How to Get a High SAT® Score?
If you have your sights set on a high score in the SAT® exam, you might be wondering what it takes, in addition to just studying a lot with high quality materials. In this article, we’ll take a look at the SAT® math modules in the SAT® exam, and what it takes to get a great SAT® math score of 700 points or an exceptional score of 780 points.
How to Get a Great SAT® Math Score?
To get a high SAT® math score, you need to be able to consistently solve problems correctly without assistance. To learn to do that, you need to solve a ton of problems without assistance when you are practicing. In other words, when you are studying and run into a problem you don’t immediately know how to approach, keep trying. Investigate the context, sketch, try different approaches, do everything you can to figure out the solution by yourself.
Learn more about our tips on how to practice for the SAT® exam!
This is how you develop creative problem solving skills and flexible thinking, which will allow you to solve any kind of problems in the exam. If you get frustrated, you can even move on and try again the next day after a good night’s sleep. Resort to using hints and example solutions only after trying very hard to solve a problem on your own.
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“Keep trying.”
SAT® Math Topics
The math curriculum of the SAT® exam consists of 4 areas: heart of algebra, problem solving and data analysis, advanced math, and geometry and trigonometry.
Roughly 35% of the problems in the SAT® math modules are related to algebra, another 35% to problem solving and data analysis, 15% to advanced math and 15% to geometry and trigonometry.
It is clear that reaching a great SAT® math score of 780 points requires mastery of all four SAT® math topics. In theory, reaching 700 points can be possible without studying advanced math or geometry and trigonometry. In practice however, this is not a good strategy.
There are easier and harder problems from each area, and less and more tricky problems from each area as well. Chances are that the harder and trickier ones are most likely to go wrong regardless of the topic they are related to. Thus, if you are aiming for a high SAT® math score, study the whole SAT® math curriculum thoroughly.
“If you are aiming for a high SAT® math score, study the whole SAT® math curriculum thoroughly.”
How many math questions are on the SAT® exam?
In the Digital SAT® exam, there are two math modules of 22 problems each. That is a total of 44 math problems. To reach 700 points in math, you can afford to miss 6-8 correct answers. To reach 780 points, you can only miss 1-2 correct answers. In percentages, to reach 700 points, you have to answer correctly to roughly 85% of the problems. To reach 780 points, you have to answer correctly to approximately 97% of the problems.
How to Study for the SAT® Math Exam?
Let’s talk briefly about understanding mathematics and being able to apply it to new contexts. Some of the problems in the SAT® exam are easier in the sense that you can find the correct answer if you remember how such problems are solved and have an adequate routine in solving them.
However, many of the problems introduce new contexts and confusing ways of presenting the question. In these, it is not enough to be able to reproduce methods you have learned by heart. Instead, solving these kinds of problems requires a deep understanding of the underlying math, and using creative and flexible thinking of your own.
Hence, if you are trying to reach a great SAT® math score, do not neglect understanding and just memorize methods. Instead, make sure you truly understand everything you have learned.
Find out more about how to avoid common pitfalls when studying for the SAT® exam!
Prep for the SAT® Math Exam with Happi App
Happi does not teach you a bag of tricks and a pile of tips. Instead, Happi is built so that you will truly understand mathematics. With consistent studying and diligent practice you can solve any problem in the SAT® curriculum, no matter how difficult. Happi will also teach you how to study and learn better.
The benefits of studying with Happi will span further than the SAT® exam, and will help you throughout your studies, career and life.
Happi - The optimal SAT® math prep app.
“It is not enough to be able to reproduce methods you have learned by heart.”
Learn from Mistakes
Mistakes in the exam can be detrimental to your score, but mistakes during practice are invaluable! Every time you answer a practice problem wrong during studying, take full benefit from it. Checking where you went wrong is not enough. You have to do a deep dive to analyze what really caused the wrong answer. Was there something you didn’t know or understand? Can you identify a careless error that happens to you often?
After identifying what caused the problem, fix it. Review what you had forgotten, study and practice more of what you didn’t understand. Make a mental note of the careless error and how to avoid it in the future. Especially if you are aiming for an exceptional SAT® math score like 780 points, you must be ruthless in learning from every wrong answer and eventually reaching a level where you rarely get problems wrong.
“Mistakes in the exam can be detrimental, but mistakes during practice are invaluable!”
Strive for excellence, and take the strategies outlined in this article to heart. You will thank yourself later, I promise. Best of luck on your SAT® journey – you've got this!