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Be honest—when you saw three practice tests in the planner, your immediate reaction was probably something like, “Maybe … I’ll do one. And, that’s a maybe.”
“Doesn’t sound like you want it BADLY at all!”
While we won’t speculate on the likelihood of a 400-point increase, we will speculate that such an increase is unlikely without a lot of practice tests and some help 3 . Fortunately, you have this book and this class. But that’s just the start. Start planning for the finish!
Relevant
In terms of the SAT, students often just arbitrarily quote scores.
“I want a 1400.” “Why?” “Because it’s a good score.” “For which school?”
Did you know that less than 5% of colleges have an average SAT score of 1400? So unless you’re applying to one of them, maybe you don’t need that high of a score. And if you are applying to one of them, then you definitely need a SMART plan!
Time-Bound
Every plan needs a beginning and an end. What’s yours? When it comes to the SAT, most students do NOT give themselves enough time.
“But I’m so good at cramming.” “Cram the SAT??? Have you been paying attention?!” “This requires a plan, not a cram!”
While we won’t speculate on the right amount of time, we will pontificate that it’s probably longer than you think.
In his book Outliers , author and journalist Malcolm Gladwell once posited that it took at least 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at something. Whether he literally meant 10,000 hours is up for debate, but the 10,000-hour rule as it became to be known was widely criticized. 4 First of all, when it comes to practicing, it’s not just about quantity; it’s also about quality. It’s about deliberate practice—the kind of practice designed to improve your abilities.
3 In addition to this book, there’s tutorials on Khan Academy and YouTube. 4 Gladwell later clarified that the rule was never meant to be a rigid formula but rather a way to highlight the importance of practice in achieving expertise. He acknowledged that other factors like talent and opportunity also play significant roles, and the 10,000-hour figure was more illustrative than definitive.
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