How to get a PERFECT 800 on the SAT Math (2024)

Summary

This video offers a comprehensive guide to boosting SAT Math scores. The presenter, a seasoned tutor, shares personal experience and strategies to master the test's structure and content. The video is segmented into understanding SAT Math, a detailed preparation blueprint, and tips for achieving a perfect score. It emphasizes the effectiveness of practice tests over other study methods and provides actionable advice to avoid common pitfalls, ensuring viewers can significantly improve their scores with dedication.

Takeaways

• 📈 The easiest aspect of a college application to improve is your math score, regardless of your current level.
• 📚 The speaker has extensive experience with the SAT, having achieved perfect scores and tutored others successfully.
• 🔑 Understanding the SAT Math structure and what the College Board is looking for is crucial for improvement.
• 🎯 The SAT Math tests a limited subset of mathematical concepts, focusing mainly on Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry.
• 🚀 With the right approach, significant score improvements can be achieved in a short amount of time, as demonstrated by a student who improved by 100 points in 18 hours.
• 📚 The SAT Math is designed to be consistent, which means practicing with real SAT questions is the most effective way to prepare.
• 📝 The 'testing effect' suggests that actively testing yourself is a superior method of learning compared to passive studying.
• 📉 To improve, start with a benchmark score, then analyze every problem on practice tests to refine your approach.
• ⏰ Time management is key; identify difficult problems and tackle them last to avoid running out of time.
• 📑 For word problems, recognize patterns that correspond to specific mathematical concepts to solve them more efficiently.
• 🔄 If you're slow with algebra, practice more to build intuition and speed, but remember that understanding concepts is more important than memorizing formulas.

Q & A

What is the easiest aspect of a college application to improve according to the video?

The easiest aspect to improve is your SAT Math score.

What does the presenter claim about their experience with the SAT?

The presenter claims to have multiple perfect scores on the PSAT and SAT Math, and has been tutoring the test for over 2 years.

What is the main point the presenter wants to emphasize about the SAT Math test?

The presenter emphasizes that the SAT Math test is designed to measure a subset of problems that the College Board likes, rather than the depth of one's math knowledge.

What are the four categories of concepts that the SAT Math test covers?

The four categories are Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry and Trigonometry.

Why does the presenter suggest that the SAT Math is not as difficult as one might think?

The presenter suggests that the SAT Math is not as difficult because it only covers up to Algebra 2 and avoids more complex concepts like conics, graphing rational expressions, logarithms, and proofs.

What is the presenter's recommendation for improving SAT Math scores quickly?

The presenter recommends focusing on understanding the style of SAT Math questions and practicing them, as the test is consistent and the concepts are not overly complex.

What is the significance of the 'blueprint' mentioned in the video?

The 'blueprint' refers to a specific, actionable plan for preparing for the SAT Math test efficiently, which includes taking practice tests, analyzing approaches to problems, and focusing on areas of improvement.

How does the presenter suggest approaching problems you find difficult on the SAT?

The presenter suggests skipping difficult problems initially and returning to them at the end, and also practicing under time constraints to force efficiency.

What is the testing effect mentioned by the presenter, and why is it important for SAT preparation?

The testing effect is a cognitive science phenomenon stating that testing oneself is a more effective way of storing information in long-term memory than passive studying. It's important for SAT preparation because it helps in retaining the style and approach needed to solve SAT problems.

What advice does the presenter give for avoiding 'dumb mistakes' on the SAT Math test?

To avoid dumb mistakes, the presenter advises taking a practice test untimed and going very slowly, ensuring no mistakes are made, and articulating the logic behind each step.

How does the presenter suggest dealing with word problems on the SAT Math test?

