Comments on: Mastering Your SAT Test Weaknesses http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:44:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Matt http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-630 Matt Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:05:20 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-630 Hey Karl, Thanks for your help on preparing me for the SAT. Your guidance and advice showed me how anyone can do well on the SAT and that every problem has a solution. I still feel that I can do better so I hope to here from you soon. Thanks again. Hey Karl,

Thanks for your help on preparing me for the SAT. Your guidance and advice showed me how anyone can do well on the SAT and that every problem has a solution. I still feel that I can do better so I hope to here from you soon. Thanks again.

]]> By: Khanh Ngo http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-629 Khanh Ngo Sun, 04 Mar 2007 03:48:11 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-629 Hi Karl, Thank you so much for your help. You have made me feel much more confident in taking the SAT now. I really appreciate that! Best regards, Khanh Ngo Hi Karl,
Thank you so much for your help. You have made me feel much more confident in taking the SAT now. I really appreciate that!
Best regards,
Khanh Ngo

]]> By: Karl Schellscheidt http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-628 Karl Schellscheidt Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:50:33 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-628 Wren, I would search the College Board's website for an answer to your question. Go to www.collegeboard.com If you cannot find a solution on the website, I would call one of the College Board's toll-free numbers. They are listed on the site's directory page. Good luck. Karl Wren,

I would search the College Board’s website for an answer to your question. Go to http://www.collegeboard.com

If you cannot find a solution on the website, I would call one of the College Board’s toll-free numbers. They are listed on the site’s directory page.

Good luck.

Karl

]]> By: Karl Schellscheidt http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-627 Karl Schellscheidt Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:47:31 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-627 Khanh Ngo, Again sorry for the delay. I have been very busy tutoring, working as an attorney and helping my wife raise our three children. Skipping: If you get to a question that is of a type that you consistently get wrong in practice, skip it quickly. For all others, I would give myself at least 45 to 50 seconds before moving on from a math problem and a little less for a reading or writing problem -- maybe 30 to 40 seconds. Remember, you will always be a bit confused when you first look at a new problem. Keep reading and rereading problems until things start to make sense. After you have struggled to gain understanding on a particular problem, the answer will be apparent (or how to get to the answer will be apparent). And if it is not, skip it and move on. There is no room for emotion when taking the test.You can always go back to the problems you skipped if you have time at the end. While the SAT tests vocabulary in the sentence completion portion of the critical reading section, both the SAT and the ACT test grammar skills. If possible, you should take both the SAT and ACT. Many colleges now accept either with student applications. (The nice part about the ACT is that you can send colleges your best ACT score only. When you send colleges your SAT scores, they all get sent.) Send me an update when you get a chance. Karl Khanh Ngo,

Again sorry for the delay. I have been very busy tutoring, working as an attorney and helping my wife raise our three children.

Skipping: If you get to a question that is of a type that you consistently get wrong in practice, skip it quickly. For all others, I would give myself at least 45 to 50 seconds before moving on from a math problem and a little less for a reading or writing problem — maybe 30 to 40 seconds. Remember, you will always be a bit confused when you first look at a new problem. Keep reading and rereading problems until things start to make sense. After you have struggled to gain understanding on a particular problem, the answer will be apparent (or how to get to the answer will be apparent). And if it is not, skip it and move on. There is no room for emotion when taking the test.You can always go back to the problems you skipped if you have time at the end.

While the SAT tests vocabulary in the sentence completion portion of the critical reading section, both the SAT and the ACT test grammar skills.

If possible, you should take both the SAT and ACT. Many colleges now accept either with student applications. (The nice part about the ACT is that you can send colleges your best ACT score only. When you send colleges your SAT scores, they all get sent.)

Send me an update when you get a chance.

Karl

]]> By: Wren http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-626 Wren Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:56:22 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-626 Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows where I can obtain my SAT scores from 15 years ago! I contacted my university and they said they only keep SAT scores from 7 years back. Please help! Appreciate it! Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows where I can obtain my SAT scores from 15 years ago! I contacted my university and they said they only keep SAT scores from 7 years back. Please help! Appreciate it!

]]> By: Karl Schellscheidt http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-625 Karl Schellscheidt Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:21:52 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-625 Khanh Ngo, Sorry for the delayed response. I was away over the weekend. I will respond to your questions in detail this evening. (I need to spend the day catching up on work. I am sure you understand.) Regards, Karl Khanh Ngo,

Sorry for the delayed response. I was away over the weekend. I will respond to your questions in detail this evening. (I need to spend the day catching up on work. I am sure you understand.)

