mazakaal Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Dd is preparing to take the SAT next month, and she has done the exact same math progression as older ds - Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II. He did above average (can't remember what his exact score was but it was in around the 70th percentile) when he took the SAT in spring 2015, having not taken any Trigonometry or higher level math. Obviously she's a different person and may not score as well. That's not the issue. She's doing Khan Academy to prepare, and says that she has absolutely no idea on most of the questions - that they're all Trigonometry, which she hasn't studied. I'm wondering if the SAT exam has changed to be far heavier in Trig than it was in 2015 or if maybe Khan Academy is giving her those questions because she seemed to have mastered the majority of the other materials when she did the placement exam on their site. I don't want her to stress out about the SAT, as she can take it again in the autumn. I just want to know how to reassure her - that either she needs to just do the best she can on the topics she knows and try to guess on the others (LOL) - because she can work on the Trig over the summer and retake, or that she doesn't need to worry because there won't be as much Trig on the exam as there is on Khan at the moment. Hope the question makes sense. Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 (edited) 10% might be "other" topics including geometry & trig. There is a section on Khan that talks about what types of math are included. The actual breakdown varies, of course, a little from test to test. I would encourage her to use Khan to learn more about the problems she's stumped on. It is possible there is an easy way to solve a problem using the math she already knows, but she doesn't see it. The explanation on Khan Academy should always be read, and, if possible, she should try to do the problem again after reading the solution and watching a related Khan video or two. Edited April 9, 2019 by RootAnn Typos! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 I'm not sure how different it is...my dd is also using Khan Academy to study for the May SAT. She's telling me that a lot of the questions are the exact same questions from Mathusee (that's what we're mostly using for high school math). We're not doing Trig, either. She's getting ready to start Statistics. Have you seen one of the free practice tests? You could browse through and look at the math questions... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 I agree. Look at the practice tests (4-6 are actual tests that have been used.). You could even give her the practice math test. My guess is that she’s getting a lot of trig bc that’s where she is weakest. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 There are very few trig questions--like maybe 2 per test. This link might help: https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-trigonometry 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted April 9, 2019 Author Share Posted April 9, 2019 Thanks, guys. It will make her feel much better to know that there isn't too much Trig on the test. I'll have her do a couple of those practice tests as well. Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJPPKGFGSC Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 The SAT was redesigned in 2016 to include significantly more higher math - like trigonometry. There is less geometry, and more statistics. I could not find any discussion of the changes on the College Board site, maybe it is old news now. But you can read this article on PrepScholar (the same site linked above) and search for more on their blog if you need more details. https://blog.prepscholar.com/new-sat-vs-old-sat-quick-summary 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted April 10, 2019 Author Share Posted April 10, 2019 14 hours ago, LJPPKGFGSC said: The SAT was redesigned in 2016 to include significantly more higher math - like trigonometry. There is less geometry, and more statistics. I could not find any discussion of the changes on the College Board site, maybe it is old news now. But you can read this article on PrepScholar (the same site linked above) and search for more on their blog if you need more details. https://blog.prepscholar.com/new-sat-vs-old-sat-quick-summary This is good to know. Thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 (edited) I would look at actual tests, this book has 5 actual tests: https://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2018/dp/1457309289/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XZFNX9CSP09JXE6BNQDS I think most of the trig is usually simple Soh... Sine = Opposite / Hypotenuse ...cah... Cosine = Adjacent / Hypotenuse ...toa Tangent = Opposite / Adjacent which you can teach in less than an hour, then do a few problems a day to keep in fresh, then weekly once it is automatic... https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/sohcahtoa.html The panda book has good explanations on how to teach each type of math problem, then practice problems grouped by type of problem. The ACT one was useful for us, I did not get the SAT one but I'm sure it's just as good. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0989496422/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 Edited April 10, 2019 by ElizabethB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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