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Ok i have a great difficulty doing the verbal part of the SAT. When i mean hard i mean hard. Besides remembering the definitions to some 3000 words, is there a specific way that any of you people find that makes the verbal section more easy?

By Number9 (Number9) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 09:13 pm: Edit

People will tell you to read books -- classics primarly. Others will tell you to read the Sunday NY Times, The Wall Street Journal, or Scientific magazines, if youre in to science.

They key isnt remembering definitions, but even skimming over a list is better. You'll have a better time determining whether the word is positive/negative, etc.

Then, just take practice tests. Practice makes perfect. Or better.

By Wjk323 (Wjk323) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 09:19 pm: Edit

ok...
answer these questions first
1) Is English your first language?
2) What is your SAT score?
3) What prep books are you using?

Memorizing words is quite difficult. I can always memorize a word in about 15 seconds, and when I review them like 5 hours later, I would still remember the definition, BUT i would forget everything a week later. In AP Psychology I learned about memory, (storage, etc..etc..) and I learned that after you memorize a word, you have to review it as many times as possible. When I memorized a word, I would go over it 3 times that day, 2 times the next day, and a last time the third day. And after a week or so, review the words again. This helped me alot in memorizing words, but the downside is that it takes a lot of you time. (almost 55% of your SAT studying time) which is a BIG NO-NO in Xiggi's opinion. Try to get as many opinions from this board, and in the end, think carefully of all the opinions given. YOU should choose which method words best.

Well, first answer those questions and I will try to help you so more.

By Chronos986 (Chronos986) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 09:28 pm: Edit

1) Nope but i started learning english while i was 7.
2 Highest i ever got was a 560
3)Grubers and Arco

By Wjk323 (Wjk323) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 09:49 pm: Edit

hmm...

I think Gruber's would be a good way to start. I personally used that book, and I think Grubers had an okay, verbal prep section, but I liked Gruber's more because of the math prep. (the refreshers) I think Arco, Peterson's, and Cliffnotes are the worst books I have used. Mainly becuase I found alot of spelling mistakes as well as questions that were badly phrased. I recommend you to get the barron's. (i havent used barrons myself, but everybody seems to praise that book, so I ordered around 2 day ago) A must-must of books is the 10 Real SAT's. Like
NUmber 9 said, practice makes perfect, or better. Well, keep memorizing those words and start reading. Start reading things that you know it will bore you...hehe...something that only ETS will give you.

By Chronos986 (Chronos986) on Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 12:04 am: Edit

Yup definitly reading things that will bore me will work, but one question, how can it help me if i'm asleep from all that boredom? hehe Well i'll give that a try and look at those books that you recommended Wjk323. And i have already found a way that works for me for memorizing the vocab but i guess its just not that stable after i dont review some words for a week. SIGH I have a lot of work ahead of me. Guess i just have to practice practice practice.

By Raindrops (Raindrops) on Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 12:14 am: Edit

If the reading materials are boring you out, you should then DEFINITELY read them to improve your stamina. You're going to read them on the tests.