How can I drastically improve my SAT score? Please help!!?

Question

The first time I took it was in Janurary, and honestly, I didn't do any practice tests (I just went over a Kaplan study guide):

Critical Reading: 510

Math: 590

Writing: 530

Total: 1630

I took it again in May, and this time I took 4 practice tests from the Princeton Review, and for those, I got at least 2000s. I heard that the questions from Princeton Review are easier than the actual SAT, and my scores seem to prove this:

Critical Reading: 540

Math: 650

Writing: 610

Total: 1800

My scores are extremely disappointing, because I have been working my butt off at school, earning me a weighted GPA of 4.3 by the end of junior year. I am aiming for the top schools, my first choice being Duke University. I'm an international student, so I know that the colleges will expect a lower score from me than they will from American citizens, but I also need financial aid so I need to get the highest score possible (at least 2000).

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Answer 1

hii, well

i think your 1800 for the second time is a great improvement!

to be true, actually, my PSAT was 158...and i was realllllli dissappointed since i'm also an industrious person ...but now i'm memorizing 10 vocabs everyday,,, planning to take the SAT I again on october,,and waiting for the results for the june SAT

so i think you can improve by memorizing vocabs and nail the grammar problems

Answer 2

All it takes is practice.  I'm sure you'll do better and better each time.  I took the SATs three times and improved at least 100 points each time.  You'll get used to it after several times of taking it.  Don't panic, remember SAT scores aren't everything.  GPAs are important along with the application essays and extracurriculars.  Good luck!

Answer 3

Haha I got a 2230.

Answer 4

I've written a book for my son:

Overkilling SAT / ACT Math.

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[e-mail]

Your email address won't be abused.

Answer 5

A lot of standardized testing is about timing. Make sure you practice timing yourself on each section and for each question.

Learning vocabulary will DEFINITELY help. I found SAT books that were novels to help you learn vocabularly. It was a fun read with over 1000 words to learn and the definitions on each page. Better than memorizing flash cards...

Timing is so important in the math because I bet you already know how to do all of that math questions.

Read an SAT book, do all the problems. I just kept studying and studying. You might not think you're improving, but your test results will show your hard work.

Take it in October, Early Admission is worth it because its a smaller group of people and more are admitted. It shows you are serious about that university.

(2130, 800 in math)