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The Master Strategies. How to Handle SAT Math. Introduction to the Master Strategies. There are two things that can keep you from getting the correct answer on a PSAT or SAT math question:
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The Master Strategies How to Handle SAT Math
Introduction to the Master Strategies There are two things that can keep you from getting the correct answer on a PSAT or SAT math question: (1) Lack of content knowledge (i.e., you do not know how to do the math that the question is asking), and (2) The tricky way that ETS write questions.
Introduction to the Master Strategies The Master Strategies address the tricky ways ETS asks math questions. They help you “diagnose” and “treat” math questions. They help you reduce them to actual content.
Introduction to the Master Strategies Most of the multiple-choice questions and some of the grid-in questions fall into one category. Some questions invite the use of more than one of the Master Strategies.
Introduction to the Master Strategies There are four Master Strategies: (1) Working backwards (2) Substituting your own numbers (3) Drawing (4) Stumbling forward or backward one step at a time
Choosing a Master Strategy How can you tell which Master Strategy to use with a question? The questions themselves give you clues that point to the Master Strategies.
Choosing a Master Strategy Imagine a sick person going to a doctor’s office. The doctor does not immediately begin to operate on the patient or to pump the patient full of medication.
Choosing a Master Strategy Each treatment that the doctor administers is a response to the observation of one or more symptoms that the patient is exhibiting.
Choosing aMaster Strategy Sometimes the patient responds to the first treatment, but not always. Sometimes a different treatment is required. Some patients have illnesses that do not respond to any known treatment. Solving SAT Math problems is similar to the process described above.
Introduction to the Master Strategies You can learn how to recognize the symptoms of a question. You can then provide a proper diagnosis of that question. Your diagnosis will prompt you to choose a treatment that will, with proper administration and a little luck, cure the question.
Choosing a Master Strategy The Master Strategies are treatment options. Paired with content knowledge, they tend to cure the question.
Choosing a Master Strategy So, how do you choose which strategy to use for each question? Learn how to read the symptoms!
Choosing Master Strategy 1:Working Backwards Here some clues that, when they appear in a sentence, indicate that working backwards may be your best approach:
Choosing Master Strategy 1:Working Backwards You are asked to find one variable, and the answers are numbers. You are asked to find one unknown quantity, and the answers are numbers.
Choosing Master Strategy 1:Working Backwards The question has one of the following phrases, or something similar: “x =” at the end of the question “what is the value of x”; “for what value of x” “which of the following…” EXCEPT, NOT, CANNOT, and other negators in upper-case letters.
Choosing Master Strategy 1:Working Backwards Here are a couple of example problems where working backwards would be indicated:
Choosing Master Strategy 2: Substituting your own numbers Here are some clues that, when they appear in a sentence, indicate that substituting your own numbers may be your best approach:
Choosing Master Strategy 2: Substituting your own numbers There are variables in the question and variables in the answer choices.
Choosing Master Strategy 2: Substituting your own numbers You are asked to find a relationship between an initial condition and a final condition.
Choosing Master Strategy 2: Substituting your own numbers You are asked “how many” of something satisfy a certain condition.
Choosing Master Strategy 2: Substituting your own numbers Here are a couple of example problems where substituting your own numbers would be indicated:
Choosing Master Strategy 3:Drawing Here are some clues that, when they appear in a sentence, indicate that drawing or drawing on something may be your best approach:
Choosing Master Strategy 3:Drawing There is a chart, graph, or figure present. A geometric figure is described, but not given.
Choosing Master Strategy 3:Drawing A word problem has a “real world” situation dealing with size, distance, volume, or some other geometry concept.
Choosing Master Strategy 3:Drawing The question involves the concept of ranking or ordering things.
Choosing Master Strategy 3:Drawing The question has within it “in the xy-plane” or something similar.
Choosing Master Strategy 3:Drawing Here are a couple of example problems where drawing or drawing on something would be indicated:
Choosing Master Strategy 4:Stumbling Here are some clues that, when they appear in a sentence, indicate that stumbling forward or backward one step at a time may be your best approach:
