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Guys, I am in a serious dilemma these days. I need to decide whether to give the SAT 1 myself or to take tutions from some institute. So here are the details:

I've already started preparing for SAT 2 Writing and I'll be giving it in October. I studied SAT 1 for less than a month and gave it on June 7 this year. My score was 1050. I need my score to be atleast 1250+. Now, I need your suggestions to decide whether I can prepare for SAT 1 at home or not in two months because I need to give it by Nov. 1. I am ready to work really hard as I am a hard-working student. I stand in the top 5 students of my school. Just couldn't do well in SAT 1 because I didn't take it seriously. Don't tell me to take SAT ! later becuase Nov. 1 is the last date I can give by.

Thanks,
Qamar

By Wjk323 (Wjk323) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 07:36 am: Edit

hm...your in quite a predicament...=)

well, lets see raising from a 1050 to a 1250+ is quite possible in two months...hm...well it depends, how hard are you willing to work and how much disciplined are you? Are you capable of sitting and studying for hours or do you start to daydream in the first 30 min? If you are really disciplined and if you really really want that score, buy yourself some good prep books, and start studying right away. If you are NOT disciplined i strongly recommend you to take the class. The class might cost you a fortune but just think of it as a investment for a good future. And if your a stingy person like me, then I know that you will study your hardest just to get your moneys' worth.

well good luck to you =)

By Qamar999 (Qamar999) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 09:10 am: Edit

Which prep. books would you recommend? Well, my parents are not willing to send me to the institute because I already gave it once. They are telling me to study by myself. So, even I am thinking of working hard and getting a good score.

By Aoe2guy (Aoe2guy) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 11:31 am: Edit

10 RS !!! = only legit prep book....try a Kaplan verbal workbook too

By Qamar999 (Qamar999) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 04:37 pm: Edit

Wouldn't you recommend Barron's?

By Serene (Serene) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 04:47 pm: Edit

I would cram Kaplan, take maybe 2 of the 10 RS. If scores still don't improve then get other books.

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 07:31 pm: Edit

you might do better on the ACT. Is English not your first language? The ACT is less vocabulary-intensive, so you might be more successful on it.

By Wjk323 (Wjk323) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 07:50 pm: Edit

How much are your parents willing to spend on books though? Give me a money estimate and I will try to find some books that will fit that budget. =)

By Soulofheaven8 (Soulofheaven8) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 08:28 pm: Edit

I'm taking Kaplan right now, and to tell you the truth, the most productive element of the class is the simulated tests sessions. Other than these virtual reality tests, I'm not gaining too much.

A quote from a very respected member of the board who has currently left:
"It is not very useful, I can teach the class better than their teachers."

By Jason817 (Jason817) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 08:41 pm: Edit

Should've taken Testmasters like me. We get REAL tests and all our practice problems come from REAL tests too (oftentimes pre-1994)

By Qamar999 (Qamar999) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 07:18 am: Edit

*bump*

By Avalon87 (Avalon87) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 02:56 pm: Edit

Gruber's for math
Barron's for verbal

By Aoe2guy (Aoe2guy) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 08:34 pm: Edit

10RS for Math, use Barron's Math Workbook for extra help if you really need it.
Verbal: Kaplan's verbal workbook and 10RS, read magazines, newspapers and books and use the available vocabulary.