<p>Regarding the AMC...
Perhaps if one is applying to MIT that is so, but for the vast majority of students the SAT is common currency. A stellar math score isn't "[impressive]" per se, more like necessary. Furthermore, we are discussing the SAT at present, not the AMC, so I'm not sure how your comment is relevant. </p>
<p>Maybe in an ideal, TV-free world we could all memorize our primes. But you definitely need a list of primes somewhere, whether in your head or your TI-83's.</p>
<p>"Overstates its usefulness"? Perhaps your eleven-year-old's test was different, but these days prime questions are to be expected on the SAT. And given that most of today's students can't rattle off the primes, most will find themselves listing them--or trying to--in the exam room. That is why I think students can reasonably expect a 10 point gain from having this program. In my case it would have been 20.</p>
<p>10-20 points can be increased by luck.</p>
<p>Lady Luck is cool. :)</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone applying to college this year. Bear in mind that college admissions officers are well aware that the standard error of measurement on an SAT I section is about 30 scaled score points. In other words, you are not going to be rejected just because you have a 770 on one section, especially if you have 800 on another. Relax, stay curious and intellectually alive, and enjoy the admissions process while you have to endure it.</p>
<p>claret quilty,</p>
<p>I don't post here to find clients; I have more than I can handle. I post here to offer free advice and help to students who can use it. You clearly do not require my help, and I would not advise taking the SAT again. But keep in mind that there are MANY students who do NOT start with 780s on their math section who can be derailed by your suggestions and obsession with prime numbers. That is what I am trying to prevent here. And, YES, they CAN raise their scores by 50 points with the mental energy they are investing in these posts. I can sit down with a student for literally an hour or two and raise his or her math score by 50 points. And I'm sure there are students on this site who are instead investing an hour or two worrying about prime numbers and getting as many programs as possible to solve the one or two prime number questions on the exam (and YES, I did say one or two -- look at the Official Study Guide, NOT the 10 Reals, as the latter is not as relevant to the NEW SAT!). YOU might have missed the question by not knowing prime numbers instead of missing the logic, but you are assuming others do as well, and that may be an unfounded assumption. I'm not here to debate. If you have REAL advice to offer students here, give it. Otherwise, if your penchant is to lambaste SAT tutors who come here to help, have fun.</p>
<p>P.S. My students have NEVER had trouble listing the prime numbers (except initially erroneously assuming that 1 is a prime number or 2 is not). It's really not a big deal.</p>
<p>I'd just like to say thanks, claret quilty. There WAS a prime number example on the test and, like everyone said, it was easy. BUT unless you had your primes memorized up to over 100 or are half intelligent like I'm NOT in math, it was time consuming.</p>
<p>I had the list in my calculator, clicked program enter and scrolled down. I got an answer in 15 seconds whereas other more than likely spent a few minutes calculating it or even just thinking about WHY there aren't any primes with a 5 in the units place.</p>
<p>Before I get the whole "You didn't need the list, just an ounce of common sense, you jackass!" routine, realize I'm not at all a strong math student (650+...) and I'll take any assurance I can get.</p>
<p>But anyways, thanks.</p>