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10 SAT Math Tips
USINFO | 2014-01-02 17:46
The general tips for the whole test still apply to the math problems, but here are some other ways to increase your score.
1. Watch out for terms like: not, only, except, less than, greater than, and opposite. They indicate that it may not be enough to just solve the problem and take the first answer you come up with.
2. Make sure you answered the right thing on each problem before you move on to the next problem.
3. Most of the problems can be solved without a calculator. Take a careful look at what each problem is asking you to do before you start punching buttons.
4. Don’t get stuck on any one problem for too long. If you can eliminate a couple of answers, choose what you think the right answer is and move on. You can mark the question in your book and go back later if you have time at the end of the test.
5. Sometimes the best way to answer a problem is to simply plug each of the answers into the problem. Choices are not given for student produced response questions, but you can still plug in your own guesses to get an idea of what the answer is. Sometimes you can narrow it down quickly enough to solve it by trial and error, but don’t spend too much time doing this.
6. The choice “Cannot be Solved” or “No Solution” is almost never the right answer. You should be very sure of yourself before you choose any answer like this.
7. Questions generally begin easy and get harder as the test progresses. Focus your time and effort on the questions you can answer. Look for simple answers to the first few questions. Try to find the trick on the later questions. They usually have simple answers too. They are just hidden better.
8. The SAT gives you the basic equations you need to solve every problem. Harder equations are given right in the problems. If you think you need a difficult equation to solve something and it is not given, then there is an easy solution to the problem. Sometimes there is an easy solution even if a difficult equation is given.
9. If you can’t figure a problem out, try these methods:
a.Slowly read the problem while mouthing out the words. Sometimes you missed an important word the first time through.
b.Ask if all the information is important. Occasionally a problem will have more information than you need.
c.Solve a similar problem. Working through the procedure of solving a similar simple problem will often remind you of the steps you need to solve a more complex problem.
d.Work through a “what if” scenario. Pick a possible solution and work through the problem to see what happens.
e.Work the problem backwards. Sometimes that is the easiest way to get the answer.
f.Write down whatever you did figure out and move on. Sometimes something else in the test will jog your memory.
10. Relax! A stressed mind cannot think as well as a relaxed one. Be confident in your ability and believe that you will do your best!
1. Watch out for terms like: not, only, except, less than, greater than, and opposite. They indicate that it may not be enough to just solve the problem and take the first answer you come up with.
2. Make sure you answered the right thing on each problem before you move on to the next problem.
3. Most of the problems can be solved without a calculator. Take a careful look at what each problem is asking you to do before you start punching buttons.
4. Don’t get stuck on any one problem for too long. If you can eliminate a couple of answers, choose what you think the right answer is and move on. You can mark the question in your book and go back later if you have time at the end of the test.
5. Sometimes the best way to answer a problem is to simply plug each of the answers into the problem. Choices are not given for student produced response questions, but you can still plug in your own guesses to get an idea of what the answer is. Sometimes you can narrow it down quickly enough to solve it by trial and error, but don’t spend too much time doing this.
6. The choice “Cannot be Solved” or “No Solution” is almost never the right answer. You should be very sure of yourself before you choose any answer like this.
7. Questions generally begin easy and get harder as the test progresses. Focus your time and effort on the questions you can answer. Look for simple answers to the first few questions. Try to find the trick on the later questions. They usually have simple answers too. They are just hidden better.
8. The SAT gives you the basic equations you need to solve every problem. Harder equations are given right in the problems. If you think you need a difficult equation to solve something and it is not given, then there is an easy solution to the problem. Sometimes there is an easy solution even if a difficult equation is given.
9. If you can’t figure a problem out, try these methods:
a.Slowly read the problem while mouthing out the words. Sometimes you missed an important word the first time through.
b.Ask if all the information is important. Occasionally a problem will have more information than you need.
c.Solve a similar problem. Working through the procedure of solving a similar simple problem will often remind you of the steps you need to solve a more complex problem.
d.Work through a “what if” scenario. Pick a possible solution and work through the problem to see what happens.
e.Work the problem backwards. Sometimes that is the easiest way to get the answer.
f.Write down whatever you did figure out and move on. Sometimes something else in the test will jog your memory.
10. Relax! A stressed mind cannot think as well as a relaxed one. Be confident in your ability and believe that you will do your best!
