The Three (3) highest point-winners for Standardized Tests: MATH
1 VISUALIZATION, 2 POE (Process of Elimination), and 3 PEMDAS (Order of Operations):(There are some more point winning strategies--including substitution of easy numbers into pattern. Come back Wednesday!
Getting Points on Standardized Tests Involves the 3 BIG STRATEGIES.
The Simple way to answer today’s SAT question for the day is a combination of visualization and process of elimination. Over half the responders missed it!
Today’s question requires visualization. If there is a completely numerical way to scratch it out, the College Board does not tell us.
Here’s what I did: I visualized the full number of aisles the question states are covered in finding the numbers of items that are in the first few aisles (1-7) and/or in the second set of aisles which include some of the first set.
Here’s what we know and need to know: Our total number of items on the second batch can come from some of the same aisles as in the first shopping list sweep!
We have only three answers to consider, so I just did POE (Process of Elimination).
Could we get 9 items this way? Could we get 10? Could we get 11?
Yes, yes, and yes—So look below for the answer that says the answer could be all three of these.
Hooray!!! This is like a math question with no math! It’s logic.
We love logical questions, right??? (Think: goat, wolf, and goat food and a raft to cross a river with one at a time without losing the goat, the goat food—or even the wolf. How few trips can you make; and which do you take when? Remember??? Fun, right??? It’s not a riddle. It’s logic—like Order of Operations).
TWO MAJOR STANDARDIZED TEST TIPS
1) Find a pattern problem for the mnemonic ‘PEMDAS’ for Order of Operations:
Use a really good example question as a pattern, and scratch it onto your paper when you start the math section. Find a good clear problem with parentheses, exponents, subtraction within the parentheses, at least one square root, and multiplication and/or division and either an addition or subtraction outside of parentheses (needing to be next to last or last—Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction (PEMDAS-Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally).
2) When the numbers are manageable and visualization is, too, use POE (Process of Elimination).
These two tips can get you through many (many) points on standardized tests. Know them well, and be careful. They are usually asked in questions that seem easy. They are easy, but you need to check your arithmetic!