The presenter suggests paying special attention to word problems, identifying patterns in the situations described, and translating the English into math slowly and carefully.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Improving Your SAT Math Score

This paragraph introduces the video's focus on improving SAT Math scores, emphasizing that it's the easiest aspect of college applications to enhance. The speaker shares personal experience with perfect test scores and tutoring, and offers a free trial session at learnstmath.com. The video is divided into three parts: understanding the SAT Math, a blueprint for preparation, and optimizing for a perfect score. The speaker clarifies that the SAT measures college readiness and consists of a limited set of math concepts, mainly from Algebra 1 and 2, problem-solving, and data analysis, and geometry/trigonometry. The speaker asserts that mastering these concepts can significantly boost one's SAT Math score.

05:01

📝 Blueprint for SAT Math Success

The paragraph outlines a detailed strategy for preparing for the SAT Math section. It emphasizes the importance of using practice tests and past SATs for preparation due to the test's consistency. The speaker explains the value of building intuition for SAT-style questions and the testing effect, which enhances long-term memory retention. The blueprint includes getting a benchmark score, analyzing every problem for approach and improvement, and focusing on understanding rather than memorizing concepts. The speaker also advises on avoiding common mistakes, such as rushing and not managing time effectively, and suggests strategies to overcome these issues, like taking timed practice tests and carefully analyzing word problems.

10:02

🚦 Avoiding Common Mistakes for a Perfect SAT Math Score

This paragraph delves into common mistakes students make when preparing for the SAT Math section and how to avoid them. The speaker suggests taking untimed practice tests to slow down and avoid silly errors, skipping difficult problems initially to manage time effectively, and focusing on understanding word problems. The importance of algebra proficiency is highlighted, and the speaker advises against memorizing formulas and instead understanding their derivation. For problems that cause initial confusion, the speaker recommends skipping them and returning with a fresh perspective. Motivation and a consistent study schedule are also discussed as crucial for success, with the option of private tutoring for additional support.

Keywords

💡SAT Math

SAT Math refers to the mathematics section of the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), which is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. The SAT Math section aims to measure a student's readiness for college-level mathematics. In the video, the speaker discusses strategies to improve SAT Math scores, emphasizing that it's one of the easiest parts of a college application to enhance.

💡PSAT

PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT and is a standardized test that provides practice for the SAT. It is designed to give students a taste of what to expect from the SAT and helps them understand their strengths and weaknesses. The speaker mentions achieving perfect scores on the PSAT as part of their experience in mastering SAT-style math problems.

💡Tutoring

Tutoring is a form of academic support where a tutor assists a student in learning specific subjects. In the context of the video, the speaker offers tutoring services to help students improve their SAT Math scores. Tutoring is presented as a way to receive personalized guidance and accelerate learning.

💡College Board

The College Board is the organization responsible for administering the SAT and other standardized tests and advanced placement courses in the United States. The video mentions the College Board to discuss what the SAT aims to measure, which is college readiness, and how the test is designed according to the board's criteria.

💡Algebra

Algebra is a branch of mathematics concerning the study of symbols and the rules for manipulating these symbols. It is a fundamental part of the SAT Math section. The speaker categorizes SAT Math into four areas, with algebra being one of them, focusing on linear equations and inequalities.

💡Advanced Math

Advanced Math in the context of the SAT refers to algebra with nonlinear equations, such as quadratics, exponentials, and polynomials. The speaker explains that while these concepts are more complex, they are still part of the SAT Math section and can be mastered with the right approach.

💡Problem Solving and Data Analysis

Problem Solving and Data Analysis is one of the four categories of the SAT Math section. It involves understanding and interpreting data presented in tables, charts, and other formats. The speaker refers to these types of problems as 'common sense' problems, which are often based on elementary or middle school math.

💡Geometry and Trigonometry

Geometry and Trigonometry is another category of the SAT Math section, covering concepts related to circles, angles, volumes, and basic triangle problems. The speaker simplifies this by stating it includes the trigonometry learned in geometry rather than the more advanced trigonometry found in pre-calculus.

