The May 2010 SAT

Preliminary comments from my students appear to be the exact opposite of the March SAT. In March most said the Math was easy but the Critical Reading was hard. Now they are saying almost unanimously that the Critical Reading was way easier than March (especially the sentence completions) yet there were a lot of "weird" Math problems that they did not understand.

More to come in the following days.......

Eliminate Before You Calculate!

In this fast paced, video game, text messaged world, the desire for instant gratification has never been greater. I have witnessed many students fall into this speed trap, especially when it comes to answering the Math SAT questions. The need for speed often leads to misread questions, sloppy set ups and silly mistakes.
Before coming up with the answer read the question until it is fully understood. Eliminate the obvious incorrect answers. For example--if the answer calls for a positive slope, eliminate the answers with negative slopes; if the answer must be less than 90 degrees, get rid of all those answers greater than 90 degrees. This method allows you to enjoy more accurate calculations while avoiding the "sucker answers" which are designed to catch the careless speed demons!

2 Dates Left for the SAT This Semester

May 1st and June 6th are the last two dates to sit for the SAT exam this semester. High School juniors are encouraged to register and prepare for one or both of these tests. Adequate preparation depends upon the student. 6 to 12 weeks of solid preparation should suffice. The time is now! Crack open those books and get serious. Don't wait to the last minute. Don't get shut out from the most convenient test centers. Don't just show up for the test cold, as many do for the PSAT. This one counts. Make it count!

Well prepared students will be proud of their results and enjoy a stress free summer knowing that the SAT is behind them.