You do well in math class and you are comfortable with numbers. But, you got a 650 on the math section of your first SAT and you think you could do better. What should you do?
LOOK AT YOUR MISTAKES
First, look at your mistakes and categorize them. The majority of mistakes fall into two categories:
- silly mistakes on easy questions
- understandable mistakes on difficult questions
Silly mistakes on easy questions are easy to get rid of. Buy the official SAT book, and go through a lot of math sections. You’ll become familiar with the tricks used to dress up simple questions, and your score will go up steadily with the practice.
The difficult problems are still likely to stump you. The way to prepare for these questions is to practice them, of course. Unfortunately, the official SAT book has too few of these level 5 difficulty questions, so we’ll look further for material.
A BOOK THAT IS EXCLUSIVELY LEVEL 5 DIFFICULTY QUESTIONS
There is a book that is exclusively level 5 (and up!) SAT-style math questions. It’s called Crush The Test and it’s specifically designed for students aiming for a perfect math score. In addition to having all the material you need, the book is nicely laid out: each chapter focuses on a particular type of level 5 question and has warm-up exercises that accurately reflect the skills necessary to solve subsequent problems. There are over 200 questions, and each has a detailed solution in the back of the book.
Working through these problems is challenging and rewarding. You will feel like you’re grappling a beast, and then you’ve won. On top of that feeling of pride, the book is enjoyable. The author sprinkles in funny and pointed commentary on the history of the SAT, the ETS (which makes the SAT), and the standardized testing industry in general.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
If you are scoring above a 650 already, and are determined and disciplined enough to work through SAT math sections and Crush The Test, there is a good chance that you will get a perfect score — or at least very close. Begin a few months prior to the test date and practice daily.