Does The Math SAT Predict Ability To Do Well In College Math Courses?

Test Preparation
1

<p>My guess is that there is a certain point where a 'high' score predicts that you will succeed or do around average and where a 'low' score says that you are missing some basic math skills.</p>

<p>I have some examples.
I got an 800 Math and was doing around average in Multivariable Calc- and I felt that I struggled with it a little bit.
My friend has a 700 Math and took Multivariable Calc the same semester I did at a school of similar quality (Cornell) and got an "easy A". He also brags about how he did a lot better than the math majors who 'struggled' with the material. He considers himself to be retarded at mental math.
My twin sister got the same score (700) at the same testing (May 2006) as my friend and is avoiding taking Calculus in college like it is the devil and didn't take it in high school.
My other friend has an 800 Math and had to withdraw from Calc II at his college. </p>

<p>The conclusion I have come to here (I know these are only a few examples and possibly a demonstration that Duke is more competitive than Cornell, :p) is that while test scores are a strong indicator of how well one will perform in a math class that important factors are diligence and a strong interest in the subject.</p>

2

<p>taking Multi-Var in HS is an accomplishment in of its self. I think more than what ever your did on the SATs if your getting ≥B+ i think colleges will see that your pretty nasty at math.</p>

3

<p>Here’s a link to a FAQ about math courses in college: </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/355458-faqs-preparing-college-math-study.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/355458-faqs-preparing-college-math-study.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>umm probably not. you’ll see on the SAT math that its just puzzles, not real math</p>

5

<p>SAT math is absolutely not a predictor of performance on college level math. Possibly SAT Subject Math II, but not the math on SAT I.</p>

6

<p>A math professor recently did a study of performance in Calc I compared to SAT scores for two groups of students several years apart and found that although SAT scores had essentially remained the same, the calc performance by the students had actually decreased noticeably. The study is a bit ad-hoc with small numbers, but very interesting nonetheless:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.math.jhu.edu/~wsw/89/study89.pdf[/url]”>http://www.math.jhu.edu/~wsw/89/study89.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>The SAT I math is a predictor, but not a very good one. I would imagine that the Math II subject is a very good indicator.</p>

8

<p>The SAT I Math is a pretty bad predictor. SAT II Math is a bit better, but not perfect. I got 670 on SAT I Math, 770 on SAT II. I was also one of about 10 of the 1300 first-years to test into Honors Analysis at Chicago, and was one of less than 3 first-years to get an A. Some people are just bad at standardized tests, and considering how dull the two tests can be, it’s not surprising that mathematicians sometimes perform poorly on them. This is why the GRE is hardly respected on the graduate level.</p>

9

<p>I got a 780 on the math portion of the SAT but was in remedial math all through high school and got mostly C’s in it.</p>

10

<p>SAT Math measures one’s ability to pay attention…that’s all, really.</p>

11

<p>I second ari</p>

12

<p>i make so many sloppy mistakes</p>

13

<p>SAT math isn’t “math”. It’s a series of logic questions under the guise of mathematics. See, they can’t call it “logic” because all the kids would freak out. Calling it math makes it seem more familiar. </p>

<p>Anyway, yeah. College math is somewhat about logical reasoning (I’d say math competition problems and upper level maths would be this moreso than the basic calculus/diffy equations/etc.), but it’s also about tenacity. If you’re really smart, but spend only, say, two minutes trying to solve a homework problem and give up because the answer didn’t “come easily”, then you won’t do well in the class. If you’re not as “mathematically apt” but, say, you spend two hours on a problem until you finally crack it, you’ll do well in the class.</p>

<p>Good mathematicians need both talent and tenacity. Without talent, you’re limited in what realizations you can make. Without tenacity, your talent isn’t put through its paces.</p>