<p>I've taken the SAT two times already (710 M first time, 720 second). I always miss 3-4 questions, and I really want to get at least a 780. What can I do to achieve that? Any tips on time or anything that could teach me how to answer the most difficult math questions on the SAT in Geometry and Algebra? (Those are the two sections that I miss questions on)</p>
<p>Math on the SAT uses basic concepts a 7th grader should know. What makes the section tricky is when the College Board uses the concepts in a way in which you won’t normally see them. For example, no questions require algebra 2. That is not on the SAT. How do you realize this? Look at it this way. You are the College Board and need to make an international exam that is standardized (same and fair for everyone) as well as acceptable to colleges. How do you do that for math? Should you test advanced concepts? No, because that’s what AP exams are for as well as normal school grades. Should you test basic concepts? No, because then everyone would get perfect. So what do you do? You test basic concepts in strange ways, not normally encountered in schools, so that you have to use logic. You can’t test advanced concepts in strange ways because not everybody takes advanced courses, which would cause an issue for the College Board. Stick to real questions. Study ONLY what’s going to come so that you don’t go outside and pick up bad habits. I suggest the SAT Prep Black Book, since it uses logic and puts you through the sections of the Blue Book practice tests to show you really how to answer. If your skeptical or just don’t have time for a new book, I’ll give the some of the advice in the book. When you get to a “difficult” question, realize that it is a very basic concept, but it’s put in a strange way. You just have to figure out the concept. First of all, the only concepts that will come are in the Blue Book. Nothing more. Why? Because, if there were more, then the College Board would be doing something unfair by including something it never mentioned to come. If you know that, then you know what limits there are. So if it’s a geometric question, then you know the few concepts the College Board allows itself to have, and you can easily answer. If it is about circles (more specific) then you just have 2-4 concepts about circles, and one of them is the one you need. So now, think of all the possible ways you’d put up a question.
- Wrong answers are there for a reason. Each wrong answer is specially designed to trick you. It is usually something that you’d get if you missed a step or did one wrongly.
- If you have a diagram or a description of one, think of why it is the way it is. For example:
-If you have a diagram, it is drawn to scale, so you can eyeball it to guess.
-If it isn’t drawn to scale, and that should be mentioned (though you know that by now), there’s a reason why. If you drew it to scale, then the answer becomes very, very obvious.
-If there’s a diagram but no labeling and instead a description is given, then it is clear that if you did label instead of giving a description, the answer would once again become obvious.
-If there’s no diagram, only a description, a diagram would make the answer obvious.
This is just a handful out of the gold given in the book. Just think about questions like that and you’ll figure it out.</p>