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Hello! My SATs have not improved in any way. On my PSATs the estimates were that I was supposed to get a 1200, and on a practice test today I got a 1230. My verbal score was a 560 and my math score was a 660. I want to bump the verbal to about a 630-650 and my math to a 700. What do I do? I seem to get a lot of the critical reading questions wrong. On one part I got about 3/4 of the critical reading questions wrong. . Please help!!!!

By Serene (Serene) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 12:45 pm: Edit

Tell us how you do CR section. What do you do as you read, etc...

By Ericng314 (Ericng314) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 01:10 pm: Edit

It was the May 2002 Real SAT exam...... In section one, I tend to get the inference/tone type questions wrong on the Critical Reading. One section I had all the harder level of (#6-8) on section Section 4. I I also got some medium and hard questions in section 1 wrong in general. What techniques or things can I do to improve it? I was confused by some of the analogies and the section about Jane Austen and Texas.

By Serene (Serene) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 01:34 pm: Edit

For CR...
1. read passage before reading the questions if you haven't tried this already
2. after each paragraph try summarize the main points in your own words
3. don't overthink questions. they aren't supposed to be tricky
4. usually you can find lines in the passage that'd point to the correct answer
5. process of elimination is a great tool when it comes to ambiguous answers

By Ericng314 (Ericng314) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 01:38 pm: Edit

Serene, what did you get on the SAT?

How about for analogies and Sentence completions? What do I do when I do not know a word on a question? What advice can you give me in order to get analogies correct regardless of words I do not know.

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 01:42 pm: Edit

5. process of elimination is a great tool when it comes to ambiguous answers

I think that eliminating wrong answers is THE essence of CR.

It is easier to uncover direct contradictions and irrelevant information than it is to "pick" the best answer out of 5 choices.

I would just add a sixth item:

6. The answers ARE in the passage and NOWHERE else. Do not use any outside information or prior knowledge.

By Fairyofwind (Fairyofwind) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 01:45 pm: Edit

^ is guilty of directly answering the questions on a passage about a familiar topic without reading the passage =P

By Serene (Serene) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 01:59 pm: Edit

lol... fairy, that's real nice too. =) but you'd better be hoping you don't know more than the author ^^

By Ericng314 (Ericng314) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 03:48 pm: Edit

Is it possible to get a jump to a 1400 or so? How can I do that? OR should I aim lower?

By Ali_Liu (Ali_Liu) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 06:53 pm: Edit

i don't know why..but i do better when i read the passage carefully..hehehe!!!!

By Joel_Set (Joel_Set) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 11:49 pm: Edit

jane austen passage wasn't that hard.. but that texas one.. i was zoned out.. along with the monkey one..

By Valpal (Valpal) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 03:30 am: Edit

Ericng314, you must be fairly new to the boards. Serene is something of a legend around here. Not only did she score 1600 on the SAT, she's going to Harvard! She's just to modest to toot her own horn.

By Ranjith2005 (Ranjith2005) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 04:22 pm: Edit

Hey smart people, i need some help on the SAT. My verbal is 560 and my math is 680. I am taking the SAT in December and am aiming at 1500-1550. I learn 50 words a day and i do a little practice. Do any of u have any advice for me. I will really appreciate it.

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 05:27 pm: Edit

Yes, read past posts by scrolling down. You'll find more advice than you need.