Practicing math

[Red 0]

In Sweden we have a type of national test that can be taken as a means to get into college. The test has two parts, one math and one language/reading comprehension.

I took the test once last year, and another attempt yesterday. I think I got a full score on the language part, but both times i've struggled with the math. Although math isn't my strongest ability i've never been bad at it before. Last year I got a decent score, and I came unprepared to the test with a high fever. This time I expected it to go a lot better, but I actually managed to get a significantly lower score. Thought it went better when I took the test, but no...

I've found two main problems. Number one is that i'm just too slow. Working things through in my own pace meant I ran out of time half way through. On top of that I haven't done this type of math in 14 years. That means some quite signifcant gaps in my knowledge.

Unfortunately the disaster on the math part probably puts me just below the minimum score (with 0.5 points!) to get into law school. That's quite annoying. The next test is this fall, and i'm going to get a full score.

The math part is fairly simple high school math. There's some geometry, quadtratic equations, equation systems and problem solving. Not really that complex.

Anyhow, I have two questions relating to this:

Do you know of any good books and resources that can be usefull to learn this? And, do you know anything of a more general nature? I'd like to read up more on math just for the fun of it. Maybe a better understanding of math could be usefull some day, and it's a fun way to exercise the little grey cells.

[ewv 0]

For the equivalent standard tests here there are books focused on review and practice for the kind of problems on the test. Look for the same thing there for whatever the standardized test is. Either that or do what you did the last time: go unprepared and bring a fever with you.

[Red 0]

There's one book that I know of, and it's underwhelming. The examples are good but there's not much more than that.

Running a fever is a risky tactic. You need to develop the kind of fever where you get into this creative state, and then figure out your own mathematical rules.

When I did that test they had just changed the math part of it. On previous tests there wasn't much to prepare for. I figured i'd brush up on my math and then i'd be fine, but I got sick. My first look at the test was a "oh bleep!" moment, when I realized I had forgotten all of the math. That's when you need to get creative.

I have no idea how I managed to get such a good result (one standard deviation above the mean must be good under those circumstances). I'm even more surprised how I got a worse result after making preparations.

[Carlos 0]

Try taking lots of timed practice tests (maybe not full length, but at least long enough to force you to practice working rapidly). I improved my verbal score on the SAT by 100 points simply by doing this.

I also despise timed tests, because I like to work slowly through things and actually understand them rather than be an organic calculator crunching through information rapidly. But in our high-throughput national education systems, these things are apparently important for small-minded educrats. Just bust your butt practicing for the test so you can get over it as soon as possible.

[L-C 0]

Concrete-loading. Practice on previous exams and other resources until enough of the test feels like your own backyard that you retain sufficient time for the rest.

[Red 0]

Try taking lots of timed practice tests (maybe not full length, but at least long enough to force you to practice working rapidly). I improved my verbal score on the SAT by 100 points simply by doing this.

I also despise timed tests, because I like to work slowly through things and actually understand them rather than be an organic calculator crunching through information rapidly. But in our high-throughput national education systems, these things are apparently important for small-minded educrats. Just bust your butt practicing for the test so you can get over it as soon as possible.

That's a good idea, however there's only been three tests since they introduced the new one. The old ones still offer some practice, but the math was a lot easier. Atleast for grumpy old men like me, who practiced high school math a hundred years ago. The math on the old test was much easier to solve using simple logic.

I agree about timed tests. I want to do a thorough job and produce something good if i'm going to put my name on it. Like the last test I did in law. I'd like to burn it and destroy any evidence that it existed, even though I got a high score. I don't take classes to become good at taking tests. I take classes to become good at the subject. Returning tests with simplistic answers is a waste of time, and there's no pride in passing a test when you know the standards are set so low.

In this case the math itself is fairly simple, you just need to know it. Then the time factor makes it so that you need to know it with minimum thought involved. Even the time on the verbal test was a challenge, and I dare say i'm very good at that.

Anyway, this isn't to say I didn't mess up. I should have done better. The good thing is that it makes me pissed enough to aim for a full score on the whole test next time (there are nine people who have managed that, so it's possible).

[styg50 0]

Can I suggest grabbing the Cliffnotes for each subject in math that will be covered? The books are cheap, quick, to the point, and 99% of the time convey just the fundamental information you need to solve problems, which makes you a better solver over time. I'm a mechanical engineer, and I keep a stack from algebra to calculus AB on my bookshelf. When I tutor in math, I use the BasicMath Cliffnotes to prime the pump (highschools students usually) and they are always surprised by how much math they "remember" after one half hour session. They are the most effective math 'texts' I have ever run across.

They are available on the clifnotes website for free, though a quick comparison indicates that the book I am holding is slightly more detailed, and it may be easier to scan a book than a website, personal preference....