SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic

Posted: Apr 04 2011 03:01 pm

I want to apply for an Officer Program for the Navy, and I need to take my SATs or ACTs.

I've never taken either, and also have done no form of Academics for the past 6 1/2 years, so I'm going to be pretty damn rusty.

Good news, I only have to score a 1000 (500 math, 500 English) on my SATs or 21 on my ACTs to be eligible. Which I hear isn't that bad at all, and I'm not an idiot when it comes to test taking, I just need to knock the rust off since I haven't done any Algebra or really anything above simple math in FOREVER.

My question is, people with experience, which test do you recommend? Also any Study/Prep Books you would recommend?

I have until July 1st to have my Package submitted for the year, or if anything, I can always shoot for it next year.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 03:15 pm

SAT's are the ones I went through. It felt like a test that had just general questions. I'm aware that SAT's also remove part of the sections so they might not have the hardest part as a scored section, but likewise they might not score the easiest. They also give partial points.
http://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2nd/dp/0874478529
I think we used the first edition of this book for my College Prep class.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 03:16 pm

I had the SAT and ended up getting a little over 1400 on mine with practically no studying, but that's not necessarily typical results. My parents made me get a study guide, but I never opened it. I also drew a dinosaur on one of the essays.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 03:20 pm

i scored shitty on my SAT's 12 years ago. i blamed it on the venue & the early start time. or im just an idiot & those tests are biased

Posted: Apr 04 2011 03:23 pm

Eat an algebra book to absorb it's power.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Atma wrote:

Good news, I only have to score a 1000 (500 math, 500 English) on my SATs or 21 on my ACTs to be eligible.

Isn't the SAT now based on 3 sections?

BTW... I would get my ass kicked by the math portion of the SATs now... I use computers, why do I need to know math?

Posted: Apr 04 2011 03:28 pm

ACTs were way easier for me. And getting a 21? A moron could get that score.

1000 on SATs isn't that difficult either, but I'd definitely go for the ACT.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 03:35 pm

I took the ACTs and if I recall the average score is 20 or 21 so it can't be that hard to get. I didn't know half the crap on the math section and still ended up with a 30 overall. I imagine that with a little studying to recall your algebra you could at least score in the high 20's.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 03:40 pm

I got a 1040 back when I took my SAT in high school (before they added that essay portion), but I think I would've gotten higher if I wasn't distracted with the knowledge my family would be heading down to Disney World (first time) after I finished.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 05:20 pm

Blackout wrote:

Eat an algebra book to absorb it's power.

Wait. It's that easy? Can I cover it in condiments first? or paper only?

Oh and I was wrong about the ACT, I thought 21 for some reason its 41.

Here is the Test Eligibility portion quoted.

Quote:

Qualifying ACT and SAT scores MUST come from the same test and be included in the application when submitting to the Commanding Officer. If multiple tests are taken, we will take your BEST scores within three (3) years of application deadline (i.e., applicants for 2005 must submit scores from a test taken after 01 July 2002). As of 5 April 2005, the NEW SAT is in three sections. We look at the Math and the Critical Reading sections of the test. To be eligible, we require a minimum of 1000 SAT,(500 Math and 500 Critical reading). Older test was 500 Math, 500 Verbal. We will still accept the scores from earlier tests if they are within three years of the 1 July application due date. ACT minimum score of 41 (21 Math, 20 English) is required. Applicants for the Nuclear Option must have a minimum of 1140 SAT (combined Math/Verb or Critical Reading) or 50 ACT (combined Math/English). No waivers.

So yes GP, it is 3 sections on the SAT but they only look at Math and Critical Reading.

Also, I thought the SAT deducted points from you for guessing where the ACT didn't?

Posted: Apr 04 2011 05:31 pm

Hmm I thought the ACT could only go up to 36 as the max score... 41 is impossible unless they changed it lol.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 05:40 pm

If memory serves right (and I could be wrong), you lose a quarter of a point for each wrong answer on the SAT and you do not lose points for guessing on the ACT. The SAT is by far the more grueling one because it splits up it's sections into multiple parts instead of 2-3 long parts and you will hate it by the end.

I'm not gonna lie, you can't really prepare for either. The best you can do is brush up on geometry (Know those total internal angle measures) and the more arcane sections of algebra. Oh, and if you have one, bring a graphing calculator. You won't really need one, but they tend to keep better track of your work and some of the more long winded questions can be solved easier with the application of one.

