<p>I am getting highly fluctuating scores in SAT math. Like 790-800 sometimes and sometimes even 740-750.....
Even missing silly questions... I don't know how... even timing the test is not helping... </p>
<p>Though I know all the math...</p>
<p>Ever thought about going back and checking your answers? Figure out if your mistakes come from impulse or thinking.</p>
<p>The best way to avoid score fluctuations is through careful (timed!) practice and focus. If you’re timing your sections but not really focusing as much as you could, one or two missed questions could easily take you down to a 770 or 740. Since you’re capable of getting an 800 (and therefore know how to do all the problems), it’s just a matter of careful consideration for what each question is asking. Double check your answers, and you should be able to clear up some of the errors (although missing one or two occasionally happens to everyone- even the best test takers).</p>
<p>If the questions you are missing are medium-level, then you’re not taking your time.
I got a 2270 the first time I took the SAT, with a 680 math score. It turned out that all but 1 of the questions I missed were medium.</p>
<p>Two days before the March test, I was doing practice tests and being frustrated because I kept missing questions. I realized that it was because I was rushing and finishing each 25 minute section in about 10-15 minutes and basically I wasn’t reading the questions.</p>
<p>I gave myself 17 minutes for the 25 minute sections and forced myself to take all of that time and then go back and check answers if I felt it was necessary, and I wasn’t missing a single question.</p>
<p>2370 on that test with a 790 in math (that -1 I deserved, I was too lazy to check answers).</p>
<p>TAKE YOUR TIME in initially answering the questions. Read each question carefully and pick your answer accordingly. Double checking isn’t going to do ANYTHING for you after you’ve already rushed through. It sounds stupid, but if you’re like me and the questions you’re missing are ones that you could obviously get right, it’ll make all the difference.</p>
<p>You won’t make careless mistakes if you:</p>
<p>1) Read the actual question verbatim. Don’t miss key words; yes, this piece of advice seems to be overstressed but it will help you.</p>
<p>2) Review and check EACH and EVERY choice. Be 100% sure the response you have chosen is irrefutably the only correct one.</p>
<p>if you haven’t noticed already, sat math consists of generally the same types of questions, just with different numbers. they use the same trick questions over and over again and you should ask for help on the cheats and shortcuts to solve the problems.</p>
<p>Although it is true that every test is very similar in structure with only minimal changes in structure and numbers, many of my students have seen at least a few completely different type of question in every test, so practicing previous tests repeatedly will help, but you still need to develop an aptitude to solve anything that comes your way, only then will you be able to finish the test on time and nail every question that comes your way.</p>
<p>I am missing questions … that need some logical ability… like</p>
<p>if p=m<em>n</em>q … and m, n and q are prime then how many factors ( including 1 and p ) does p have?</p>
<p>I gridded five… ie. 1,p, m, n, q… but didn’t include m<em>n, n</em>q and m*q which made the right ans … eight…</p>
<p>" I am missing questions … that need some logical ability… like</p>
<p>if p=m<em>n</em>q … and m, n and q are prime then how many factors ( including 1 and p ) does p have?</p>
<p>I gridded five… ie. 1,p, m, n, q… but didn’t include m<em>n, n</em>q and m*q which made the right ans … eight… "</p>
<p>When you see a problem like this, assign numbers to the variables. Use 3, 5, and 7 for m, n, and q in the above question. You would not likely miss 15, 21, and 35 as factors if you did this. Nothing is foolproof, but with practice you will develop a sense of when such a method is appropriate.</p>
<p>Note though that there will be problems where choosing the wrong numbers may lead to a false positive. If you have time, use a second set of numbers to verify your answer. Also, avoid using 0 and 1 as substitutes, they seem to be the most likely to cause trouble. </p>
<p>YZ</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re missing some of the basic math strategies that are specific to the SAT. If you send me a pm I can give you some free chapters from my strategy book, and I’ll get you some other free things that I think will help your situation.</p>
<p>Other than learning and/or reviewing some basic strategies I would also suggest spending a little extra time practicing the SAT questions that show up as the last few questions on any section. When you solve them try to understand why your method of solution is working. This will help to increase your mathematical maturity and will ultimately lead to less errors of the type you described above.</p>