SAT/ACT, SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND TIPS! Options

[demolished]

This thread is designed for incoming SAT/ACT test takers to be well-prepare for the test. Share what do you know, oldies !

[sprezzatura]

For SAT Reasoning Test:
I recommend spending the summer before your junior year to prepare for your SAT because the material will remain more fresh and you will be less stressful (slightly...for those who have summer assignments too). I also recommend to NOT skip any questions (unless you are TOTALLY unsure).

Vocabulary: Whenever you read, define the words that you don't understand the meaning of. Buying those SAT vocabulary flash cards will help too.

Critical Reading: Buy a SAT prep book (I suggest 10 Real SAT's from CollegeBoard) and start answering those questions so you will have a better understanding of how the test is like. I personally don't think reading more articles will help your understanding, but that will definitely help your reading speed. Be sure you have a good sleep the night before the test because the passages will be boring, which make you fall asleep easily.

Math: All I can suggest is to practice and read the question correctly because the tricky questions are evil. Most questions are easier than they seem. Answer all grid-in questions, since you don't lose any points for getting them wrong. Watch out for the scoring of the math sections because your score drops dramatically even though you miss very few questions. Aim for perfect for the math section, especially if math is your strongest part.

Grammar: Beware of comma splice, subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, verb tenses, and parallelism in the sentence revision and spot-the-error questions. They are the most common problems in those sentences. Don't bother reading choice A in sentence revision problems because they are always the same as the original. Take note of idiomatic expressions when you encounter them during your practice because those stuff are evil.

Essay: Read more literature works and retain the material you have learned in history classes. Besides CONCRETE example (not general), the analysis of the example is important too. For SAT essays, they don't have to be 5 paragraphs like AP, even 3 paragraphs are fine as soon as you have a well-developed introduction, body, and conclusion.

For SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2
1. Buy a practice book and start practicing (I suggest Barron's).
2. TI-89 Titanium is very efficient in solving equations and finding exact answers. However, this calculator is expensive. Of course, other graphing calculators will work as well. The "solve" button in a TI-89 is amazing.
3. Make sure you remember geometry from like a thousand years ago. They will be tested as well, even though the focus will be more to algebra and trigonometry.
4. The best time to take the test is the June test on the year you take pre-calculus or trigonometry.
5. It tests more on how much math you know, unlike the SAT reasoning test which it tests more on logic.

[Jeng]

I suggest taking a class/tutor, I didn't and I did bad both times I took it, I had a few studying books which I did study for, my didn't succeed doing well on my second time. Study a fwe months ahead of time, because SAT's come quick, like it's tomarrow[jk]. PREPARE, know your math. Time yourself on ever practice test.

[silver-rain]

For the ACT, the science section isn't really science information, more like if you can read a chart/graphs and interpret it. I felt that the ACT was easier and got a better score on, so if you don't think you'll do well on the SAT, take a look at the ACT. Most colleges take both anyways so it should help you.

[salcha4u]

1. Take our all your prep books and put them in front of you. It makes you feel better.
2. For math, start by cheating and putting everything you can into the calculator. Install tetris in case you have no idea how to do any of the problems on the test so intead, you can play games for 3 hours.
3. For the writing portion, write practice essays on random prompts that pop up in your head. It is okay to go over time because it is just practice right? If you need to justify this to yourself, just say that your timer was off or you started too late.
4. For the vocab reading comprehension, just pick 100 vocab words that you already know and study them. Good confidence booster.