I got a 710 in the English and 720 in the math section.
Weakness (610-670 range):
Algebra (especially these word problems, I think it is not the desmos skill issue here)
Information and ideas
Expression of ideas
How I prepared:
erica mietzler grammar and reading books, collegepanda math book, khan academy.
And a little bits here and there of other books.
Please recommend resources.
College board has copies of released prior tests that you can print out and take on paper. I know they have moved to online adaptive tests (they have samples of those too) but printing out and taking the printed test in a timed fashion helped lots of people before the move to online tests.
Only use official tests from college board or Khan. Other sources are often too easy or too difficult.
Make sure to take the tests timed. If you run out of time, mark where you stopped and then keep going until you finish. You need to know if it’s a matter of knowledge or mastery/time management. If you don’t have enough time to take a full test at one sitting, take timed sections.
This advice is all several years old, from when my kids took the tests. That was before the move to online tests, so I realize that some/all of this advice may no longer be relevant.
You might also want to try the ACT, which is equally acceptable to US colleges and which some students prefer. Note that the science section in the ACT isn’t really science—it’s data analysis and once you do a few of them you will start to recognized the graphs and patterns that they present.
Good luck!
These are exactly resources my kids used. They are the best. After that is practice, practice, practice old tests. Also if you miss something on practice test find similar problems somewhere and make sure you master that missed concept.
Also the SAT lets you bring a calculator if it meets their requirements and I think they also provide an online one. This can be helpful. Make sure you practice with either your own (approved) calculator or the online one which they provide a lot before you take the test. You want to know how to use all its functions that are relevant well before test day. I believe they provide a test calculator to practice on at home.