Grubers complete SAT guide 2009

“GARY GRUBER IS THE LEADING EXPERT ON THE SAT” — HOUSTON CHRONICLE

GRUBER’S

COMPLETE

GUIDE 2009

EFFECTIVE STUDY TOOLS

THAT ARE ACTUALLY FUN

• The 101 Most Important Math Questions

You Need to Know

• The World’s Shortest SAT Test (16 Questions)

• The 291 Most Important SAT Words

• Proven Strategies for Solving Problems Quickly

• Tons of Practice SAT Questions, Each Question

Explained in Detail and Linked to a Gruber

Strategy or Basic Skill

THE EASIEST, FASTEST WAY

TO IMPROVE YOUR SCORE

•Unique Diagnostic Test Shows You Why You Got

Questions Wrong—And How to Get Them Right

•The Gruber 150,000-Word Vocabulary Builder

•Inside Info on How SAT Questions Are Created

•Student-Praised Writing, Vocab, Math, and

Reading Sections

•5 Full-Length SAT Practice Tests

GARY R. GRUBER, PHD

“THE

BEST BOOK

ON THE SAT.”

SAT —CBS RADIO

MORE THAN 7 MILLION GRUBER BOOKS SOLD!

12th Edition

THE MOST TRUSTED AND EFFECTIVE SAT* PREP GUIDE

WHAT THE MEDIA IS SAYING:

“Gary Gruber is the most prominent guru of SAT preparation.”—Chicago Tribune

“His methods make the questions seem amazingly simple to solve.”—Library Journal

“Dr. Gruber knows the ins and outs of the SAT.” —Los Angeles Times

WHAT STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND EDUCATORS ARE SAYING:

“The work that Gary Gruber does should be given to every student and

every teacher.” —Dr. Shirley Thornton, former Deputy Superintendent,

California State Department of Education

“I’ve gone through almost all the SAT books I can get a hold of, and so far the best is

the Gruber’s SAT book. I wish I could have found it earlier.” —Online review

“With the aid of your books, my scores improved so dramatically that I am now anticipating

acceptance into schools that I was reluctant to even apply to.”—Lauren Frasciello, Princeton, New Jersey

“In regards to the breadth and quality of material offered, the difference between Gruber’s and other publications is

quite astonishing. Indeed, only Gruber’s deserves the highest recommendation in SAT preparation.” —Online review

* ® SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in

the production of, and does not endorse, this book.

USE THE MOST TRUSTED METHODS

• More schools use Dr. Gruber’s books for SAT courses than any other SAT books.

• PBS chose Dr. Gruber to train teachers nationally to improve the nation’s SAT scores.

• National learning centers, state agencies, and state education departments have contracted with Dr.

Gruber to improve SAT scores and critical thinking ability.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO STUDY TO GET THE TOP SCORE

• Five Full-Length SAT Practice Tests

• An Extensive Vocabulary Builder

• Advice on Tackling the Essay Section

GET THE SKILLS THAT UNLOCK THE ANSWERS

• Essential Strategies for Writing,

Vocab, Math, and Critical Reading

• And Everything Else You Need

Gary R. Gruber, PhD, is recognized nationally

as the leading expert on the SAT, test-taking

methods, and critical thinking skills. His

books on test taking and critical thinking

skills have sold more than 7 million copies.

Visit www.drgarygruber.com.

ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-1202-4

ISBN-10: 1-4022-1202-X www.sourcebooks.com

EAN

$19.95 U.S.

$21.99 CAN

Study Aids/Reference £10.99 UK

*

With the explanation to a question, you can answer that one question. With the Gruber strategies, you

can answer thousands of questions! These strategies show you how to think about problems instead of

trying to solve each one individually, and can be used consistently on every SAT test.

“GARY GRUBER

IS THE LEADING

EXPERT ON

THE SAT”

—HOUSTON CHRONICLE

www.sourcebookscollege.com

2009

GUIDE SAT

“THE BEST BOOK

ON THE SAT.” — CBS RADIO COMPLETE GRUBER’S

12th Edition

*

SAT

SAT

*

*

FEATURES THE EXCLUSIVE GRUBER SYSTEM THAT HAS RAISED ACTUAL SAT SCORES BY MORE THAN 600 POINTS!

