<p>Does anyone have any advice to help me achieve a better score on the math part of the upper level SSAT? Beyond a tutor, any suggestions- websites, methods, products, would be great. Thanks!</p>
<p>Don’t spend too much time on one question and don’t feel like you have to answer every question in the order. I would answer the easier ones first, then go back and try to figure out the difficult ones. The SSAT also has many trick questions so really make sure to read the questions carefully.</p>
<p>If you’re struggling with specifically the math, a tutor might be helpful to clear up problems that might have come up in earlier math classes years ago- and that’ll help you in math class in the future! For practice, purchase study books (they’re everywhere) and read through their tips and tricks as well as practice plenty of problems. You can look up more specifics on the SSAT website too. And, as needtoboard said, answer questions you know. If you don’t know it, skip it- don’t make a random guess. If you can do process of elimination, then you can guess (but check the books for exact numbers and tips). And check your work. The SSAT, along with trick questions, will give you trick answers (like a negative and positive to distinguish between), so be super careful. Beyond that, just relax and enjoy the test.</p>
<p>Memorize a TON of Vocab. </p>
<p>Ugh.</p>
<p>Do as many practice tests as you can. Work with SSAT methods, they all got math sections in them </p>
<p>If you don’t know the answer to one question, skip over it for now and come back later </p>
<p>Wait, just curious: What’s the raw score needed (approx.) for an eighth grade guy to get in the 99th percentile for math? I’m in seventh grade and I got two wrong in the Princeton Review. (none skipped.) Is that enough to get in the 99th percentile if I took the SSAT Upper level test right now? (I’m not, but I just want to know how much I have to improve.)
P.S. I’m fairly certain I will get a 99 on Math next year, but I HATE the vocab and the Language Arts. :(</p>
<p>Any tips for LA and memorizing vocab?</p>
<p>99 is really tough, with the (I’m being stereotypical here) Asian applicants getting a lot of them right, so it’s really tough. I know a kid who omitted two and got in the 97. </p>
<p>A couple of thoughts on testing/test prep.</p>
<p>I personally don’t think you can make up in a few months what some kids have absorbed over years of reading/conversation. I also am of the POV that one’s scores will be what they will be…and that there’s only so much you can do between now and the Fall to change that. Memorizing words? I can think of a few folks over the years who recounted that they had memorized a bunch of words from some official list and not a single word was on the actual test they took. They weren’t too pleased.</p>
<p>I think taking a practice test under “real time test timing” to see where you end up is a good idea. And then, instead of investing hours/days/worry into “studying” (quotes intentional) for the test, spend that time putting together a list of schools that includes a few where your score is well above the school’s average for incoming students.</p>
<p>Besides getting the book with the most upper level practice tests, one book that I think was good in terms of time management was “Up Your Score”, which is written for the SAT, but has tips that my older girl found helpful on the SSAT.</p>
<p>@mathman1201 I had 99th percentile on math but I had a full 800 score… I know that it is harder to get higher percentiles in math, cuz many people score well, and it is fairly easy for your percentile to drop even by a few questions… like 1 or 2 mistakes 97th or 98th percentile… dunno though…</p>
<p>Learn all the hit list words, princeton word smart words, sat words… any type you could find… Make a box flashcards… Make it a goal to learn 10-20 new words per day starting very early… You can mix some words roots… they help too</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>The Kaplan prep book has some really useful tips for how to approach the math section. But agree with others who say don’t sweat it–the scores are really skewed on the math section by the many students who get perfect scores. </p>
<p>Never mind about my post above, I took another test yesterday and I got every single question right…
Just got to worry about English and Vocab now! :P</p>
<p>Math is not difficult… but however, you will be extremely nervous at the day of the test, and you wont have a lot of time… so make sure you know every single trick about the math section. Since math is your strongest area, make sure you get the highest in there. But dont underestimate the easy things. 
Good luck ^_^</p>
<p>Thanks! @RockComet :D</p>
<p>To second RockComet, be careful on the math. Being good at math will not get you a winning score on the quantitative section. You’ll need to work quickly and correctly. Practice common problems or problems you have difficulties with. Also, remember that most middle schoolers have only taken Pre-Algebra or maybe Algebra 1, so you can quite possibly assume that there won’t be much Geometry or Algebra 2 on there. Finally, be careful. I can’t stress this enough. The SSAT will give you trick answers, not just trick questions; they’ll have two choices of negative and positive, or inverse fractions, or the like. Watch out for those.</p>
<p>But there’s nothing that you haven’t learned by eighth grade on the test, at least by my and my testing group’s feeling.</p>
<p>But @mrnephew I thought you were two years ahead in math…but I agree that alg 1 should be enough.</p>