10 Score-Boosting SAT Math Tips

1. How Many Math Questions Are on the SAT?
2. What is a Good SAT Math Score?
3. How to Improve SAT Math Score?

Obviously, all parents wish that their children successfully finished school and received a good education. However, on the way to college or university, each graduate has a SAT final exam, or another very similar version – ACT. This exam consists of reading, writing and mathematics. It would seem nothing complicated. But this is for those who have well-developed math abilities, and who got a good base at school.

In this article we have collected the most effective tips that will help everyone, regardless of your level in math.

How Many Math Questions Are on the SAT?

The mathematical part of the test thematically covers 4 sections. This is a key material on algebra of middle school and high school, practical problem-solving and data analysis, introduction to advanced math and additional topics (for example, the study of straight lines, area and volume calculations, trigonometric functions). In total there are 58 SAT math questions. The types of questions are as follows:

1. multiple choice with four options (45 tasks);
2. 13 questions with your own solution and writing an answer.

If you want to find useful information on the exam and mathematical topics in general, visit the UpskillsTutor site. This is a mega-popular American tutorial site, where you will find many expert articles in tutors’ blogs. And most importantly is that you can select a professional teacher for additional preparation for the exam there.

Read more: 8 Tips for Using the TI-84 Graphing Calculator on the SAT

What is a Good SAT Math Score?

In general, the assessment range of this exam is from 400 to 1600 scores. Since the exam consists of two sections, in each of them the rating scale will vary from 200 to 800 scores. Of course, the quality of your personal result in the SAT math test depends in part on the overall result of most of the people tested in your stream.

How to Improve SAT Math Score?

In order to get a good result you need to prepare for the exam in advance. At least devote  5-6 months to this if you know math well. And here are the necessary steps you should take.

1. Find out the full list of topics to get ready for the exam. Then write your training program, determine a certain amount of time for each of the topics (one of the most common themes is linear equations and systems of equations). Repeat the theory at a minimum, solve as many practical problems on each of the topics as possible.
2. Take a trial test several times a week. In this way you will get to know the types of tasks and their levels of complexity, as well as your weaknesses. Periodically checking your knowledge will help you understand whether your skills are improving or not.
3. Learn how to perform simple mathematical operations without a calculator. Work on calculation accuracy and speed. Eventually, you will have as many as 20 tasks for independent calculations.
4. Write all necessary formulas to know for SAT in a special diary. Learn them for memory, trying to apply them in practice without peeping in the record. 
5. Work productively on your mistakes. If you made mistakes in certain tasks, be sure to learn why it happened and find the correct answer. Complete a few additional tasks on the themes that are most difficult for you. 
6. Read each question attentively several times. This will help avoid a typical mistake with a careless superficial understanding of  questions. 
7. If possible, save an additional 5-10 minutes to double-check all answers. And not only your number results, but also the correctness of filling in a bubble sheet.
8. An important point: find out if your calculator fits the requirements of the exam. This and other information concerning the rules of the examination and the preparatory materials can be found on the official SAT website. 
9. If a solution of a problem is not clear to you, use general math strategies. Replace words in a text with mathematical variables. Apply the reverse solution method, that is, substitute possible answers in your question. Another way is to replace variables with numbers that meet criteria of a task. It is called a choice of numbers. And here is the algorithm of actions based on the Kaplan method:

• systematize data;
• look for clues in the first question;
• make a consistent plan of solving;
• double-check if your actions corresponds to questions;
• move from question to question, one by one.

Revise and learn the most difficult topics with a tutor. Choose a teacher with experience in preparing for the SAT and ACT. These classes are extremely important if there are sections that you cannot understand on your own.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling