A powerpoint dedicated to helping you improve your score on the Math Section of the SAT examination

1. SAT Math Prep for the Average Student October , 2009 SCCTM Conference Teresa McDonald, M.Ed., NBCT Meike McDonald, M.Ed. www.meikemcdonald.com

3. The College Board reported Tuesday the state's class of 2009 scored a combined average of 1,452. That's 59 points below the national average, which saw a two-point decline from last year to 1,509.

5. Agenda for the Workshop General information about the SAT General information about the Math portion of the SAT SAT Math Facts to Know Practice Using SAT Math Facts Special Math Problems Practice Special Math Problems with actual old SAT problems SAT Graph and Function Notation Problems Practice Math Sections Websites for self-directed students

6. SAT Test General Information SAT consists of 10 sections: 3 Reading, 3 Writing, 3 Math, & 1 Experimental(3 hours and 45 minutes long)- Cost $43/Waiver SAT is not an intelligence test SAT measures how well you take the SAT! Work smarter, not harder! You do not have to answer all the questions to get a good score! (You can score a 500 on math by answering ½ the questions – about 25 questions)

7. Continuation of SAT General Info. All questions are arranged Easy to Hard on SAT except the reading comprehension questions Example - Math Section with 20 questions (1-6 Easy, 7-12 Medium, 13-20 Hard) +1 point each question answer correctly -¼ point each question answer incorrectly (except on the Math Grid-in questions so answer all of these) O points if you leave it blank Your total points will give you a raw score which they convert to a score ranging from 200-800 *Guess only if you can eliminate 1 or more answers

8. What to take to the Test Center: #2 Pencils Graphing Calculator with new batteries Photo ID (many students get turned away because of not having proper ID) Admission Ticket Watch Some candy/snack to eat on at break Have directions to the testing center

9. SAT Math General Information 3 SAT math sections a. 20 multiple choice questions (25 minutes) b. 18 questions – 8 multiple choice 10 grid-in (25 minutes) c. 16 multiple choice questions (20 minutes) Total of 44 multiple choice & 10grid in Remember you get just as many points on the easy questions as you do the hard questions – So don’t rush, read carefully and focus on getting the easy ones right!

10. Continuation SAT Math general info. About the grid-in: SAT only scores what you bubble in You cannot grid in a mixed number you must change it to a fraction or decimal No answer will be negative You do not have to reduce fractions It does not count off if you guess on the grid-in problems

11. Review of General Knowledge How are all questions on SAT arranged except for reading comprehension? Do you get more points for hard questions? Should you wild guess? How many points do you get for correct answers? How many points do you get for incorrect answers? How many math sections, how many questions and how much time are you allowed? What problems don’t count off if you guess and miss? What six things should you take with you to the test center?

12. SAT Math Facts to Know Take out your handout that says SAT Math Facts to Know: These are some basic facts you will need to know as you take the SAT Math test. We will go over the first page together then you will practice some of the basic skills on some of the other pages.

13. Special Math Problems There are 3 types of problems that show up in SAT math problems that are not hard, just different. They are: a. Manipulating Equations b. Strange Symbol Problems c. Share/Ratio Problems We will go over these types, practice some and then actually do some actual old SAT questions involving these special problems

14. SAT Graph and Function Notation Problems Basic things to remember about graphs y = kx even power k>0 parabola opens up, k<0 parabola opens down) Basic shape parabola Both ends either go up or down k>0 k<0 y = kx odd power k>0 graph goes up left to right K<0 graph goes down left to right

15. Websites for self-directed students Princetonreview.com Collegeboard.com Petersons.com Ivybound.com Wilsondailyprep.com Students can also find full-length SAT tests in prep books or websites

16. Tips for Parents Sign both you and your students for SAT Question of the Day at collegeboard.com & Word of the day at princetonreview.com Make some flash cards of common vocabulary words and place them in a basket in the bathroom Make sure your students has everything laid out the night before and gets a good night’s sleep

17. Test dates for this year!

18. Breakfast is important As for all tests, it is critical for students to eat breakfast. The best suggested breakfast includes: protein, complex carbohydrates, and a little bit of fat.

19. Contact Information Teresa McDonald- teresa@teresamcdonald.com Meike McDonald- meikemcdonald@yahoo.com www.meikemcdonald.com