The College SAT Math Section
What can I expect from SAT multiple-choice math questions?
There are 44 multiple-choice SAT math questions that are arranged from easy to difficult. The SAT math questions test topics such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.
What's the secret to getting a great score on the SAT multiple-choice math questions?
The secret to getting a great score on the multiple-choice math questions it to realize that the SAT math test is really not a math test, it's a combination of a reasoning test and a thinking test that uses fairly simple, straight-forward math. In other words, the solutions to any question is not going to involve pages of computations or plugging in a lot of numbers into your calculator. What makes questions difficult is figuring out what the question itself is asking, the wording of the question, and then figuring out what your goal is in the question and what two or three steps mathematically do you need to reach your goal. The questions always start easy and then get progressively harder, so what makes the hard questions hard is not the math you're going to use, it doesn't test any advanced math concepts, but it's figuring out what simple math is required to answer the question.
How should I approach the SAT multiple-choice math questions?
For SAT multiple choice math questions you want to be familiar with the directions of the test, and familiar with the information that they give you in that little key in the beginning of every math section. There are some helpful diagrams and math concepts that you may want to use in solving the questions. You also want to make sure you have a calculator that you're comfortable using, and that is set in degrees rather than radians. In addition, for SAT multiple choice math questions, whenever they give you a question that doesn't have a diagram, a geometry question let's say, you want to sketch yourself a little diagram so that you can visualize the question that's being asked. If the maths question does provide a diagram, you want to mark up the diagram as much as necessary, so that you can visualize all of the information they are giving you in the question. On certain algebra questions, it's very helpful to just plug in the answer choices rather than solving the equations. On other SAT algebra questions that give you a lot of variables, you actually may want to give yourself numbers to work with, so that you're dealing with a concrete question rather than one that's more abstract.
What can I expect from the SAT grid-in section?
One of the SAT 25-minute math sections is going to have 10 student response or “grid-in” questions, in which there aren't any answer choices. You're going to have to come up with the answer yourself and grid it in on a special section of the answer sheet. The SAT grid-in question tests the same topics that the other multiple-choice questions on the math side test: arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.
What's the secret to getting a great score on the SAT grid-in scores?
The secret to getting a great score on the grid-ins is to realize that the grid-in questions, like the other multiple choice math questions, start easy and get progressively harder. So, easy questions are going to have easy solutions and difficult questions are going to be more difficult to figure out. The grid-in questions are going to test the same topics that the multiple choice math questions test so a lot of the same strategies are going to apply in terms of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis. The most important thing to remember on the grid-ins is that there is not a penalty for wrong answers so you always want to answer every grid-in, even if you don't know the answer. It is worth taking a guess. You just might get it right.
What are the most common mistakes students make on the SAT math section?
The most common mistake people make on the SAT math section is regarding the grid-ins; not knowing how to grid-in repeating decimals properly. Let's say for your answer you come up with .666666 repeating. Well, you have to grid-in .666. In other words, you have to use all four places on the grid. The decimal point takes up one place, and then you have to enter the next three numbers to the right of the decimal point. You won't get credit for putting in .6 or .66. You'll only get credit for entering .666 or .667 in which you've rounded up the following number on the decimal.
Can I use a calculator while taking the SAT math section?
Yes, you can use a calculator while taking the SAT math section. But remember that the calculator is never the key to answering the question correctly. It's really just one tool. However, do make sure that when you are using your calculator, it is set to degrees and not radians.
