<p>I am a pretty good math student but I always seem to score low on this section. Sub 600.</p>
<p>Less than two weeks left. What are some things I can do to improve my math really fast?</p>
<p>I'm not looking to get a 700, so what are the best approaches I should take? </p>
<p>At this point, I am hoping for:</p>
<p>Writing: 690 (I got 42 raw score the first time I took it and I got a 620 because of a 7 essay, such BS!!!)
Math: 600
CR: 620</p>
<p>I'm pretty done on Writing, I don't feel like prepping for it anymore. I always get about a 660-700 without the essay factored in. </p>
<p>CR...my score is usually based off of how motivated I am that day and if the passages are interesting. Don't care about it now, too late to do anything.</p>
<p>But Math I know I can improve in this much time. </p>
<p>If I want a 600, what is the best way to get it? Like should I do all those easy/med and skip all the hards?</p>
<p>Can you first tell why is it that you cannot get above a 600? Is it the speed, is it careless errors, is it not knowing the material, or is it something else?</p>
<p>Also, if you can tell a little more of your math background (preferably, say what level are you taking and what is your grade), it will be easier to give you specific help.</p>
<p>I am pretty much like you, cant seem to break the 600s in Math but I hv gotten 760 in SAT Math 2. So I guess my Math prob lies specifically with the SAT 1.
I guess there are some short hand techniques to learn like Xiggi gave for the average speed : (2V1*V2)/ (V1 +V2)
So we can do the math quicker and correct.</p>
<p>Allright, by Calculus you should know all the material. It’s a shame you choose not to take AP, since the teacher would be preparing you for the test and those same test-taking techniques could be carried over to the SAT, but lets work with what we have.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do the questions from easy to hard. If you find yourself pressed for time, always try to do the questions near the beginning first. Remember that all questions are worth the same.</p></li>
<li><p>Always guess the grid-in, since there is no penalty for getting it wrong. I mean, if you have no idea, literally bubble in a 5 or something just for the heck of it (ideally, you would narrow down the range from all the possible answers by looking at the numbers).</p></li>
<li><p>If you can eliminate two answer choices, guess. If you can eliminate 1, guessing depends on whether you feel you are getting your 600s from leaving too many blank or from answering too many wrong, and try to counter this.</p></li>
<li><p>If it takes you more than 30 seconds to know how to solve a problem, skip it. This doesn’t mean you should get the problem right in 30 seconds. It means that if in 30 seconds you are not already making calculations and have a clear path to the answer in your head, then you may not be able to answer the question at all and it is better to leave it blank for now.</p></li>
<li><p>Do lots of practice! Buy the blue book and practice problems. Try to solve them as fast as you can, and if you can, try to solve them in your head. That way, when you take the test, they will be a lot easier with your pencil, paper, and calculator.</p></li>
<li><p>Use your graphing calculator wisely. If you do not have one, borrow one (leaving something as a healthy collateral) and familiarize yourself with it prior to the test. Also, use a cable (buying one if necessary) to put programs in your calculator, and practice with them. In particular, I recommend the SAT OS and any formulas you do not have memorized but believe will be useful on the test. Ideally, you are taking the test with a TI-89 you are fully comfortable with and have pre-loaded with all the necessary applications, but a lower calculator won’t hurt you if you are more comfortable with it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If you are attacking your calculator during SAT math, then sorry, but something is wrong and you are most likely trying to make up deficits and gaps in your mathematical knowledge by relying on your calculator. I don’t think people should use math programs at ALL to do SAT math. You will waste your time finding the correct equations or whatnot (I’ve never used these applications so I don’t know quite how they work). Instead, learn the math beforehand. Ideally, you should be able to do all the math questions on the SAT <em>without</em> a calculator. The calculator is there to help you crunch numbers, not do help you do the entire problems.</p>
<p>There is good advice in post #5. Mindful that the terms of service here on CC prohibit advertising, I will tell you about a FREE online service you can use to practice your math. That is ALEKS </p>
<p>which allows an unlimited number of short free trials. You set the free trials for various math courses you think you have already mastered, take the test the website serves up to you, and then find out what your areas to practice on are. It’s pretty slick, and it covers all precalculus topics. Doing this would probably do you some good in your high school math class too.</p>