How I Improved My SAT Score from 1120 to 1480

SAT, yes, it's something commonly heard about, talked about, and obviously cared about. Every Ivy League dream most certainly ends with a low SAT score, if not every mine certainly did. Stanford? I couldn't even get into a local college. 1120 was not that bad, I would say. Improving my SAT score was important, and I did it just the way this title suggests.

My parents, my friends, the girl I love, and everyone else mocked my score. Yes, you heard it right. They all hated the 1120 I scored, but it wasn't them that made me improve it; it was my dream of a Stanford Degree. First, I would like to thank myself, just like Snoop Dogg, for all this improvement. Moving forward to the thanking, how could I forget the endless Sprite I took, the countless biscuits I ate, and, yes, finally, water?

Why 1120 Wasn't Enough?

I will begin with my first SAT experience. I'd been told the SAT was a "big deal," but I didn't realize how much of an impact a high score could have on my college applications. The 1120 served as a terrible wake-up call for me. I wasn't failing, but I definitely wasn't competitive. I could get into several institutions with that score, but what about the ones I wanted? Not likely.

Looking back, I knew I should have done better on the first test. I had just browsed many prep books and taken a few practice examinations. I assumed I could "wing it," but SAT success demands strategy and time management, not essential intellect. That's when I decided I needed a severe overhaul of my approach.

Taking the SAT as a Game

A problem is as big as you think it is. My grandmother taught me that everything can be learned if you are like water. I think that was Bruce Lee that she quoted, but let's assume it was her original. I changed my mindset from taking the SAT as a test to taking it as a challenge. I did well on my second attempt, or did I not?

Practice makes a man perfect, and a woman too, but let's keep the proverb as it is. Improving my score was my main goal, but to achieve that, I wanted to learn more than just score. Hence, I changed my mindset from scoring to learning and being better. That way, it became easier for me to grasp the concepts, understand them, and apply them in the test.

Improvements are always tricky regarding high scores, or at least that's what everyone told me. But I did improve by a relatively large number, 360 to be precise. Wow, what a flex!

Understanding My Weaknesses

A bus ride home taught me more of this than anything else. I saw a kid playing a game on his mobile, and his aim was way off the targets, but his focus was more on his agility and movement. I assumed that if he worked a bit more on his aim, he could do better than this. Well, that's how you improve: You find your weaknesses and build your strengths around them.

I did it the same way: I found where I lacked the most, where I could improve, and how. As a result, I had a more realistic plan than most of the other score improvers at that time.

Math Section: My diagnostic test revealed that, while I was comfortable with introductory algebra, I struggled with geometry and trigonometry. I also struggled with multi-step issues, and I frequently ran out of time before finishing the segment.

Reading Section: I misread questions and got caught up in the wording. I also had difficulty keeping track of the critical points in the lengthy parts, particularly in the science and history sections.

Writing and Language Section: This was my best section, but I still lost points on grammar and punctuation questions. I wanted to clarify specific rules, such as parallelism and subject-verb agreement.

Building a Study Plan

After your evaluations, you need a plan—a plan that works and is possible. Don't create a schedule that is impossible to follow and even harder to repeat. What you need the most is a study plan with a normal framework around your schedule, a planned approach to certain SAT areas, and persistence.

Math, Math, and Math were always on my mind—even more than my girlfriend, no offence *winks. Improving my math section was my biggest concern, as it seemed to be the weakest part of my previous test. After carefully evaluating my last attempt at the SAT, I learned that timed practice and working on algebra and calculus could help me a lot, and it indeed did.

Reading: How could I not call myself an avid reader if I was into Kafka, Dostoevsky, Harold Bloom or Gabriel Garcia. A literature freak, some would say; others might not, but whatever, I never cared. Similarly, reading at the SAT was more than just reading; it was about creating a mental checklist. A checklist of phrases, passage tone, style, purpose, ideas, and more.

I did improve my comprehension of reading. Some techniques on the internet helped, and others didn't, but eventually, you need to find what works for you.

Writing and Language: Because this was my most vital part, I spent 30 minutes a few times weekly reading grammatical principles and practising problems. Every Saturday morning, I also scheduled timed, full-length practice tests. These were essential for increasing endurance and learning to pace myself. I learnt how to answer questions correctly, swiftly, and accurately.

