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I wanted to know if anyone had some advice about this. On March SAT I had 740M, 57 out of 60 questions correct... I know I am fully capable of getting an 800M b/c i only got 3 wrong

How can I avoid making stupid mistakes? for example, on my score report i got two questions wrong in the quantitative section (both were level-5 questions).. but then i got the first question of Section 6 wrong (and it was level-1)... Is there any way I can avoid this again, and get a better score? I still can't believe I got the level-1 question wrong... I could have had a 760 instead of the 740 most likely...
I aiming for 760+ on math. Thanks!

By Haithman (Haithman) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 08:44 pm: Edit

5+4 DOESN'T equal 10!! Sorry I was OWNED on a question like that on a practice test which screwed my 800 to 770. LoL now I use my calculator for the most trivial problems.
Just look over your answer and the given question for more information. For example the last math problem in the 10 Real SAT book (3rd. ED) with the circle and rings in it with circles of radii 1,2,3 and 4. I just foudnd the area's using the radii of 2 and 4 and came up with an answer of 4pi/16pi (1/4) and I circled it. But I thought it was too easy to be the last problem and they gave me more information (the other radii) so I read the problem again and it said "ratio of the area of the small shaded RING to the area of the large shaded RING" I didnt do the rings at first, but when I did the second time around, (4pi-1pi)/(16pi-9pi) = 3/7 and THAT was an answer and the CORRECT one!
Good Luck!

By Smartaleck123 (Smartaleck123) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 09:42 pm: Edit

Haithman, I was talking about the March SAT.. March tests aren't realeased so I can't see that test, and its really bothering me that i got 3 wrong, and one of them was FIRST question (level 1 out of 5 ) on Section 6. Anyways, I'm asking how to avoid making stupid mistakes in the future... I'm re-taking SATs June 5, and am wondering if any1 has any advice of how to go through the problems, particularly math, and NOT make careless errors.

By Haithman (Haithman) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 09:51 pm: Edit

Yeah I was just telling you how to go about it. I cannot tell you HOW do go through a math section, only give you tips. Read through thoroughly, look over your answer, draw pictures wherever you can, plug in real numbers in places. If you are looking for strategies and whatnot get Gruber's, but it doesnt seem as though you need it because you are already scoring high. Just concentrate and READ CAREFULLY. Collegeboard is always trying to trick you but you have to outsmart them. YOU KNOW THIS STUFF, OWN IT!
..740 is very good By the Way...

By Smartaleck123 (Smartaleck123) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:03 pm: Edit

lol thank you Haithman

By Qwert271 (Qwert271) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:13 pm: Edit

I had the same problem, but luckily it occured on my PSAT so I was able to get 800 in the real thing. The one thing that I think I improved on between the PSAT and SAT was the speed at which I completed the problems. I finished all of the problems on the SAT usually in about 60% of the time for the section, then I went back and checked ALL of my answers and work. I repeated the problem in different ways if possible, and always put my answer back into the problem to see if it solved nicely. Lastly, I always made sure I was answering the question that was asked. Make sure about whether they're asking the number of something or the percent, or the change in something or the final value. Those caught me on the PSAT.

By Haithman (Haithman) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:50 pm: Edit

Yup if you can develop speed that is critical. The alloted amount of time is what screws most people, but if you have extra time then you are golden.

By Kkay (Kkay) on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 04:30 am: Edit

Most of the questions in SAT1 Math are not hard - they're tricky. So I paid attention to specific wording of the questions, especially those which seemed suspiciously simple. Once or twice I caught a twist that was very sneaky...

I agree with the checking part. I was actually able to check the math section three times :P. The first time I checked for any calculation mistakes. The second time I used a different method to calculate it. The third time I checked any questions I weren't sure of.

By Jer728 (Jer728) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 12:33 am: Edit

How do you guys do the section so fast? Do you look for short-cuts, rather than plugging in millions of numbers like I always seem to do?