Hello Guys,
I was wondering what I should potentially do regarding running out of practice tests to test my score? I need help with this and I need to improve my score. Besides Khan Academy, what can help me achieve my score?
Link cannot be found @nw2this
Check Prep scholar.
You can purchase study guides from Kaplan, Princeton review, etc… They will have their own practice tests which are designed to be similar to the real SAT. Make sure you are buying the most recent guidebooks.
First of all, I really mean no offense for what’s coming. Based on a lot of research though, I think the advice in quotes below from post #4 is among the worst pieces of advice possible:
I would strongly recommend using only tests written by the test giver (either College Board or ACT). The real tests are standardized - so they have certain patterns that can be deciphered from practice with them. This topic has been covered extensively by others who have addressed the topic in great detail; I think there’s a consensus that 3rd party tests are unhelpful and possibly counterproductive.
It’s extremely difficult right now, because the Old SAT tests are too different from the new ones to be useful. There is a dearth of material right now. This person has used all the tests CB has produced. So, no offense taken @CHD2013 , but given that the poster wants more material to practice with, what do you suggest?
BTW, I am a test prep tutor, and I do not think these new outside company materials are totally authentic, but until new, more realistic versions are produced, or unitl CB puts out new practice tests, choices are extremely limited. I do not recommend using the old tests, except for the Writing and Language section. I think the new stuff SAT has put out is more difficult than the old tests.
I tell people to get the most current version of any prep material they use. I agree 100% that everyone must use the official materials. But there are not many good choices at the moment once the official CB stuff has been completed.
^Thanks for constructively engaging. My suggestion is to take the ACT if one plans to study by taking and reviewing tests (and I think that is clearly the most effective method).
Ok, @CHD2013 , but that is not an option for everyone. I have students right now who are terrified of the science section ot the ACT. I don’t blame them. They do not want to take the ACT. The SAT is more generous with time. I am not sure how widely the ACT is offered abroad, but my understanding is that the SAT is much more common. Perhaps @drusba has some insight on this issue.
^I understand that you’re discussing the SAT and that is the question from the OP. My advice though is to switch tests - there’s just not enough good material available for the SAT.
To answer the original question - there’s really not much you can do. I’d suggest just learning all the CB materials on a more in-depth basis, rather than using 3rd party tests.
The ACT is as broadly accepted, with perhaps some small exceptions somewhere. Prepping for either test, can help with either test. Yes, familiarize with specifics, but my son had a private tutor for the SAT since he preferred it and initially did better on it. When he didn’t meet his goal on the SAT, he quickly took the next ACT and his score went up significantly from simply practice and study.
I understand OP, and I have given you my advice.
And to CHD2013 I maintain that it isn’t practical, or necessarily desriable for everyone to take the ACT. There are absolutely valid reasons for taking the SAT, even if there is a deficit of good study materials.
Kaplan is actually helpful and Barrons. I bought their books and I use them to prep now @Lindagaf. The third party materials are very helpful. College board offers close to nothing for people to prep with. Therefore, you cannot really say that Third party materials aren’t useful, when in actuality, they are very useful
And to anyone reading this, yet another reason for doing the SAT: NMSQT. ACT has no equivalent. I do believe the SAT is more difficult now than it was before, and there are not enough study materials, but the student who chooses it and does well can reap the rewards due to National Merit Scholarships.
@Lindagaf Finally, someone who thinks the new sat is harder than the old! I’ve been reading on a lot of places that everyone thinks the new SAT is easier than the old…which made me feel rather upset when I was finding it much more difficult than the prior test…
but in any case, OP, did you also do that sample reading portions they have online on CB (the one that isn’t in a pdf)…it’s still part of a test even if it isn’t a full section…
If you’ve finished all other tests, then the best bet is to prep with outside books- Princeton Review and Barrons since they are known to be tougher at least. So you can ensure that you have been pushed to do well and handle difficult material. I think for reading passages, they are both fine. I’m not so sure on math as I cannot remember. Pick up some copies of the book at a library or go to a Barnes n Noble and study there. CrackSat has some stuff too, I think.
@Lindagaf
Why do you say it is harder? The College Board it self says it is easier. At least that’s what their concordance tables implies and a lot of people believe them.
My D prepared for both SAT and ACT and experienced diminishing returns by the fourth full official practice tests. YMMV, but I would think that six official tests plus the interactive drills from Khan Academy would be sufficient.
@am9799 I haven’t seen the college board say it is easier. Maybe they have. However, there is speculation that they have artificially inflated scores to attract students. Yes, they have simplified some things. I won’t detail everything, but off the top of my head, I certainly believe the reading section has done away with relatively easy vocab questions in favor of more complex comprehension questions. These are more difficult and nuanced and require very close reading. In fact, just today I was doing a practice test and there was a question that hinged on a single, innocuous, easy to miss word that appeared only once in a passage. If your attention drifts for a second, you could find yourself reading an entire passage again just to find a particular word. Sentence completions, which were relatively easy, are gone.
Writing and language is more difficult, but not terribly so. The passages are longer than previously, and require a lot of thought. I tell students to read them as though they are editing them for the reading section.
The math section is more difficult and relies too much on reading. I am not an expert on the math section, because I only teach verbal sections. The article i linked delves into math more deeply. It notes that a significant number of students aren’t even able to finish the math section on time.
On the plus side, the addition of graphics to all sections has made it easier to answer some questions. Overall though, my opinion is that the new SAT is more difficult than the old one.
Finally, if anyone doubts me, read this article by Reuters. Pretty condemnatory. http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/college-sat-redesign/
Here is what I advise:
Take the 7th practice test. You said there are only 6. There are actually 7. 
Speaking of which, this was my own experience:
My teacher lent me a book by Princeton Review for 500+ Questions for the New SAT.
It’s vaguer than the actual SAT, and the questions don’t feel 100% right. Still, the answer explanations are better and it’s better than nothing.
Non-College Board books may have better answer explanations, but they will not represent the SAT 100%.