Doing the SATs

[-FCM-]

The only instances in which I would skip a question would be when I had absolutely no fucking clue what to do on a math question, and also when an answer for one of the last few math questions seemed way too obvious and I didn't know why it was so easy (basically meaning I had no fucking clue what to do, except this time there was a trap).

Honestly, I wouldn't even consider skipping an option really. Put it out of your mind unless you really, really don't know how to do a math problem. If you think you might want to skip a critical reading or writing question, you're probably not giving yourself enough credit, because the only times you should skip is when you can't even begin to figure out a single choice to eliminate. You either need to get 2 or 3 wrong before it even starts to count against you, and once there, you need to get another like 4 for it to count against you again.

 

[Bretimus_v2]

Note paper my friend, never skip a question, but don't spend too much time on a question either. Make a note of the question you skipped and possible eliminated answers and then move on. The great thing about the math section is that the answers are often right there in front of you.

With your reading comp, the best thing you can do is learn to give the "best answer" and the practice tests will be your best tool.

 

[Krowsnose]

If you understand how their formula works for counting off for wrong problems then you'll find it's in your interest to make an educated guess if you can eliminate one or two of the answers.

It's #of questions wrong times .25 so if the probability is normal you should even out with no points taken off.

So as I said it's actually in your interest to guess if you can eliminate one or two responses.

I found the math section very easy. It really doesn't require much knowledge of math, you just need to know how to do basic algebra and some geometry. Then again I'm a "math person" so maybe it came naturally. The critical reading section is what I really had to focus on. You've got to be able to read the passages relatively quickly while still retaining most of the information.

Some people will tell you to look at the questions first so you know what you're supposed to be finding.

 

[piracer]

alright, noted on the skpping, thanks.

How about writing on the test paper? As in im assuming they give you the whole test in one big lump right? Sectioned of course, where by you pick up the section only when they tell you too?

And also they say there are breaks, when are the breaks?

Also, for working out and mind mapping, are we provided blank paper or we're just supposed to write on the test paper?

 

[piracer]

Well if anyone wants to know, i did the SATs yesterday, and the one thing that caught me off guard was really how fast it goes by. I'm very disappointed with my essay cause i know somehow my examples just didn't come to me and for parts of the math sections i didnt finish like 5 questions just because of the time... urgh

 

[piracer]

ok, i got my results yesterday cause i think some of you wanna know.

total score was 1790:
680 crit reading
540 math
570 writing

i hear that this is a decent score but i honestly don\t know. not trying to diss anything but i've been told that international students usually score like 2000 or something like that, so i feel a little u know, hmmmmm.

 

[lokness]

Yep, you're stupid.

 

[schimmel]

Well out of a possible 2400 points you got all but 610. That's not too bad, but if you don't like it you can always take them again...

 

[MattAY]

To quote one of my favourite films:

Lee Harvey: You keep fuckin' around and you gonna get that scholarship to Yale taken away. End up at Stanford with a muthafuckin' sling blade.
Jamaal: Shit, yo' ass gonna be lucky to get into Duke, gettin' a muthafuckin' 1430 on yo' SATs.
Lee Harvey: Shit, muthafucka you know I had the flu.
Jamaal: You'd have to have a muthafuckin' aneurysm to get a 1430, shit.

 

[thetank]

One of Jim Carrey's best.

Man, I wish we had tests like this in NZ. Our testing system is so stupid, that the biggest drop-kicks manage to get more credit that the students who actually know difficult subjects, by taking easy subjects that are internally assessed.

On top of that, the students who specialise in examinations are now worse off, as the majority of secondary school is assessed by internal assignments.

Mainly though, it's a vanity thing. I'd love to brag about a 2100 on SATs, or whatever. But nooooooo, all I have is two thirds of a degree from a university that's only barely internationally recognised (with only 12500 odd students), and a probably future career doing donkey-work in some research or analysis lab.

 

[MonkeyPox]

Sorry I took the ACT. So no help from me.

 

[MattAY]

If it helps, Blair. I also have 2/3rds of a degree. (Although I think there were more students than 12500 in Lincoln )

 

[thetank]

It does.

But having only 12500, split across all disciplines means that students get better access to apparatus!

MALDI-TOF!