How can I improve my 2230 SAT score?

Question

710 M

740 CR

780 W [11 essay]

I'm aiming for Brown here, so any improvement, small or large, is needed from this.

To study for June, I read Barron's How To Prepare for the SAT, RocketReview, and I did 3 Blue Book tests. All in about a week or two.

Should I purchase more review books? I was thinking of buying PR for the Hit Parade at least and perhaps Gruber's [for math]... would this be good? I need as close to 2400 as possible [I doubt that I'll get the perfect score, but I just need improvement from my already satisfying-but-not-yet-acceptable June score].

I've also heard recommendations for Barron's Math Workbook.

Any advice is welcome!

Thx :)

Answer 1

2200+ is just as good as a perfect 2400 in virtually every case.  You should have no problem with your score when it comes to getting into brown.  

Look up the admissions information at brown and see what else they are looking for in a student (GPA, extra curriculars...) and make sure you are covered there.  

With a 780 writing you should be practicing writing your college admissions essay this summer.  It will give you plenty of time to make something creative and well written.  

Stop working on your SAT score, you are done with that part!

Answer 2

A girl from my graduating class (I graduated class of 2008) got into Brown with a pretty close score (she got 2280).  Here are her stats: she had a 4.33 gpa, she did NHS, key club, and got to nationals with the debate team.  She was also a section editor in the high school newspaper and was the co-captain of the JV cheerleading squad sophomore year, but stopped after that year.  Oh yeah, she had a job too.

As for getting a higher score, I suggest doing as many tests as you possibly can.  Experience with the material (at least to me) is much better than memorizing so many facts.  But this is only coming from a 2210.

Oh yeah, don't forget to take SAT subjects!

Answer 3

I disagree that this score is as good as a 2400. Look at Brown's 50th percentile and you'll see her scores are on the low end for both cr and math. Improving these score will mean all the difference between being part of the 13% who get in and the 87% who don't, most of whom have strong scores. If the 780 was athe math score I'd agree that a retake might not be necessary.

Without a hook such as being a recruited athlete or legacy, you want to be above the 75th percentile on everything for a good shot.

That said, practice, practice. Do as many tests as you can stand. Learn the vocab and get really comfortable with the math formulas.