Regards,

Karl

]]> By: Khanh Ngo http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-624 Khanh Ngo Sat, 24 Feb 2007 14:13:50 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-624 Hi Karl, Nice talking to you again. I followed your advices on learning new vocabulary and now I'm being used to learn new vocab and take them with me anytime and anywhere. I appreciate your inspiration a lot! In 2 months I will take the SAT but I'm pretty much confident in myself now. However, I still have some questions to ask you. In a typical SAT question, how long should we tackle it before deciding to skip and look at it again later? Is this different from a Math question to a Critical Reading question or is the time frame the same? In addition, I read from a book saying that SAT mainly aims at the vocabulary and the ACT mainly aims at the grammar. For an ESL student, should I consider taking the ACT or tackle both tests? I'll appreciate your help! P/S: Again, thank you so much for your inspiration! Hi Karl,
Nice talking to you again. I followed your advices on learning new vocabulary and now I’m being used to learn new vocab and take them with me anytime and anywhere. I appreciate your inspiration a lot! In 2 months I will take the SAT but I’m pretty much confident in myself now. However, I still have some questions to ask you. In a typical SAT question, how long should we tackle it before deciding to skip and look at it again later? Is this different from a Math question to a Critical Reading question or is the time frame the same? In addition, I read from a book saying that SAT mainly aims at the vocabulary and the ACT mainly aims at the grammar. For an ESL student, should I consider taking the ACT or tackle both tests? I’ll appreciate your help!
P/S: Again, thank you so much for your inspiration!

]]> By: Surina http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-623 Surina Sat, 24 Feb 2007 02:28:47 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-623 Hey Karl! Thanks for the advice.. I did finally break a 700! My score jumped from a 660 to a 700 because of your advice. Your tactic to spend up 40-50 seconds on each problem worked. I was rushing through the test before. Now my only problem is timing. I looked over the problems that I omitted or got wrong and I noticed that there were only 2 problems on the test that I didn't understand. The rest of the problems I could have gotten if I had more time or focused more. All I need is about 3-4 minutes! As soon as I finish the problem, I usually check them to see if I did them right. Am I simply being too cautious..or is that a good thing? Also, how do I tackle the "odd ball" problems... in my mind there seems to be no real strategy on solving them. It is really nice of you to be helping all of us for free! Your advice is noteworthy. I also live in New Jersey. Could you send me your contact information? If your schedule permits, I would like to take classes from you. Thank-you again! Hey Karl!

Thanks for the advice.. I did finally break a 700! My score jumped from a 660 to a 700 because of your advice. Your tactic to spend up 40-50 seconds on each problem worked. I was rushing through the test before. Now my only problem is timing. I looked over the problems that I omitted or got wrong and I noticed that there were only 2 problems on the test that I didn’t understand. The rest of the problems I could have gotten if I had more time or focused more. All I need is about 3-4 minutes!

As soon as I finish the problem, I usually check them to see if I did them right. Am I simply being too cautious..or is that a good thing? Also, how do I tackle the “odd ball” problems… in my mind there seems to be no real strategy on solving them.

It is really nice of you to be helping all of us for free! Your advice is noteworthy. I also live in New Jersey. Could you send me your contact information? If your schedule permits, I would like to take classes from you. Thank-you again!

]]> By: Karl http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-621 Karl Sat, 17 Feb 2007 05:09:12 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-621 Hi Surina, If you're getting an A in Honors Precalculus, you should be able to break 700 in the math on the SAT. You may want to start by selecting "Math" under the heading "Categories" in the right navigation column of my site. You should probably watch all the videos in that category. Students in Precalculus and higher often over complicate the easy problems. Be very mindful of that. You need to keep it simple wherever and whenever you can. Also, I always tell the students who I tutor privately that a little paranoia helps. What I mean is that you have to be a little paranoid about making careless errors, as most occur when you drop your concentration. If you have any follow-up questions after you watch the videos, let me know. If you keep practicing, you will eventually break 700. Once you have done so, the sky's the limit. Remember, you have until next fall to get the score you want and deserve. Don't put undue pressure on yourself at this point. You are still early in the process. Good Luck! Send me an update if and when you get a chance. Karl Hi Surina,

If you’re getting an A in Honors Precalculus, you should be able to break 700 in the math on the SAT. You may want to start by selecting “Math” under the heading “Categories” in the right navigation column of my site. You should probably watch all the videos in that category.

Students in Precalculus and higher often over complicate the easy problems. Be very mindful of that. You need to keep it simple wherever and whenever you can. Also, I always tell the students who I tutor privately that a little paranoia helps. What I mean is that you have to be a little paranoid about making careless errors, as most occur when you drop your concentration.

If you have any follow-up questions after you watch the videos, let me know. If you keep practicing, you will eventually break 700. Once you have done so, the sky’s the limit. Remember, you have until next fall to get the score you want and deserve. Don’t put undue pressure on yourself at this point. You are still early in the process.

Good Luck! Send me an update if and when you get a chance.

Karl

]]> By: Surina http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/comment-page-1/#comment-622 Surina Sat, 17 Feb 2007 04:48:41 +0000 http://blog.eprep.com/2006/09/02/mastering-your-sat-test-weaknesses/#comment-622 Hi Karl, I am currently getting an A in my Honors Precalculus coarse, but I am having trouble breaking a 700 on the SAT math section! When I take the SAT math portion, I usually get most if not all of the "hard" problems right but seem to get the easy-to-medium problems wrong! I could be getting overconfident. How do I help not making careless mistakes or reading the problems wrong? I am taking the SAT in less than 3 weeks.! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Hi Karl,

I am currently getting an A in my Honors Precalculus coarse, but I am having trouble breaking a 700 on the SAT math section! When I take the SAT math portion, I usually get most if not all of the “hard” problems right but seem to get the easy-to-medium problems wrong! I could be getting overconfident. How do I help not making careless mistakes or reading the problems wrong? I am taking the SAT in less than 3 weeks.! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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