SAT Tomorrow

[EyeSeeCold]

Pointers?

What is the usual material that appears on the tests?

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

May god help you?

 

[Saoshyant]

You haven't taken the PSATs or a SAT prep class? At least you can take it more than once.

 

[cheese]

Isn't there a website online where you can take a practice test? The official SAT site. iirc there are logic questions, math questions and I think they've introduced an essay section recently and the scoring's different to how it used to be.

Somewhat similar to an IQ test. The questions really aren't very hard, I think.

 

[shoeless]

the SAT was insanely easy for me. it's just long.
most of the material is fairly basic. math, reading, writing, that's it.
but yeah i really wouldn't worry about it. i didn't study or anything at all and i got 2000 even last year, which from what i understand isn't too shabby.

 

[Bird]

Basic math + reading comprehension + grammar rules + writing.


You'll do fine (:
You know this stuff.

Plus, it's not really that difficult.

 

[Da Blob]

I think the major problem that many have with standardized tests is simply 'test anxiety'. If one really doesn't give a shit, one can do quite well...

 

[Stoic Beverage]

I think the major problem that many have with standardized tests is simply 'test anxiety'. If one really doesn't give a shit, one can do quite well...

Intrinsic INTP effect: Apathy
+7 INT

 

[EditorOne]

Actually, some of it can be fun. Some of the questions on the "verbal" side of things are incredibly nuanced, and you can reach a wonderful point where you know the answer because you're inside the mind of the person who wrote the question. I can still remember that and believe me it has been a very long time indeed. Yeah, I did really well, top percentile in the country and all that, -- but we had a girl in my small school who scored a perfect 800. That will remind you that even in the top one percent, there's still a huge range of intelligence in play. And we had another girl who apparently was off by one answer/line when she filled in most of the circles and got like a 250, convincing her for the longest time that she was an idiot despite 13 years of As and Bs. (Which is to remind you that umm, this is one of those times when details like that are critically important, so put up with it.)
Just give it the attention it deserves and set aside the old INTP urge to say "oh, good enough." It's one time when overthinking can help you out -- but usually when you're all done and have the time to go back to a couple of the ones you had that slight twinge of uneasiness about.

 

[Da Blob]

Intrinsic INTP effect: Apathy
+7 INT

well, yes and no, I was trying to imply that one's attitude is of prime importance. I always saw a test as a "Word Game" like an elaborate word puzzle. I had fun taking the tests, because I was not anxious or concerned about the results. I think that thinking about the results and the implications of the results can be a distraction and a negative influence on one's performance during the test.

However, I may have always had an advantage. There never was any question that I would do well enough on any test to surpass any 'needed score".

There is something called "Achievement Motivation" A few of us are internally motivated to achieve Mastery, while the majority of students are externally motivated to simply not fail to meet a standard set by Others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_for_achievement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achievement_Motivation_Inventory

Hmmm(?) this topic might be worth the trouble of writing an OP for a new thread...

EDIT: of course, this being The Forum there are already some old threads about the topic

Madness and Motivation
http://intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=7850

Intrinsic Motivation
http://intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=4600

 

[crippli]

Pointers?

Not sure what you mean with pointers.

But I'd probably find another university that wouldn't put this sort of pressure on me.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

The replies were too late. :/.

You haven't taken the PSATs or a SAT prep class? At least you can take it more than once.

Isn't there a website online where you can take a practice test? The official SAT site. iirc there are logic questions, math questions and I think they've introduced an essay section recently and the scoring's different to how it used to be.

Somewhat similar to an IQ test. The questions really aren't very hard, I think.

I took PSATs years ago. Don't remember any of it. And yea there was the online practice test. But I know real tests are always different.

the SAT was insanely easy for me. it's just long.
most of the material is fairly basic. math, reading, writing, that's it.
but yeah i really wouldn't worry about it. i didn't study or anything at all and i got 2000 even last year, which from what i understand isn't too shabby.

Basic math + reading comprehension + grammar rules + writing.


You'll do fine (:
You know this stuff.

Plus, it's not really that difficult.

Yeah I forgot to ask exactly how they'd be. Social hype treats it like something worse than finals, but right, it was nothing.

I think the major problem that many have with standardized tests is simply 'test anxiety'. If one really doesn't give a shit, one can do quite well...

Wasn't anxious, just uncertain. More of the material than my abilities.

Intrinsic INTP effect: Apathy
+7 INT

2 hours of sleep + getting in late.

Achievement unlocked.

