<p>I usually score in the 650-670 range. However, I find that I know how to do almost every problem except for 1-3 (e.g. with infinite time I am able to score in the 720+ range). For the most part, the mistakes I am making have to do with typing numbers into my calculator wrong, forgetting formulas (for some of the geometry problems), or reading the questions incorrectly. Anybody have tips for improving accuracy and limiting mistakes?</p>
<p>Also, I tend to sometimes struggle with the probability and combination problems.. how did you guys perfect those questions?</p>
<p>1.) Don’t use calculator unless absolutely necessary, and double check answer. Also, when you type something into the calculator wrong (e.g. an 8 instead of a 7), usually you are left without an answer choice…</p>
<p>2.) The formulas aren’t that hard to remember. For circles, just remember C=2pr, then the integral of that is area, and the integral of that is volume…Trapezoid is the average bases x height x 1/2. Most of the formulas are intuitive.</p>
<p>I’m having the same issue. The only mistakes I make are silly errors…I can’t ever seem to get less that 2 wrong now! I’m finishing in 15 minutes and checking it over but I can’t seem to catch my silly errors.</p>
<p>Anyone have a really good method of checking over answers that helps them catch silly errors?</p>
<p>For example, I messed up this question: 4x = 32 … 1/4x = ?
I was trying to work really fast and just divided each side by 4 and got 8 as the answer and moved on…I didn’t catch the error when I checked it over either.</p>
<p>I also end up reading a question incorrectly at times, leading to a wrong answer.</p>
<p>Any review strategies that you CC’ers use that help would be appreciated. I kind of just skim the questions over…nothing really systematic in my approach.</p>
<p>When checking, if you work problems the same way you worked them the first time through, odds are that you won’t catch mistakes. So, try working the problems backwards the second time through.</p>
<p>and never turn in a math test until you’ve found one stupid mistake.</p>
<p>^So, start from my answer and work in the reverse direction?</p>
<p>I have 10 minutes to look over these sections so I definitely should not be making errors…it’s so frustrating…made 3 silly errors and got 720 on my last test. It’s really annoying because I’m always thinking, “yes, finally an 800”. Then I see 720…</p>
<p>I’m sure you thought of this, but you could use some of your extra 10 minutes doing problems carefully and systematically the first time through.</p>
<p>damn, I wrote another practice test…2 silly errors again. 1 was due to rushing…I mistook 2x + 6y for 2y + 6x and messed up there…next error was a reading error…didn’t read “positive ODD number”…just picked any positive number…</p>
<p>So basically, I’m still stuck at this stupid -2 range. I don’t know if I should just turn to your suggested method of taking my time because I did that for this test and still made 2 silly errors…</p>
<p>Same with writing. I made a 3 errors because I ‘didn’t see something’, but because of confusion or difficulty of a question.</p>
<p>Anyone have success in limiting such silly, pointless errors? I’m at -2 M and -3 to -1 W because of there errors. CR is usually just difficulty of the passages. </p>
<p>Thanks. Please PM me if you have been successful in limiting these kinds of errors. They are really killing my score.</p>
<p>Very smart people, people that I know, don’t make careless mistakes. Or at least rarely. Very rarely. So I suppose it’s one of the things you’re tested on.</p>
<p>jeez, viggyram, that is the EXACT situation I am in right now. There are like 2-3 problems concept wise I didnt know how to do in the BB. Every time i take a math test-Im like yay, i got a 800…OH wait, i made a few stupid mistakes</p>
<p>Same with writing…</p>
<p>And to the post above, thats what I am afraid of, perhaps, part of the intelligence that the SAT is testing is the ability to not make careless mistakes. In that case, Im screwed in my goal of reaching 2300.</p>
<p>I rewrite the equation/diagram/etc. first to make sure I have it right, do the problem, then double check my answer right afterwards. It’s as time-consuming as it sounds so I have no time to double check at the end AND I still get occasional misreads (especially on grid-ins, ugh) but it works for me most of the time.
I’ve come to accept that dumb mistakes and math come hand-in-hand.</p>
<p>I agree with the recommendation to slow down. If you are finishing in 15 minutes and then you are NOT finding your errors in the 10 minutes you have left, then you are essentially throwing those 10 minutes away! Strategically, it makes more sense to slow down, especially now that you know you have a track record of mis-reading. It is bitter to get a problem wrong for something like ODD vs POSITIVE. But finding that kind of mistake after you have finished all the problems is (apparently) unlikely. Your best bet is to read slower so that you avoid the error in the first place.</p>