<p>I have been prepping for the SAT for about a year, and learn a lot. So I wanted to give back to the awesome college Confidential Community, some tips to help you score higher in SAT Math. </p>
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<li><p>Always read the question carefully, give some time understanding the question, then solve it. Slow down, It help increase my 650 SAT math score to 770+.</p></li>
<li><p>Have strong understanding on topics like basic arithmetic, algebra I & II, and geometry. I found this amazing website, that reminds us the basic content of these topics. I have so many classmates come to me, and they forgotten how to calculate percent change, I tell them go to this website, and revise your math skills. :) <a href="http://www.onemathematicalcat.org/map_to_SAT_material.htm">http://www.onemathematicalcat.org/map_to_SAT_material.htm</a> This will teach the formulas, and content you need to know, then after you mastered the website (or topics), apply it on the Blue Book.</p></li>
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<p>For example, Bob is working on fractions on onemathematicalcat, after he is done with all the lessons for fractions, he will go to the Blue Book and hunt EVREY SINGLE FRACTION PROBLEM, until he his confident on fractions. You don't have to use only the Blue Book, you can also use Barron's, Princeton Review, Gruber's... and the whole web (Even Khan Academy once the SAT part of the website is done).</p>
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<li><p>For Geometry problems, LABEL, LABEL, AND LABEL. And if the problem says not drawn to scale, BE VERY CAREFUL, the "evil" ETS will make the figure look like 3 is the radius, but it was actually 8. >:) Also try to draw a figure, if not given.</p></li>
<li><p>Very simple tip, if you finish early, plz go back and review your answers. What I do is put a star next to the problem, that I might want to go over at the end, besides being stuck on it, I move on, and come back later to it. </p></li>
<li><p>If you really want to get a boost your SAT math score, review SAT math vocabulary (integers, even, odd, inscribe...)</p></li>
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<p><a href="http://advancedmathtutoring.com/must-know-sat-math-definitions-formulas-part-1-3/">http://advancedmathtutoring.com/must-know-sat-math-definitions-formulas-part-1-3/</a>
<a href="http://advancedmathtutoring.com/5-obscure-sat-math-formulas-that-you-must-know-to-score-an-800-on-the-sat-math-section/">http://advancedmathtutoring.com/5-obscure-sat-math-formulas-that-you-must-know-to-score-an-800-on-the-sat-math-section/</a>
<a href="http://advancedmathtutoring.com/must-know-sat-math-definitions-formulas-part-3-3/">http://advancedmathtutoring.com/must-know-sat-math-definitions-formulas-part-3-3/</a></p>
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<li>Another simple tip, be aware how many problems they are in the section you are working on (Its up top, on the beginning of section). </li>
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<p>SAT Math Sections:</p>
<p>25 minutes - 20 questions (multiple choice)
25 minutes - 18 questions (multiple choice, grid-in)
20 minutes - 16 questions (multiple choice)
Also could be a 25 min experimental section.</p>
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<li><p>Hard SAT Math problems = Easy Math topics combined
For example,</p></li>
<li><p>Let the function p be defined as p(x) = a(x - k)^2 where a and k are positive constants. For what value of x will the function p have its minimum value?</p></li>
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<p>(A) -a
(B) -k
(C) 0
(D) a
(E) k</p>
<p>This is a level 5 problem from 2008 QAS.
The question is asking for basically do you know what a constant is, basic exponent rule, and basic arithmetic skills.
All you had to do was choose any POSITIVE number (you could have done negative but the problem said positive only) for a and k (a = 2, k =5).</p>
<p>Just by glancing at the choices E is right answer. Because 2 * (5 -5)^2 = 0
Now a negative number would be smaller than zero right...
But If you know that any number square ^2, would make it automatically positive. Making E the right answer. </p>
<p>If you truly master the basic topics and rules of Math, you can solve any hard SAT Math question. :)</p>
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<li>Stop making CARELESS MISTAKES. You worked your butt off for the last 6 months (or more) prepping for the SAT, and on the test date you bubbled choice C, when you got answer A. Pay attention!! [-(</li>
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<p>Later on I will write more specialized tips for certain Math problems (These were only general tips)!</p>
<p>I hope the best for everyone taking the SAT. Have a great day. :)</p>