Gruber_FNLcvr_SAT09_Updated:Layout 1 5/23/08 11:40 AM Page 1

GUIDE 2009

Gary R. Gruber, PhD

GRUBER’S

COMPLETE

SAT 12th Edition

*

*SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board. The College Entrance Examination Board is not

associated with and does not endorse this book.

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page i

Copyright © 2008 by Gary R. Gruber

Cover design © 2008 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or

mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of

brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its

publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the

subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in ren￾dering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance

is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

—From a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association

and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.

P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410

(630) 961-3900

Fax: (630) 961-2168

www.sourcebooks.com

Cataloging-in-Publication data is on file with the publisher.

Printed and bound in Canada

WC 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/2/08 1:14 PM Page ii

Recent and Forthcoming Study Aids from

Dr. Gary Gruber Include:

Gruber’s Essential Guide to Test Taking: Grades 6-9

Gruber’s Essential Guide to Test Taking: Grades 3-5

Gruber’s SAT 2400

Gruber’s SAT Math Workbook

Gruber’s SAT Reading Workbook

Gruber’s SAT Writing Workbook

www.sourcebooks.com

www.drgarygruber.com

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page iii

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page iv

Important Note About This

Book and Its Author

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THIS BOOK AND ITS AUTHOR • v

This book is the most up-to-date and complete book on the current SAT. EVERY EXAM is pat￾terned after the SAT, and all the strategies and techniques deal with the SAT. The SAT incor￾porates all the Gruber Critical Thinking Strategies.

This book was written by Dr. Gary Gruber, the leading authority on the SAT, who knows

more than anyone else in the test-prep market exactly what is being tested for in the SAT. In

fact, the procedures to answer the SAT questions rely more heavily on the Gruber Critical

Thinking Strategies than ever before, and this is the only book that has the exact thinking

strategies you need to use to maximize your SAT score. Gruber’s SAT books are used more

than any other books by the nation’s school districts and are proven to get the highest docu￾mented school district SAT scores.

Dr. Gruber has published more than 30 books with major publishers on test-taking and

critical thinking methods, with over 7 million copies sold. He has also authored over 1,000 arti￾cles on his work in scholarly journals and syndicated nationally in newspapers, has appeared

on numerous television and radio shows, and has been interviewed in hundreds of magazines

and newspapers. He has developed major programs for school districts and for city and state

educational agencies for improving and restructuring curriculum, increasing learning ability

and test scores, increasing motivation and developing a “passion” for learning and problem

solving, and decreasing the student dropout rate. For example, PBS (Public Broadcasting

System) chose Dr. Gruber to train the nation’s teachers on how to prepare students for the

SAT through a national satellite teleconference and videotape. His results have been lauded

throughout the country from all walks of life.

Dr. Gruber is recognized nationally as the leading expert on standardized tests. It is said

that no one in the nation is better at assessing the thinking patterns of “how” a person answers

questions and providing the mechanism to improve the faulty thinking approaches. SAT score

improvements by students using Dr. Gruber’s techniques have been the highest in the nation.

Gruber’s unique methods have been and are being used by Public Television (PBS), the

nation’s learning centers, international encyclopedias, school districts throughout the country,

in homes and workplaces across the nation, and by a host of other entities.

His goal and mission is to get people’s potential realized and the nation “impassioned”

with learning and problem solving so that they don’t merely try to get a “fast” uncritical answer,

but actually enjoy and look forward to solving the problem and learning.

For more information on Gruber courses and additional Gruber products, visit

www.drgarygruber.com.

Important: Many books do not reflect the current SAT questions. Don’t practice with ques￾tions that misrepresent the actual questions on the SAT. For example, the math questions cre￾ated by the test makers are oriented to allow someone to solve many problems without a

calculator as fast as with one and some faster without a calculator. This book reflects the SAT

more accurately than any other commercial book, and the strategies contained in it are

exactly those needed to be used on the SAT. It is said that only Dr. Gruber has the expertise

and ability to reflect the exam far more closely than any competitor! Don’t trust your future

with less than the best material.

