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Help on SAT jitters.
TiffanyAK
#3 Posted : Thursday, January 18, 2007 1:43:12 PM(UTC)
TiffanyAK

Rank: New Next Stepper

Joined: 1/18/2007(UTC)
Posts: 3

Hey Vinny, first off what I need to say to you is just chill out a bit. A big part of where jitters usually come from is stressing out about a test beforehand. Approach it like it's no big deal, and it shouldn't be a problem. Since you're a high school freshman you shouldn't be nearly so worried about it as you seem to be. Remember, you have a few years left to achieve the scores you hope for.
TiffanyAK
#4 Posted : Thursday, January 18, 2007 1:50:36 PM(UTC)
TiffanyAK

Rank: New Next Stepper

Joined: 1/18/2007(UTC)
Posts: 3

Now, to answer your questions. The best thing I can recommend for the essay and the reading passages is just to read and write as much as you possibly can, since those are both things that really only get better with practice. Reading will help with your vocabulary as well. Whenever you come across a word you aren't familiar with, look it up and try to remember it. Also, sign up for the dictionary.com word of the day e-mails. You get an e-mail each day with a word and definition to learn. By the time you're ready to take the test again, your vocabulary will have increased exponentially.
TiffanyAK
#5 Posted : Thursday, January 18, 2007 2:20:18 PM(UTC)
TiffanyAK

Rank: New Next Stepper

Joined: 1/18/2007(UTC)
Posts: 3

Also, remember that when you're ready to send your scores to colleges, they will see all the scores for every time that you took it. While a practice run in the freshman year followed by another try or two in the junior or senior years is alright, you probably shouldn't be making plans to keep repeating the effort, especially since improvement is fairly minimal beyond a certain point. Remember, as much hype as there is about the importance of SAT scores, that's pretty much all it is. Other things count for far more, and your scores need not be perfect even for the best schools. In fact, as someone who has all her applications submitted as we speak, I can tell you that the number of schools that don't even require test scores is increasing. Focus more on your GPA and extracurriculars instead. Whoa, I'm rather long-winded today. Hope it helped. [:D] -Tiffany
kellybelly
#6 Posted : Sunday, January 21, 2007 1:04:55 PM(UTC)
kellybelly

Rank: New Next Stepper

Joined: 1/21/2007(UTC)
Posts: 4

Tiffany pretty much covered it. I think it's great that you're a freshman and taking the tests. That leaves a lot of room for improvement! If you take them and feel like you didn't do as well as you could have, take a prep course. I took one and I really did feel as though it helped me and I had an idea of what to expect. And DEFINITELY - relax! I was so relaxed the second time I took the SATs, I thought that I did horribly - but I ended up gaining 60 points on each section.

Soooo: RELAX! You can always have a "re-do." Good luck! [:)]
MrHyde02
#7 Posted : Friday, January 26, 2007 3:19:59 PM(UTC)
MrHyde02

Rank: New Next Stepper

Joined: 1/18/2007(UTC)
Posts: 3

Sounds like you're amazing in math.

I would expect to score slightly lower on the real test than you do in prep. I actually did absolutely awful on my SAT's even though my prep showed that I should score between 1800 and 2050.

Anyway...judging by the scores you've got on your practice tests, I wouldn't worry much. It sounds like you'll do just fine.

As for the essay...
Ack...I don't even know how to get a good score on the essay and I can't remember the last time I got less than 98 on a writing assignment.
I would say that the most important thing will be your organization. Make sure that it doesn't just sound like you're rambling. Here's what I'd suggest doing:
Read a lot from now until you take the SATs. Learn to form opinions on things and practice writing those opinions down.
Write a three-point essay. I can guarantee that my essay scored low because I sort of rambled the whole time. Even though what I said made perfect sense and it was actually fairly well written, I didn't show any deliberate order. That's where I lost my points.


NSMAnswerGirl
#10 Posted : Thursday, February 15, 2007 10:18:06 AM(UTC)
NSMAnswerGirl

Rank: Administration

Joined: 8/28/2006(UTC)
Posts: 45

Hey, that's awesome! Congrats!
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