Actually, some of it can be fun. Some of the questions on the "verbal" side of things are incredibly nuanced, and you can reach a wonderful point where you know the answer because you're inside the mind of the person who wrote the question. I can still remember that and believe me it has been a very long time indeed. Yeah, I did really well, top percentile in the country and all that, -- but we had a girl in my small school who scored a perfect 800. That will remind you that even in the top one percent, there's still a huge range of intelligence in play. And we had another girl who apparently was off by one answer/line when she filled in most of the circles and got like a 250, convincing her for the longest time that she was an idiot despite 13 years of As and Bs. (Which is to remind you that umm, this is one of those times when details like that are critically important, so put up with it.)
Just give it the attention it deserves and set aside the old INTP urge to say "oh, good enough." It's one time when overthinking can help you out -- but usually when you're all done and have the time to go back to a couple of the ones you had that slight twinge of uneasiness about.

Yeah the contexts were too easy to grasp. I had a problem of pursuing instead of skipping. But I think I did good.

Not sure what you mean with pointers.

But I'd probably find another university that wouldn't put this sort of pressure on me.

Me neither. No pressure, it's insurance.

 

[Trebuchet]

Plan to take it again, and get a book of sample tests. Take at least three of them. Memorize the instructions so you don't have to waste time reading them. This often improves scores by 100 points.

Also, bring some high-protein snack and take advantage of any chance to get up and stretch. It is a long test.

Don't even look like you might look at someone else's paper, don't try to remove anything from the room, etc. They are kind of paranoid.

And don't stress about it too much. The score matters for a short time while people apply to college. Anxiety is definitely not needed. It's just a standardized test.

 

[EditorOne]

I'm curious, also, what you have to produce to prove identity. In one of my books I have the not-outstandingly-bright senior class playboy, who "needs" to go to Harvard, coercing one of the geeks to take his SATs for him simply by going to another school and producing fake ID. Fear of discovery motivates death by science project and I've spun a mystery around it. It's a nice yarn. When, as research, I queried the SAT on what precautions they take to prevent such things from happening, I of course got no response whatsoever, not even an acknowledgment of my query.
When I took it, back when Lincoln was president, it was at my own high school and identity was a given. But even then, if you had a work conflict or something, you could go to another high school on another date to take it, and I could have put down any name I wanted, so far as I know. I thought my scenario was plausible. I mean, they aren't making you supply DNA samples or anything, right?
Just curious. Hope it all turns out well for you.

 

[TheHmmmm]

Just a note on the essay portion: write as much as you can.

First, check Wikipedia's page on the SAT and go down to the essay. I'll post some passages that are interesting:

1. The average time each reader/grader spends on each essay is less than 3 minutes.
2. Dr. Les Perelman analyzed 15 scored sample essays contained in the College Board's ScoreWrite book along with 30 other training samples and found that in over 90% of cases, the essay's score could be predicted from simply counting the number of words in the essay.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAT#cite_note-nytimes-8
3. Dr. Perelman trained high school seniors to write essays that made little sense but contained infrequently used words such as "plethora" and "myriad." All of the students received scores of "10" or better, which placed the essays in the 92nd percentile or higher.

Speaking as someone who took the test twice and scored vastly different on the essay each time, I can confirm this. My first essay was rather short, but I think very well written, kind of a "no bullshit" paper. It got a 7 out of 12. My second essay about cell phone usage and its implications on social interactions, a topic on which I really had nothing to say since I never really used a cell phone much, was 2 complete pages of bullshit. It got a 10.

Also, apparently historical references really go over well with the scorers. I had nothing so...meh.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAT#cite_note-Fooling_the_College_Board-9

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Sorry for the late response, no excuses.

Plan to take it again, and get a book of sample tests. Take at least three of them. Memorize the instructions so you don't have to waste time reading them. This often improves scores by 100 points.

Also, bring some high-protein snack and take advantage of any chance to get up and stretch. It is a long test.

Don't even look like you might look at someone else's paper, don't try to remove anything from the room, etc. They are kind of paranoid.

And don't stress about it too much. The score matters for a short time while people apply to college. Anxiety is definitely not needed. It's just a standardized test.

This is what I meant by pointers I think. I won't be taking it again, I'm pretty sure I don't need to. Hmm, now that you bring it up, I think I spent half a second reading instructions. The context of the test was easy to grasp so instructions weren't needed. Had a muffin and ate it during break intervals, we had 3-4. I'm not stressing, really, I just didn't know what to expect.