Increase Your SAT Score

With hundreds of tips and thousands of tricks, I have just the 5 you need to increase your SAT score. If I can do it, you all can do it as well; if it weren't for the increasing competition, I wouldn't have ever been to school, but guess what? Here I am. An average student is writing this piece to help you ace your SAT or improve your score.

1. Golden Rule of Guessing

Websites, forums, guidelines, courses, and whatnot supported this golden rule. An elimination process helps, they say, and I do say it too, after implementation. I assume it worked well for me, as I always find at least two incorrect options. Consider taking a guess between four answers and a guess between two. I would definitely take that chance, and you should, too.

2. Reading the Questions First

I learned to read the questions before diving into the passage for the Reading section. This helped me know exactly what I was looking for and saved me from re-reading the passage multiple times.

3. Stuck on a Question? Skip it.

Challenging problems are part of the test. It's more likely for you to be stuck somewhere than to just skim across the test and get a perfect score. What I learnt over Reddit from past test-takers was to skip a question that took more than 30 seconds. I followed a simple rule that some random guy on the web explained: 'Circle the skipped question and come back to it if you have time. Stop losing your easy points because of time.'

4. Math Should Be Your Friend

Math on the SAT is more than just complex questions; it's more conceptual than you can think of. I understood that when I met Rohaan Ahmad, a perfect SAT scorer from New Jersey. He explained to me how the math questions on the exam just feel complex. He then helped me understand how the test is about your conceptual skills.

What could've been done to improve Math? A better approach, a better understanding and who better than a perfect SAT scorer to guide you. Rohaan has been of great help and taught me a lot about understanding the concepts, approaching the questions and more. This improved my chances of acing the math part, which I did.

5. Cramming is Your Worst Enemy

Irrelevant! Yes, cramming is irrelevant. It does not make any sense. It never did to me, at least. A friend of mine, as I love to call her, 'Meen,' told me that,

Consistency is better than cramming.

I thought about it afterwards, and then I approached my study goals with it to find out it was nothing less than magic. It allowed me to learn faster, better, and remember what I consumed.

Here Comes the Day of Judgement!

The test day was about how well you can hold your nerves and perform under pressure. I did well, to be honest with you. I was more than happy with what I did that day. Yes, it might sound like self-promotion, but I would instead tell you what I did rather than keep a low profile to help you achieve your targets.

My approach was simple: keep a steady pace, know what I am doing, trust my instincts, the practice I did, and everything else. Doubting yourself is the worst thing you could do during the SAT.

Time Management: There was no need to rush, and there was no need to waste time either. You know your time, and you must be sure of your actions. Hence, I used my time for each question but didn't spend a second longer on a question than I was supposed to.

Inside Scoop: That Omega Seamaster from my Girlfriend Helped :)

Errors happen; you can make them; everyone has at some point. It's one thing you can't change; therefore, you have to go on. For example, if I answered a question incorrectly, I didn't let it ruin my exam; instead, I moved on and gave the following my all. Therefore, I advise you to quit second-guessing yourself.

Attention span is another thing you can be concerned with; losing attention on a long exam like the SAT is easy. The reading section, though, is frankly very dull and kind of absurd. However, I was not there for entertainment but to improve my score, so I stood firm, took deep breaths, focused and did what I had to do, and you can do it too.

You Can Do It, Too

Raising my SAT score from 1120 to 1480 was difficult. Nonetheless, achieving success and your target goals is not impossible; it's achievable. I recommend that others follow what pleases them and ensure they know what they are doing. In that sense, a targeted approach to the SAT will improve their chances of improvement. From a focused demeanour on exam day to test-taking tips and tricks and mock exams, everything has its own importance.

The SAT, the villain in almost every college applicant's story, is a test that has so much value yet so little guidance. As a two-time test taker with nearly 1500 SAT, well, not 1500, it feels good to show off and stretch that 1480 to some extent, isn't it? Well, coming back to the point, as a two-time test taker, I would say the test is more than just knowledge and strategy; it is about your persistence, approach, and mindset.

A well-planned, well-organized, and well-executed strategy can lead anyone to improve their SAT scores. An SAT course might be good for you; for others, self-study works, but whatever works for you, find it and follow it with a plan. Viola! Your SAT score just improved.