Baffling ACT Math results...

Test Preparation
1

<p>My two sons prepped the same way. Son A scored a 32 in math, son B just recently scored a 27.</p>

<p>The strange part is that son B scored a 15 subscore in both Algebra/Coord. Geometry and Plane Geometry/Trigonometry. But...he only scored an eleven in Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra. (I presume this to be the easiest of the three subscore topics)</p>

<p>One would think that if he could get 15's in the harder two subscore areas, he would do at least that well in the easier topic...not so!</p>

<p>If he could have gotten a 15 in Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra, he would have received a 33 in math - a very good score. As it were the eleven pulled him down to a 27.</p>

<p>I've got him scheduled for a retake.</p>

<p>Any suggestions as to the most logical explanation of how this happened? Strategies to make sure it doesn't happen again?</p>

<p>Thanks,
wassamattau-DAD</p>

2

<p>Yes, he obviously doesn’t understand the topic well. Have him study it.</p>

3

<p>Very helpful tip Orion.
Let me reword the question.
Algebra/Coord. Geometry and Plane Geometry/Trigonometry are impossible to do well in without an excellent understanding of elementary algebra.
There has to be a reason beyond not understanding algebra.
Any suggestions?..</p>

4

<p>That’s not really true. Lots of people score 5 on the Calculus BC test and do poorly on SAT math. You could give what I have to say at least a little respect. I am an honors math major after all.</p>

5

<p>The ACT has a way of taking very simple principle and having students apply them in incredibly difficult and time-consuming ways. Sometimes the Algebra questions are the most challenging for me because I know that I can figure them out, but they have several steps and take quite a bit of time.</p>