I'm curious, also, what you have to produce to prove identity. In one of my books I have the not-outstandingly-bright senior class playboy, who "needs" to go to Harvard, coercing one of the geeks to take his SATs for him simply by going to another school and producing fake ID. Fear of discovery motivates death by science project and I've spun a mystery around it. It's a nice yarn. When, as research, I queried the SAT on what precautions they take to prevent such things from happening, I of course got no response whatsoever, not even an acknowledgment of my query.
When I took it, back when Lincoln was president, it was at my own high school and identity was a given. But even then, if you had a work conflict or something, you could go to another high school on another date to take it, and I could have put down any name I wanted, so far as I know. I thought my scenario was plausible. I mean, they aren't making you supply DNA samples or anything, right?
Just curious. Hope it all turns out well for you.

Lol.

I used my state ID.

I'll never understand aristocrats.

Just a note on the essay portion: write as much as you can.

First, check Wikipedia's page on the SAT and go down to the essay. I'll post some passages that are interesting:

1. The average time each reader/grader spends on each essay is less than 3 minutes.
2. Dr. Les Perelman analyzed 15 scored sample essays contained in the College Board's ScoreWrite book along with 30 other training samples and found that in over 90% of cases, the essay's score could be predicted from simply counting the number of words in the essay.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAT#cite_note-nytimes-8
3. Dr. Perelman trained high school seniors to write essays that made little sense but contained infrequently used words such as "plethora" and "myriad." All of the students received scores of "10" or better, which placed the essays in the 92nd percentile or higher.

Speaking as someone who took the test twice and scored vastly different on the essay each time, I can confirm this. My first essay was rather short, but I think very well written, kind of a "no bullshit" paper. It got a 7 out of 12. My second essay about cell phone usage and its implications on social interactions, a topic on which I really had nothing to say since I never really used a cell phone much, was 2 complete pages of bullshit. It got a 10.

Also, apparently historical references really go over well with the scorers. I had nothing so...meh.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAT#cite_note-Fooling_the_College_Board-9

I screwed this part up, this always happens. I take forever to come up with an idea and soon as it starts to get good, "Time's up!".

What do time constraints have to do with anything in creative writing?


ACT in April. I'll have another try.

 

[snafupants]

The ACT allows you to choose which scores to report, right?

 

[MysticDragonfly]

Take it once. See how you do.

Then see what you need to improve on; if it's reading, read challenging books to build your vocab and overall skill.

If it's math, well, I can't really help you there other than telling you to practice (practice tests are good). SAT math is easy but sometimes tricky or misleading.

And writing just involves an essay (just be as creative as you can; big words, crazy ideas, etc.) and basic grammar knowledge.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

The ACT allows you to choose which scores to report, right?

Not sure.

Take it once. See how you do.

Then see what you need to improve on; if it's reading, read challenging books to build your vocab and overall skill.

If it's math, well, I can't really help you there other than telling you to practice (practice tests are good). SAT math is easy but sometimes tricky or misleading.

And writing just involves an essay (just be as creative as you can; big words, crazy ideas, etc.) and basic grammar knowledge.

Already done with.

 

[EditorOne]

You realize we're all expecting to find out how it all turned out, right? I mean, we don't need scores, but "worse than I expected" or "better than I had any right to hope" would be OK.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Ah, I was unaware.

The best part was the muffin. I opted for scores in the mail, they should be here by now. Not sure how test scoring goes so I don't have anything to base my performance on. I wasn't freaking out though.

 

[EditorOne]

If it is as it was long ago when the world was young, you get a hard number score (used to be based on 800 as the perfect score). They also tell you where you rank among all the people taking the test, ie., what percentile you're in. The percentile is quite useful in setting and managing expectations, up to a point.
If they'd had a socialization test to go with the scholastic aptitute test, I'd have been in the bottom 10 percent.

 

[Words]

I'm late but I think in the writing section, the more Words, the better. Quality of content doesn't matter as much.

 

[EditorOne]

Interesting point, Words. But I think the folks who created this test set up their own paradigm for grading the essays, that is, the grader is required to follow a plan. So even if you have a super intelligent essay writer making the universe implode with brilliance, and a total moron grading it, you don't have to worry about the axiom that stupid can't detect smart. The testers are directed on what to look for. Cripes, they might even have computers grading essays these days, for all I know. So content might matter, but lots of words certainly doesn't hurt.

 

[Words]

Paradigms shift when faced with reality. With so much to check and with limited people(i think) to check them, how rigid can it be? I agree that content still matters but I think it matters slightly less than length when we're talking about this test. Though, really, I don't have much of an argument.

 

[GottabeKB]

Paradigms shift when faced with reality. With so much to check and with limited people(i think) to check them, how rigid can it be? I agree that content still matters but I think it matters slightly less than length when we're talking about this test. Though, really, I don't have much of an argument.

Big surprise, Words is allocating for more words! Who would have thought! It's not his middle name, its his first!