<p>I took the SAT back in December and obtained an 1860: 640 CR, 600 M, 620 W. As the score indicates, I’m terrible at the types of questions the math component of the SAT assesses. In contrast, I’ve always been good at math, consistently scoring higher than the majority of my classmates on tests and quizzes. My main downfall comes with the logic; high school math makes one follow basic and repetitive algorithms, whereas SAT math requires for me what is demanding logic and thought.</p>
<p>On an HS test (right now, I’m in precalc as a junior), I’ll typically study the night before and ace it the next day. My first time taking the SAT, I practiced PSAT questions the night before. Even then, I found myself either guessing or skipping on many math questions on the real SAT. The logic just doesn’t seem to come to me; when the solution is presented to me, I have an “Oh why the hell didn’t I think of that” moment. Sometimes it’s an “how the hell would I have ever thought of that” moment.</p>
<p>All this said, I would really, really like to improve my score. I have purchased the CB Blue Book and study out of it as much as I can. Is it realistic for me to aim for a math score in the 700s? How the hell can I prepare effectively?</p>
<p>This is irrelevant to the SAT Preparation board, but I also am aiming to do well on the Math II Subject Test. Looking out of the PR study book, some of the questions also seem to involve just logic, mainly the geometry-based questions. Does the Math II test base itself more on the algorithmic math we learn in school, or is it also a test of logic?</p>