💡Practice Tests

Practice tests are an essential part of the speaker's strategy for improving SAT Math scores. They are actual SAT tests that have been previously administered and are used for practice. The speaker emphasizes the importance of practice tests for familiarizing oneself with the test format and building an intuition for solving SAT-style problems.

💡Testing Effect

The testing effect is a psychological phenomenon where retrieving information from memory, such as through testing, strengthens memory and learning. The speaker mentions the testing effect to advocate for the effectiveness of practice tests over passive studying methods like reading or watching videos.

💡Perfect Score

A perfect score on the SAT Math section is an 800. The speaker discusses strategies to optimize one's performance to achieve this score, including avoiding common mistakes and understanding the nuances of the test. The pursuit of a perfect score is a central theme of the video.

Highlights

SAT Math score is the easiest aspect of a college application to improve.

Improvement in SAT Math score can be achieved quickly.

The presenter has experience with perfect scores on PSAT and SAT Math and tutoring for over 2 years.

Private tutoring for SAT Math is offered at learnstmath.com.

The presenter is considered an SAT veteran with extensive experience.

The SAT tests for college readiness, not necessarily depth of math knowledge.

SAT Math only goes up to Algebra 2 and avoids complex concepts.

The SAT Math tests a subset of problems that College Board prefers.

SAT Math content is stuff that should have been learned in school.

Improving SAT Math score is faster due to the limited scope of math tested.

A student improved their score by 100 points in 18 hours with tutoring and practice.

SAT Math is the most improvable aspect of a college application.

The presenter provides a blueprint for preparing for the SAT Math section.

Practice tests are the most effective way to prepare for the SAT Math.

The testing effect shows that testing oneself is a superior method of learning.

The presenter advises getting a benchmark score using the Blue Book software.

Reviewing practice tests and asking critical questions can improve test-taking strategies.

Focusing on problems that are typically difficult can help manage time effectively.

Word problems often have patterns that can be recognized to solve them more efficiently.

Understanding formulas conceptually rather than memorizing them can prevent forgetting.

If a problem seems daunting, skipping it and returning later can be beneficial.

Working backwards from the desired outcome can help solve complex problems.

Staying motivated and holding oneself accountable is crucial for consistent practice.

The number of practice tests needed varies by student; a consistent schedule is key.

Transcripts

out of everything on your college

application grades essays

extracurriculars letters of

recommendation the easiest thing to

improve is your s math score it doesn't

matter if you're getting a 400 or a 700

you can improve your score and you can

do it quickly and in this video I'm

going to explain exactly how not only

did I get multiple perfect scores on the

PSAT and sat math but I've also been

tutoring the test for over 2 years and

I've helped plenty of students improve

their scores you know what's crazy if

you want private tutoring you can go

over to learn stmath.com and book a free

trial session with me isn't that just

isn't that just Bonkers okay

self-promotion aside the point is I know

what I'm talking about with this test

I'm like an SAT veteran I've seen it all

and so I beg you do not let your Zoomer

brain click off this video if you

actually want to improve your SAT Math

score watch till the end and I guarantee

it'll be worth your time I'm dividing

this video into three parts the first

part is understanding the SAT Math where

I'll explain the structure of the test

and exactly what college board is

looking for the second part is the

blueprint which gives you a specific

actionable plan for how you should

prepare for the SAT most efficiently and

finally the third part is how to

optimize for a perfect score where I'll

go over the common problems that I see

my students make and how you can avoid

them to get your score to that perfect

800 so without further Ado let's get

into part

[Music]

