<p>I am a senior in high school and I am taking the SAT for the second time in November.
I recently took a math practice test from the SAT (College board) and got a 470. I want to score a 550-600 by the time the November SAT rolls around.
The math section is my weak point: I have scores in the mid-high 700's for CR and W. I just need to get my math to around a 600 by the Nov. SAT and to a 650+ by the December or January SAT. </p>
<p>Is this possible? If so, what materials should I use?
Is the Sparknotes New SAT online manual good for brushing up on some Geometry (I need to study that the most) and a few formulas? I think if I do this I can easily get in the high 500s or 600. </p>
<p>Please help me, I am really freaking out! Thank you!</p>
<p>I’m assuming you already registered? If I were you, I would do it in December instead of cramming. What you should know is all the topics that come on the SAT math section. From there you can organize your studies and figure out what are your weak points or topic areas you don’t know as well as your strong points. Also you should know how many questions you should answer to achieve your goal (33-40 questions) …In your case, I would definitely leave out all the hard questions; the last few at the end of each section. Math is practice and do the easier ones. Don’t understand what a question is saying? Leave it out and come back. The questions are all worth 1 point, you don’t get a point for knowing what formula or method to use… When reading the questions, don’t neglect any part. They don’t give you information for no reason, take the information in parts if it seems like a lot.</p>
<p>Write down your working neatly for all questions so you can see and understand as well as put the correct answer. Sometimes it’s a silly mistake such as 5+2=8 that causes you a mark or you shade in an answer that you didn’t intend to shade it. Gotta be alert. </p>
<p>As for topics, the blue book has some info but it’s not sufficient. Whatever book(s) you have utilize it… I wouldn’t buy a book for just two weeks, there is google. </p>
<p>What you have to do first is understand the topics then apply them to the questions. Stuff like factorization, knowing how to equate an equation, ratios, sets, percentages, decimals and simple geometry (angles on a straight line 180 degrees, equilateral triangles, special triangles etc) to name a few. Also answer all grid questions even if you’re skeptical about your answer (not the hard ones) you don’t lose marks for grids. </p>
<p>Thank you so much! I really appreciate your input.
I actually did sign up for the Nov. 2nd SAT. Can I just change the date? </p>
<p>I am notorious for making careless mistakes, too, so I really need to work on that! I think I’ll just look at Sparknotes to brush up on my Geometry and other misc. stuff. </p>
<p>So you think that by December I could have a 600? </p>
<p>Also, I took the ACT in June and felt horrible that day (I was really sick) and scored a 21. I made sure that the score wasn’t sent to my high school and I also made sure to not send it to any colleges. So if I write the ACT Services asking them to delete my test score record, will that mean that no colleges will see it? </p>
<p>Yes you can change your test date, the cut off deadline for any change for nov exam is the 21st oct. Check out college board’s site. Sad part is they charge you a fee. Yes, I think you can make it to 600 by December but you have to practice math questions all the time, it’s about practice and not just learning a rule or formula. They go hand in hand. Know what you’re good at and what you’re not good at. My advice would be use only college board questions as they give the test. Also for the score you are aiming for don’t answer all the questions, know how much questions you should answer before you do the exam. Khan academy is good as well for math . It’s somewhat interactive as it’s video tutorials for topics and not just reading. I’m not sure what other site is good; I’m sure someone else can add some input and give a good suggestion.</p>
<p>ACT, I’m not so knowledgeable about it so not sure how I can help but I do know most colleges if not all. It’s either ACTs or SATs. It’s not mandatory for both so don’t send a score you’re not proud of. </p>
<p>I agree with 007 that the best approach is doing practice problems from the college board, especially old tests. If you do want a book, I recommend Gruber’s Complete SAT Math Workbook.</p>
<p>Depending on how much free time you have, I would say that studying math would be the best way. Doing Amc10/12 problems decently and learning from the solutions would trivialize the Sat problems</p>
<p>You don’t really need to memorize many formulas for the Geometry part of the Math SAT to get a 600 except for the basics. This includes the 30-60-90 triangle, 45-45-90 triangle, pythagorean theorem, and the rest of the formulas that you need are pretty much self-explanatory. Don’t answer questions you don’t know, skip a few, because to a 600 on the math section, you don’t need to answer all of them. Read Gruber’s Math section and take the 101 math test and see what you need to work on, ignore the rest since you don’t have much time.</p>
<p>Since you’re taking the test in November you clearly do not have the time to study general math in-depth. Also, the SAT measures knowing how to take the test more than advanced math concepts. Find Xiggi and Silverturtle on the sub-forums - its your best hope for a big math bump.</p>
Haha feeling great. </p>