Many students moan at the mention of the term Mathematics. Fortunately, the SAT math section only tests on basic math concepts that most high school students should already be familiar with. So why is it that some students still do badly on the SAT math section?
While it is true that the math section on the SAT tests only basic math concepts, the way that these concepts are tested is very different from the way they might be tested in school. SAT math questions are unique. In fact, they are so unique that you might struggle to find a math question similar to an SAT math question on any other test.
Because of the uniqueness of the SAT math questions, students find the questions unfamiliar and perform badly on the test. So how does one excel on the math section of the SAT?
The key to doing well on the math section is to be familiar with, and understand the way basic math concepts are tested on the SAT. The only way to achieve this is through assiduous practice.
We all know that practice makes perfect. This is especially true for SAT math prep. Students have to be exposed to as many questions as possible before the actual exam. However, this does not mean that we should just practice blindly. As I mentioned before, SAT math questions are unique. Thus, it is important to practice correctly using correct SAT math tips so that we are not wasting our efforts.
It also important to note that practice should also take place under timed conditions similar to test day. One of the reasons why the SAT math section is challenging is the limited time that is allocated for each section. Thus, practicing under timed conditions is crucial for conditioning a student to be able to work quickly and accurately on test day.
Apart from practice, it is also important to thoroughly review questions. It makes no sense to keep practicing and repeat the same mistakes over and over again. After each practice session, it is highly advisable to thoroughly review each question carefully. To make the most of your time, briefly review questions that you answered correctly and spend more time on the questions you answered wrongly.
When you review a question, do not have the mentality of “memorizing” the question because you will NOT see that same question again on the SAT. However, what you will see is another question which tests the SAME concept. Thus, the best way to review a question is to first identify the underlying concept that is tested in the question, and then thoroughly understand that concept.
If a student exposes himself to a wide range of SAT math questions, practice with the right methods, and reviews each question wisely, his or her SAT math score will definitely improve.