How to Tackle the "Hard" SAT Math Problems?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Hello :D</p>

<p>After months of preparation, I took the Janurary 2014 SAT. My CR score increased 150ish points to a 670. My Writing increased 200ish points to a 720. My Math, however, increased a whopping 10 points to a 590. The problem is, as it was months ago, that I simply don't know how to approach the "hard" SAT math problems and therefore I simply do the easy-medium questions. With some careless mistakes mixed in, alot of the time I score high 500s, although I often score mid 600s when I am not under pressure.</p>

<p>So my question is: How do I approach the "hard" math problems on the SAT? The careless mistakes I can deal with, since I am typically a nervous wreck on test day which results in many careless errors. What I can't deal with is not being able to answer the last math problems when I have always been a top math student at my school. I am looking to tackle the "hard" problems because the notion that skipping these questions results in much more weight on the other problems usually gives me some prety bad anxiety on test day(lowering my score!)Any comment will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

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<p>What’s the problem? Interpreting the question or not knowing how to solve the question? Because every “hard” math problem on the SAT can have a different approach. Also is time an issue as well?</p>

3

<p>I think my issue is interpreting the question. As for time, Time is not often an issue for me on the SAT Math because I typically finish without doing the last problems. Even if I did the “hard” questions, I think I can finish on time. So I would say time is not an issue.</p>

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<p>Bump!</p>

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<p>Can you describe how you prepared for math over those months? In particular, how many college board practice tests did you work through? Knowing what you have already done will make it easier to recommend the next steps.</p>

6

<p>Hard math problems require some careful thinking but are never that bashy and no problem should take more than 1-2 minutes. But 50% of the hard problem is usually just breaking down the hard problem into smaller pieces, and careful reading.</p>

<p>For example, a lot of students seem to mix up “could be true” and “must be true.” If P is true for some cases, you can’t really determine whether P must be true. To determine whether P must be true, either prove that it is true, or find one counterexample. To show whether P could be true, either prove that it can’t be true, or find one case where it is true.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the responses so far!</p>

<p>Pckeller, I have went through atleast 10+ practice tests over the past few months if that helps</p>

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<p>When you reviewed those tests (blue book or other real tests I hope), could you figure out how to do those hard ones? At a minimum, you should learn how to “cherry-pick” – quickly identify problems that can be done by making up numbers and problems that match others you have understood in the past, like venn diagram problems or shifting a graph problems. The point is that there are themes that get repeated. The best way to learn those themes is to revisit actual tests and get yourself fluent. </p>

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<p>Given enough time, I can figure them out with occasional questions in which I have no clue. Anyway, I really like the idea of looking for problems I understand the best.</p>

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<p>One of the books that my D found very useful is ‘PWN the SAT: Math Guide’; the author takes a slightly different approach to the way the book is structured. If you can afford to buy books, I would highly recommend this one. If you would like to get a taste of the book, here is their official website: <a href=“http://blog.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/p/math-section.html#.Uwva0fldXh4”>http://blog.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/p/math-section.html#.Uwva0fldXh4&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;