Math is a troublesome topic for a lot of people. It can be frustrating, complicated, and often makes you wonder when you’re actually going to use it after high school. So it’s little wonder the SAT Math section could send you into a little panic just by thinking about it. But don’t hit the panic button just yet, here are some tips to help you out.
- Learn to love your calculator. Technically, you could do all of the math necessary on the SAT without one; but why bother? The calculator has come a long way over the years and most have many of the functions needed for the SAT calculations – but do you know how to get to them? Dig out your instruction manual, brush the dust off, and spend some time learning what your calculator can do for you.
- Make math practical. Next time you’re shopping, calculate what the item will cost with tax before you get up to the register. Holiday sales will provides you with lots of little problems to solve too. If that book you’re planning on buying your sister is 25% off; what will the actual cost be? How about if it was 70% off? Did you remember to add tax into that calculation? By bringing little bits of math into your daily life, you’ll boost your confidence in problem solving.
- Ask for help. Everyone has a friend who just gets math; so why not ask them to be a study buddy? This scenario is win-win; your friend will likely be able to explain problems in a different manner to you teacher, which may help you understand the problem better, plus, but teaching you the problems, your friend is studying himself too.
- Don’t answer questions in order. You likely already know that questions go from easy to hard on the SAT, and are planning on tackling all the easy level first; but don’t be afraid to skim the harder levels too. Most people have a certain type of math question to they prefer; perhaps Algebra, or Word Problems are you strong suit? Answer as many of those as you can before moving onto questions that you enjoy less.
- Don’t panic if you forget a formula. Many of the formulas you’ll need are listed at the start of the section, so while it’s important to practice these while you study, don’t kill yourself trying to memorize something that will be written down for you.
- Study early, study often. If you know that the Math section is going to be your most challenging, plan according and allow yourself the time you need to prepare properly. When you’re creating your study plan, dedicate one day each week to covering new math study material, and make sure each study session includes some [test:'sat-maths-practice' review of topics] you have already covered.
Read the full article: 6 Tips for the Mathphobic