one first things first what does SAT

stand for I honestly think if they asked

this question on the SAT it would be the

most missed question on the entire test

because sat literally stands for nothing

it's not actually an Acron the test is

officially called sat and this is pretty

indicative of what the SAT is actually

trying to measure which is to say who

knows who actually knows according to

college board the SAT is measuring

college readiness and it's unclear how

the inscribed angle theorem is a good

predictor of college readiness but

allegedly it is in truth the SAT has no

real reason to be designed the way it is

there are Concepts that the SAT likes

and there are Concepts that the SAT

doesn't like and that distinction has

nothing to do with college but the good

news for you is is that there aren't

actually a lot of Concepts that the SAT

likes not only does the math only go up

to Algebra 2 but it's not even the

hardest math you'll see in Algebra 2

there are zero questions about conics

graphing rational expressions logarithms

proofs partially because these concepts

are more difficult to fit in the format

of the SAT but also partially because

College boes decided we don't like those

and didn't feel like including them

every question on the S math tests just

one or two key Concepts that are simple

to grasp and they test these Concepts in

the safe same ways on every single sat

all these Concepts fall into four

categories each making up a

predetermined portion of the test the

four categories include algebra this is

just linear equations and inequalities

nothing past Algebra 1 advanced math

this is algebra with nonlinear equations

so quadratics exponentials polinomial

rational expressions problem solving and

data analysis this is everything with

tables statistics and ratios which I

like to think of as common sense

problems you probably learned all this

stuff in elementary or middle school and

you don't remember learning it but you

definitely learned it and finally

geometry and trigonometry which is

circles angles volume and very simple

Triangle stuff it's the trig you learn

in Geometry not the trig you learn in

pre-calc but don't think of these as

like units or chapters from math classes

in school where you have to cover the

content of each one before you take the

test all the content on the SAT Math is

stuff that you should have already

learned in school you are not tested on

the depth of your math knowledge you are

being tested on your ability to solve

the subset of problems that college

board really likes so if you can

understand those few problems very very

well you can outscore people that are

one year two years better than you in

math easily and because there's not a

lot of math on the SAT you can improve

your score faster than you think as a

private tutor I recently helped a

student get from a 660 to a 760 with 8

hours of tutoring and 10 hours of work

on his own that's 100 points of

improvement in just 18 hours and 18

hours might seem like a lot but in the

big picture of college admissions it's

actually pretty incredible right like if

you're on a good sport team or you're in

model un or Robotics and you have some

big competition coming up 18 hours can

be your weekly commitment to that

activity and the impact that that game

or competition is going to have on your

college application pales in comparison

to the impact of increasing your SAT

score by 100 points so as I said before

the SAT Math is the easiest thing to

improve on in your college application

you just need the right approach and

this brings us to part

[Music]

