SAT Exam or test or whatever

[Vampyr]

I got a 30 on the ACT, and I recently took the PSAT, though I havnt got my scores back yet.

If the PSAT is anything like the SAT, it's not horribly bad. The ACT is more of an achievement test...testing what you know, how quickly you can do it, and how good you are at, well, taking the ACT.

The SAT's aren't like that. They are more of a skills test, testing what you are capable of doing. (though you still have to have some knowledge of things.) Also, you want to be careful on the SAT...because if you guess and get it wrong, you are deducted 1/4 point (I think).

I would recommend reviewing some basic geometry and algebra before taking it, and looking up a few things on speed reading. Time limits can suck if you are a slow worker. Some people dont have a problem with them, but I usually do. I can finish the reading parts in no time (I had five minutes left over to just chill on the reading part of the ACT), but even though I am good at Math, I am a slow worker. So the time limits are bad, but you can practice a little and get around them.

When you sign up to take the SAT, a practice test comes with the registration packet. Maybe you could find more online if you needed them?

As to how long it takes to study...pretty much up to you. You could take it once and not study, just for a test run to get the feel for it, then take it again and study and try to do awesome. Or you could just study a lot and try to ace the first one.

A couple of tips for when you do take it:
1. In the reading sections, dont try reading the questions and going back to find the answers. That DOES NOT work. You will not get finished doing that. Your best bet is to read the passage as fast as you can,, then answer the questions. Avoid rereading things. Often people assume they need to reread something to understand it, but you dont. Just read as fast as you can, and you will recall more than you think you will, and if you cant remember something, it will be fairly easy to find the answer. Also, try increasing your reading span. You can practice doing this on everything you read: the practice test, newspapers, internet, books, or magazines. What I mean by "reading span" is train your eyes to read more than one word at a time. Like, 5 or 6 words at a time.

2. Most questions have 5 choices to choose from. If you can narrow it down to AT LEAST 3 or 4, guess.

3. Graphing calculators help a lot. I recommend a good TI-83.

4. Relax when you take it. Even if you dont do awesome, you can always take it again.

[Canyarion]

So they allow graphing calculators? That sucks for the people who can't afford one.

I was of the last year in high school where we didn't have those. We had to draw our own figures and do our own calculations.

I don't know what a SAT is, but my exams weren't that well made. Especially math, I hated it so much that I almost didn't do a thing for it, I scored 4/10 in that year. Just enough to pass my exams.

[Happydude]

i found a practice test (i think it's an SAT from a previous year) and in the language section i haven't heard of like 60% of the words they use...like, they're not common. that is what im having trouble with, the math sections are rather easy, and so is the reading comprehension section (wich i scored a 7/10 in the first one, i didn't calculate the exact mark)

basically i want to know how am i supposed to remember so many words that i've never heard of before? becuase that's the only thing that is bringing me down

[Kitana85]

I got a 1260 on the SAT's, only took them once (560 math, 700 verbal)
I could have done better but I didn't do any prep and didn't need to do better to get into the schools I applied to.

I only took the writing SAT2 and got a 780 on it.

As far as ease goes, the Math portion 6/10, verbal 4/10, writSAT2 3/10

[Neo]

Originally Posted by Vampyr

1. In the reading sections, dont try reading the questions and going back to find the answers. That DOES NOT work. You will not get finished doing that. Your best bet is to read the passage as fast as you can,, then answer the questions. Avoid rereading things. Often people assume they need to reread something to understand it, but you dont. Just read as fast as you can, and you will recall more than you think you will, and if you cant remember something, it will be fairly easy to find the answer. Also, try increasing your reading span. You can practice doing this on everything you read: the practice test, newspapers, internet, books, or magazines. What I mean by "reading span" is train your eyes to read more than one word at a time. Like, 5 or 6 words at a time.

I have to disagree with that in certain cases. On the ACT for example, there is not enough time to read all the passages. I found it much easier to read the questions first and then scan for the answers. Plus there were questions I was able to answer in the science section by using my own knowledge and not even reading the passage.

[Vampyr]

Originally Posted by Neo

I have to disagree with that in certain cases. On the ACT for example, there is not enough time to read all the passages. I found it much easier to read the questions first and then scan for the answers. Plus there were questions I was able to answer in the science section by using my own knowledge and not even reading the passage.

Whatever floats your boat I guess. All of my friends who tried the "questions first" method didnt finish, though, and I had time left over by just reading the passages.

I had a similar experiance on the science part, though. There were a few questions I had actually just went over in biology a few days prior to taking the test.

[Acebot44]

*Bumps*

Well, SAT season is back again and you all should have gotten your scores back by now.

Got a 770 on the U.S. History SAT II........but a 510 on the Math

[Happydude]

i got a 1210...can't remember how much i got in each section, but i scored better in the math...

[BlueFire]

lol I did poor on the new SAT

I have to take it again..

I got a 1510.

[Teuthida]

They changed the scoring right? What's the highest grade now?