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page v

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page vi

THE AUTHOR HAS SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU • vii

What Are Critical Thinking Skills?

First of all, I believe that intelligence can be taught. Intelligence, simply defined, is the aptitude

or ability to reason things out. I am convinced that you can learn to think logically and figure

things out better and faster, particularly in regard to SAT Math and Verbal problems. But some￾one must give you the tools. Let us call these tools strategies. And that’s what Critical Thinking

Skills are all about—strategies.

Learn the Strategies to Get More Points

The Critical Thinking Skills (beginning on page 59) will sharpen your reasoning ability so that

you can increase your score up to 300 points on each part of the SAT.

These Critical Thinking Skills—5 General Strategies, 19 Math Strategies, and 16 Verbal

Strategies—course right through this book. The Explanatory Answers for the 5 Practice Tests

in the book direct you to those strategies that may be used to answer specific types of SAT ques￾tions. We can readily prove that the strategies in Part 2 of this book are usable for more than 90

percent of the questions that will appear on your SAT. Each additional correct answer gives you

approximately 10 points. It is obvious, then, that your learning and using the 40 easy-to-understand

strategies in this book will very likely raise your SAT score substantially.

Are the Practice Tests in This Book Like

an Actual SAT?

If you compare any one of the 5 Practice Tests in this book with an actual SAT, you will find the

book test very much like the actual test in regard to format, question types, and level of difficulty.

Compare our book tests with one of the official tests, published by the College Board!

Building Your Vocabulary Can Make a

Big Difference on Your Test

Although Antonyms no longer appear on the SAT, Vocabulary will still be tested, especially on

Sentence Completions, and Reading Comprehension. This book includes four vital sections to

build your vocabulary:

1. 3,400 Word List

2. 100 Vocabulary Tests

3. 366 Latin and Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes

4. The 291 Most Important/Frequently Used SAT Words

5. The Hot Prefixes and Roots

The Author Has Something

Important to Tell You

About How to Raise

Your SAT Score

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page vii

viii • THE AUTHOR HAS SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU

If you have time, it is important for you to study this word-building instructional material.

You will find that many, many words in the 3,400 Word List will actually show up in the

Sentence Completion and Reading Comprehension sections of the Verbal part of your SAT. We

repeat that each additional correct answer adds approximately 10 points to your score.

Knowing the meanings of the words in the 3,400 Word List will, therefore, help you consider￾ably to “rake in” those precious points.

Study the 366 Latin and Greek Roots,

Prefixes, and Suffixes

We have developed a list of roots, prefixes, and suffixes which contains the 50 prefixes and

roots that give you the meaning of more than 150,000 words. Learning all 366 will increase your

vocabulary immensely. You may also wish to study the Hot Prefixes and Roots in Appendix A.

Study the 291 Most Important/Frequently Used

SAT Words

We have developed a list of most frequently used words and their opposites related to specific

categories for easy memorization. Study these words.

Study the Mini- Math Refresher

If you believe you are weak in the basic math skills area, study the Mini- Math Refresher. The

material in the section is keyed to the Complete Math Refresher section for more complete

instruction.

Take the 101 Most Important Math Questions Test

To see what are your weak basic math skills areas, take the 101 Most Important Math

Questions Test and look at the solutions to the questions. The questions are keyed to the

Complete Math Refresher so you can further brush up on your weak areas by referring to

those pages in the Complete Math Refresher part for those questions you missed.

The Explanatory Answers to Questions Are Keyed

to Specific Strategies and Basic Skills

The Explanatory Answers in this book are far from skimpy—so unlike those of other SAT

books. Our detailed answers will direct you to the strategy that will help you to arrive at a cor￾rect answer quickly. In addition, the Math solutions in the book refer directly to the 150-page

Math Refresher section, particularly useful in case your Math skills are “rusty.”

Lift That SAT Score

By using the material in this book, that is, by taking the tests, learning the specific strategies,

refreshing your basic skills, etc., as described above, you should increase your SAT score

substantially.

