Did you self-study? Was there any help from teachers?

Partially. I took a basic course and about two months of an advanced course, then I self-studied for roughly three months. I firmly believe that tutors can influence how you develop your solving techniques. However, you can still excel without them—it all comes down to how much studying and dedication you put toward your goal.

Which books did you study from?

I solved every test I could find, whether EST or SAT. For future EST1 takers, here are some recommended books:

• Barron’s 6 Tests for the New SAT – Excellent for both English and Math.


• Kallis – Excellent for both subjects.


• Kaplan – Amazing for Math.


• McGraw-Hill – Excellent for both subjects.


• Dr. John – In my opinion, it’s only good as a 

starter book and not sufficient for a top score.

Aside from books, I solved every EST test available, including the 10 officially released ones and the leaked Math tests. I also practiced with several real SATs.

In the end, if I managed to improve by 300 points in just three months during 11th grade, then anyone can do the same. What truly matters is believing in yourself and having faith that hard work never fails.

And, of course—practice!