motivated person needs serious help!

DrSteve
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:35:06 +0000

This is not an impossible task. I can only make recommendations for the math since that is my area of expertise. Since you didn’t give the breakdown of your scores, I’ll assume your math score is roughly a 540. So you want to increase your math score roughly 140 points. So we’re looking at a 680.

Here are some suggestions:

(1) Make sure you know as many SAT specific strategies as possible. There are many sources where these exist. I personally just released a book “The 32 most effective math strategies.” It’s available on amazon pretty cheap in paperback. If you want a downloadable version for free you can pm me (mods, if it’s not ok for me to mention my book just let me know and I’ll remove this part of the post. I am however offering it for free to anyone who contacts me on this site).

(2) I usually suggest practicing SAT math problems for 10-20 minutes each night before bed. This (in conjunction with learning the proper strategies) would certainly boost your score 70-100 points. Since your trying for a bit more I would suggest adding an additional shift of 20 minutes 3 times per week. For example, do SAT math problems for 20 minutes at lunchtime, and 20 minutes before bed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On the others days, just 20 minutes before bed.

Note that two 20 minute shifts is much more effective than a single 40 minute shift. Your mind retains more when study sessions are kept short.

(3) Make sure you do 4 full length practice tests before the SAT, one about every other week. Keep in mind that actual SATs and practice SATs are missing the experimental section therefore making it seem like the test is a little shorter than it actually is. I recommend that you add an extra section to each practice test you take so you can simulate the actual length of the test. Add either a math section or critical reading section - whichever is weakest. Doing this properly will ensure that you are prepared for the amount of endurance you will need for the test.

Ideally your practice tests should be actual SATs (with an experimental section added in). If you don’t have access to these use the tests in the college board book.

Four practice tests is plenty to make sure that you are taking the test in the best way possible. The rest of your time is better spent practicing applying SAT specific strategies to individual problems. Based on my guess for your score you should be practicing problems of Levels 1 through 4, with your primary focus on Level 3 and 4 problems. Make sure you periodically retry problems you get wrong until you can get them right on your own.