5 Tips That Will Help You Ace the SAT Math Section
Math SAT tests are something that most children dread because of the pressure this section creates. However, if you prepare smartly, you will be able to ace the test without much pressure.
Here are some tips to help you do just that.
1. Take Practice Tests
SAT is a high-pressure test because of its impact on your future. If you have no prior experience of giving an exam in a similar atmosphere, things can become difficult for you. Practice tests will help you get used to the exam pressure.
In a practice test, you’ll be able to experience the same high-pressure situation like that in the exam centre. There are a number of resources from which you can get credible practice test question papers. Make sure that you follow the same protocols and stick to the time limits.
Time management is extremely important to score well in a subject like Math. Often, students spend too much time on a single question and end up failing to attempt the entire paper. The more practice tests you appear for, the better you’ll learn to manage your time while solving the papers.
Make a note of how long you are taking to solve each type of question. Constantly try to lower this amount of time with practice and you are bound to finish the entire test on the final day.
2. Find out your weakness and work on them
This tip is essential for all the sections. An important part of doing well includes knowing where your weakness lies. There are a number of topics that you’ll have to cover for your SAT test and like every other applicant, you won’t be good with all of them.
There is no need to feel embarrassed about that fact. What matters is how you can improve upon your knowledge of the topics you are weak in. Spend more time practicing the questions that you get wrong more often than the others.
A big reason why you are finding a particular topic difficult is probably that concept isn’t clear to you. You need to spend extra time to understand it once again.
3. Math Language and Algebra
Things were definitely simpler when math used to have more numbers than letters. But those days are long gone now. The more symbols, alphabets, and Greek letters get included in a question, the more complex it becomes.
The thing to remember, though, is that you can easily convert the complicated things asked in the question into algebraic equations. The ability to translate “math language” is a very important skill that can help you ace your SAT.
The tests are designed to test your knowledge of the subject to maximum and thus, the questions are phrased in a slightly difficult manner. It is important to read the questions carefully and convert the phrases into simple algebraic equations – for example, the phrase ‘more than’ means that you need to add.
This is not a skill that you can develop on the spot. You need to practice this translation regularly to break down complex questions into simple, solvable equations.
4. Learn Mental Math Tricks and Memorize Basic Formulas
Math is all about understanding concepts, true. But there are certain things that you need to learn in order to make it easier for you to solve problems in your test.
Some simple tricks, like adding two zeroes to any number that is being multiplied by 100 and so on, can come in handy when you want to solve problems quickly. You won’t even need a calculator and the time you take for solving questions will reduce drastically.
Similarly, you should learn some basic formulas. Learning formulas for topics like trigonometry and algebra will reduce the pressure on you on the day of the test and will make it easier for you to solve complex questions.
5. Plug-in the Given Options
A major portion of the Math SAT contains multiple-choice questions. This means that the correct answer to the problem you’re trying to solve is staring you right in the face.
If you work smartly, you will be able to use this to your advantage and ensure that you choose the right option. Instead of creating complex equations to find out the answer, you can try plugging in the options provided to you. Work on the question and form a basic equation where the missing variable is your answer.
Then, simply input one option at a time and check if the equation is balanced. This trick will reduce the time you take to solve questions and will increase your chances of selecting the right answer.
Practice is the key to doing well in Math. Along with that, follow the above-mentioned tips carefully and you are bound to ace your Math SAT test and get the score that you require to get into your dream college.
