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Hey so im taking the SAT 1 this year. i dont know any information about it. can anyone give me some tips/help/info on the sat’s? anything is appreciated!
i also didnt start studying yet, or doing practice tests. does that mean im forsure doomed? im taking it in may… i just have no patience to study even though i know i should be.
I would recommend pushing it off until June so that you will have adequate time to study. I used a Princeton Review book and also took a Princeton Review Course… the course was basically the same exact thing so if you are disciplined enough about the work and teaching it to yourself then I would suggest just buying the book and saving hundreds on the class. They also have a great word list in the back of the book that comes with cardboard flashcards too so you can carry them around and practice easily.
Also buy a College Board book of previous tests to get more used to the real tests closer to the actual exam.
It’s more learning for the test itself than learning a specific topic/skill, so the more you get used to how they ask questions and the kinds of tricks they pull the better off you’ll be.
Hatzlocho!
Princeton Review is good. There is also – believe it or not – a “GRE Test for Dummies” which I used in 2003 when I had to retake the GREs. I presume they also have an “SAT for Dummies” which is equally as good.
There are two parts to taking these tests. One is the subject matter. Schaum’s Outlines has good books for math. I’m not sure about verbal because I didn’t need to do too much for that.
The second, and most important part, is how the questions are set up and scored. This has nothing to do with the content, it’s just what the test-takers want. The Dummies books are good for that, also Princeton and anything else you can find. Yid.Period is right. You can know the subject inside out and still flunk the test, especially the quantitative.
The most important thing is just to take practice tests. As many as possible, from books and especially from the SAT website. Take them, score them, and analyze why your answers were wrong (or right :-). Practice the writing part and try to find someone knowledgeable to look at your papers.
And expect to get stage fright. I assume you’re going to be tested on computer, so do as many computerized versions as you can (e.g. on the SAT website).
I wouldn’t wait until June, though. Do a little bit every week – say one or two practice tests a weekend. Spacing the learning out makes it stick longer – and be less likely to desert you in the critical moment.
Good luck!
As long as there is no scheduling conflict I don’t see why you wouldn’t wait until June (I assume you are applying next year) since even if you need to take it over, schools accept the Nov and Dec tests, and sometimes even the Jan test of next year. And like Midwest said, spacing it out will help it stick so take your time and don’t cram.
And a note about the essays…
They are not looking for the type of essays you do in school so just beware when you have someone look at your papers that they aren’t just looking for good writing but know what SAT graders look for too…
The only real way to study is to take practice tests. Just keep taking them and you will do well. The subject matter is not hard it is just the way the ask the questions and the time limit. (for the record, the SAT is not computerized) The essay is in order to see how good you can write a rough draft in 20(25?) minutes. Pay more attention to the reading and math because most schools don’t really care about the writing as long as you do ok.
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