[heegie]

..

[cubecul]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
Summer before.
�How many times did you take it?
3
�What were your scores &/or final score?
2180/2230/2050. Yeah I did WORSE on the last try.
�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
Used a class, but my friend got 2350+ using ONLY the official book.

[monaero]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
I didn't

�How many times did you take it?
2

�What were your scores &/or final score?
1590/1700

I didn't really care about the SATs all that much

[pri-T]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
Well, I took the PSAT every year for practice. My parents bought the first SAT prep book for me sophmore year to start looking at, but my year was the first year they went from 1600 to 2400 so I technically only started studying for the real thing the summer before when the official book came out.

�How many times did you take it?
Twice (June & Oct)

�What were your scores &/or final score?
1st: 1980; 2nd: 2260 - 800 CR, 780 Writing, 680 Math (yes, I epicfail at Math)

�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
The Official College Board book. I also owned both Kaplan and Barron's. I felt they were all helpful. My parents also enrolled me in ACI after the results for my first test came out >_< ... the only good thing about the class is that you get A LOT of practice so if you think you would see better results if you took a structured class, go ahead and take a reputable SAT class (it will be $$$ though). For me, it was a peace of mind thing for my parents. My scores improved across the board, so it was mainly a practice and nerve thing for me (was super nervous the first time I took it) and not any magic the class did in teaching me something I didn't already know before.

[christee8876]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
about 4 months before the test

�How many times did you take it?
2 I'm going to take it a 3rd time

�What were your scores &/or final score?
2050 and 1960. I slacked off big time the 2nd time around.
my goal is a 2150 or higher....and I plan on reaching it


�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
the official book released by college board, definitely.
and classes help a ton. my 1st diagnostic test was a 1730....so the class brought up my score by 320 points.
I definitely recommend them.

[Christinaisweird]

I have a question:
So say you took the test 3 times, which scores do you use? The last test score or the best one out of the three?

And what do the SAT classes teach you?

Last one:
How many questions are there one the test? And is there a time limit?

sorry for so many questions, I'm trying to be prepared and study ASAP.

[cubecul]

I have a question:
So say you took the test 3 times, which scores do you use? The last test score or the best one out of the three?

And what do the SAT classes teach you?

Last one:
How many questions are there one the test? And is there a time limit?

sorry for so many questions, I'm trying to be prepared and study ASAP.

1. Colleges have different systems. Some will ask for all scores, some for your best one. It is never your last one.

2. Classes will cover every single part of the test. My summer class packed me 50 words a day, a weekly test, and just review by topic. They also taught me test strategy, etc.

3. There are 7 25 minute sections, 2 20 minute sections, and 1 10 minute section. Usually there will be around 1 question per minute, but the writing 25 minute portion has like 30+. There is 1 25 minute essay included in the 7x25 sections. I'm going to say 220-250 questions total, but it's been awhile.

[phalken]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
Started casual prep classes in chinese school in eighth grade. hardcore studied since the beginning of 10th grade.
�How many times did you take it?
Three.
�What were your scores &/or final score?
My final score was 2340. I don't remember what I got before that, too long ago @_@
�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
McGraw Hill. And I did a bit of extra critical reading practice because I can't answer those questions to save my life.

[beta_shen]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
err i started 3 months before but only for 2 weeks? then i stopped til the week before

�How many times did you take it?
ive only taken it once but im gonna take it again x__X

�What were your scores &/or final score?
i got a 2260 cuz i epikfailed writing
hope i can bring that one up -________-

�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
i dont think any book book can help you on the SAT because you cant learn all that info at once
it takes years of vocab gathering and stuff
however taking practice tests are good - thats all i did. took 2 tests a day when i was studying
my friend used the official collegeboard SAT book - took alll 8 tests - and got a 2380 (im so jealous)
i did those but also the princeton book with like 11 tests. the princeton onoes are ALOT harder so dont be too scared XD
kaplan is good too :] i think theres a book with like 12 tests @_____@

[han.yung]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
I think around 6th/7th grade, like all the other Asian kids in my school.

�How many times did you take it?
Mock tests, countless times; Actual test; 0 times.
I think I'm scheduled to take it sometime around next May.

�What were your scores &/or final score?
Lol. When I first started practicing I'd score about a 1500/2400 T_T
Now I get around a 2260/2400. I go to a small prep class run by Asians (haha) and it's improved my score in three weeks WAY more than taking a 7 week course with "official" test tutors. I'm really hoping to get a consistent 2400 by the end of the summer, or at least 2350.

�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
I'd say the "Big Blue Book" as we call it, haha. The big blue book from College Board. Tons of tests to take.
I just took a bunch of Kaplan SAT tests, but I'd say those are a bit easier than College Board tests.
They say you need to do 10+ practice tests to prepare for the actual thing =_=.

[delightful123]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?

I started studying relatively late (compared to my Korean friends anyway). The bulk of my studying was junior year (and the summer of my junior year).

�How many times did you take it?

I took it three times. Gross, I know. I just took it enough to get a 700 on the math section.

