SAT Prep notes

Math

ROI - Return on investment

High ROI problems:

• Easy, less complex problems

  • Free points!

• Focus on working quickly, methodically, and efficiently

• Eliminate mistakes, these are free points and should not be left on the table

Medium ROI problems:

• Spend more time here!

• These problems are slightly more difficult, but you should be able to solve them

• This is the best opportunity to improve your test score!!!

• Consider your approach before diving into the problem

  • You don’t want to make careless mistakes here!

  • Write out all your steps to avoid mistakes

Low ROI problems:

• Not a priority

  • like why spend your time on a question you would get wrong anyway?

• If low on time, scan through the question again, to find anything you missed

• Compare answer choices can sometimes unlock the problem, or at leas help you identify your approach

• If you’re still stuck, just guess and move on

Lowest ROI problems

• Problems you have no idea how to solve

• Don’t waste your time, just guess and move on

Example of a good plan:

General strategies for the math section

Back-solving

• Exactly what it sounds like: plug in the answer choice and see if it works

  • ALL the answer choices on the multiple choice are in increasing order, so use logic to eliminate answers as necessary

Pick your own numbers

• Sort of like back-solving, except you pick your own numbers

• Pick good numbers though!

  • They should be:

    • Consistent with the question

    • Reliable (eg, -1,0,1)

    • NOT in the original question

• Plug in numbers that will help you find your target number

Translation

• Increased by/sum/more than —> +

Clauses

Clauses needs subject and verbs

independent clause can be sentences. they need subject verbs and complete clause

Sentence fragments have just a subject or verbs. run on sentences are two independent clauses joined by a comma.

Parallelism

He likes to run, exrcising, and jogging.

it must be same word structure