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I seem to be one of the rare few people who end up going to college that isn't terribly talented in the math department. (I'm going simply based on the 'median scores' college sites list, where math score ranges tend to be higher (sometimes significantly so) than verbal scores).

Last time I took the SAT -- November 2002 -- I managed a 710V and... 570M. The verbal I'm a little disappointed in, but the math shocked me. My score's gone up maybe 70 points in the three years since I took it -- three years of math included.

What I want to know is if there are any similar stories out there, and particularly if there are any "success stories" for improving scores. I'm not entirely sure *how* to study for the math section, either, so if any math non-prodigies have any tips for me, I'd be most obliged.

By Pisces (Pisces) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 04:22 pm: Edit

It's not rare for people not to do well in math; it's just that this site is all over achievers. It's actually much more rare to do well in verbal. If you dont think you can improve much in math, focus on verbal. Study as much as you can and try for high 700's.

By Kalitiha (Kalitiha) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 07:12 pm: Edit

I got a 590M the first time I retook it, down from a PSAT of 62. So, the second time, I studied a little and I got a 670. That's 200 points higher than what I got the first time I took the SAT in 7th grade. If you're unhappy with your math score, study a bit and work on it. If you like you're math score, don't feel bad. It is still a good score and above the national average, I think.

By Rowan (Rowan) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 11:23 pm: Edit

It seemed rare in comparison to the median SAT scores listed on the websites of the colleges I'm applying to. Granted, said schools are top-tier and consequently have strong science programs, as well as liberal arts. My perception is skewed as I've always been far more proficient in English than in math.

At any rate, thank you two for your responses. To Kalitiha: as far as I'm aware, the test is continually curved so that the "average" nation-wide score on either section is approximately equivalent to 500. With that being the case, I'm about in the 60th percentile for math.

Unfortunately for me, it just won't cut it at Stanford. I should try studying, but I'm at a loss for studying tips. None of the material seems to stick. I've heard a suggestion that it could be in the way I think about the math section (as in, left-brained instead of right-brained). Could that be the case?

By Kalitiha (Kalitiha) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 11:48 pm: Edit

I'm left-brain dominant, it means that I'm not as artistic/creative/moody as my right brain dominant sister. That said, I think the best thing you can do for English is long term study. And for math, short term study in concentrated areas. Like, work only on geometry for a day, then arithmetic, then algebra---then, review 2 days, maybe a day but not recommended, before the test. That way, everything is still fresh in your mind. However, I'm not the math expert around here....you might want to direct a post to Icognito. He's made studying for the SAT an artform and he got an 800 on the math.

By Phantesi (Phantesi) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 03:46 pm: Edit

When I took the SAT's I got a 730V and a 650M, and a 710V, 610M. So English is definitely my more dominant/mastered art. However, I still did decently well on the math part-570 isn't THAT bad. I agree with Kalitiha that you should study the math in sections. I found that the things I didn't know the first time, I didn't understand the second time either, no matter how much I studied. I guess my brain only functions with that stuff if it already knows it. In any case, good luck!

By Igotpants (Igotpants) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 02:06 pm: Edit

I NEVER studied for my two SAT 1 tests. I scored 170 points higher the second time around which, by the way, took place only 3 months after the first. Goes to show how unpredictable this test is.

By Incognito (Incognito) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 05:51 pm: Edit

you were likely feeling crappy the first time.