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#1 SAT math strategy May 31, 2008

Posted by Jason McDonald in : SAT tips , 3 comments

MAKE A VISUAL

SAT problems rarely provide information or ask questions in a straightforward fashion. One of the most useful ways to cut through the confusion the test writers provide is to display the information your own way. Forming this habit serves three purposes:

     1. It wakes you up from the SAT trance that zaps your time.
     2. It often displays the key relationship to solve the problem.
     3. It helps you avoid or even catch mistakes that are most common when doing work in your head.

This can be done through a table, ratio box, average pie, rate pie, Venn diagram, tree diagram, list of numbers, graph, or a sketch.  It doesn’t have to be pretty, just do it fast.

Here are a couple video mini lessons you should view as you probably haven’t seen them in school (They’re just a couple minutes each).

     Average pie video lesson.
     Rate pie video lesson.

Example 1 (easy):

If the average (arithmetic mean) of the below six numbers is 2x, what is the value of x?
5, x, x, 20, 35 and 40

After trying the problem on your own (hint: make an average pie), watch the video solution on how to get the right answer in 30 seconds.

Example 2 (medium difficulty): 

Machine A makes 1500 newspapers per hour and works for 6 hours.  If Machine B makes 1000 newspapers per hour, how many hours would it take Machine B to make the same amount of newspapers Machine A made in 6 hours?

(A)  1.5
(B)  5
(C)  6.7
(D)  7.5
(E)  9

After trying the problem (hint: make a rate pie), watch the video solution on how to get the right answer in 30 seconds.

Example 3 (medium difficulty):

A stock rose 60 points in a year.  It gained one-third of those points in the first quarter, one-fifth in the second quarter, one-fourth in the third quarter and the rest in the fourth quarter.  How many points were gained in the second half of the year?

(A)  12
(B)  13
(C)  15
(D)  20
(E)  28

After trying the problem (hint: make a table), watch the video solution on how to get the right answer in about 30 seconds.

Could you have done the above problem without a table? 

Of course you could.  Most people would do this problem without a table.  In fact, many people would try to do this problem without even writing anything down.  Keep in mind though most people score around average on the SAT.  You don’t want to be “most people.” 

Contrary to popular belief, making a table actually saves time.  You won’t spend a second thinking about what to do.  You’ll just do it.  As you can see in the video solution, it only takes 30 seconds to get the answer!

Using a table also keeps you from doing unnecessary math like adding the fractions in this case.

Example 4 (more difficult): 

The least integer in a set of consecutive even integers is
-100.  What is the greatest integer in this set if the sum of these integers is 206?

(A)  52
(B)  54
(C)  104
(D)  106
(E)  108

After trying the problem, watch the video solution on how to get the right answer in less than 30 seconds.

REAL SAT PROBLEMS – MAKE A VISUAL

As you can see, making a visual doesn’t take long.  It leads you to the right answer in less than 30 seconds even on “difficult” problems.  Now it’s your turn.  Prove to yourself this strategy works on real SAT problems from The Official SAT Study Guide. 

Video solutions to all of the below problems are posted in the members forum.

Easy
pg. 670, #6 (average pie)
pg. 716, #2 (sketch)

Medium
pg. 842, #11 (rate pie)
pg. 793, #7 (average pie)
pg. 671, #8 (table)
pg. 489, #10 (sketch)
pg. 735, #7 (Venn diagram)

More difficult
pg. 843, #16 (ratio box)
pg. 807, #14 (sketch)
pg. 412, #18 (rate pie)

What is a good SAT score?

Posted by Jason McDonald in : College Related , comments closed

For years past, many dynamics have played a part in the admission process . . . essays, interviews, community involvement (i.e., extra curricular activities), recommendations written by teachers or community leaders, your high school GPA, and your SAT scores. More and more colleges in the last decade or two are questioning the validity of SAT scores. Do good SAT scores really predict success in college? Do bad SAT scores predict failure? Of course not.

So who cares about your SAT scores? Colleges. Most do, anyway. There are three sections on the SAT: Writing, Math and Critical Reading worth a possible 800 points each. An average SAT score is around 1540 out of 2400 points. Students with an average SAT score have many options, but a score above 2100 would place you in the 90th percentile (meaning you scored better than 90% of the test takers) and might cause the “name brand” schools to take a closer look at your admission application.

Listed below are some colleges that require SAT scores and “rough, unofficial estimates” of the SAT scores for those admitted at each school.

Iowa State – 1825
Ohio State – 1800
DePaul – 1750
Arizona – 1700
Indiana University- 1650
Brown University – 1380
Harvard – 2200
Williams – 2125
University of Virginia – 2000
UCLA – 1900

There are many colleges that are “SAT optional.” In fact, some of the administrators at these SAT-optional schools claim that the test is not a good predictor of success in college. They also argue that the SAT exaggerates the difference between wealthy students whose families can afford expensive SAT prep courses and poorer students who see the exam for the first time on test day. If this is true, then the SAT isn’t serving the purpose for which it was designed, which is to give equal opportunity to all students.

