I’m currently in an SAT Prep course at my school twice a week that runs all the way till the end of April. However, even with that I feel like that isn’t enough since my PSAT scores were really low :-\
During the end of the summer my Aunt bought me the Barron’s SAT book (2009) yet, I haven’t cracked it open until recently … So, I have a few questions to ask:

1.) How do/did you study for the vocabulary?

My SAT book supplies me with an entire word list that contains more than a 1,000 words and I don’t know where to start. It provides me with flashcards, but how am I supposed to memorize all those words in preparation for the May SAT this spring? I’ve told myself that maybe if I memorize 10 words a day, I’d complete the list. However, with my AP exam coming up, my project due soon, the project I’m currently working on now, and my term paper due in weeks, plus other homework on top, it’s difficult to fit it in my schedule. So, how did you study/memorize the Vocab?

2.) The critical reading section is a bit difficult to me. I’ve always wondered which strategy is best when it comes to reading the passages given to you. Do you glance at the questions beforehand and then start reading the passage? Do you skim the paragraph so you can have more time to answer the questions? Do you read the entire thing the whole way through thoroughly and then answer the questions? There’s many different ways to tackle the situation, but which way is more helpful?

3.) This isn’t a question pertaining to the SATs really, but you know how colleges and universities like people who are unique and are able to stand out from the crowd? Well, what if you’re planning to go into pharmacy/medical field but you have a talent in art? If you’re able to use your talent and let’s say you win some big Art contest, would that be considered unique to the college, even though it has nothing to do with health/med?

I’m not exactly sure what unique qualities colleges are looking for :-\ I feel like I’m a plain Jane in this world … Especially in this day and age where competition is always rising.
Thanks Ty
Yeah, I read a few pages before of the SAT book, but not enough. And yes, I know people should join groups and do community service (I already do at the moment) but I mean besides all that. There will be tons of kids out there who have done all of the above, but there are those few lucky ones that stand out far more than the rest. I’m wondering what that may be. Thanks for your advice! Top 5 is amazing

Is the College Board provided practice test for the Bio SAT really real tests? I found that on their practice test, I scored much higher than on the practice tests of Barron, Kaplan, Sparknotes

I took Honors Bio in 10th grade but I didn’t learn a thing. My teacher was horrible and did not even give notes. We learned the material by doing endless amounts of worksheets.

I’m currently thinking about taking the SAT Bio Ecology Exam because I’m in AP Environmental Science. However, I know very little about Bio besides ecology, and I need a way to learn the material, review, and prepare for the exam.
I’m probably going to buy several review books (Barron’s, Kaplan, Princeton Review). I’m also thinking about buying a used textbook to review.
What review book and what textbook do you guys recommend? (Textbook needs to cover all the material and be easy to understand and get through).
Any other recommendations for SAT Bio preparation?

Thanks a lot!

As of right now, I am using the Princeton Review Cracking the ACT Book, and it has been very helpful. I also have the Princeton Review 1296 ACT Questions book, and I am doing very well on the practice exams they have in there. I’m scoring anywhere from about 29-33 in all subjects of the ACT, but I’m just wondering, is there an even better book out there with better, more accurate results/questions then the Princeton Review. I konw about the Real ACT book (or red book as sometimes called) and I am definitely planning on getting it and taking the exams in it as a final test to see how my results on the actual ACT will look. I’m just curious to konw if maybe Barron’s ACT book is better, or maybe even Kaplan’s ACT book? Please help me.

Thank you in advance.

As I’m preparing to move on to my sophomore year in high school, I am wondering if taking the SAT Subject Tests earliest as possible will look better than later test dates on a college application.

Instead of taking World History classes, I feel as if I want to commit my time into study and preparation for World History SAT Subject by using World History workbooks (such as Barron’s, Kaplan, etc)

To those who have taken the test: Was the test difficult? Did you take time preparing and studying? Do you recommend taking the World History class first and then the test later a better decision?

I am looking for a good and accurate prep book for the ACT other than the Peterson’s "Real ACT Prep Guide." Anyone have any suggestions? I was going to get barrons but the questions in barron are known for being insanely harder than the test actually is. I heard sparknotes also has a book?

Are the Princeton Review SAT practice test generally harder than the Sat and other prep books?
I took the Barron’s 2400 practice test and I got a score in the range of 1450-1520. I got a 1580 on the PSAT. I took the PR sat practice test and I got a 1210!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… I’m so annoyed. Now I really dont know where I stand in terms of SAT performance.

Can you cite a resonable source as well? By the why I’m 15 and entering my junior year. I just took a practice test from the barron’s 2400 Sat prep book and I got about a 1450. A 450 on critical reading, 600 on writing, and a 400 on math. Is the barrons sat book valid? Can I get some advice on improving my score? Please answer all of my questions. If cant asnwer all, then please answer my very first question.

I have the Kaplan Higher Score on the SAT/PSAT DVD, and it seems really helpful. But are they more helpful than Barron’s or Collegeboard? Also, are the tests easier or more difficult than the actual test?

are the practice tests in the Barron’s bio sat subject test review book harder than the actual test? what about sparknotes practice tests?
i took one on sparknotes, and i got a 730.
then i took one in the Barron’s book, and i got a 670. =[
i took both in the same week. why is there such a huge difference? which one is more like the actual test?
thanks for all the help. =]