “I believe”, and “It seems to me.” Use adequate and specific examples, especially through literature and history. Try to sprinkle in some SAT words on introduction and conclusion because the readers pay a lot of their attention on those paragraphs. Also, the more you write, the higher the score will be- as long as what you write is relevant. Oh yeah, one more thing: legible handwriting!</p>
<p>You should have the knowledge to do well on it because SAT math is taught in middle school and the beginning of high school (up to Algebra 2). SAT s not testing you on calculus or proofs but on your reasoning ability. Remember easy questions have easy answers and hard, tricky questions have difficult or unexpected answers. If you still have hard time on that section, take practice tests and find patterns and similar questions. I remember I recognized many similar questions on SAT from Blue Book.</p>
<p>Reading section is the hardest part to give tips on. For sentence completions, remember that easy questions have easy answers and hard questions are tricky and thus difficult or unexpected answers. Of course you will encounter into unfamiliar words. If you are stuck on the words you dont know, use negative and positive feeling; don’t eliminate them! Also, just the process of elimination.</p>
<p>I cant give you tips on reading passages because everyone does it so differently. Grammertix tells you to go directly to the questions, then find the answers in the lines, and then use your answers to create a main picture. Rocketreview tells you to skim (but carefully) the passages and then answer the questions. It works differently for everyone. But, the best way to improve your reading score is to take practice tests (I know, I know, you must be tired of hearing it-but it’s true) from the Blue Book and recognize the patterns. For example, ETS tends to give positive remarks about minority or women.</p>
<p>The best time to take your SAT is when you are prepared for it. It’s wise to start your active preparation for the SAT a few months-maybe 2-4 months- before you take the test.</p>
<p>Use the Question and Answer Service as well as your PSAT. When you go over them, understand why you made mistakes, why right answers are correct, etc. This should help you prevent from repeating mistakes you made.</p>
<p>Be confident when you take the test. At the same time, don’t be overconfident-you might make silly mistakes.</p>
<p>Remember, easy questions have easy, obvious answers; hard questions have hard, unexpected answers (that’s why hard questions are hard)</p>
<p>Finally get a good night’s sleep!</p>
<p>Good luck! Feel free to ask me any questions you have.</p>
<p>I kinda regretted I posted this. I mean, this is a stupid thread. I don’t know why I posted it in the first place- I was so bored and exhausted.</p>