My Story From 530 to a Better Score
SAT preparation is quite tough actually. Having scored nearly around 500 in Math on the SAT, I can feel your pain. Trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve shared how I scored 530 in both modules of the SAT Math in my previous blog My SAT Prep Journey: The Question I Got Wrong in Mock Test 4. To be honest, after this score, I was terribly disappointed as I expected much more. But you know what? That score became a very big learning experience for me. And I believe if I could push through, you can too!
So here take me through how I picked up myself from the mistakes made and the way I changed to get over close to that 600 mark. It was not a perfect journey, but it makes it more worth sharing.
Step 1: Recognize the Gaps – Understand What is Shaping You
I saw my score and realized two main things:
- Weak Concepts: The questions from Circle, Right triangles and trigonometry, Power and Indices, Algebraic Expressions and Linear equations in two variables completely left me blank about how to solve it and how to get it solved because I was not having the conceptual clarity. I guessed either those questions or skipped them.
- Careless Mistakes: Because I read quickly, I could see the question as an easy one to answer. But not reading carefully was my cause of negligence, and so I failed at it.
What You Should Do:
After going through and scrutinizing my mistakes, I took some steps that I want you to take in order to avoid the mistakes I made before. Here are the steps:
- Review Your Mock Tests: Go through every question you got wrong or you just skipped. Then ask yourself – Was this question wrong due to lack of understanding? Or did you just rush and make a calculation mistake? Or you lacked time management? Then, categorize them as per your answers.
- Focus on Important Topics: Some topics like linear equations, functions, and geometry are highly recurrent. So If you want to improve your score, then work on strengthening these important areas first.
Step 2: Master Time Management
I learned just that speed does not always equal success at the hard way from my journey. I was missing questions because I was in panic and didn’t have time for problems. I would have gotten right given enough time. So I prepared my strategy to manage my time effectively while sitting for the examination.
My Strategy:
- Practice Under Timed Conditions: I set timers for practice problems to simulate real test pressure and improve my performance under time conditions.
- Easy First, Hard Later: I solved the easy questions first and kept the harder questions for later. This really boosted my confidence and gave me much more time for the trickier ones.
What You Need To Know:
- Give about 1-1.5 minutes per question in the first module and 1.5-2 minutes per question in the second module.
- Don’t waste your time sticking to only one tough question. Move on and come back to it later if time allows.
Step 3: Strengthen Your Weak Areas
I certainly learned that I couldn’t just practice blindly after Mock Test 4: I had to work on my weak areas to bring my score up. So here are the things which worked for me to get a shift from score 500- 600.
What Worked for Me:
- Topic-Based Practice: I worked on practicing the problems from the topics I struggled with the most. I also tried some sessions on Moonpreneur, and they really helped me.
- Understanding the Concept: For every mistake, I asked myself: Why did I get this question wrong? Understanding the concept behind the error is crucial to follow the right path.
Pro Tip For You:
- Understand the concepts, not memorize them. The SAT just loves testing how well you grasp concepts rather than just how fast you can recall formulas. Trust me, once you have conceptual clarity, you are through with this.
QUICK QUIZ: Take A Pause, Set Your Timer and Solve This Question
The function \(f\) is defined by the given equation. For what value of \(x\) does \(f(x)\) reach its minimum ?
B) \(-13\).
C) \(-\frac{\Large 23}{\Large 2}\).
D) \(-\frac{\Large 3}{\Large 2}\).
Correct Option: D
Explanation: This question is actually based on Calculus but, don’t worry! Even if you have not studied Calculus, you can do it by using pure algebraic methods. Though it could be a bit longer.
Bonus Tip:
If you know Calculus, it’s going to help you save a whole lot of time.
Still looking for the right answer as to whether or not to take Calculus classes? Of course, I recommend it. Not only does Calculus help you ace the SAT exam, but it even becomes handy for your studies in higher education. Go for a Calculus course-it’s totally worth it!
Step 4: Learn from Every Mistake
I spoke about how I sort of forgot important details because of overconfidence in my last blog. Well, all these things have given me some lessons from experience.
- Every detail matters: Skimming through questions may not be the best way to go about seeing them either. Be slow and focus on key information.
- Review Correct Answers Too: Sometimes, we guess the answers but get them correct. This can be fatal if we don’t actually know why these answers are right. One should thus double-check their rationale, at all times.
Step 5: Utilize Reliable Resources
Many resources are available these days talking about the SAT preparation material. I found out that it is not about the number of resources really but about the quality that matters more. The following resources were really useful for me in raising my score from 500 to 600 or more.
- Official SAT Practice Tests: These are the best indicators of real test difficulty.
- Focused Online Courses: I took the SAT Math Prep Course by Moonpreneur. It gave me structured lessons and plenty of practice questions that targeted my weak areas.
Bonus Tip:
Get a few good resources and nail them instead of having hundreds floating around.
Additional Resources Which Helped Me
Beyond mock tests, there were some other resources as well which played a crucial role in my SAT preparation journey and helped me achieve my target score. Check out these extra resources as well:
Step 6: Build Confidence for the Day of the Test
Achieving that 600 mark requires not just knowledge of mathematics but also the ability to withstand test pressures. Hence, I follow the approach outlined below to stay confident:
- Mock Tests in Real Conditions: Study in a quiet environment, subject yourself to the full timing, and take breaks as one would on the day of an exam.
- Positive Mindset: Yes, you heard that right, a Positive Mindset is as important as your preparation. So, always think positively. Remind yourself of your journey. And remember, preparation leads to confidence, so prepare well.
You can even choose to join the Moonpreneur SAT Math Prep Course.
Final Pieces of Advice: You, Too, Can Do This!
Moving the SAT Math score from a lesser 500 to a good 600 can be achieved with the correct method. So much so, now that it brings us to a quick recap of the do’s and don’ts in this blog:
- Spot the gaps in the concepts and remedy them.
- Value your time.
- Diligently practice pointed questions.
- Learn thoroughly from every error.
- Use only time-tested good resources.
- Gain confidence through practice.
Remember, mock tests are where you test your knowledge; SATs are where you test your skills.
Preparing for SAT Exam? Assess Your Skills with Moonpreneur’s SAT Mock Test.
Be patient and continue to trust your preparedness. The advances you make are the things that matter – I made it happen; you will too!
I believe you will achieve your target. All the best for your SAT journey-go get that 600+ score! And yes, please do not forget to share your success journey and also your improved score in the comments! We would like to hear from you!!