—Gary Gruber

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page viii

I. Important Facts About the SAT/ xiii

II. The Inside Track on How SAT Questions

Are Developed and How They Vary from Test

to Test / xx

III. What Are Critical Thinking Skills? / xxi

IV. Strategies for Women / xxiii

V. Multi- Level Approaches to Solution of

Problems / xxiv

VI. A Four- Hour Study Program for the SAT / xxvii

VII. Longer-Range Study Program and Helpful Steps

for Using This Book / xxviii

VIII. Format of the SAT / xxix

Contents

INTRODUCTION xiii

PART 1

STRATEGY DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR THE SAT 1

Directions for Taking the Diagnostic Test / 2

Strategy Diagnostic Test Answer Sheet / 3

Section 1: Verbal Ability / 4

Section 2: Math Ability / 12

Strategy Diagnostic Test Answer and Diagnostic Table

(Keyed to Strategies in book) / 18

PART 2

THE SHORTEST SAT TEST—16 QUESTIONS TO APPROXIMATE

YOUR SAT SCORE 23

Verbal (Critical Reading) / 24

Math / 25

Writing / 26

Answers / 27

Shortest SAT Test: What You Did Wrong, Explanatory

Answers and Scoring, Strategies and Basic Skills

Needed to Improve / 28

PART 3

THE 101 MOST IMPORTANT MATH QUESTIONS

YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SOLVE 29

101 Math Questions Answer Sheet / 30

101 Math Questions Test / 32

101 Math Questions: Answers / 45

Basic Skills Math Diagnosis / 47

Solutions, Generalizations, Rules / 48

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page ix

x • CONTENTS

PART 4

STRATEGY SECTION 59

5 General Strategies / 60

35 Easy- to- Learn Strategies / 62

How to Learn the Strategies / 62

Important Note on the Allowed Use of Calculators

on the SAT / 62

Important Note on Math Questions on the SAT / 63

The Grid- Type Math Question / 63

Use of a Calculator in the Grid- Type Question / 67

19 Math Strategies / 69

16 Verbal (Critical Reading) Strategies / 117

4 Sentence Completion Strategies / 118

Critical Reading Strategies / 125

What Reading Comprehension Questions Ask / 125

Getting Involved with the Passage / 125

Introductory Passage 1 / 126

Breakdown and Underlining of Passage / 126

How to Answer Reading Comprehension Questions

Most Effectively / 127

Introductory Passage 2 / 128

Introductory Passage 3 / 130

Summary / 132

About the Double-Reading Passages / 132

9 Reading Comprehension Strategies / 133

3 Vocabulary Strategies / 148

PART 5

MINI- MATH REFRESHER 155

PART 6

COMPLETE SAT MATH REFRESHER 165

Session #1—Fractions, Decimals,

Percentages, etc. / 168

Fractions, Decimals, Percentages / 168

Deviations / 171

Ratios and Proportions / 172

Variations / 173

Comparison of Fractions / 173

Practice Test 1 / 176

Answer Key for Practice Test 1 / 186

Answers and Solutions for Practice Test 1 / 186

Session #2—Rate Problems / 192

Word Problem Setup / 192

Distance and Time / 194

Work / 195

Mixture / 196

Cost / 196

Practice Test 2 / 198

Answer Key for Practice Test 2 / 208

Answers and Solutions for Practice Test 2 / 208

Session #3— Area, Perimeter, and Volume

Problems / 219

Area, Perimeter, and Volume Problems / 219

Practice Test 3 / 227

Answer Key for Practice Test 3 / 236

Answers and Solutions for Practice Test 3 / 236

Session #4—Algebra Problems / 243

Algebraic Properties / 243

Equations / 244

Algebra of Graphs / 246

Inequalities / 253

Exponents and Roots / 257

Practice Test 4 / 259

Answer Key for Practice Test 4 / 268

Answers and Solutions for Practice Test 4 / 268

Session #5— Geometry Problems / 274

Basic Definitions / 274

Triangles / 276

Properties of Triangles / 277

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page x

CONTENTS • xi

Four- Sided Figures / 280

Many- Sided Figures / 281

Circles / 281

Practice Test 5 / 284

Answer Key for Practice Test 5 / 293

Answers and Solutions for Practice Test 5 / 293

Session #6— Miscellaneous Problems / 304

Averages, Medians, and Modes / 304

Series / 305

Properties of Integers / 306

Approximations / 308

Combinations / 310

Probability / 311

The Absolute Value Sign / 311

Functions / 311

