Is SAT really difficult?

The verbal part of SAT is considered difficult for those who speak English as a second language, since it is an Anglo-Saxon based test.

My way of studying the test was to read diligently and abundantly. When I was in high school I read 3 English novels every week. In terms of reading, my experience is to start with something fun to read (bestselling novels, for example). It is also very helpful to read classical novels and quality magazines like the Reader's Digest and National Geographic.

There are many reference books out there which contain the most frequently appeared words on the SAT. It is best to start studying them as soon as possible. Try to learn at least 50 to 100 vocabularies every week, if not more. Without reading frequently, however, it's very easy to remember the meanings of the words. Don't be discouraged by the number of words that you will need to learn though. Some of my friends from the Mainland scored high on the SAT thru diligent practice.

Studying the test strategy for the SAT is also very important. Knowing what kind of questions you will be asked can increase your score by at least 50 points.

Hope this helps.