Preparing for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT

STRATEGIES FOR DOING WELL

ON THE ACT & SAT

Marsha Landau, Ph.D.

marsha.landau@gmail.com

• Use only REAL practice materials.

           

The Real ACT (CD) 3rd Edition (Real Act Prep Guide) [Paperback]

Publisher: Peterson's Guides September 6, 2011

ISBN-10: 076893432X

Official SAT Study Guide (2016 Edition) (Official Study Guide for the New Sat)

Publisher: College Board

ISBN-10: 1457304309

• Simulate test conditions when practicing – use an answer sheet, observe time limits, take at least one whole practice test in one sitting.

WRITE ON THE TEST

• Show work next to each item.

• Mark up line numbers in reading passages with  connections to questions.

• Cross out eliminated answer choices.

• Mark your answer for each item on the test before recording it on your answer sheet.

CODE EACH ITEM

S Sure

G Guess (only after eliminating at least two of the answer choices)

W Wild guess (when you don’t know enough to eliminate two answer choices)

→ Come back to this one when more time is available

Use the code to make good use of time. This will be discussed during the video. Be prepared to take notes!

STRATEGIES (Math)

• Try the answers.

• Plug in numbers.

• Use the diagram for all it’s worth.

• Draw a diagram.

• Don’t make up your own problem.

Use the problems below to practice the strategies. Solve the problems on your own, then watch the video for solutions.

Each of the following questions has five answer choices. For each of the questions, select the best answer choice given.

1. If the length and width of a rectangle are both tripled, the ratio of the area of the original rectangle to the area of the enlarged rectangle is:

(A) 1:3

(B) 1:6

(C) 1:9

(D) 1:8

(E) 2:9

2. At a luncheon table where 12 men are seated, one-half of the men belong to Club A, one-third belong to Club B, and one-fourth belong to both clubs. How many men belong to neither?

(A) 3

(B) 4

(C) 5

(D) 6

(E) 8

3. In December, Elizabeth sold 30 percent more satellite TV subscriptions than she had in November. In January, she sold 20 percent more satellite TV subscriptions than she had in December. The number of satellite TV subscriptions Elizabeth sold was what percent greater in January than in November?

(A) 50

(B) 54

(C) 56

(D) 62

(E) 60

4. The weight of a bag of mangoes plus four more than twice that weight equals 40 pounds. How much, in pounds, does the bag of mangoes weigh?

(A) 10

(B) 12

(C) 14

(D) 16

(E) 20

5. The triangle below is isosceles and is drawn to scale.

What is the measure of angle N ?

A. 22°

B. 68°

C. 78°

D. 79°

E. 89°

6. If x + 2y = 1, and 2x + y = 5, then x + y = ?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 4

E. 5

Link to video with solutions and answers.

Be sure to watch the videos for explanations of the strategies in action.
My Single BEST Test Prep Strategy!
math strategies for the SAT, PSAT, and ACT