Practice Test 6 / 312

Answer Key for Practice Test 6 / 320

Answers and Solutions for Practice Test 6 / 320

Session #7—Tables, Charts, and Graphs /

326

Charts and Graphs / 326

Tables and Charts / 326

Graphs / 327

Bar Graphs / 328

Circle Graphs / 329

Line Graphs / 330

Practice Test 7 / 331

Session #8—Modern Math / 337

Sets / 337

Relations / 338

Solution Sets / 338

Axioms / 339

Closed Sets / 339

Mathematical Symbols / 339

Practice Test 8 and Solutions / 340

PART 7

VOCABULARY BUILDING THAT IS GUARANTEED TO RAISE

YOUR SAT SCORE 347

Knowing Word Meanings Is Essential for a Higher SAT

Score / 348

8 Steps to Word Power / 349

The Gruber Prefix-Root-Suffix List That Gives You the

Meanings of Over 150,000 Words / 352

Roots / 353

Prefixes / 355

Suffixes / 356

A List of SAT Words Appearing More Than Once on

Actual SAT Exams / 357

The 291 Most Important/Frequently Used SAT Words

and Their Opposites / 359

The Gruber SAT 3,400 Word List / 363

100 Tests to Strengthen Your Vocabulary / 415

Answers to Vocabulary Tests / 458

PART 8

GRAMMAR AND USAGE REFRESHER 461

The Parts of Speech / 463

Clauses and Phrases / 466

The Sentence and Its Parts / 469

Verbs / 475

Nouns and Pronouns / 479

Subject- Verb Relationship / 486

Tense / 489

Verbals / 493

Mood and Voice / 497

Modifiers—Adjectives, Adjective Phrases and

Clauses / 500

Modifiers (continued)—Adverbs, Adverbial Phrases

and Clauses / 506

Connectives / 510

Correct Usage: Choosing the Right Word / 515

Grammar and Usage Index / 519

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page xi

xii • CONTENTS

PART 9

THE SAT WRITING TEST 523

The SAT Writing Section / 524

Content of the Writing Test / 524

The Essay on the SAT Writing Test / 525

The SAT Essay Scoring Guide / 528

The Writing Sample / 529

Sample Essays / 529

Important Tips on How to Write the Best

Essay / 531

Other Types of Questions on the SAT Writing

Test / 539

Identifying Errors / 539

Sample Questions with Answers / 539

Improving Sentences / 542

Sample Questions with Answers / 542

Improving Paragraphs / 546

Sample Test with Answers / 548

PART 10

FIVE SAT PRACTICE TESTS 551

Five Important Reasons for Taking These Practice

Tests / 551

10 Tips for Taking the Practice Tests / 553

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 1 / 555

SAT Practice Test 1 / 561

How Did You Do on This Test? / 607

Answer Key for Practice Test 1 / 608

Raw- Score/Scaled Score Conversion Tables / 613

Chart for Self- Appraisal Based on the Practice Test

You Have Just Taken / 616

Explanatory Answers for Practice Test 1 / 619

What You Must Do Now to Raise Your SAT Score / 650

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 2 / 652

SAT Practice Test 2 / 658

How Did You Do on This Test? / 705

Answer Key for Practice Test 2 / 706

Raw-Score/Scaled Score Conversion Tables / 711

Chart for Self-Appraisal Based on the Practice Test You

Have Just Taken / 714

Explanatory Answers for Practice Test 2 / 717

What You Must Do Now to Raise Your SAT Score / 748

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 3 / 750

SAT Practice Test 3 / 756

How Did You Do on This Test? / 803

Answer Key for Practice Test 3 / 804

Raw-Score/Scaled Score Conversion Tables / 809

Chart for Self-Appraisal Based on the Practice Test You

Have Just Taken / 812

Explanatory Answers for Practice Test 3 / 815

What You Must Do Now to Raise Your SAT

Score / 849

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 4 / 851

SAT Practice Test 4 / 857

How Did You Do on This Test? / 903

Answer Key for Practice Test 4 / 904

Raw-Score/Scaled Score Conversion Tables / 909

Chart for Self-Appraisal Based on the Practice

Test You Have Just Taken / 912

Explanatory Answers for Practice Test 4 / 915

What You Must Do Now to Raise Your SAT

Score / 945

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 5 / 947

SAT Practice Test 5 / 953

How Did You Do on This Test? / 1000

Answer Key for Practice Test 5 / 1001

Raw-Score/Scaled Score Conversion Tables / 1006

Chart for Self-Appraisal Based on the Practice Test You