two in this part I'm going to give you

an exact blueprint for how to prepare

for the SAT

Math this is your golden ticket to a

perfect SAT Math score so what makes

this guy so much better than KH Academy

you World videos articles and the

Princeton Review course that you have to

sell your kidney to afford well the main

reason is exactly what we've talked

about the big thing you need to learn

for the SAT Math is the style of

questions that they're going to ask and

the farther you get from the source

material that is this the less useful

your preparation gets the SAT is

incredibly consistent because it has to

be because it's a standardized test they

want the test to be as similar every

single time it's administered as

possible so you know what to expect

going in if you stick to practice tests

and past SATs like with this problem for

example if you've prepared by doing 10

hours of algebra drills you might see

this problem and think you're supposed

to cancel things out or distribute the

exponent or split it up into multiple

fractions somehow but if you've prepared

by doing practice tests you'll know that

there is absolutely no way an SAT

problem is going to be that complicated

it's asking you to solve in terms of P

so flip the fraction move it to the

other side and there you go you've

solved in terms of P when you do

practice tests you build an intuition

for shortcuts like these and a lot of

people feel like the SAT is tricking

them and when you feel like that just do

more practice tests and you'll pick up

on all the tricks the other reason why

practice tests are so good is the

testing effect which states that testing

yourself is a much better way of storing

information in long-term memory than any

passive means of studying like reading

or watching videos and this isn't just

for the SAT by the way if you're

learning anything you should test

yourself this is a widely researched

phenomenon in cognitive science trust me

okay so now that I made my very long

pitch about practice tests let's get

into the actual blueprint first thing to

do get a benchmark score download the

Blue Book software go to practice test

one and take the test without any

resources or breaks as if you were

taking the actual sat then score

yourself and compare that score to the

score that you want to have when you

submit your college applications think

of how much you want to improve and how

long you have to make that Improvement

and this is most mostly just for

motivational purposes now here's the key

go back to your practice test and go

through every single problem asking

yourself these three questions how did I

approach this problem how should I have

approached this problem and what should

I do differently in the future ask these

questions even for the problems that you

got correct because at this stage you're

trying to get a feel for the style of

sat problems and by thinking critically

about them you might find a better way

of approaching them than what you

initially tried here's an example of

what this might look like let's say you

got this problem correct ask yourself a

three question questions first how did

you approach this problem well you used

elimination you multiplied the top

equation by three you multiplied the

Bottom by two you added both equations

together you solved for y you plugged in

to solve for x then you solved for x - y

you got the correct answer but it was a

little time consuming question two how

should you have approached this problem

well if you look at the answer key it

says that since you're solving for x - y

you can add both equations together and

then divide by 5 to get x - y on its own

this is a much shorter way of getting

the same correct answer so question

three what should you do differently

change your approach based on what

you're asked to solve for if asked to

solve for x eliminate y if ask to solve

for y eliminate X and if asked to solve

for some specific combination of X and Y

don't eliminate either variable try

solving directly for that combination

note that this explanation of what you

should do is not specific to just this

problem you're giving yourself a plan

for how to approach every systems of

equations problem in the future this is

a problem type that you'll see multiple

times on every single sat so repeat this

process process for every single problem

on the practice test you just took and

then rinse and repeat with each practice

test and past sat that you do you will

see your score start to improve after a

few practice tests it'll stop being

worth going through all the problems

that you're getting correct because

you'll have a feel for pretty much every

single type of problem that you'll see

on the SAT I'd say once you get to your

fourth or fifth practice test just focus

on the problems that you get wrong or

the ones that you guess on but this sort

of problem solving is at a very micro

scale you're fixing mistakes on the

level of individual problems but not

bigger picture mistakes with how you're

approaching the entire test and these

bigger picture mistakes are often what

causes people's scores to plateau and

prevents them from getting to that

perfect 800 so that's what we're going

to discuss in part

three for most students taking a few

practice tests and building some amount

of intuition is enough to get them the

score that they want but if you want to

get a perfect 800 on the SAT Math you

need to avoid any and all mistakes so in

this part I'm going to cover all the

common mistakes I see my students make

why they happen and how you can

eliminate them dumb mistakes when you

make dumb mistakes what you're really

doing is going too fast take a practice

test untimed and go very slowly tell

yourself that you are not allowed to

make any mistakes on this test I know it

sounds brutal just do it go very slowly

and articulate the logic behind each

step of your work when you do algebra

literally write out plus 5x - 7 as you

do each step as if your life depends on

it underline Parts the problem right l

notes for yourself whatever it takes to

ensure that you don't get a single

problem wrong on this test one of my

students was missing five or six

