A new way to purge stupid Math mistakes?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>I know how SAT Math is somehow magically evasive to even the most brilliant math geniuses. </p>

<p>That's why I have many red marks on my face due to 10 attempts to get an 800 on math and noticing a pattern. TWO FRIGGING QUESTIONS!
It doesn't matter what I do, I will get TWO FRIGGING QUESTIONS wrong every time. </p>

<p>TWO FRIGGING QUESTIONS lost by not remembering to switch the negative sign, adding 1+1 and getting 3, seeing 5 instead of 6, etc. Remember, lots of red marks on my face. </p>

<p>I tried solving each question twice. Solving once then once backwards. Solving them all fast then double checking, all to no avail. Same 2 stupid mistakes got me every time. </p>

<p>So I thought I should try this another way. </p>

<p>I am now trying to solve the Math sections BACKWARDS. Yes. Flip to question 18, and work your way up to question 1. For all three sections.</p>

<p>I never have trouble NOT being able to solve a problem. And all the questions I gotten wrong were Easy level, so I thought I should give this a shot. </p>

<p>What I noticed was that I had much trouble keeping time. While I usually finished 10 minutes early when doing the questions traditionally, I barely could whiz through questions 4,3,2, and 1 at the last minute. </p>

<p>Now I only tried this once, because I had already solved 8 Math sessions in the Blue book and wanted to save the last one for a good time. But what I noticed was that I got TWO HARD QUESTIONS WRONG. Whew! That hasn't happened before. At least something changed. </p>

<p>Now before I try this again, you guys wanna share some thoughts on this? I mean, how much more creative can you get in trying to get rid of stupid mistakes in math? They always tell you to be careful, be paranoid, and crush your eggshells before you throw them out or the witches will use them to shipwreck sailors. =P</p>

2

<p>I don’t think starting from the back of the test is a very good strategy…all the problems are worth the same, so you shouldn’t be missing the easier questions due to lack of time.</p>

<p>You should always be organized with your work (don’t just scribble in any free space), and check your solution. Sometimes doing the problem another way helps.</p>

3

<p>But I’m thinking that with enough practice, time wouldn’t be a problem. The only thing to worry about would be getting stumped one question. But hopefully, that won’t happen, since I can solve all questions in under one minute.</p>

4

<p>It’s careless issue. Like I never did get a 800. I got 770 and 780 both because of medium questions. That feeling sucks but I really think being more careful is the point, and not caring so much about whether you’ll get them all right. Focus on the test, rather the score.</p>

5

<p>^ That is an excellent approach:</p>

<p>"Focus on the test, rather the score. "</p>

<p>Just deal with each question as it comes (in order!), read it, think about it, answer it – being sure to answer what it asked and not merely what you assumed it would ask – then move on.</p>