SAT math tips, formulas and concepts students should memorize
A good way to memorize formulas is to memorize that as both text and image. Convert the formula into text, memorize the text by saying it out loud to yourself and copying it out as a mathematical formula. Before you take the SAT, drill yourself on the formulas and concepts. What are some things you need to memorize for the SAT math? The Slope Formula If you have the coordinates of two points, to calculate the slope of a line, use the following formula: “Y two minus Y one over X two minus X one.” The Distance Formula “Distance is the square root of Y two minus Y one squared plus X two minus X one squared.” Distance is exactly the same as the Pythagorean theorem, where the distance between two points is the hypotenuse of a right triangle. The Midpoint Formula If you have coordinated for two points, calculate the midpoint by averaging the x coordinated and averaging the y coordinates. The Quadratic Formula The quadratic formula can be used to find the X-intercepts of a parabola: “Negative b plus or minus the square root of b squared minus 4ac all over 2a.” How to get the X-coordinate of the vertex of a parabola in standard form: “Negative B over 2A” If you need the Y-coordinate of the vertex, plug the X-coordinate you got into the...
Read MoreFinal considerations for retaking the ACT
Students, while retaking the ACT can lead to a score increase for many, you should also consider the cost of taking the exams and what multiple scores mean to college admission officers. The ACT costs $46 and $62.50 with the writing portion. Costs can add up if you repeatedly take the test but keep in mind, the ACT offers fee waivers to low-income family students. Once you complete the exam and send your score to colleges, many schools may subscore your results. Subscoring is a process in which schools take the best scores from each section if you have taken the exam multiple times. Keep in mind, some schools may not subscore, which may be problematic if your second test score drops. For example, if you received a 25 composite score on the first exam and a 20 on the second, that may raise some questions with the admission officers. Consider the potential for good and bad outcomes that come from taking the ACT multiple times. Students may find drawbacks of having to spend more time, money and effort into the process of test preparation but the strong possibility of raising your score will be worth...
Read MoreTackle the ACT a second time: Watch the clock
It’s not uncommon to skip some questions while taking a standardized exam. A score report can show you where you skipped questions, possibly revealing that you ran out of time. First-time test takers are not always aware of how quickly the exam moves and so they need to develop a strategy for timing and pacing. The ACT has more questions per minute than the SAT. The SAT has a grammar section which is 44 questions in 35 minutes. Whereas, the ACT English section has 75 questions in 45 minutes. SciMath Education’s mock test program administers practice tests in timed environments to improve college applicants time management for test...
Read MoreStudents: Know standardized test strategies
While the main concern on students’ minds for typical tests may be remembering certain material that will be covered, standardized exams require them to think about specific test-taking strategies, rules, and approaches that aren’t always relevant for other exams. That said, if students go to take the SAT or ACT and have only studied content for a few days, as they would for any other exam, they may be at a disadvantage. The ACT and SAT tests are not exams where you can cram the night before and shove the material in your short-term memory. It takes weeks, months, or even years to adapt to the strategic test-taking skills required for questions that assess a very specific skill set. SciMath Education can help you prepare for your standardized exam. We offer specialized tutoring services catered to your individual needs. Contact: breanna@scimatheducation.com for more information....
Read MoreHappy Mole Day!
Mole Day is celebrated annually on October 23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m., Mole Day commemorates Avogadro’s Number (6.02 x 1023), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. Schools throughout the United States and around the world celebrate Mole Day with various activities related to chemistry and/or moles. For a given molecule, one mole is a mass (in grams) whose number is equal to the molar mass of the molecule. For example, the water molecule has a molar mass of 18, therefore one mole of water weighs 18 grams. Similarly, a mole of neon has a molar mass of 20 grams. In general, one mole of any substance contains Avogadro’s Number of molecules or atoms of that substance. This relationship was first discovered by Amadeo Avogadro (1776-1858) and he received credit for this after his death. Celebrate Mole Day (October 23 or June 2) with Mole Day jokes and humor. Q: What did Avogadro teach his students in math class? A: Moletiplication Q: What do you call a 10th grader who is taking chemistry? A: A sophomole. Q: Why does Avogadro like Cindy Crawford? A: She’s his favorite super-mole-dle (and she has a mole). Q: Why is it bad to tell mole jokes? A: It’s mole-itically incorrect Q: What did the generous mole say when people crashed his party? A: The mole the merrier! Q: What are mammoles? A: Four-legged animoles! Q: How would you describe a stinky chemist? A: Mole-odorous Q: What kind of fruit did Avogadro eat in the summer? A: Watermolens Q: What kind of test do chemistry students like best? A: Mole-tiple choice. Q: Why is Avogadro so rich? A: He’s a multi-mole-ionare! Q: Which tooth did Avogadro have pulled? A: One of his molars. Q: What does Avogadro put in his hot chocolate? A: Marsh-mole-ows! Q: What did one mole say to the other? A: We make great chemistry together. Q: Why was there only one Avogadro? A: When they made him, they broke the Moled. Q: What illness kept Avogadro in bed for two months? A:...
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