problems on every practice test he took

I asked him to do this strategy he got a

perfect score on his first try it

actually works it slows you down it

makes you think more critically and you

will avoid your small mistakes running

out of time before you even start the

test know which problems are hardest for

you and deliberately skip those when you

get to them if you find yourself

spending 3 4 5 minutes on a single

problem you should not have even

attempted that problem in the first

place that problem should have been

saved for the very end of the test after

every other problem had been correctly

answered cuz every problem's worth one

point don't spend your time on the hard

ones another trick and this may sound

counterintuitive is to take a practice

test giving yourself less time than you

have on the actual sat this forces you

to go a lot faster and make shortcuts

when necessary and you might actually be

surprised that if you cut 10 or 20

minutes off your time your score might

actually not be that affected by it word

problems are confusing when you're

reviewing your answers pay special

attention to word problems certain

situations that they'll describe lend

themselves to certain math concepts and

you want to pick up on those patterns

for example when a word problem has two

objects and two comparisons of those

objects you use a system of equations

also note that these tend to be prices

if you pick up on these patterns then

you'll see a word problem and you'll

more easily be able to identify what

math you're supposed to use to solve it

another piece of advice is not to rush

problems where all you're doing is

essentially translating English to math

for example in this problem is means

equals more more than means addition so

this problem is 16 + 4x = 10 + 14 I'm

slow with algebra do more Algebra I

forget formula okay we'll go back to the

previous one when I say do more algebra

generally that comes from getting

farther in your math classes put more

effort in your algebra 2 in your pre-cal

in your Calculus whatever class you're

doing you're definitely doing algebra

put more effort in solve more problems

without a calculator it'll pay off

realistically you can be slow with

algebra and still get a perfect SAT Math

score you have the time on the test to

go very slowly through your computations

the part of the SAT that's timec

consuming is not the actual solving of

problems it's figuring out how to solve

the problems and so if you have a good

idea of how to solve the problems spend

as much time as you want actually

solving them I forget formulas don't

focus on memorizing formulas focus on

understanding them the Pythagorean

theorem the distance formula and the

circle formula are taught as three

different equations but if you actually

understand them you'll realize they're

all the same formula understand formulas

by asking asking yourself why why is sin

x equal to cosine 90 - x why is it that

the division of exponential terms is the

same as subtracting the exponents try to

figure out why on your own just by

playing around with math even if it

takes some time if you actually derive a

formula on your own you won't forget it

I just don't know where to start you get

a problem and you freeze now the first

thing to do is skip the problem and come

back to it at the end so let's say

you've done that and you've come back to

the problem at the end and you're still

stuck what do you do now what I always

tell my students is to approach every

problem with a sense of direction figure

out what you're trying to end with and

work backwards from there the best

example of this was covered earlier in

this video it's this problem right here

you're asked to solve in terms of P how

do you solve in terms of P well you want

to get p on its own how do you get p on

its own well you want to get rid of this

fraction how do you get rid of a

fraction you multiply it by its

reciprocal you figured out your first

step by starting at the last step and

working backwards throughout the problem

this is a great strategy try it out how

do I stay motivated this is a very big

picture question the easiest answer get

a private tutor go to my website learn

stmath.com book a free trial session

start paying for my tutoring I will keep

you motivated I will give you a schedule

I will keep you on track but of course

you don't need a private tutor for

motivation you can motivate yourself the

way I'd suggest giving yourself

accountability is putting yourself on a

schedule pick a time pick a date but

keep the same time and date every single

week if you tell yourself I'm going to

do one practice test every week that's

too vague you're not going to follow

through with it how many practice tests

should I take before I'm ready I've

tutored plenty of students and I still

can't give you a definition of answer

for this every student's going to be

different some students are going to

improve quickly some students are not

just put yourself on a schedule and then

as you start to go through that schedule

figure out do I need to ramp up the

amount of practice I'm doing or decrease

the amount of practice I'm doing as long

as you have that consistent schedule to

begin with and you give yourself a

decent amount of time before your sat to

start preparing you're going to be fine

you'll play it by year and so that's all

the common mistakes SL also a few

questions that I see people have if you

think of any other common mistakes SL

questions about the SAT throw them in

the comments below below I'd love to

answer them and of course I'm going to

have to plug myself one more time if you

want to get that perfect 800 as fast as

possible you can get my private tutoring

over at learnmath docomo is by no means

necessary to get a perfect 800 I mean I

got a perfect 800 I didn't get a tutor

what tutoring does is it makes the

process a whole lot faster and easier

because you don't need to create your

own system of accountability and for a

lot of students that's just enough to

push them over the edge and get them the

score they want but whether or not you

decide to do tutoring you can always

subscribe for more SAT Math videos

thanks for watching and good luck St

[Music]

by