<p>Ok so I was recently accepted into St. John's University in NYC as an "Undecided" major. I've determined that I would like to enter the Economics and Finance program. I mean, hey if Wall Street is 10 minutes away why would I not? </p>
<p>Well I got an e-mail from the admissions office today saying that I need at least a 500 SAT math. I never took the SAT. I was more of an ACT guy. Unfortunately, my math score sucked. And by sucked I mean it really was not good. (18 or 19? I forget) Though I did have a 24 overall. Not great but not terrible.</p>
<p>I know to most of you a 500 is probably like daycare level, but hey it's hard for me. I have virtually no experience with the SAT but plan to take it this upcoming March. How exactly did you guys study for this thing? What books are good? What is the test format? Is a 500 even good?</p>
<p>Worst comes to worst and I don't get a 500, I can still get in but I'd have to do extremely well in math during my freshman year starting in the fall. I really don't want to chance it. Please help!</p>
<p>The first thing you should do: take a full-length SAT as practice right now and see how you score. </p>
<p><a href=“https://satonlinecourse.collegeboard.com/SR/digital_assets/assessment/pdf/F4D31AB0-66B4-CE32-00F7-F5405701F413-F.pdf[/url]”>https://satonlinecourse.collegeboard.com/SR/digital_assets/assessment/pdf/F4D31AB0-66B4-CE32-00F7-F5405701F413-F.pdf</a></p>
<p>Tips before taking the SAT: the math section isn’t difficult - it’s just tricky. Keep your eyes peeled for tricks. If the answer asks for 4y, don’t bubble in the value of y. If the answer asks you to convert from inches to cm, don’t make the mistake of putting down the number of inches. If the answer asks you to pick the one that is NOT true, then don’t make the mistake of putting down what IS true. </p>
<p>That’s it. Take it. I’m sure you can get a 500 no problem. If not, then come back with questions and we can decide how you need to review. Good luck :)!</p>
<p>500 is a very easy score. Like you could skip half the test and still get a 500.</p>
<p>Alright I didn’t think it would be too hard. I talked to a kid who only got a 480 today but he stressed how bad he was at math for about 30 minutes. Well I’ve got until this summer so I’ll probably have about two shots at it. Thanks guys.</p>
<p>And btw @IceCube thanks for the link man. I’m gonna take it here tonight to see where I’m at.</p>
<p>Also, if you are aiming for anything above a 500, don’t do any questions that you don’t know. Because when you get something wrong it deducts points</p>
<p>^i’d say it more strongly than that: go VERY slowly and intentionally leave out all of the hard ones at the ends unless you can do them by making up numbers. I’ve posted this before but here it is again: </p>
<p>20 question section:</p>
<p>Go slowly and carefully thru the 1st 12 questions. Answer them all. Still have time? Pick and choose among the next 4 questions. Answer the ones you feel like. Still have time? Well you probably shouldn’t! But if you do, you are better off going back to the ones you skipped. If you know some tricks (like making up numbers) and you see one of those, well then OK, answer it. But in general, the questions at the end are a bad use of your time.</p>
<p>18 question section:</p>
<p>Same idea, but remember that the last couple of multiple choice (7 and 8) are hard. Skip them and go right to the grid-ins. Take your time and focus on the first 6 or 7. Before you give up on a problem, remember the iron rule of the SAT; the questions just get harder. Might as well stay and fight the problem you are on for a little longer.</p>
<p>16 question section:</p>
<p>Go slowly thru the 1st 10, answer all. Pick and choose over the next 3. Stay away from the last 3 unless you see a trick you are comfortable with (and even then, be cautious – the ones at the end are nasty).</p>
<p>This may seem pessimistic, but it is just being pragmatic. If 500 is a happy result for you, this is the most efficient way to go after it.</p>
<p>Agreed. But he said he is pretty good at math. So that’s why I thought that if he skipped the ones he don’t understand, skip it.</p>
<p>But listen to this ^^^^^^^^^ post.</p>