Good Scores in the SAT

What are 'Good' SAT Scores?

Good scores in SAT play a vital role in assisting you gain admission to US colleges. The SAT scores are used by colleges to determine how prepared the applicant is for college. However, the test scores are not the only criteria for a successful application. The colleges take into account other aspects including the applicant's academic performance in school, essays, recommendation letters, involvement in community services, outstanding achievements in any field etc, to determine the outcome of an application. Good scores help to increase the chances of the application to be successful.

What is A Good SAT Score:

The SAT consists of three major sections of Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing with each section carrying a maximum score of 800 and a minimum of 200. While 2400 makes for a perfect score, a score of around 1500 is considered as the average acceptable score. The top colleges in the US expect a score higher than the average score. It is very hard to pin point a score that can be considered as the ideal 'good' score as the average scores vary between colleges. Thus, a good score is one that can help you to gain admission in the college of your choice.

How To Score High in SAT:

Preparation is the key to achieving high scores in SAT. Formulate a study plan and set aside certain hours in a day for the preparation. It is recommended that you study for at least four hours a day. There are three major sections in SAT and ample time has to be given to each section for preparation. If you are unable to decide where to start, it is better to take a diagnostic test at home. After the test, you would know the areas which require your attention more than others so that you can make a study plan.

Improving your vocabulary for the Reading section of the test can help you get high scores in the test. Learn a few new words everyday and know the context of usage of the words along with its meaning.

Practice is the only way to score well in the mathematics section of the test. The more you practice the better it will be. Practicing problems on a regular basis helps to lessen the chances of making careless mistakes.

For the Reading section it is advisable that you practice speed reading. Speed reading helps to save on time in reading the passages, which you can then use to answer the questions. As the content of the reading passages ranges from business related articles to social impact related articles, it is a good idea to read business journals and magazines. Keeping yourself updated with the current news events helps greatly in achieving good scores in the test.

Follow the guidelines when writing essays for the writing section. Make an outline first before you start with the writing. It is advisable that you avoid a free flowing essay with whatever comes to your mind. Instead, divide the essay into logical sections. Practice grammar to spot the wrong sentences and sound out the sentences in your head. If it seems wrong, then it probably is.

Practice the SAT sample tests as much as you can. Make a note of the answers you get wrong and revise the concepts to get them right the next time you take a practice test. After each test, compare the mistakes or wrong answers from previous tests. This will help you to measure your improvement and get good scores.

You should time the practice tests you take. This will help you to learn to pace yourself for the test. It is advisable that you do not spend too much time on a particular question and move on to the other questions. You may want to guess the answers for a few questions. However, avoid random guessing and use the method of eliminating the answers that do not satisfy the required conditions.

With a systematic study plan and a good amount of practice, achieving remarkable scores in SAT becomes easy.