<p>Here’s the program I recommend.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Focus all effort on the Math section. Don’t worry about having a low verbal score on the future SAT test since the academies credit you with the highest score on any test taken. USMA admissions will understand why your verbal is unusually low.</p></li>
<li><p>If you don’t have them already, buy the review books with 10 practice or previous years’ tests with detailed solutions. Start doing the math sections of the exams each day. Each day do 20-40 questions. Expect to spend an hour or more a day on study. At first don’t worry about the time element. Remember, only do the math sections of the tests, you can cover at least twice as many math problems if you limit your focus to math. Review the solutions for all questions, even those you got right. Many times you’ll find easier and more time efficient methods for solving the problem. Identify the types of questions you tend to miss. After you’ve done a number of the practice tests, start zeroing in on the problems that give you hardest time. Don’t waste time doing the easy ones you already know. As you get closer to test time, start timing your practice sessions.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If you can’t figure out how to do certain types of questions even with the solutions, talk to a teacher at school or hire a tudor to work with you.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If careless ‘process’ errors rather than lack of understanding is a problem, write out the step by step solution to each problem as you solve it. Part of this step-by-step approach includes physically circling the key items in the question. This is time consuming and boring but it will help minimize the errors. Continue doing this until the careless errors stop. My boys hated this but they tended to miss more ‘easy’ questions than ‘hard’ questions when they first started the practice tests. Often they failed to read the question carefully and answered what they thought the question asked rather than what it really asked. </p></li>
<li><p>Look at the test taking tips for math. Some of the techniques for solving complex questions ( for example, when to try substituting the given answers rather than actually solve the problem ) can save valuable time that can be allocated to other questions. Some of these tips will be found in the problem solutions. That’s why it’s important to review the solutions of all the questions.</p></li>
<li><p>Make sure you know how to use the calculator efficiently and effectively on those problems allowing the calculator. The calculator should save time, not cost time. </p></li>
<li><p>Don’t worry about the “conquered” area when you take the formal test in November. Save your brain power on test days for the “targeted” area. That’s your mission. I assure you that the academies will understand why your great verbal score dropped on later tests.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck.</p>