SAT MathSAT MathTest Taking Tips

It’s NOT about the math. Just because you get As in Algebra and Geometry does not ensure you’ll get a great score!

The most difficult part of the math is FINISHING!

Preparation makes a bigger difference in math than verbal.

Problems often have complicated directions with unexpected turns.

Some have obvious answers that are wrong.

Others build in a final step – often forgotten.

Unlike the PSSAs, the SATs care NOTHING about the process. They care only about the correct answer.

So how do I prepare?So how do I prepare?What do I do that day?

Practice timed tests.Practice timed tests.

Know YOUR calculator!Know YOUR calculator!

Be familiar with the formulas that are provided.

What’s It Look LikeWhat’s It Look Like

Sections Time

Two 25 minutes

One 20 minutes

Total Three 70 minutes

Total questions = 5444 are Multiple Choice

10 are Student Produced Answers (Grid-ins)

Each “REAL” SAT contains one 25 minute section used to develop future test questions

It is NOT scored.You do NOT know which section.

Quick RefresherQuick Refresher

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=uydzT_WiRz4

Addition of IntegersAddition of Integers

Even + EvenEven + OddOdd + EvenOdd + Odd

Multiplication of IntegersMultiplication of Integers

Even x EvenEven x OddOdd x Odd

SquaresSquares

Know the square of every number from 1 to 15!

1,4, 9,16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81,100, 121, 144, 169, 196, 225

CUBESCUBES

Know the cubes of every whole number from 1 to 5

1,8,27,64,125

Square RootsSquare Roots

Square root of 1 = 1Square root of 2 = 1.4Square root of 3 = 1.7Square root of 4 = 2Square root of 5 = 2.25

Fractions squared or cubed are smaller than the original.

Negative numbers squared are positive.Negative numbers cubed are negative.

Read each problem carefully. Determine what information you need and what is extraneous.

If you get stuck on a problem skip it.

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

Don’t use a calculator on every problem.Expect easy questions at the beginning of

each section and harder towards the end.MAKE SURE you are on the same number

as you are on your answer sheet!Use the edge of your paper as a ruler.Draw a picture, sketch or figure.

Work backwards. Substitute answers in to equations, or in quantitative comparisons substitute numbers.

Estimate! Use round numbers.Don’t forget about negative numbers!Your answer may be a different

expression than the choices – write it in another form.

If you can eliminate at least one answer guess.

Make sure the answer is reasonable.

Grid - insGrid - ins

Relatively small part of the testNo penalty for wrong answersPositive numbersBetween zero and what?

PracticePractice

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0712/p13s02-legn.html?page=1

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/prep_one/math_review.html

http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/heal/siteslist.htm

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=y5tOHx9dZ7o

http://www.learningmathcenter.com/LMCinterfaceSAT.html

http://www.majortests.com/sat/grid-ins.php

Delicious.com/mctoth/satDelicious.com/mctoth/sat