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Alright, my sister is going to be a junior and intends to take the SAT this fall if she can do it. She has pretty good verbal skills but even the most rudimentary math skills have eluded her and she will FAIL if she does not get them. She is despondent and cries any time she even takes a diagnostic test. Is there any book that you know of that teaches basic math concepts in detail and also teaches tricks for remembering them (my sister has been taught percents like 5 times but she always forgets and is overwhelmed.)

For God's sake, we are in trouble so please help.

By Aoe2guy (Aoe2guy) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 07:51 pm: Edit

Any book? Not that i know of. The best option is tutoring with a skilled person who is patient, and can use familiar analogies to introduce and teach a subject to her. Even you can help her by taking her aside and tutoring her, or a friend of yours who is very strong at math. Certain books might exist, but i really don't know any that can help in this situation.

By Dschnapps (Dschnapps) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 08:18 pm: Edit

I'm strong in math, but the problem is as much psychological as anything else. I have to break down her resistance and she has to be willing to spend a lot of time relearning math. She has a tutor but the tutor will explain something, ask if my sister gets it, then my sister will lie and say yes, and they will move on.

Alternately, my sister will get it then but forget it in a few months. My sister is not stupid, but she is incredibly impatient and every time I try to explain something she just launches into a tirade about how i couldn't possibly understand because it all comes so easily to me and she is so stupid. It's all ••••••••.

Oh yeah, thanks for the advice.

By Number9 (Number9) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 08:33 pm: Edit

I feel for her. Im probably not as bad as her, but my math skills are horrid compared to my vocabulary skils.

Best thing Ive done was just drill problems...

Grubers for her SAT I prep, maybe?

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 09:21 pm: Edit

LOL - I am also about to start "SAT tutoring" my sister who's entering 9th grade. However, my communications issues are slightly different ... she is a lot smarter than I am and never asks ME for help.

Has your sister taken a practice test? She may actually do better than you give her credit for. As you know, the math level is not much higher than 8th grade.

What is your objective? Getting her to score 500, 600, or higher? Your stratehy will be different according to your objective.

On the surface, I would say that the recommended book ought to be Princeton Review. They have the most experience in getting average students to score ... average. Gruber would be helpful for YOU to read and explain the problems but not for your sister to review.

If the communication is difficult, you may find it helpful to give her one of the computer tutor programs. I hate them with a passion because I consider them written for 4th graders and not for 9/11 graders. She may find it helpful because she wont be confronted with a person who needs to be lied to. She can rewind and try as many times as she wants. Offer her to help her whenever she's stuck but let her be in charge of the process.

By Ndbisme (Ndbisme) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 09:39 pm: Edit

Try out :

Gruber's
and
Barron's SAT Math Workbook

By Dschnapps (Dschnapps) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 09:52 pm: Edit

thanks all. I would like at least 700 for verbal, but we have some work to do.

for math, 600 would be great but I have no idea how that is going to happen. this afternoon was the first time I got her to take parts of a practice SAT. She did alright in the verbal, maybe 650 range. On the math, 18 minutes into a 30 minute section she was up to problem 12/25 and had skipped four of those twelve. Of the eight she had attempted, she got about six right.

We definitely have major problems.

But i contend that her struggles are psychological and that she can learn it. She just completed geometry and has done alright with algebra and geometry. She just never learned BASIC math and never really caught up like other kids.

Thanks for the advice about computer tutors and I will try to go through some of those SAT books with her

By Vince (Vince) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 09:53 pm: Edit

< deleted -Admin >

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 10:51 pm: Edit

DS

You may try this.

Take one of the 10RS tests and let you sister take the test without time limit and with the answer key AND whatever book she likes at her disposal. It may help her get over that issue of "not getting" basic math. Let her see the answers and try to get used to the type of questions.

By the way, a score of 650 on a first test would be quite remarkable. Regarding getting 6 out of 12 and skipping 4 out of 12, that is NOT terrible. A lot of people would have a similar experience considering that most people are NOT famniliar with the type of problems. Do not worry a bit about the timing issue. That is something that will come later and quite naturally. Just think that she probably spent 1/2 of her time reading the questions and deciphering the type of question. Give her more time. The main idea is to understand the questions and develop a feel for the test.

Good luck!

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 01:02 pm: Edit

You may check this site. The basic algebra test seems a good tool ofr you.

http://www.doyourmath.com/all_tests.asp

By Zerg_Vvins (Zerg_Vvins) on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 03:53 pm: Edit

Well maybe you can explain the concepts behind the math problems. For example when a child first learns about math, the instructor will usually use objects e.g. 1+1=2 a banana and another banana = 2 bananas...

Simply juggling numbers is boring. By explaining the concepts and theory behind a math problem, it might provoke some intellectual stimulation.

By Yz16 (Yz16) on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 02:25 am: Edit

i have a couple of SAT books and so far, i agree with Xiggi, princeton review is a comprehensive and fairly effective review for basic stuff.

just to add tho, i've never taken any prep courses but i hear from a couple friends that Kaplan's tutors helped alot.

best of luck to her : )

By Dschnapps (Dschnapps) on Saturday, December 27, 2003 - 02:50 am: Edit

December administration.

V: 690
M: 570

I was happier than she was. 1260 is respectable and most colleges would be happy to have it. Her GPA is near perfect and she is being recruited by places like UPenn for crew.

Oh well, she has another chance to take it in the spring (there's one day that doesn't interfere with crew racing season)