What is the best way to prepare for the SAT?

Okay first of all , the PR course is good ONLY if your score is really low . I got 1440 on my first time SAT and then I signed up for PR course (( Only English , Cuz I got 650 on Math and I didn't need the math course )) , for increasing Writing score, PR is really REALLY good . However it's not that useful for reading , and I don't know about Math since I didn't take it .

BTW note that iam international (( non-native English speaker )) , so maybe there is a difference between you and me .

Secondelly , the best way to prepare is to take as much practice tests as you can and know your mistakes after you finish .

After taking about 12 practice tests (( and the course also )) my score went up from 1440 to 2060 last time I checked (( and this is according to the college board book practice tests ))

About the books, you DEFENITLLY NEED to get the blue book , the tests in there are just like the real thing.

I don't know about PR cracking the SAT 2012 , but when I took the course they gave me PR 11 practice tests for SAT and PSAT book and it's really good . It's a bit harder than the real thing however (( I'm getting 1940 in the PR 11 practice tests and 2060 in the college board book ))

Another book that is really good but really REALLY HARDER than the real thing is Barron's , as I said it's really really harder and really over prepares you .

One more thing , one mistake that i'm doing is that I'm never memorizing vocab , and I omit all the sentence completion questions on the test . Don't do that , right now my score in CR in 570 and I know I could get 650 at least if I memorized some vocab (( BTW Barron's has a 3500 vocab words lest that is really helpful , if you master it then you will master the CR on the SAT ))

I hope I helped (:

Gd luck

hmmmmm...taking the psat didnt rly help at all, i took it twice at my school (sophomore and jr year), but you should just take it once at the beginning of junior year. i dont think theres a practice act test but not sure. then id take a course if you have the $ that guarantees an improvement of plus 300 pts or something (i just took one for the sat not act). you should take the tests in january of your junior year so you have plenty of test dates to retake it if you want to (and probably should). im the same way as you, good at math and not reading so much, and i thought the act was much easier for both actually, it esp helped out my reading grade. i did better on the sat tho, but i prepared wayyy more for it. if i could redo it all id ditch the sat and stick with the act. the sat is out to trick you with like every question. good luck!! :))

Hi,

The best way to study is different for each student. Some self-directed learners do well just using The Official SAT Study Guide (aka The Blue Book from College Board) and taking practice tests on their own. Others need an additional, more detailed book that breaks down the test patterns for them which helps them as they work through the practice tests in the blue book. Still others need a more structured environment in a classroom, where test experts guide them through the patterns and the tests in the blue book. Only you can determine which method is best for you.

Whatever you chose, be sure to include the Blue Book in your plans. It's the only book with real test questions and it's important to practice with these.

If you choose the PR course, then I wouldn't get the PR book (because it will be repetitive). And any good course will include the Blue Book to use for practice tests and homework. Beware of any course that makes their own practice tests because they typically make them so the first one is really hard and the last one is really easy---it creates huge score increases so they do not have to honor their guarantees.

Personally, I am a fan of PowerScore courses, but I know the author pretty well ;).

To begin studying, I recommend taking a complete timed practice test (there is a free one available at the College Board's website here: http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-... and then scoring it to reveal your strengths and weaknesses. You may decide at this point to study on your own, enlist the aid of a tutor, or enroll in a course.

If you study on your own, review each of the questions that you miss and discover why you missed them. You should also review the questions that you guessed correctly. What made you struggle with these questions? The SAT uses the same content and question patterns, so it's important to learn from your mistakes.

The Writing grammar questions typically test about 20 common errors (they are listed here: http://www.powerscore.com/sat/help/content_blueboo... Learn these errors and learn how to spot them. For example, if you see "I" or "me" underlined in an Identifying Sentence Error question, there is a good chance that this is the error. The SAT almost always tests which one should be used in a sentence. Once you learn the errors, take practice sections and see which questions you are missing or guessing on. Study these; what caused you to miss the question? Once you see your mistake, you'll be sure not to make it again.

In Math, also study the questions that you are missing or guessing on. What is causing you to miss these questions? The wording of the question? Or a calculation error? Work through the question until you understand how to come up with the correct answer. If there is content you do not understand, review it using a good internet site. We have free flash cards here (http://www.powerscore.com/sat/help/content_flashca... and a free chapter from our book here (http://www.powerscore.com/sat/help/content_chapter...

To improve in reading, you need to practice vocab and reading long, boring passages. We offer the top 700 words free here (http://www.powerscore.com/sat/help/content_flashca... in flashcard form. These words appear over and over (like aesthetic, undermine, and ambiguous), so you are sure to see them throughout your studies.

I'd also start practicing reading now. This is the hardest area in which to improve, but the most impressive high score you can submit. You need to become comfortable with dry, boring passages, and learn how to maintain focus while reading them. There are a list of magazines here that will help you practice with these types of passages: http://www.powerscore.com/sat/help/reading_comp_pr... Read one a day and try to find the main idea and author's attitude.

And adjust your attitude as you read. Instead of hating the task at hand, pretend you love it and that the article is the most interesting thing you have ever read. This seems like a silly suggestion but it really will change how much you retain as you read.

Finally, analyze the reading questions that you miss and guess on. What made you miss them? The wording of the question? The wording of the answers? Or not understanding the passage? One word will often make an answer choice wrong; learning to spot these tricks will prevent you from missing similar questions in the future.

Good luck!

take your head place it on one end of your keyboard and roll it all the way to the other end and bam an entire answer sheet for the sat lol

no but for real dont stress about it just study on your free time and ask family/friends who have takein it already what to do to prepare its not the end of the world if you fail or get a grade your not happy with you can study more and take it again