College Resource Center

Now that you’ve gone over the “SAT prep and what to expect” guide you know what you’ll find in the SAT exam sections.

You’ve done all the practice problems, you’ve read the “How to take tests” article and you’re more than ready to sit for the SAT’s.

Here’s how College Board suggests you work through the Math section of the SAT:

• Familiarize yourself with the directions ahead of time.
• The test does not require you to memorize formulas. Commonly used formulas are provided in the test book at the beginning of each math section.
• It is up to you to decide which formula is appropriate.
• Read the problem carefully. Note key words that tell you what the problem is asking. Ask yourself the following questions before you solve each problem: What is the question asking? What do I know?
• With some problems, it may be useful to draw a sketch or diagram of the given information.
• Use the test book for scratchwork. You are not expected to do all the reasoning and figuring in your head. You will not receive credit for anything written in the booklet, but you will be able to check your work easily later.
• Decide when to use a calculator.
• For multiple-choice questions, you may want to refer to the answer choices before you determine your answer.
• Eliminate the choices. If you don’t know the answer to each question, try some of the choices. It is sometimes easier to find the wrong answers than the correct one. On some questions, you can eliminate all the incorrect choices.
• Make sure you answer is a reasonable answer to the question asked. This is especially true for student-produced response questions where no answer choices are given.
• All figures are drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated.

Read more on How to take tests.
No matter what college you get in to, read reviews of the college campus first.
Additional SAT test taking information can be found at www.collegeboard.com.