Summer Prep

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Hello, I’m browsing this forum and I seeing all sorts of amazing SAT scores and am forced to look down on myself for not being able to be at the same level. I feel this way because I have been rank 1 in my private high school ever since I stepped in and have take the hardest AP and honors classes that my school had offered. Currently, I am going to become a senior after the summer vacation is over and aside from ap for the vacation, I plan on studying for the sat. My goal is just to reach 2000 for my third try. Here is my break down.</p>

<p>May '11 SAT
Cr:600
M: 580
Wr:570
essay: 9
overall: 1750
This was the first time that I had ever taken the full SAT, I had practiced sections but never actually taken it as a whole.</p>

<p>June '11 SAT
Cr: 570
M: 670
Wr: 540
essay: 8
Overall: 1780
I wish i had more time to study for this test. I was unprepared and the month of May was hectic with all of the AP tests, mandatory service hours, classes, double days, lectures, masses, retreats, and ring day practices.</p>

<p>The week of the June '11 test, I had take 2 full practice tests (previously administered tests found on this site)
March 05 practice test:
Cr:620
M:670
Wr: 680
I gave myself a 8 on the essay because of previous performance
overall: 1970
January 06 practice test:
Cr: 630
M:750
Wr:670
I gave myself an 8 again
overall: 2050</p>

<p>After getting my results today, I was shocked and so disappointed, I couldn’t understand how I could score so high on previously administered tests but utterly fail on the ones that actually matter. I came to the conclusion that I’m inconsistent and I need to fix that by practicing more.</p>

<p>I want to know how to study and learn from the people on this site, please help, I’m desperate. I need a high score on the SAT to balance out my transcript’s only flaw of not having any extracurricular during my freshman year (I was tubby so no team wanted me). </p>

<p>Currently I am reading One flew over the Cuckoo’s nest, the house of god, and mount misery (in this order) to help my critical reading and vocab
I have direct hits SAT vocab volume 1 and 2
Barron’s SAT CR and Math workbooks
6 tests left in my Blue Book
and Cracking the SAT 2011 Princeton Review
I also plan on looking at silverturtle’s SAT guide because it seems to be recommended.</p>

<p>Please give your opinions and advice on how I can work to succeed.
In October '11, I’m aiming for
CR: 650
M: 750
Wr:680
overall: 2080 but anything above 2000 would be fine.</p>

<p>Thank you for taking the time to read this, I look forward to any advice.</p>

2

<p>bump, please</p>

3

<p>I’m no 2400, so I might not be the best advisor, but basically, practice, practice, practice! Try seeing how the 2400’s view the math problems, it helps a lot actually, to see how they think it through. Practice your vocab and using it everyday. Try to learn 2-3 words a day and use them as much as possible. Try to identify your weaknesses and work on them. Good job on the reading. If you have the money, you might want an online sat course or a tutor/camp. Really try writing in as many styles (and as much) as possible-study the perfect scoring essays.
I hope that helps!</p>

4

<p>Thank you very much, I want to know if the tools i picked were the right tools, I’m low on money so I can’t really get a tutor and online course :/</p>

5

<p>As an SAT math tutor I will just give study tips for the math section:</p>

<p>(1) Learn SAT specific math strategies. If you don’t know these, then you are putting yourself at a serious disadvantage. For example, if you find yourself doing algebra or complicated computations, then you are not optimizing your score.
(2) Practice SAT math problems 10 to 20 minutes per night. This will maximize your retention and keep you from burning out.
(3) Redo every problem you get wrong OVER and OVER and OVER again (a few days apart each time) until you can get the question correct ON YOUR OWN.
(4) Practice problems of the appropriate level (in your case you should focus mostly on Level 4 and 5 problems).
(5) Practice tests should be taken just a few times to make sure you are applying all the right strategies under timed conditions, and to make sure you are familiar with the structure of the test. This is NOT the time that you are actively improving your score.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>