<p>I work at a moderate pace, but when I get to like geometry questions, I get stuck and lose time/no time to check. Is it better to just work as fast as possible, then go back and check or move at a moderate pace? I haven't been able to break 700 from careless mistakes or simply having no idea how to do a problem. I still have the practice tests in the BB, but have reviewed the math and done some practice problems. Last chance to improve, any tips?</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I’ve never had a student who broke the 700 barrier by making an effort to go FASTER. It’s always been the other way: slowing down to get rid of the careless stuff. </p>
<p>If you already know the math and the techniques (“tricks” if you prefer) then all that’s left to do is go through that blue book like crazy. In addition to the tests that you have left, have you completely analyzed your mistakes from the others? If you are hoping to break 700, you should be able to explain how to do every problem in the blue book. If you can’t do that yet, then you are not “done” with the tests.</p>
<p>pckeller is correct. One thing that my high scoring students have in common is that they can finish a 25 minute math section in half that time or less while moving at a very easy pace. To do this you just need to make sure you know as many SAT specific strategies as possible, and then practice implementing them over and over again, especially on the types of problems you’re having trouble with. </p>
<p>Sounds like you specifically need to go over geometry strategies, and practice lots of geometry questions.</p>
<p>I’ve been analyzing some of the ones I missed. One was careless, another was subtracting area (careless)…</p>
<p>You could try solving the geometry problems untimed (don’t worry about being fast now), but always make sure you understand the solution. With enough practice you will find yourself working faster, as you’ll be able to instantly see the solution.</p>
<p>rspence! You’re back! How’s MIT!?!</p>
<p>Also I get stuck pretty often too. I usually draw a diagram more “fit to scale” and it works! :)</p>
<p>Yeah the -3 on hard geometry problems usually messes up any chance of 700+ with 2-3 careless mistakes…</p>
<p>I have plenty of practice, just need to get working on it…I’ll post if I get stuck and don’t understand something.</p>
<p>Just remember every “hard” math problem can likely be broken down into several easier problems. The key is to look for the patterns/clues that standout that can help direct you towards solving the solution.</p>
<p>after practice test #1 (just math BB) -7 = 680 again, I’m hopeless. 3 careless mistakes in early 10 questions…one on venn diagrams…</p>
<p>When I see a triangular prism and other shapes near #17+…I’m like oh dang, what do I do…</p>
<p>I’m reading all answer explanations on collegeboard for the math ones I missed and didn’t miss to try to “piece together” patterns and faster ways to solve problems. I basically didn’t have time to check and got stuck on last 2-3, like usual.</p>
<p>like on #5, the venn diagram, I immediately subtracted the middle cause that’s how I learned it for most problems in AP stats, but I didn’t realize the total of all the parts was already = 30…</p>
<p>BB Test #2, -6 = 700, but on a typical test, that’d be 680 again, sigh. this time no careless mistakes, problem was not understanding questions</p>
<p>I go on collegeboard, look at solutions to every problem including ones I missed/did correctly, so I help this helps.</p>
<p>For Venn diagram problems (and ones similar to these) it always helps to label which areas correspond to which. And be sure to not overcount/undercount anything. Here’s a sample question:</p>
<p>How many integers in the set {1,2,3,…,1000} are divisible by 3 or 5, but not both?</p>
<p>I got 401…probably wrong though.</p>
<p>I though 3*5= 15 then 1000/15 = about 66 #'s so this goes in the middle.
1000/3 = about 333
1000/5 = 200 </p>
<p>subtract 66 from both and add both sides?</p>
<p>Yep, it’s 401. Alternatively, you can add 333+200-66 (this gives the # of integers divisible by 3, 5, or both, which can be useful in other problems). However you have to subtract 66 again, because you don’t want “both.” So the answer is 333+200-2(66) = 401</p>
<p>This is like statistics…though I would have tediously gone through, put y=x and looked for patterns and add wrong. I missed a similar question about consecutive integers less than 1000 for 3 cons integers cause I miscounted…</p>
<p>BB Test #1 -7 = 680
BB Test #2 -6 = 700
BB Test #3 -5 = 700
BB Test #4 -5 = range 680-700+
BB Test #5 -9 = careless errors, 650-660
BB Test #6 -5 = about 700</p>
<p>so still on the border, kinda, gonna review all solutions before final tests and if any collegeboard extra tests</p>
<p>So -4 is basically the safe cutoff for 700+…seems out of reach if I miss so many…=/</p>