The best advice I can give you is to be calm while taking it and PACE YOURSELF. You do not want to screw yourself over by not finishing the math or reading section because you got stuck on 1 question. Oh, and bring a candy bar. You're gonna need something to keep you awake and eating it during the break can really help (Damn 3 hour tests).

Beach Bum wrote:

Hmm I thought the ACT could only go up to 36 as the max score... 41 is impossible unless they changed it lol.

Yeah.. the max is 36. Are you talking total score amongst all 4 sections? If that's the case, you should have no issue with that at all.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 05:43 pm

just copy off the asian kid and you will do fine

Posted: Apr 04 2011 05:45 pm

BlazingGlory wrote:

Yeah.. the max is 36. Are you talking total score amongst all 4 sections? If that's the case, you should have no issue with that at all.

No idea. What you see up there in the quote of mine earlier is exactly whats off the Website. Your more than welcome to check it and see if I'm just an idiot and missed something.
https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/eligibility.asp

Which probably proves poorly for my reading comprehension. Laughing

Posted: Apr 04 2011 05:49 pm

Atma wrote:

BlazingGlory wrote:

Yeah.. the max is 36. Are you talking total score amongst all 4 sections? If that's the case, you should have no issue with that at all.

No idea. What you see up there in the quote of mine earlier is exactly whats off the Website. Your more than welcome to check it and see if I'm just an idiot and missed something.
https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/program_overview.asp

Which probably proves poorly for my reading comprehension. Laughing

Yeah, I just reread your post and I missed it earlier (I don't do well with white text in single space). You need a 21 in math (below the national average) and a 20 in English. I'm not gonna mince words, these are moron scores. The average in English is a 21 and the average in math is a 22. You should have No issues getting these scores.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 05:57 pm

BlazingGlory wrote:

Atma wrote:

BlazingGlory wrote:

Yeah.. the max is 36. Are you talking total score amongst all 4 sections? If that's the case, you should have no issue with that at all.

No idea. What you see up there in the quote of mine earlier is exactly whats off the Website. Your more than welcome to check it and see if I'm just an idiot and missed something.
https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/program_overview.asp

Which probably proves poorly for my reading comprehension. Laughing

Yeah, I just reread your post and I missed it earlier (I don't do well with white text in single space). You need a 21 in math (below the national average) and a 20 in English. I'm not gonna mince words, these are moron scores. The average in English is a 21 and the average in math is a 22. You should have No issues getting these scores.

Yeah it seems like they aren't using the actual ACT score but adding up sections individually. :3 Blaze is right though you can hit those scores with no issue as long as you know how to read and do basic algebra.

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

I am an amazing test taker so I can't really help you much. I didn't do shit for mine. I ended up doing a little better on the ACT, I think. Maybe find some of the practice tests just to get an idea of the kinds of questions for the math section? If you learned the shit at some point then it should come back to you without too much intense work.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 06:44 pm

username wrote:

just copy off the asian kid and you will do fine

Then eat them to absorb their power.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 09:22 pm

This summer i plan to start studying for my SAT for college, you basically just get one of those MASSIVE study guide books and completely finish it, that what my plan is anyway

Posted: Apr 04 2011 09:25 pm

i guess you can always download the SAT study guides as well.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 09:27 pm

Aye and eat them to absorb their power.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 09:28 pm

also, print this forum thread and then eat it to absorb its power

Posted: Apr 04 2011 09:30 pm

You could hire a tutor too.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 10:13 pm

You're going to want to talk to the younger folks, too; I'd offer some help, but the SAT has changed SO much since I took it (A DECADE AGO Shocked

) that I'm pretty well useless. Once you know what you need, I can sure help with the English and writing portion though Very Happy

Posted: Apr 04 2011 10:17 pm

SoldierHawk wrote:

You're going to want to talk to the younger folks, too; I'd offer some help, but the SAT has changed SO much since I took it (A DECADE AGO Shocked

) that I'm pretty well useless. Once you know what you need, I can sure help with the English and writing portion though Very Happy

*COUGH* OLD LADY *COUGH* Razz

Yeah, just study, study and study. Be thankful that they got rid of the things like "Jack is to Johnathan as Tom is to what?"