DS can’t get past 1490 on the SAT’s. Any recommendations ?

[Anonymous]

I am a strong advocate of taking test after junior year. No matter what curriculum the kids have in junior year, it will help tremendously on the verbal part if there are some advanced humanities courses (comprehension, analytical). Math part is inherently easy and can be prepped. Often times 1550+ can be easily obtained one and done.

[Anonymous]

My oldest kid took the SAT last fall and got a slightly disappointing score - at the time, I thought, "we didn't start early enough." Then they took it again late last spring - didn't have time to do much prep other than a couple of practice tests but easily gained 100 points. Now I am thinking I'll advise my younger kids to wait (maybe take practice tests but not sit for the real thing). Maturity and another year of education and development play a big role - that's true even at the higher range of scores.

[Anonymous]

Has he considered taking the ACT? My kid was getting in the 1400s on SAT practice tests. Ended up doing the ACT instead and got a 35.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a strong advocate of taking test after junior year. No matter what curriculum the kids have in junior year, it will help tremendously on the verbal part if there are some advanced humanities courses (comprehension, analytical). Math part is inherently easy and can be prepped. Often times 1550+ can be easily obtained one and done.

This just isn’t true. There are many students who have 3.9+ and cannot even get 1400. They have other skills and strong ECs, so they go TO and do quite well.

It’s rare to get over 1500 let alone 1550.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a strong advocate of taking test after junior year. No matter what curriculum the kids have in junior year, it will help tremendously on the verbal part if there are some advanced humanities courses (comprehension, analytical). Math part is inherently easy and can be prepped. Often times 1550+ can be easily obtained one and done.

I agree with your point about taking after junior year to increase the verbal portion. One of my kids did this, took Oct senior year and increased by something like 80 points over their junior year verbal with no additional prep (yet dropped 90 pts in math or something lol, but was happy to have the superscore).

Where I would disagree is that some will be ready for a one-and-done 1550+ in August of junior year, and for those kids, it's nice to have that out of the way so early. This was the case for two of my older kids and my high school junior is prepped and ready to take August, with 790 verbal on the latest practice test - we'll see how it turns out. If it doesn't work out, she'll take it again sometime later.

[Anonymous]

Stop now. It's enough. You'll see.

[Anonymous]

Better parents? Your weaknesses are shining through unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better parents? Your weaknesses are shining through unfortunately.

MYOB!

[Anonymous]

Give him up for adoption?

quote=Anonymous]DS is a rising junior and an excellent student at his school. He already took honors precalc as a sophomore and achieved a near perfect score in that class. He’s aiming at a few T20 schools and knows that’s it’s almost a must to get over 1500 on the SAT.

He’s taken 4 practice SATs over the summer and his score is ranging between a 1450 and a 1490, almost equally split between Math and English. He’s already taken several sessions with a tutor he likes at a reputable testing place in the area. The tests aren’t revealing any particular areas of weakness.

If your child was in a similar position , what has helped the most? More practice tests? Changing tutors? Simply more studying ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a rising junior and an excellent student at his school. He already took honors precalc as a sophomore and achieved a near perfect score in that class. He’s aiming at a few T20 schools and knows that’s it’s almost a must to get over 1500 on the SAT.

He’s taken 4 practice SATs over the summer and his score is ranging between a 1450 and a 1490, almost equally split between Math and English. He’s already taken several sessions with a tutor he likes at a reputable testing place in the area. The tests aren’t revealing any particular areas of weakness.

If your child was in a similar position , what has helped the most? More practice tests? Changing tutors? Simply more studying ?

If a rising junior is at 1490, 1500+ will get achieved once the SAT is taken the summer going into senior year.

Focus on rigor and getting As.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a strong advocate of taking test after junior year. No matter what curriculum the kids have in junior year, it will help tremendously on the verbal part if there are some advanced humanities courses (comprehension, analytical). Math part is inherently easy and can be prepped. Often times 1550+ can be easily obtained one and done.

This just isn’t true. There are many students who have 3.9+ and cannot even get 1400. They have other skills and strong ECs, so they go TO and do quite well.

It’s rare to get over 1500 let alone 1550.

With 1490 sophomore year? you bet they will 1550+ junior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a rising junior and an excellent student at his school. He already took honors precalc as a sophomore and achieved a near perfect score in that class. He’s aiming at a few T20 schools and knows that’s it’s almost a must to get over 1500 on the SAT.

He’s taken 4 practice SATs over the summer and his score is ranging between a 1450 and a 1490, almost equally split between Math and English. He’s already taken several sessions with a tutor he likes at a reputable testing place in the area. The tests aren’t revealing any particular areas of weakness.

If your child was in a similar position , what has helped the most? More practice tests? Changing tutors? Simply more studying ?

Sorry, that's just wrong.

[Anonymous]

This whole SAT thing and spending so much time practicing the test is just utterly stupid and a colossal waste of time and money. Looking back, I regret every single moment of it. My SAT outcome had no effect whatsoever on how well I’ve done so far in my life and the college I attended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a rising junior and an excellent student at his school. He already took honors precalc as a sophomore and achieved a near perfect score in that class. He’s aiming at a few T20 schools and knows that’s it’s almost a must to get over 1500 on the SAT.

He’s taken 4 practice SATs over the summer and his score is ranging between a 1450 and a 1490, almost equally split between Math and English. He’s already taken several sessions with a tutor he likes at a reputable testing place in the area. The tests aren’t revealing any particular areas of weakness.

If your child was in a similar position , what has helped the most? More practice tests? Changing tutors? Simply more studying ?

Just take the test. October, June (if necessary) or June, August (if necessary)

[Anonymous]

Sophomore year, moms came here inquiring about sat.
Junior year, moms then ask about what to do with no ECs.
It should be reversed. Devote the efforts to ECs in sophomore year, creating some really big impact. Then just take the test in junior. That will eliminate both questions.