<p>He got waitlisted at Harvey Mudd so it was moot. I don't think the 30 points in math are what got him rejected at MIT and Caltech, (after being deferred EA), but rather other aspects of his application.</p>
<p>But back to the OP. I do think there is an art to knowing what the question is, so that you answer the question, and not what you think the question ought to have been. Targeted practice, more reading and trying the ACT are all reasonable things to try.</p>