<p>I've been browsing the forum and a lot of people say the math section is easier compared to the reading and writing sections.
The math section is always the one I score the least in.</p>
<p>Would anyone like to share their tips on how they approach the math sections?
Thank you!</p>
<p>It’s basically just practice, practice, practice. Once you’re able to solve all the math questions easily, it comes down to how careful you are. Even the best students make stupid/careless mistakes, and SATI has no math curve.</p>
<p>Reading carefully helps a lot. Take a practice math test tomorrow and read the question consciously and you’ll see a big difference.</p>
<p>Depending on your score range, you’ll need SAT books. For instance, the first time I took the sat I scored a 430. I borrowed Kaplans 12 practice tests and only did the math sections. From there my math went up to 510. Then I practiced some more on Barron’s 2400 and CB Blue book and now I’m up to 640. Hitherto, I’ll be practicing some more to achieve at least a 750.</p>
<p>Here’s another thought…</p>
<p>When taking the math sections, at each question, start with a holistic approach to the question. This has two benefits. One, it’s a big time saver when you <em>spot</em> what those clever devils at the ETS are actually testing, and two, it gives you a double-check on your answer. </p>
<p>With each math question, once you read it, ask yourself these two questions:</p>
<p>1) What are they asking me for? </p>
<p>This is a great way to sift through the extra verbiage and fluff the ETS puts in almost every question. It forces your mind to find the actual QUESTION being asked, and helps avoid the common pitfalls of the complicatedly worded question. Before you solve, before you scantron, ask yourself this question. </p>
<p>2) What rule are they testing here? </p>
<p>By asking this, many times we spot the quick, logical, mathematical solution to the problem without going through unnecessary operations and figuring. Many times if you spot the real “rule” the ETS is checking, you’ll find the questions are transparent and easily solved. For example, if they give you multiple squares, and tell you that the diagonal of one of them is 9 rad 2, you know right away “they’re testing special right triangles.” Get the idea?</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>@loldanielol – The SAT does have a math curve, and it changes for every test. Every section of the SAT has a raw score and a scaled score. The curve is how easy or hard it is (i.e. how many or how few you can get wrong) to get an 800.</p>
<p>What can one do if they’re the “slow” workers and like to take their time?</p>
<p>Some people just think mathematically…</p>
<p>I paid a ton of money for my daughter to take a prep course and the best she did in math was 620.</p>
<p>My son refused to take the prep course, refused to look at the books from the prep course, refused to do the free on line tests or course and went into the PSAT cold. He got a 76 and we are waiting for the March SAT scores to see how those went (he again did not study or review).</p>
<p>My son is a very good math student, an excellent chess player and such a logical, black and white thinker that I sometimes call him Mr. Spock. My daughter is more of an empath, she has people skills that my son does not. </p>
<p>I do think you can improve your grades by studying. My DD went up 100 points in math from the course although she confessed that she did no other studying besides going to the course and doing the HW, no extra tests or practices… Had she, she might have done better. I also think there are just some people, like my son, who are good at math.</p>
<p>It also has to do with what level math you have learned. My son is in advanced honors so at this point, he is in calc AB equivalent math while my daughter, in junior year, was in regular pre-calc. He obviously has had exposure to materials in math that she did not.</p>