�What were your scores &/or final score?

My final score was a 2270/2400. 800 Verbal, 700 Math, 770 Writing.

�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?

I went to this little Korean prep center, and to improve on the verbal sections, we went over GRE problems. This helped because since the GRE problems were more difficult, when we were given SAT verbal questions... they just seemed so easy!

I would suggest just taking sample tests. Over and over again. Honestly, if I had just been just diligent enough and gotten myself to take sample tests by myself, I would not have bothered to pay for prep. Prep classes simply forced me to sit in a room and take timed tests.

Definitely go over vocabulary as well. Really important! Group them into synonyms... there are so many words that mean "talkative," "quiet," "aggressive," etc.... hahahaha. =]

Good luck!!!

[aZnRiceEater]

the girl who posted above me is wow goregeos

uhmm i basicaly half assed it i only put about a month took a class that was about 2-3 hrs? 2x or 3x a week and i got like 1440? yea i have a realy low score took it once but u should take it like 3 times c wat u get the first time and study harder in the place with the lowest score but keep the same amout of study in the other 2 dont worry about it its not realy that big a test its realy hyped up but after ur done its all good go in dressed comfortable hell come in ur pjs if u want good luck

[esoteric.]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
I always crammed 2 days before. I've never studied long term :/ horrible, I know.
�How many times did you take it?
twice.
�What were your scores &/or final score?
1920/2400 and 1880/2400.
�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
can't help you there D:

[sipredstraw]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
A week before the test >_>

�How many times did you take it?
Once

�What were your scores &/or final score?
1850-- gonna retake it

�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
I guess any SAT preparation books will do

[xlemonpie]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
the summer before junior year/after soph yr.
�How many times did you take it?
2x
�What were your scores &/or final score?
1st: 2080
2nd: 1990 [dropped 'cause i didn't really study for the 2nd one..]
�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
not sure, since i went to this SAT boot camp [mon-fri]. unless u have the motivation/self-control to actually study from a book, i personally think a prep academy is best since ur actually timed and take a test a week and do exercises.

good luck!^^

[am747]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
Summer before Junior year, I took an SAT prep course (TestMasters, I highly recommend them if they're available in your area), did practice tests all throughout september, october, and november, ended up taking the actual test in March.

�How many times did you take it?
Just once.

�What were your scores &/or final score?
2340/2400 Total
Critical Reading - 780
Math - 770 (Just for missing ONE question, the curve was ridiculous that session)
Writing - 790
Essay - 11/12

�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
I used the giant book of SAT tests and the TestMasters SAT prep guide.

Personal advice is to take AS MANY PRACTICE TESTS AS POSSIBLE. TestMasters had this thing called exam club, where you could go in every saturday and take an SAT practice test, from their collection of ~30 tests. I did like 7 or 8 of those in addition to the ones in the book. After I was getting like 2200+ on most of those tests, I went ahead and took the real one, so I could get it over with in one sitting. It's a real pain to have to take that 3 hour test over and over, so I recommend you study like crazy the first time and be done with it.

Good Luck! A high SAT score won't guarantee anything when it comes to college, but it'll help distinguish you instantly from the rest!

[ny-sw / ny_sw.]

�When did you start studying for the SAT?
Summer before junior year.

�How many times did you take it?
Twice.

�What were your scores &/or final score?
2010 and 2160.

�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
The college board SAT book and Kaplan's SAT book.
I took every SAT in there literally twice.. ugh.
Study hard the first time and do well. the second time I took it, I was annoyed cause I forgot how beastly this test was..

[Nerdyyy]

Man, everyone on Soompi is smart.. LOL! I'm just going to post my reply because I'm not even CLOSE to those other Soompiers, but I got into UCI. So maybe this will make you feel easier


�When did you start studying for the SAT?
Summer before junior year.

�How many times did you take it?
3 times.

�What were your scores &/or final score?
SAT I - 1490, 1600, 1710 (I took it in Dec, right before deadline to submit SAT scores for college apps!)
SAT II - BioE: 580; MathIIC: 590; Chinese: 670

�What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
I really like Princeton Review, and that big blue one. But for my highest SAT score, I didn't even bother studying. -___- Just self-teach yourself!

[mayu07]

When did you start studying for the SAT?
Summer before junior year...

How many times did you take it?
2

What were your scores &/or final score?
First time: 2250, second, 2360

What books do you think helped you the most for studying for the SAT?
Well, my problem area was Critical Reading, so I got the Princeton Review Reading Workbook, and the tips there really helped me -boosted me to 760.

So, my advice is, just know your math, read a lot of newspapers + books for the writing part (so that the grammar sentences will just sound right or wrong), and then read up on tips on how to do the Critical Reading. Don't do endless numbers of practice tests!

[understanding_fiction]

It's kind of weird.
I studied tons and tons and got 2250 in the end of last year...? I think around then.
Then, I stopped studying it, but my mom wanted me to take it again so I took it in June and got a 2310, no studying at all.
I got lucky because I usually lose marks in CR but the readings were easier for me.