The SAT - The Math Sections

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The Math Sections
Mathematics is tested in three sections on the SAT. Two twenty-five minute sections and one twenty minute section comprise 54 questions in two formats. Important formulas and relationships are given at the beginning of each math section. Forty-four questions have standard multiple-choice answers, while ten questions require a student to find the answer on his or her own. These "Student-Produced Response" questions must be "bubbled in" on a grid system in order to earn credit, yet they are the only ones on the test in which students are not penalized for a wrong answer.

The math portion of the test is heavily-reliant on higher-order thinking skills. Test takers are expected to have a working knowledge of arithmetic, geometry, Algebra I, and Algebra II, but nearly half of the questions ask students to apply this knowledge to logical tasks. Calculators are permitted, but are rarely required. The average student will use the calculator on the majority of questions, looking for tried-and-true formulas and solutions, while the perceptive student will look for the analytical shortcut involving deductive reasoning. Tips, tricks, and logical connections are a part of the curriculum of quality test preparation materials or courses.

Although the SAT requires an understanding of the core concepts from college-preparatory classes, it truly is an intelligence test. Some questions are straight-forward assessments of high school course content, but many questions ask readers to make inferences, find logical connections, and use deductive reasoning.

PowerScore offers two types of nationwide SAT classes to review test content and foster problem solving skills. At 40 hours of class time, our Full Length courses run for five weeks, and take an in-depth look at the test structure and curriculum. Convenient evening schedules allow students to prepare for the SAT while maintaining their current academic and extracurricular actives. Our Weekend Course occurs over twelve hours on one weekend, offering a condensed version of our longer course. We also have 95th percentile instructors available for tutoring in most major cities. For more information about the SAT or test preparation