Lesson 3 test taking strategies

LESSON 35 TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES

For the PSAT and SAT

LEARN SPECIAL MATH STRATEGIES

Strategy #6: Recognize “Figure not drawn to scale” –

assume the picture is misleading, closest answer to visual is

incorrect, you should redraw the figure

In the figure below, AB = BC. If x = 30 , what is

the degree value of m?

A. 75

B. 105

C. 130

D. 135

E. 150

x

B

A C

m

Note: Figure not drawn to scale


Strategy #7: Test the extremes – given a range of values

(4 < x < 9), tests the extremes (4 and 9) and not the

numbers in between; the answer should be obvious

If y = 4x – 3 and 0 < x < 3, then y is between

A. -3 and 9

B. -2 and 10

C. 0 and 12

D. 1 and 5

E. 1 and 9


Strategy #8: Find a pattern – try a few numbers to see

a pattern that will help you answer the question

If n is a positive integer, which of the following

cannot be the units digit of .

A. 1

B. 3

C. 5

D. 7

E. 9


Strategy #9: Don’t by misled by generic answers – if you

find you’re guessing, ignore choices like “None of the above” or

“It cannot be determined from the information given”

If x, y, and z are positive numbers and

2x = 3y = 4z, then the value of x + y + z is how

many times the value of x?

A.

B.

C.

D.

E. It cannot be determined from the information given


Strategy #10: Do the math – don’t go searching for wild

gimmicks and tricks; it is a math test so sometimes you

just need to do the math and solve the problem

What is the area of the shaded region in the figure

below?

A. 30

B. 21

C. 18

D. 12

E. 9

(3, 10)

(3, 0)

(0, 4)

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Lesson 3 test taking strategies