Have Just Taken / 1009

Explanatory Answers for Practice Test 5 / 1012

What You Must Do Now to Raise Your SAT

Score / 1044

Appendices

Appendix A: Hot Prefixes and Roots / 1046

Appendix B: Words Commonly Mistaken for Each

Other / 1050

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/2/08 1:14 PM Page xii

I. Important Facts

About the SAT

What Is On the SAT?

It will include a student- written essay and a multiple-choice writing section testing student’s

ability to identify sentence errors, improve sentences, and improve paragraphs. Although

grammar and usage will be tested, students will not be asked to define or use grammatical

terms, and spelling and capitalization will not be tested. This essay section will be the first

part of the test. The Math section will include arithmetic, geometry, algebra I, and some

advanced math covering topics in Algebra II, statistics, probability, and data analysis. The test

will mea sure reasoning ability and problem- solving skills. The other parts of the test will con￾tain some long and shorter reading passages, a long paired passage, a short paired passage,

and sentence completion questions.

How Will the Test Be Scored?

There will be a range of three scores each from 200–800 for the Writing, Math, and Critical

Reading.

How Long Will the Test Be?

The total time of the test will be 3 hours and 45 minutes.

What Verbal Background Must I Have?

The reading and vocabulary level is at the 10th- to 12th-grade level, but strategies presented in

this book will help you even if you are at a lower grade level.

What Math Background Must I Have?

The Math part will test first- and second-year algebra (Algebra I and II) and geometry.

However, if you use common sense and rely on just a handful of geometrical formulas and

learn the strategies and thinking skills presented in this book, you don’t need to take a full

course in geometry or memorize all the theorems. If you have not taken algebra, you should

still be able to answer many of the math questions using the strategies presented in this book.

INTRODUCTION

xiii

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page xiii

Is Guessing Still Advisable?

Although there is a small penalty for wrong answers (1

/4 point for 5- choice questions), in the

long run, you break even if you guess or leave the answer blank. For a full explanation of why,

see p. 61, Strategy 3. So it really will not affect your score in the long run if you guess or leave

answers out. And, if you can eliminate an incorrect choice, it is imperative that you do not leave

the answer blank.

Can I Use a Calculator on the Math Portion

of the Test?

Students can use a four- function, scientific, or graphing calculator. While it is possible to solve

every question without the use of a calculator, it is recommended that you use a calculator if

you don’t immediately see a faster way to solve the problem without a calculator.

Should I Take an Administered Actual SAT

for Practice?

Yes, but only if you will learn from your mistakes by seeing what strategies you should have

used on your exam. Taking the SAT merely for its own sake is a waste of time and may in fact

reinforce bad methods and habits. Note that the SAT is released to students on their Question

and Answer Ser vice three times a year, usually in the January, May, and October administra￾tions. It is wise to take exams on these dates if you wish to see your mistakes and correct them.

A Table of What’s on the SAT

Math

Time 70 min. (Two 25 min. sections,

One 20 min. section)

Content Multiple- Choice Items

Student- Produced Responses

Mea sur ing:

Number and Operations

Algebra I, II, and Functions

Geometry, Statistics,

Probability, and Data Analysis

Score M 200–800

Critical

Reading

Time 70 min. (Two 25 min. sections,

One 20 min. section)

Content Sentence Completion

Critical Reading: Short and

Long Reading Passages with

one Double Long Passage and

one Double Short Passage

Score CR 200–800

xiv • INTRODUCTION

1FM-pg116.qxd:22678_0000-FM.qxd 5/1/08 3:51 PM Page xiv