Day 2 e-course
An SAT math shortcut so easy, a 6th grader can do it!
You will not believe how easy this strategy is. In fact, you’ll think it’s too easy to be useful. Just to show you how useful it actually is, let’s start with pg. 462 (pg. 584 in 2nd edition), #14 from The Official SAT Study Guide.
If you don’t have your book handy, just view the image below.
Whether you were able to do the above problem or not, let’s look at a strategy you probably didn’t consider. Again, even if you got that problem correct, I bet you could have done it quicker! Learn the below strategy for that reason, as well as having another tool to use when you get stumped.
BUST OUT YOUR RULER!
Figures on the SAT are drawn to scale UNLESS a problem states “Note: Figure not drawn to scale.” This is key to remember! While you are not allowed to bring an actual ruler or protractor, you can use your scratch paper as such. That’s right, if the SAT gives you a figure and states nothing about its scale, it IS drawn to scale and you can measure lengths, areas and angles!
For a ruler, make tick marks on the figure or on an edge of scratch paper from the given length(s). Or if a line is curved, just estimate lengths.
To see this strategy in action, view the solution to the above problem.
And here’s the MATH METHOD in case you want to see it for comparison:
After reviewing the above solution(s), apply this ruler strategy on the following problem from The Official SAT Study Guide:
pg. 523 (pg. 643 in 2nd edition), #19
Again, if you don’t have your book handy, just view the image below and give it a shot.
And here’s the video solution that makes that problem a piece of cake even if you don’t recognize any special right triangles or Pathagorean Theorem.
Once again, here’s the MATH METHOD for comparison.
IS THIS FOR REAL?
This measuring strategy is easy to do but hard to remember to do it! Does it seem too elementary schoolish? Who cares! It works on a lot of problems. Remember, the SAT is standardized. This means they can only mislead you in the same ways they’ve misled people in the past. And we know from over SIXTY years of proof that a figure is drawn to scale on the SAT, unless they tell you otherwise.
Not convinced? They even tell you this in the notes at the beginning of each math section! Flip to page 395 and read note number 3 to see for yourself! I can assure you, if they were to draw a figure that is NOT to scale, and NOT state it, their phones would be ringing nonstop from lawyers. Especially since they now release the test you took!
What if a figure is NOT drawn to scale (remember, they would state this) or if they don’t provide a figure at all? And what about doing these problems the “math” way (which can be very easy when you know what shortcuts to look for)? I cover all of this in the member area, as well as how to measure angles and areas with real SAT problems.
WHEN YOU SHOULD USE THIS STRATEGY
If you’re taking a timed test, measuring is a great thing to do if you don’t see the math way immediately, or if the math way you visualize will take too long. If you immediately spot a quick math way to solve a problem while taking a timed test, go for it!
While studying, however, you should measure lengths, angles and estimate areas every opportunity you get! This is the only way you will be confident enough that it really works to actually use this tool on test day!
NOW WHAT?
If you’ve worked through the above problems and were able to get them correct by measuring, congratulations! You are now equipped with a simple, yet powerful tool that will allow you keep going when you’re stumped on a geometry problem. If you have any questions, please post them below.
If you have somehow read through this entire lesson without lifting your pencil, we need to talk.
There is NO WAY you will increase your SAT score by simply reading about how to do it. That’s like learning to drive by taking a driver’s ed class but never getting behind the wheel. I encourage you to practice measuring on the above problems whether you know how to do them another way or not!
Remember, you CAN increase your SAT score. I can provide you with everything you need to know and do to raise your math score, whether you’re a “math person” or not! Remember what I said in the beginning; don’t believe a word I say. Try my suggestions on real SAT problems and prove to yourself they work.
Look for my email tomorrow titled: Don’t fall for this on the SAT
To your ever expanding abilities,
Jason McDonald
Study smarter, not harder.
I’d really like to see you maximize your SAT score. Visit my premium member forum to give it a try right now!
Comments»
I’m guessing there are specific reasons for your simple mistakes and time management issues. I have yet to work with a student for whom we couldn’t break free of their limiting habits. That said, I don’t know exactly what those reasons are for you. But hopefully the free tips on my site will get you thinking in the right direction and will give you a structure for your studying to help you address your weaknesses. Or of course that’s what I help students with in the premium member forum as well.
I think i am generally good at math but at the SAT, I always do things in a rush and make small mistakes that lead me to finding the wrong answers even though I had the right method!! Once I think one answer is right I go with it and don’t check the other because I am afraid to loose time. Sometimes I realize that I made a mistake but I waste a lot of time trying to find and fix the mistake and sometimes I have to restart!! I don’t know how to fix that!!
Hi Carissa,
Hmm, not sure why you’re not able to view. Working fine from my mac and PC. What operating system and version do you have?
Answers are 30 and 3(pi)/4, respectively.
If you’re serious about increasing your score, you need to buy the OSSG, whether you own Princeton’s or not. Well worth the $20 investment.
Jason,
I do not own the official SAT study guide because I already purchased the princeton review. I understand your method but for some reason I am unable to see the answers and the strategies to the problems on this page. I was wondering if you could post them again in a message so I know if I’m correct or wrong.
Thank you, Carissa
(your first lesson was the most helpful so far)
Hi Smiley
Thanks for the feedback – glad you found this advice helpful! Because the triangle had three 60-degree angles, it’s equilateral. Similarly, if in a different problem we knew all three sides were equal, we’d know all angles are 60 degrees.
Jason,
In the second video, the one where you had to find the length of the two sides to find the perimeter of the entire five-sided figure, you used a method where you found the triangle to be an equilateral. I haven’t taken geometry, so I don’t understand how you found that?
Thanks
(Awesome advice, by the way. Super simple and extremely memorable.)
this was super helpful
That was really interesting and shocking how just realizing that if a problem does not say “Figure is Not drawn to scale” can really help, I am definitely going to use this advice and the tips on my next SAT!
Wow ! I’m going to try this. I’m SO grateful that I came across this. This makes more sense to me than almost anything I usually learn in math class. I need math beaten into my head, and these simply strategies are almost SO easy that I WANT to retain this knowledge . I am DEFINITELY going to work on these problems and make sure I understand how to do them. Thank YOU!
Great question, Sarah. No, you can no longer bring, nor are you issued scratch paper. You have to practice measuring with scratch paper now so you are decent at it, then you no longer need the extra piece of paper — you just make marks on the figures that serve as make-shift rulers and protractors.
Jason– are we allowed to bring a piece of scratch paper on testing day?
pretty neat on how easy this stuff and b
Jason,
It helped alot! I think the most helpful was the measuring one. I remember using it atleast 2 times on the SAT.
Thanks so much,
Elson
By measuring angles, even someone with little experience can get most of the below 10 problems right. I cover them all with video solutions and answer questions in the member area.
pg. 412, #15
pg. 424, #4
pg. 520, #9
pg. 534, #11
pg. 534, #14
pg. 548, #4
pg. 744, #3
pg. 795, #16
pg. 806, #10
pg. 856, #3
Jason,
How would you use the ruler method for angles?
Elson
thats so cool!