Transcript Math Test Strategies PPT

ACT Mathematics Test Prep
Strategies to help you
Improve your math scores
Mathematics Introduction
• Your goal on the ACT is to get as many
correct answers as possible in 60 minutes.
• Many strategies can be used to achieve
these correct answers (aside from cheating).
• Do not stress over 60 correct answers. 40
correct gets you a 25 on the ACT. 40 is
only 67% of the answers correct.
(Math was used to figure out this factual comment…easy huh!)
Strategies: Time Management
• The most advanced math on the ACT is
Trigonometry and there are four questions on the
test. Leave them for last and guess if needed.
• FOCUS ON THE ALGEBRA QUESTIONS they
should be the easiest and make up the largest part
of the test.
• Answer the ones you know…come back to the
ones you don’t.
Time management Strategies cont.
• If one of the choices is not your answer, narrow
down choices by eliminating answers you know
are definitely wrong, then guess.
• Know what a problem is asking you to figure out
before starting.
• Use a two-pass approach…first pass answering all
question you know and second pass (last 15 min.
to try the ones you skipped or didn’t get.
• Don’t visit a question for a third time…it is a
waste of time.
Definition Alerts
• Integers include 0 and negative whole numbers.
• “Evens and Odds” include 0 and neg. whole
numbers.
• Prime numbers do not include 1.
• Remainders are integers (15 / 2 = 7 with a remainder of 1 not 7.5)
Estimating and Guesstimating
• Eyeballing can be used to choose a guess
aӨb (if line ab = 10 what would a line running from top
to bottom of the circle be? A. 5 B. 15 C. 20 D. 40
• Guessing after eliminating obvious wrong
answers is better than not answering…there
is no penalty for guessing.
PEMDAS
• When performing multiple operations,
remember to perform them in the right
order:
Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and or
Division, Addition and or Subtraction.
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
Other Tips to Remember
• Don’t be afraid to pencil in additions to
given Diagrams.
• Sketch your own figures for figureless
problems to better understand what they are
saying.
• Break down complex problems into simpler
parts.