Robert Schaeffer, the public education director of FairTest (a research center that is opposed to standardized tests) says, “SAT-optional, it seems, is no longer a euphemism for ‘second-rate.’ Many of the most selective campuses in the country are concluding that they can make better admissions decisions without the SAT.” Students who don’t necessarily score well on standardized tests would be relieved to know that their admission to certain colleges could be based on other strengths, such as personal interviews and serving in their community.

Many colleges and universities have gone the way of SAT optional in their admissions process. For a complete list visit SAT optional schools. The schools listed below are just a few who consider the SAT scores only if the minimum GPA or class rank requirements are not met. As you’ll see if you visit the above link, there are hundreds and hundreds of schools that are SAT optional.

University of Texas
George Mason University in Virginia
Black Hills State University (SD)
Iowa State University
University of Wisconsin-Stout (Menomonie, WI)
Sarah Lawrence College (NY)
Texas A&M University (Galveston, TX)
Tennessee Temple University (TN)
University of Michigan (Flint, MI)
East Tennessee State University

Remember, just because a school is SAT optional does not mean it is easier to be admitted there. It simply means they rely more heavily on the other factors for your admission (essays, interviews, extra curricular activities, recommendations & GPA).

So, what is a good SAT score? We can conclude that a good SAT score is different for each student and college. Many schools often accept students with average SAT scores while others rarely do. We can also conclude that, depending on which colleges are candidates, SAT scores may not even be necessary for admission!

If you ARE looking into schools that require SAT scores, be sure to maximize your score by preparing for the test. A good SAT score for you is about 200-300 points higher than your score the first time you take the test.

Resume May 25, 2008

Posted by Jason McDonald in : Background , add a comment

Jason McDonald: professional life

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Worked as private tutor at primary, secondary and college levels. Worked with youth and special populations teaching skills focusing on experiential learning, discovering strengths, and empowering individuals. Worked in various corporate environments as an engineer.

EDUCATION
University of California, Santa Barbara: Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering. Graduated with High Honors and distinction in the major: June 1997

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Academic Tutor, 1999-current
Tutor middle school, high school, and college students in physics and mathematics, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus and SAT prep.

Math Teacher, New Vista High school, Boulder, CO. 2001-2002.
Taught SAT prep classes and math workshops.

Tutorial Leader, Hewlett-Packard, Colorado Springs, CO. Summer, 1994. Taught middle school students how to program calculators. Worked with small groups troubleshooting and problem solving.

Field Instructor, Highland Outdoor Science School. Beaumont, CA. Spring ‘99. Taught archaeology, aquatics, astronomy, environmental science, archery, canoeing, and rock climbing. Facilitated ropes courses, new games and team-building initiatives.

Adaptive Ski Instructor, Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center. Breckenridge, CO. Winter 1998/99. Provided outdoor experiences for people with disabilities. Assessed individual needs, designed personalized lesson plans, and adapted lessons based on performance and ability levels.

Environmental Educator, Colorado Youth Program. Boulder, CO. Summer 1998. Guided 11-16 year old adolescents through 10-day outdoor sessions focusing on nature, ecology and teamwork. Designed and taught sustainable educational curriculum, hands-on learning activities, environmental service projects, and evening activities.

Engineering Coach, Magnet Middle School, Palo Alto, CA. 1998. Worked as a mentor with small groups on a weekly basis to create a science project. Taught visualization skills, model making, and prototype testing.

Wilderness Guide, Institute of Cultural Affairs. Bethel, WA. Summer 1999. Mentored youth on three-week self-discovery backpacking journey through the Olympic Peninsula. Focused on problem solving, conflict resolution, communication and personal accountability.

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE
Mechanical Engineer, IDEO Product Development. Palo Alto, CA. 1997-1998. Worked with designers and engineers providing support on numerous innovative products. Work included research, design, building prototypes, quality control, and testing.

Design Engineer, Microsoft Corporation. Redmond, WA. Summers 1995-96. Worked with Engineers, Industrial Designers, service and component vendors, tooling engineers, and prototyping shop to design, test, and develop next generation joy stick.

Test Engineer, Hewlett-Packard. Colorado Springs, CO. Summer 1994. Worked with Engineers, assembly line workers, and machinists to verify tolerances and reconcile CAD drawings. Trained employees and led seminars on use of test and measurement equipment.

INTERESTS AND STRENGTHS
Enthusiastic about learning and enjoy making problem solving experiential. Through creativity and compassion, I integrate other curricula into the learning process to increase learning skills for all subjects.

FAMILY
I live with my wife and son in the Greater Portland area of Maine and tutor math, science, and SAT prep. My brother owns Benchmark Realty and Automated Homefinder. My parents are retired after returning from Bulgaria where they taught English as Peace Corps volunteers.

HOBBIES
Meditation and hanging out with my son are a couple of my favorite weekly activities in Southern Maine. I enjoy playing ultimate frisbee when I have the energy. Surfing, snowboarding, camping, and bicycling are a few of my favorite outdoor activities. I am a private pilot and LOVE to fly as often as I am able. I can be found on the beaches in Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough as well as walking the streets of Portland in my free time. We enjoy visiting friends and family in Colorado and California when we get the chance.