How to Raise Your SAT Math Score
- Step 1
- SUBSTITUTION. When you see problems with a lot of variables, just substitute numbers for them. As a tutor, I've seen a lot of kids who want to try to solve the problem the "right" way, and end up getting it wrong for no reason. If you didn't learn it during math class, don't try to learn it during the SAT test. If you're really that motivated of a student, substitute on the test, and look up how to really do it after the SAT is over.
- Step 2
BACKSOLVING. When a question ends in "which of the following" or "a possible value of X," you can backsolve. What is backsolving? Why, simply going down the list of answers until you find the one that's correct. Use answer (A) in the problem. See if it works. If it doesn't, go to (B) and so on. Yes, it's ok to use the answers. Some of the harder problems were actually MEANT to be solved like this.
- Step 3
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. This may seem simple, but many people get the right answer but don't put it in the right units, or resolve it to the correct format, and therefore they get it wrong. For example - the problem will ask you for yards, but give you everything in feet. So you find 36 to be the answer, and sure enough, 36 is there. But since they asked for yards, you would have to do the final step of 36/3=12. They do this on purpose, so watch out for it around the middle and late problems in each math section.
Tips & Warnings
- Math sections go from easiest to hardest. So really pay attention to this how to around question 9 or 10, because that's when they start becoming really helpful.
Published by Chrisdavy
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