Hey, I'm a junior preparing for the SAT, and I was wondering if anyone has some helpful strategies for the math section that they could share? Are there specific topics I should prioritize, or maybe some resources to practice with? Thanks in advance!
Hey there! It's great that you're preparing for the math section of the SAT. I'd be happy to share some strategies and tips to help you build up your skills and confidence.
1. Familiarize yourself with the test format: As of spring 2024, the digital SAT has two math modules, both 35 minutes long, and you can use a calculator on both sections. Each module comprises 22 questions, for a total of 44 questions.
2. Focus on the most common topics: The SAT Math section emphasizes algebra (linear equations & inequalities, systems of equations, etc.), problem-solving and data analysis (ratios, proportions, percentages, graphical interpretations, etc.), and some geometry and trigonometry concepts (circles, triangles, etc.). Concentrate more on these areas, but make sure you have a general understanding of all topics covered.
3. Practice with official material: The College Board's Bluebook™ app is an ideal resource, as it comes straight from the test makers. It allows you to preview the digital SAT format and provides a full-length practice test. Additionally, you can access free practice questions on the Khan Academy website, which has partnered with the College Board.
4. Use supplementary resources: Beyond College Board affiliated options, there are a wealth of other test-prep options out there. For example, CollegeVine's blog contains a series of posts focused on SAT prep, including several addressing the math section in particular, such as this one: https://blog.collegevine.com/sat-math-geometry-questions/. Review books, such as those from the Princeton Review, could also be an asset to you during your studying.
4. Learn from your mistakes: When practicing, make sure you review the questions you've answered incorrectly. Understand where you went wrong and learn the correct approach. If you notice a pattern of struggling in specific areas, spend extra time on those concepts. Additionally, if you're aiming for an especially high score, you could also review the questions you got right, to ensure your overall process was sound and you didn't just accidentally arrive at correct answer.
5. Build your math vocabulary: Make sure you're familiar with terminology and concepts used in the SAT Math section. Knowing the language and having a clear understanding of the question will help you quickly identify what's being asked and the appropriate method to solve the problem.
6. Time management: Develop a sense of how long you can spend on each question (about 96 seconds per question, or a little over a minute and a half). Practice pacing yourself, and don't get stuck on a single problem for too long. It's better to move on and answer the questions you know than to miss those because you got stuck on one challenging question. Also remember, there's no penalty for guessing, so make sure you fill in an answer for each question, even if you don't know how to tackle it.
7. Utilize strategies like plugging in answers or numbers: Sometimes, working with the provided answer choices or picking numbers for variables can help you solve the problem more quickly. These kinds of strategies can be especially useful for questions where algebraic manipulation is time-consuming or tricky.
Remember, practice is key. The more time you spend working on problems, the more comfortable and prepared you'll be on the test day. Good luck with your preparation, and I hope these strategies help you ace the SAT Math section!
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