1.
Round off and estimate whenever possible.
Simplify your calculations 3,978 x 289 can be rounded off to 4,000 x 300. Then
if only one of the answer choices is slightly less than 1,200,000
2.
Look for shortcuts. These are often built into
problems. For example, you know that an odd number multiplied by an odd number
will give you and odd number. If only one of the answer choices is an odd
number, it has to be the right answer.
3.
DO not panic if a question has an unusual symbol.
Replace the symbol with the specially designed definition that accompanies the
symbol.
4.
Work in consistent units. If one side of a
square measures 30inches and the other measures 2 feet, don’t try multiplying
until you have both measurements in feet or in inches
5.
Have important rules and formulas at your
fingertips. Use the information supplied at the top of the first page of each
mathematics section. Or better yet, memorize these and other important facts
and formulas before the test date.
6.
Read the question carefully. DO not assume
anything that is not actually stated. Some questions are not similar to
questions you usually encounter in regular mat classes.
7.
Beware of positive and negative number. If the
problem does not specifically state that the value of an unknown is positive,
then it could also be negative. The square root of a number can be positive or
negative.
8.
Use your time wisely. If you absolutely have no
idea on how to solve a particular problem, do not waste time on it. Circle it
and leave it. If you have time at the end of the tests, you can go back and try
again.
9.
Avoid lengtly computation. None of the questions
on the test will require terribly complicated computations. If you find
yourself about to start on a long string of complicated computations. To solve
a problem, you are doing something wrong. Either you missed a shortcut, or you
are solving the wrong problem. Read the question again.
10. Use
the exam booklet wisely. Don’t try to do all computations in your head. Write
in the test booklet. Mark up any diagrams if it will help you.
11. Chech
the diagrams. The diagrams may be drawn accurately or they may be accompanied
by a statement saying that figure is not drawn to scale. In the altter case you
may redraw the diagram slightly to make it accurate.
12. Be
on the look out for irrelevant material in a word problem. There probably will
be at least one question that gives you more information that you need. Don’t
assume that you have to use it all to solve the problem. If what you need si
how many people were wearing red hats, it does not matter how many were wearing
blue shoes.
13. Don’t
rush to get the most challenging problems. Questions get harder as you go along
in the math section.
14. Don’t
hesitate to work back from the answers. On this test you don’t have to show how
you arrive at the answer. First plug in the answer which is easiest to try.
Usually this is the correct choice.
15. DO
not panic when you are faced with mathematical terminology. Try putting the
problem into simpler words. “S” is a set of integers on the number line1-100
inclusive “just means” S is all the numbers from I through 100.”
16. Substitute
for unknowns, if necessary, If you are having trouble solving a problem with
several unknowns, try substituting simple number for the unknowns.