test help - sat mathematics

8/8/2019 Test Help - Sat Mathematics

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Strategies to help maximize your marks.

Math Workout for the New SAT The Princeton Review.


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Helpful Hints

This isnt the kind of test you get in math

class at school.

You need special techniques for handlingSAT problems.

If you do the SAT math problems like youwould do in class, you waste time and

throw away points.


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Sections of the test

There are 3 sections to the Math test.

1. 20 question Problem-Solving (m.c)2. 10 Problem-Solving (m.c), 10 Grid-in

3. 15 Problem-Solving (m.c)

Questions in each section are arranged in

an special order of difficulty.


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Pacing

Almost everyone works too fast on SAT tests! The testis designed NOT to be completed!

You will hurt your score by working too fast.

If you miss about 5 or 6 questions in each section, you

are probably about the right pace.

If you are NOT missing any questions but are NOT

finishing, then guess more aggressively and work

faster.


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Pacing

Question Difficulty

Q. 15-20 HARD

Q. 7-14 MEDIUM

Q. 1-6 EASY

Question Difficulty

Q. 11-15 HARD

Q. 6-10 MEDIUM

Q. 1-5 EASY

Question Difficulty

Q. 18-20 HARD

Q. 14-17 MEDIUM

Q. 11-13 EASY

Q. 8-10 HARD

Q. 4-7 MEDIUM

Q. 1-3 EASY

20 Q. Problem- Solving 10 Q. Problem- Solving10. Grid-In

15Q. Problem- Solving


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Scoring

1 Point each correct answer

0.25 Point each wrong answer

Blank questions lose no points


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Calculators

Calculators can only calculate, they cant think!

THNINK BEFORE YOU PUNCH

Tips to Calculator Happiness:

Use a calculator that follows order of operations.

Estimate your answer first.

Check each number after you punch it in.


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Careless Mistakes

Some common mistakes to watch for:

Misreading the question

Computation error

Punching the wrong thing on the calculator

Failing to estimate first

Answering a different question than the

one being asked On a medium-hard question, stopping too

soon when you may be almost there.


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Strategies

Guessing

If you come across a question you get

stuck on. Should you leave it?

NO

Not if you can cross out a WRONG choice.


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When do I guess?

Always be aware of where you are in the test.

Easy Questions easy answers

Hard questions hard answers

Good guess Geometry drawn to scale, where you can approximate

length or area. Any Grid-in you have an answer for.

Bad Guess Obvious answers on hard questions Long, complicated word problems Questions you dont have time to read.


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Plugging In

One of the most powerful strategies on the SATs.

The idea of taking all the variables like x, y, zIn the question and replacing them with actual

numbers.

You dont have to generate the answer yourself. Itallows you to check which of the answers is thecorrect one.

This turns an algebra problem into simplearithmetic!


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How do I know when to Use Plugging In?

The question will be straight forward.e.g. How old is Bob?, or How manypotatoes in the bag?

There are variables in the answer choices.

The question says something like

in terms of x

The question asks for a percentage orfractional part of something, but doesntgive you actual amounts.


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Tips for Plugging-In Happiness

Pick easy numbers like 2, 10, 100 etcAvoid picking 0, 1 or any number that is one ofthe answers.

If your chosen number leads to UGLYcomputations, then bail out and pick aneasier number.

The answers are in numerical order, so youmay be able to eliminate answers that are toobig or too small. If the answer to was toosmall, then try the bigger answer choices.


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Plugging-In ExampleJill spent x dollars on toys and 12 dollars on socks. If the

amount Jill spent was twice the amount she earns in a week,

how much does Jill earn each week in terms of x?

a) 2(x + 12)

b) 2x + 24

c) (x/2) + 12

d) (x+12)/2

Solution: Lets plug in 100 for x. That means that Jill spent a total

of $112. If that was twice her weekly salary, then she makeshalf of $112, or $56.

Nowplug in 100 to see which answer gives us $56.


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Practice Quiz

EASYIfp is an odd number, which of the followingmust also be an odd number?a) p + 1

b) p / 2c) p + 2d) 2pe) p -1

Answer C. Lets make p = 3 and try in theanswer choices.


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Medium

If y / 3 = 6x, then in terms of y, x = ?

a) 3y

b) 2y

c) y

d) y / 2

e) y / 18

Answer: E. Plug in y = 36, which makes x = 2. Now

plug y = 36 into the answer choices.

test help - sat mathematics

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