Boosting SAT scores

[Blkmage]

I;m currently a high school senior and I took the SAT for the first time today. I'm a little disheartened because I know I was capable of doing much better. I made silly mistakes on math, and with a more-than-likely harsh curve, I'll probably end up with a 750 if I'm lucky.

My writing and math sections are typically very strong and only get thrown off due to silly mistakes. CR is where I flop. I get anywhere from 680-750, but I'm certain I can do a lot better.

The CR section is incredibly difficult for me. I can usually get the vocab and easy/medium passages with no problem, but the section with the harder vocab and ridiculous reading passage is where I flop. Sometimes I can narrow the hard ones down to 2/3 choices but more often than not, I THINK I've narrowed it down to two choices when in fact I've eliminated the correct answer as an option.

I've done like EVERY official collegeboard practice test available, including the free official practice ones they release online every year. Are there any other ways I can practice the passage-based reading questions?

[JRav]

You're pissed about a 750? You really need to relax.

As far as critical reading, the best things you can do are to keep doing exams and keep reading in general. Reading will expose you to some vocab that you may not ordinarily see. The more exams you do, the more used you should become to College Board's style of questions, and in particular, how they try to trick you. You should go back and look at the tests you have taken and figure out why you are getting questions wrong. Chances are, they are mistakes that you can improve on, if not fix.

[Lazarus]

[zapi2007]

Contrary to possible opinion, we live in a very different time and age than, I have to say, a few years ago, when it comes to college applications.

Popular belief is that a few GPA tweaks here and few SAT points and a few more APs and some lab work and the list goes on and on...will guarantee entrance into selective schools. The number of schools that people are applying to (of which they have no legit reason to apply) is pretty ridiculous.

Sometimes, getting good at CR is just a matter of maturity, or maybe a different mindset. Imo, it's like ETS and the Collegeboard want to brainwash you, even though they know you can probably perfectly read any article published anywhere(especially with your current score), with exception of seriously technical, specialized articles.

[JRav]

I know people with scores lower than 750 on all 3 sections who gained entrance into top schools, Ivy and non-Ivy. The admissions committees really do know how to look beyond the numbers.

[zapi2007]

Yes.

But for those with obsessive parents who want to squeeze every last ten points out of their child...

[JRav]

They need to stop being helicopter parents. It doesn't help.

[Los]

To do well on CR you need to read in areas that you are not used to reading, and insure that you understand-remember it is easy to do something and not benefit, especially if you do it in a quick, undirected way. At the lowest level you should look up unfamiliar words. The other basic thing is that you should read short pieces and try to summarize each paragraph and eventually the whole article.

Since you are a senior you probably have better things to do with your time. But better late than never.

[JRav]

Los is correct. I'll admit that I did not do as well as I hoped the first time I took it. However, the second time I took it, I got my score up 70 points just by doing practice exams. As I said before, it really does help.

[blahblahblah]

[zapi2007]

well, personal experience.

although i have to admit that statement may not be applicable everywhere, it is definitely at least a trend for those whose parents push them to work really hard.


Some comments:

# of colleges to which applicants are applying are up
the number of APs taken has also risen.


i may be biased though, when it comes to this.

[blahblahblah]

[Gen8]

[Arachnotron]

If it makes you feel any better, I got a 2350 on my SAT and didn't get into any ivies, whereas my friends with 1900-2150 did...

[Gen8]

[Los]

Well i think for somethings they are given a lot of weight.-since the other measures of "success" in high school are pretty arbitrary, and there are to my knowledge very few things in the way of national competitions that you could win..say, if you wanted to study history at yale. Mostly, you just need a decent gpa, good standing as a student, and good sat scores. maybe play the tuba.

For math, bio, cs,physics, etc etc etc, our system is more refined-more tests, competitions, etc.

So if the OP was applying to a math school, and had high sat scores, and was from a state like MA,CT,NY,CA where there is always a large pool of similar candidates, you probally aren't strong enough to get into a good math school. If you are from a traditionally weak math state (south or maybe midwest), you'd surely get in.




Los

[Vegre nem butulok votabb]

I believe a CR score above 650 is almost same as that above 700---So, don't be nervous---
No matter which college you enter, it is just a beginning of your career---Hard work is ahead of you---
And that much is true, for our non-native English speakers, CR is much more difficult---
But I like CR Section best---the passages are interesting and challenging---