<p>Okay, I will admit im not a stellar math student and the way I've been doing math problems in school is by identifying patterns in my textbook. Basically, I look at all the different ways a problem is asked of me, and I formulate ways to do these problems enabling me to be ready for whatever is thrown at me on a test because I will have a method of solving each scenario beforehand.</p>
<p>In short, I'm not particularly good at solving a random math problem I've never seen before.</p>
<p>How will this hurt me on the SAT? When you guys were studying, did you find it possible to come up with a pretty accurate list of math problems that appeared most commonly so you could prepare for them? What do you guys suggest I do to study Math on the SAT?</p>
<p>I'm using McGraw Hill's series of books by the way.</p>
<p>Actually, you’ll be surprised on how useful this is on about 75% of the SAT math. The SAT often uses a recycled question format so you can go back to old tests and get a really good sense of what will be on the next one you take. Generally the last few questions are pretty random and the only way to get good at them is through practice. Make sure you have very good algrebraic understanding and how things relate ( (x-y)^2 = x^2-y^2, etc).</p>
<p>Oh and watch out for stupid mistakes, the SAT loves to add small details to questions and throw a lot of information at you at once, instead of just outright telling you.</p>
<p>Well getting familiar with the kind of questions can help… but its not going to get you a great score. You just need to become better at math, - which means actual understanding it, not just “memorizing” facts. If you really understand it you will not have to rely on yourself to remember things (like the factorization of (x-y)^2). If your school doesn’t do a good job of this you should check out something like [Art</a> of Problem Solving](<a href=“http://artofproblemsolving.com%5DArt”>http://artofproblemsolving.com).</p>
<p>^A lot of the SAT problems are based on noticing things either from prior knowledge or trial and error. It’s common to see interesting algebraic questions at the end where you’ll have to see that it can be factored, expanded or some other mathmatical relationship (exponents, lots of others). This is very much true with triangles, like being able to notice a triangle has some specific property, etc. Other mathmatical relations include being able to relate how things are connected together.</p>
<p>Math is waaaaaaaaaay easier than writing and Reading comprehension. When doing the math section, you have to realize that the Math itself is very easy. All you have to to is know how to apply simple concepts and use logic skills to get an answer</p>