<p>I am very interested in majoring in math at TAMU University. I don't know why I cannot do well on standarized tests. I got a 27 on math and I thought I was going to get at least a 33. I messed up on my pre algebra section which is really annoying me. I got a 630 on the math SAT. This was with no preparation. I am in pre cal and have easily held a high A in there and the rest of my math classes. I don't know if I am really as good as I thought I am in math. Can I have some help with this? I really want to major in math, but I don't know what to think.</p>
<p>A 630 Math score on the SAT indicates that with a lot of effort you can probably succeed in earning an undergraduate degree in Math but obtaining a graduate degree is unlikely. Generally, students who perform at the highest levels in Math have Math SAT scores of at least 700.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about your score. If you love math, take it and enjoy it. Not everyone is a genius and a majority of students I’ve seen taking Real Analysis are burning midnight oil to get through that sequence. Computational math in your math degree won’t really tell you how good you are at math. When you start doing proofs you’ll know if you can succeed or not.</p>
<p>I LOL’ed that a single-sitting SAT score could predict one’s success in grad school. But then again, this is April 1st.</p>
<p>In 2010 the average math SAT score for students intending on majoring in math was 606. (This was also the highest average math SAT in the table of all intended majors, including engineering). Granted, these are INTENDED math majors, not successful math majors, but your 630 puts you above average even on a test that you don’t feel accurately reflects your ability.</p>
<p>Forget the test and ask yourself these questions: do you understand the material you’re being taught? Do you perform well on the homeworks and exams? And most importantly, do you help other students who don’t understand it as well as you do? If you answered Yes to all three, you’re in good shape. Whether or not you succeed in grad school will depend on how well you do in college, not on how well you did on the SAT. LOL!</p>
<p>The 2010 College Board data is here, in table 25. <a href=“http://cdn3.joshuakennon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/2010-total-group-profile-report-cbs.pdf[/url]”>http://cdn3.joshuakennon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/2010-total-group-profile-report-cbs.pdf</a></p>
<p>Maybe you just need to review the material. Try going through an SAT study book, take a few practice tests and retake the SAT. You’ll probably do a lot better next time.</p>