<p>Hey guys,
So I got a 1710 in my Jan SAT. I am an international student and so, my lowest part is CR; highest–Math. I have a plan on taking 70 practice tests with reviewing wrong answers. By now, I had finished 12/70. Honestly, I didn’t make all 10(actually 9.exp.) sections is one sit. I was making like 3-4 sections per day (ALL timed). And after those 12 practice tests, McGraw-Hill’s ones, I truly understood it’s method of making questions. Roughly, I have broken my 1700 and gotten into (M)high 600’s (W)high 600’s (R)mid- 500’s. Again, I can’t say precisely my current score because I haven’t done a practice test in one sitting yet. Now I decided a “BIG GAME” plan. So for (M) I am studing Calculus AP topics, for (W) trying to write 4 page essays in 15 minutes, for (R) reading dozens of books (National Georaphic, etc). And in the same time, I will make practice tests. I can’t remember exactly but I was getting about 40 Raw in CR. I basically skip all sentence-completion questions and move on to the passage-based ones–i find them much easier. Long story short, I decided to handle SAT by doing extra-hard questions so when I get a SAT question I can easily get it right. </p>
<p>What do you guys, think about this all? And what are my chances with this prep?
Thanks!</p>
<p>The same goes for your writing prep. Writing a 4 page essay in 15 minutes might teach you to write quickly, but it doesn’t necessarily prepare you for the SAT essay. </p>
<p>And why do you skip the sentence completions??? I understand that if English isn’t your first language you’ll have a harder time with the vocab, but really - drilling vocab is a pretty easy way to bump your score.</p>
<p>I agree that SAT I doesn’t test AP Calculus topics; however, I think that if you have a solid general calculus knowledge it would be much easier to do SAT I math. If you can run 5 miles track then you can run 2 miles track too, can’t you?<br>
The sentence completion questions require about 400 “H” words; and frankly, I am not encouraged to do that. Instead, I better focus on passage based ones. Of course, I can do first S.C questions–they are easy–but they do require a lot of time so I decided to omit them.
Guys, what score should I estimate by May if I will do70 practice tests by that time?</p>
<p>If you can run 5 miles, then you can run 2 miles. That’s almost a tautology.</p>
<p>However: people who WIN at running 5 miles do not necessarily win at running 2 miles. Consider the 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and the men who won various races:</p>
<p>10000m: Galen Rupp
5000m: Bernard Lagat (Galen was not in the top 8)
1500m: Lopez Lomog (Galen and Bernard were not in the top 8)
800m: Nick Symmonds (Galen, Bernard and Lopez were not even in the top 8)
400m: Greg Nixon (Galen, Bernard, Lopez, and Nick were not in the top 8)
200m: Wallace Spearmon (Galen, Bernard, Lopez, Nick and Greg were not in the top 8)
100m: Walter Dix (you get the picture. . . although Wallace did come in 4th)</p>
<p>Preparation for something longer or harder does not necessarily entail that you are prepared for something that is different.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t necessarily even call calculus and basic algebra the same sport. The SAT tests basic algebra, lets call that lawn bowling, and calculus is more like running a 5k. Someone who kills at the 5k is probably fit and thus has the potential to be good at lawn bowling, but won’t be a champion unless he practices lawn bowling specifically. With the SAT, practicing calculus certainly wouldn’t hurt, but it would take away from your time of practicing what’s actually on the test, algebra and geometry.</p>
<p>Yes, both of you are absolutely right. However, I have SAT II’s Math+other sciences. And that’s why I began studying Calculus. Generally, I am strong at math–700’s; and nothing is hard to me in my PR Math II/I book. But guys, lets ackowledge the fact that “math skills” are the same no matter whether it is sat i, sat ii, or even physics. For example, Plug-IN rules are always the same: in derivatives and in sat i questions. Moreover, as I claimed above, I have already done 12/70 practice tests and I will finish my list–70/70 by May.
What are my chances? Will I get into 2000’s by that time considering the work I am going to do?</p>
<p>70 practice tests is a little insane. Do you people ever play video games?? lol ill take a 1900-2000 any day over studying and killing myself for that 2300 only to go to college, graduate, not find a job anyways, and then see how life sucks. Might as well enjoy life now!</p>
<p>But i agree with others, there’s no point to study calc for the SAT. Just do math questions over and over FROM THE SAT and you will get the hang of it</p>
<p>NOOOO!! For crying out loud, listen to everyone on the thread!!!
Studying for calculus will NOT HELP YOU WITH SAT I MATH!!!
SAT I Math is basic algebra and geometry. You can probably do all the problems, you should just be getting used to the patterns. Studying Calculus will not make it any easier, because you are studying a completely different topic in algebra!!!</p>
<p>Doing 70 practice tests wont help you get a better score unless you go over your answers and understand why you got them wrong</p>
<p>“If you skip the sentence completion questions, there is no way you will get a 600 on reading.”</p>
<p>And that’s why I bought National Geographic Knowledge Book and a couple of other ones. As soon as I recieve those books, by reading a lot I will improve my vocabulary. I will mark up every word I don’t know. The barron’s says that the best way to improve vocabulary is reading.</p>
<p>“NOOOO!! For crying out loud, listen to everyone on the thread!!!
Studying for calculus will NOT HELP YOU WITH SAT I MATH!!!
SAT I Math is basic algebra and geometry. You can probably do all the problems, you should just be getting used to the patterns. Studying Calculus will not make it any easier, because you are studying a completely different topic in algebra!!!”</p>
<p>Ok.Ok. Calm down, please. I will think about it. Don’t worry.</p>
<p>Assuming you have finished all real (ETS-based), available, current-format SAT practice tests, you may benefit from doing hard problems on old SATs.</p>