<p>I've always loved math. I'm naturally good at it, but I didn't pay much attention in Geometry class. Is there a guide anywhere for SAT geometry, or a list of rules I should know? The geometry that the books I have (BB and Barron's) doesn't seem to cover everything on the test. Geometry is preventing me from increasing my 650 in SAT math. </p>
<p>Should I just omit the geometry I can't do quickly and move on?</p>
<p>I also was terrible in Geometry (even though I’m supposedly good at Math) but seriously reviewing the BB and Barron’s SAT Math Workbook, as well as some of Sparknotes’s online SAT Geometry review helped me be pretty beast at them. Hopefully all of this can do the same for you!</p>
<p>The best way to get better at SAT Geometry questions is to practice SAT Geometry questions. The actual geometry being tested is very basic, but the SAT questions tend to be tricky. For most students reviewing geometry is not an effective use of their time. Learn the SAT specific Geometry strategies, and then implement them while practicing problems.</p>
<p>Thank you, but what are those strategies? That’s what I’m struggling to find.</p>
<p>Geometry is learning the rules (go to sparknotes for that, it’s surprisingly well done) and practice. I was AWFUL at geometry when I first started, but I was able to quickly get on track after a little bit of practice, since the rules and types of questions tested are pitifully basic.</p>
<p>Basically, geometry will come naturally while you prep for the SAT as a whole. You’ll be able to devise your own strategies (which will be more effective than us just telling you strategies) after a little bit of practice and prep. Just remember that plugging in numbers also helps with geometry problems; this trick was a big help on some problems for me.</p>
<p>I’m not allowed to really comment on strategies much. This forum has strict policies against marketing. But let me give two examples of such strategies, one basic and one advanced:</p>
<p>Basic Strategy: If there is a figure and it does NOT say “figure not drawn to scale,” then it is drawn to scale, and you can use your eye to measure and answer the question.</p>
<p>Advanced Strategy: If a triangle is inside a circle, look to see which sides of the triangle are also radii of the circle. Remember all radii of a circle are equal. Very often you will find that these triangles are isosceles.</p>
<p>Note: Dusterbug’s mention of “plugging in numbers” is another example of a Basic Strategy - this can be used on all types of problems, not just geometry.</p>
<p>What helps me so much in geometry is that I look to the big picture of the figure,for example if figure is complicated,then try to break it down into smaller stuff may that be triangles,squares,rectangle,etc.</p>
<p>Hey Billy,</p>
<p>DrSteve and everyone else are pretty much right. The ‘strategy’ behind the SAT geometry is not really tips/traps or techniques, it’s understanding how the SAT tests its geometry.</p>
<p>In school, you could spend up to a year studying geometry - shapes and all that - and another year in algebra 2 studying y=mx+b and coordinate planes.</p>
<p>The geometry on the SAT is roughly broken into three parts:</p>
<p>1) 2D Shapes (parallelograms / triangles / circles) w/ sometimes the odd kite or trapezoid</p>
<p>2) 2D Coordinate Geometry (slope line formula / quadrants / slope / intercepts)</p>
<p>3) 3D Shapes (cubes / rectangular solids / pyramids / cylinders / spheres) w/ the tricks coming in when they ask you to find diagonals (usually asked "find the longest ‘thing’ you can put in this box). There is a diagonal formula, but really, it’s just a right triangle the pushes through space.</p>
<p>I put together a short video lesson on my blog recently, but in order to follow the CC rules, if you want the URL please PM me.</p>
<p>Sparknotes are also really, really well done.</p>
<p>Warmest,</p>
<p>cg</p>