<p>jamimom, that's what I mean. It worked for my D, but kids need to do whatever it takes in order to "know" their test maker. You have to find a way to decipher what they want on this test. If it means a course, doing it yourself, or a tutor who has been able to ascertain the way the SAT drafters think, that's what will increase the score. As for the rich getting tutors, perhaps, but many school districts have teachers trained to tutor for the test, and these are inexpensive study sessions.</p>
<p>While a student might disagree with answers to some of the verbal questions, the answers to math questions are fairly straightforward, unless a question is poorly worded, which SAT math questions generally aren't. (BTW, poorly worded questions are a significant problem with prep books other than the Reals.) </p>
<p>I suppose on the rate-time-distance questions an imaginative person could argue that a given speed has to be some sort of average, whether or not the test says so, because everyone knows an automobile doesn't instantly start or stop at 35 mph. This student could further argue that a driver might have figured out a weighted average speed per distance travelled rather than dividing her total distance travelled by time and therefore might have driven a different average speed for a given time. (If you don't understand that, PM me and I'll explain.) So this hypothetical student might have to learn that the test maker averages distance over time. However, that's how people usually obtain average speed so the test maker's thinking isn't peculiar.</p>
<p>Or our imaginative student could naturally work in base 12 and assume all problems are written thusly, although standard notation in the US is base 10. </p>
<p>But these arguments are stretches. The College Board doesn't have a unique perspective on math, although the questions may be asked in a different way than many students have previously encountered. It is true that students can learn to solve SAT questions through practice, but I believe it is better if students learn how to think so they have the flexibility of solving a wide variety of questions, even if the questions aren't asked in a "standard" manner. Then the students don't have to learn each test maker's thinking and are better equipped to solve real life problems, which often are not posed in any standard manner.</p>
<p>EllenF,
just curious as to your perspective on the math portions - have you played with the test, recently? I have - and by your standards, I certainly can't think, LOL.</p>
<p>Have I played with the test? I'm not sure what you mean, but, within the past six months, I have done all the tests in both the old and new CB prep books. I've also done all the SAT IIs in the Real book, except for some of the foreign language tests. So I'm reasonably familiar with the questions on the tests.</p>
<p>Ohio Mom - Some adults lose math skills through disuse. I had to brush up on trig myself. However, if you still remember algebra, basic geometry, and basic trig, my guess is that you could figure out how to solve any SAT math problem with only a teeny bit of initial guidance. Your posts show you certainly can think!</p>
<p>EllenF -
Ah, you are a student! I thought you were a parent speaking from the sidelines and not the trenches. I actually do agree with you to a certain extent about the thinking part, its just that with the SAT's it can be a twisty kind of thinking.</p>
<p>No, I have long since passed my student days - decades ago. I ordered the Real books for my son. As long as we had the books, I figured I'd find out what the tests were like these days so I took them all with the exception of some of the foreign languages. It turns out the tests are not substantially different than the SATs I took in high school. (The new writing portion of the SAT I is essentially the old SAT II writing.) </p>
<p>It's from perspective of all those years since college that I advocate learning how to think. The thinking required by the SAT isn't significantly different that the thinking required in jobs in which a person applies his knowledge to non-standard problems. Learning how to think in this manner will serve a person well over a lifetime. It's tragic that too many students exit high school, and even college, without good thinking skills. How often have you heard students complain, "The test was no fair. The teacher never asked the question that way in class." </p>
<p>As noted earlier, many adults who haven't used algebra, geometry and trig for many years might now have trouble with SAT math problems. But my guess is that a significant majority of adults on this list would get excellent math scores with, at most, a brief math refresher course. And I've no doubt adults on this list would do very well on the CR and writing portions of the test without any prep. You are all superb thinkers.</p>
<p>EllenF,
hats off to you - I never had the guts to sit down and complete the math portions. I did ok on the GRE's but that was about 21 years ago!</p>
<p>My son also expresses his admiration - just not in terms I can repeat verbatim. </p>
<p>Good luck to your son. If the apple fell close to the tree, he at least got a healthy dose of character!</p>