MathGuy777

Okay, so I made a previous thread on How I got an 800 on SAT Math or something like that.
I'll stop repeating myself after this, but I decided to make a thread where everyone that did well on the SAT Math can contribute some advice for those who want to raise their scores!

I'll start off with a few:
1. Practice, Practice, Practice! The more you practice math problems, the less overwhelmed you will be when you take the real SAT math.
2. More importantly, REVIEW the solutions to all the questions you answer.
- NOT JUST THE INCORRECT ONES. Sometimes, solutions can show you the most error-
prone and quickest methods to solve a problem. However, if you have a better method for
solving certain types of problems and you don't make lots of mistakes through solving
those problems, you should definitely go with what suits you best!
3. Use your calculator, BUT not too much. Calculators can waste a lot of time if you don't know when to use them. Some things you should do to IMPROVE YOUR SAT MATH SCORE by about 50 POINTS is memorizing your times tables (quick: 12 x 13?) up to about 15 or so, learning a few square numbers, and using formulas and tricks like slope (y2 - y1/x2 - x1), difference of squares, and . If there are a lot of calculations involved or you're not sure if you can be accurate with pencil and paper, you may want to use your calculator. If you do use it on a long calculation problem, make sure you typed in the right numbers to calculate.

4. Math is by far the easiest to improve on. I suggest you to take Algebra and Geometry (maybe even Alg. II for the graphs) before you take the SAT, but that's up to you.

5. AMC 8 Tests: These math tests are great substitutes for SAT tests and should definitely improve your score by at least 100 to 150 points if you use them to your advantage.
I GIVE RSPENCE CREDIT TO NUMBER 5

GIVE MORE ADVICE PEOPLE

rspence

Yes, AMC8 questions are definitely SAT-level (maybe even a little trickier...that's saying something, for a middle school competition). However there is hardly any algebra on AMC8 so I suggest also trying a few easy-mid AMC10 problems.

gomdorri

I only know my times tables up to twelve and I still score 800s on practice tests lol. You don't NEED to memorize your times tables to get a perfect score on the SAT. AP calc and other tests that have sections that don't allow calculators? Well that's another story xD

rspence

Here's the thing about times tables: You should have them memorized regardless (a college student not knowing what 9*8 is?).

But for SAT and AMC/AIME exams, it definitely helps to have some squares and powers of 2/3/5/7 memorized. For example, an AMC question could ask you what the remainder is when 102^10 is divided by 100 (which is extremely easy if you know the techniques).

Kyrix1

^lol

Comparing SAT to the AIME? That's like comparing prealgebra to multivar calc.

EDIT i just realize you weren't comparing them. my bad

I agree with OP though, AMC 8 definitely helps. As well as, say, the first 12 problems of the AMC 10 (the rest are too hard). AMC 12/AIME/USAMO/etc. are way out of scope.

Don't blatantly spend time trying to memorize times tables. It's a complete waste of time; you might as well use your calculator for the same thing, and not make a mistake (e.g. you memorize 14*15=210, then when you recall it you get like 120). You should realize tricks to multiply while you learn math (for example, I don't actually know 14*15, so I go OK 14*15=2*7*15=30*7=210 or 14*15=(15-1)*15=225-15=210. second method only works because I know my perfect squares though). Stuff like that is exponentially more useful than knowing your times tables after 10.

Agreed for having powers of easy integers memorized.

Also realize that most formulas are dumb and not worth memorizing without knowing how they're derived. Since there's still quite some time until the next SAT, know how the point slope/slope-intercept formula come about, etc. Oh and, if you have one of those nifty graphing calculators and you just CAN'T MEMORIZE ANYTHING, you can possibly write programs to spit stuff out for you before the test or just type the formulas into the calculator and save it as a program. BEWARE THAT I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS ALLOWED OR NOT. I VAGUELY RECALL THE SAT PEOPLE SAYING YOU HAVE TO CLEAR YOUR RAM (WHICH INCLUDES PROGRAMS) BEFORE THE TEST, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SOMEONE CHECK TO SEE IF THEY ALLOW PROGRAMS ON CALCULATORS. Um, and if not, don't try to loophole it by archiving/grouping the program (which RAM deletes don't work on), mmkay?

rspence

Yeah, if a student is consistently making USAMO/IMO, and not scoring 800's on the SAT, something's wrong. Period...lol.

Times tables is worth memorizing regardless. Also, if you forget something like 14*15 and put 120, first realize that 120 is a multiple of 4, but 14*15 is not.

Also, you should be allowed to at least create your own functions on a graphing calculator. For example, f(a,b,c) = (-b +- sqrt(b^2 - 4ac))/2a if you want the solutions to a quadratic. Or just use nsolve if you have a TI calculator.

MathGuy777

Haha^ That brings me up to a good point.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU LOVE MATH AND HOW MATH-SMART YOU ARE, DOESN'T MEAN YOU WILL GET A 800. YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR CALCULATION MISTAKES.

Lol, yeah times tables up to 20 x 20, maybe. After that, you can use a calculator.

And for those of you, who DO HAVE TROUBLE WITH QUADRATICS, keep on solving those problems and work on arithmetic (factors). It seriously helps.

Since they don't tend to ask graphing questions (b/c they don't expect everyone to have a TI or other graphing calculator.)

ONE QUESTION THAT POPS UP A LOT
ex.)
SHOWS DIAGRAM OF TWO GRAPHED FUNCTIONS

There are two functions in this graph: g(x) and f(x)
The graph for function g(x) is one unit higher than f(x)
What is g(x) in terms of f(x)?

rspence

Yeah, you have to recognize if a quadratic easily factors. There's not really any other method other than just "seeing it." The cheap way is to find the roots and then factor (which works as well, but takes longer).

They'll ask a lot of "graph" questions and you have to be able to recognize the transformation, e.g. g(x) = f(x) + 1.

qtpiginger

Besides the blue book, what other prep books would you guys recommend for good practice on math questions?