How to raise SAT score?

Question

okay, so i'm going into 9th grade this coming school year.

i just graduated from 8th grade, and i took the SATs with Johns Hopkins CTY both 8th grade and 7th grade.

Okay, so my 8th grade scores were:

Math 550

Writing 470

Reading 470

TOTAL: 1490

i know those really bad, but the worse thing is my 7th grade scores were:

Math 480

Writing 500

Reading 490

TOTAL: 1470

what sucks is that some of my scores actually went lower, and i only scored 20 points higher.

so, if i only gain 20 points a year, by the time i take my official ones in 2011, they'll be really low.

what can i do to improve my scores?

much thanks!

++ i'm 14 by the way.

Answer 1

The SAT is not really a test of knowledge, it's a test of your test taking skills. If you can eliminate one answer based on instinct and another with basic math, reading, grammar skills, then you greatly increase your chances of selecting the right answer. Go through all the questions that you know first, then go through those that you are iffy about, finally answer the rest as best as possible using test taking skills. It's not bad to leave some questions unanswered, you're not penalised, you just don't earn any points. Read each question through twice carefully to be sure what it's asking, some are tricky to decipher and others are trick questions designed to fool you.

Answer 2

First of all, I can guarantee you that your current SAT scores mean almost nothing.

In fact, my suggestion is that you completely ignore them.

Now, I'm not trying to be negative, because if you took the SAT through Johns Hopkins CTY you are undoubtedly very smart. That isn't what I'm saying.

I am simply suggesting that having just graduated from 8th grade there is no way that you've been exposed to all of the materials covered on the SAT. There is a reason why CollegeBoard recommends the test be taken in your junior year of high school-- it's because by then most students have taken the courses that will adequately prepare them for the exam. Sure, you hear about the rare child who takes it in 6th grade and scores perfect. But how many times does that really happen? Not often, right?

Please just consider these tests as ballparks of where you are NOW, not shackles that will determine what you're going to score for the rest of your life. I promise you that if you're scoring close to a 1500 in middle school, by the time you've actually learned everything you need to know, you'll be fine. In fact, your score will most likely have gone up considerably even without studying by the time you're done with 9th and 10th grade simply because you'll have been taught more of the topics given on the test.

But if you're still concerned, take the PSAT in 10th grade and see how you do on that. Then start prepping during summer before your junior year-- the English portion hurts a lot of people simply because they aren't familiar with the vocabulary. There are lots of prep courses offered in cities as well, and if you'd rather it be more personal you can always hire a tutor (it gets pricey, though). I recommend that mathematically you are into or finishing pre-calc when you take the SAT because that course is basically the highest level of difficulty presented on the exam.

Also keep in mind that the SAT isn't the only test that colleges accept. The ACT is also commonly submitted and replaces the necessity of the SAT in many cases.

Answer 3

I agree with the first poster saying that you have not been exposed to all the concepts needed to do super well on the SATs.

Pick up an SAT book. I suggest Barron's SAT prep book. It's a good one to get a lot of the content exposure you need. Work on that!

And since you've only gotten out of the 8th grade, I think if you start working seriously on it now, you'll probably do super well by the time you take the SAT. :] (I'd be willing to say about 90+ points per year.) Best of luck!