| What is a standardized test? | | | | section is two-fold: (1) Know the basics |
| | | | ofArithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry; (2) |
| Standardized tests (e.g., SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT | | | | Apply common sense to translate the given |
| etc.) are aptitude tests to assess the | | | | information and the question in the form of |
| proficiency of students for a given course of | | | | mathematical equations. |
| study. The scores obtained in standardized | | | | |
| tests are supposed to predict individual | | | | FORMAT OF MATH PROBLEMS |
| success in job or profession after completing | | | | |
| the course. For example, research shows that | | | | Math problems in standardized tests are |
| the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) | | | | almost always in the objectivemultiple choice |
| is a valid predictor of students' performance | | | | question form. The Grid-in questions in the |
| in the MBA program. Studies also support the | | | | SAT exam are anexception. The usual format |
| proposition of post-MBA career successes with | | | | includes a description of problem with one |
| GMAT test scores. | | | | ormore useful piece of information. A |
| | | | question statement follows the given |
| Most standardized tests consist of some form | | | | information. Then the problem is followed by |
| of evaluation for two subjects:English and | | | | 4 or 5 answer choices. |
| Math. The first part of English, often called | | | | |
| verbal ability test, assesses test-takers | | | | Students taking the test are required to |
| ability to read and write grammatically | | | | utilize the given information in answering |
| correctEnglish. Several years of reading | | | | the question statement. The answer thus found |
| text-books, writing papers, speaking in front | | | | is one among many options. There is no single |
| of the class at elementary and high schools | | | | strategy to solve a multiple-choice math |
| allows standardized testtakers to score well | | | | problem.Experts usually recommend one or more |
| without much effort. | | | | of the following methods, |
| | | | |
| Math in Standardized Tests | | | | â-ª Plugging numbers: Helps avoid |
| | | | complex algebraic calculations |
| The standardized test on Math, on the other | | | | |
| hand, is not as natural or easy as the | | | | â-ª Back solving: Taking the help of |
| English part. Students often receive less | | | | answer choices to eliminate wrong options |
| than satisfactory trainingin developing | | | | |
| their mathematical abilities and the format | | | | â-ª Eye-balling & approximating: |
| of the questions does not help either. For | | | | Helpful in simple geometrical problems |
| example, how often does one have to figure | | | | |
| out theprobability of a number to be odd when | | | | â-ª Intelligent guessing: Eliminating |
| a two-digit number is chosen at random. Or | | | | unlikely answers to decrease options. |
| what is average speed of Jack in total, when | | | | |
| Jack drove one way atrate of 40 mph, and | | | | The strategies described above work best when |
| returned at rate of 50 mph? | | | | test-takers are equipped with basic concepts |
| | | | of Arithmetic, Algebra, & Geometry, and |
| The standardized exam may be composed of its | | | | invest time & effortin practicing sample |
| own format of math questions.The Math | | | | questions in actual exam like format. |
| section, sometimes called Quantitative | | | | |
| section, can have questionsof the following | | | | Other formats of Math problems (e.g., Data |
| types: Problem Solving, Data Sufficiency, | | | | sufficiency in GMAT, Grid-in in SAT, Graph in |
| Data Comparison,Graphical Problems, and | | | | GRE & SAT) form a small percentage of all |
| Grid-Ins. Despite quantitative problems | | | | questions in the test. Students are advised |
| appearing innumerous forms, they test a | | | | to develop their own strategy for such |
| limited number of concepts. The concepts can | | | | questions.Once again, knowing the basics and |
| be categorized in 3 broad sections of Math: | | | | practicing with such problems is the key for |
| Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry. | | | | doing well in such problems. |
| | | | |
| â-ª Arithmetic section | | | | Sample Example Problems: |
| | | | |
| Most standardized tests give considerable | | | | 1. After 20% discount, due to Christmas sale, |
| importance to the arithmetic concepts such as | | | | the price of a book is $40. What is the total |
| Percent, Ratio, Average, and Numbers. The | | | | saving than usual price, for Jim, when he |
| arithmetic section often makes for 50% or | | | | purchases two volumes of the book in discount |
| over part of the Quantitative section of the | | | | sale? |
| test. The number of arithmetic problems in | | | | |
| the GMAT or GRE Math is about 55% to 60% of | | | | A. 100 |
| the total number of questions. In the SAT and | | | | |
| ACT exam, the arithmetic portion of the Math | | | | B. 50 |
| section is about 50%. | | | | |
| | | | C. 40 |
| â-ª Algebra section | | | | |
| | | | D. 20 |
| In terms of the number of questions asked in | | | | |
| the test, Algebra is not as important. The | | | | E. 10 |
| areas tested in the Algebra are: Solving | | | | |
| Simple Equations, Binomial Theorem & | | | | 2. In the year 2000, Mary was twice as old as |
| Quadratic Equations, and Advance Algebra with | | | | her sister Sally. In the year 2008, Mary will |
| Inequalities. About 15% to 25% of problems | | | | be 5 yeas older than Sally. What is the age |
| are from Algebra section of Math.The | | | | of Mary now (in year 2007)? |
| percentage distribution may vary for | | | | |
| different exams. | | | | A. 6 |
| | | | |
| â-ª Geometry section | | | | B. 10 |
| | | | |
| Test-makers prefer to make questions in | | | | C. 17 |
| Geometry in many different forms and flavors. | | | | |
| The basic concepts tested in this area come | | | | D. 18 |
| from: Angles & Triangles, Squares & | | | | |
| Rectangles, Circles, Co-ordinate, and Solid | | | | E. 20 |
| Geometry.Even though advance questions | | | | |
| require knowledge and practice with | | | | 3. The numerical value of the ratio of area |
| importantconcepts, the easier problems are | | | | and circumference of a circle is 2. What is |
| often intuitive and aptitude based. In | | | | the diameter of the circle? |
| anygiven standardized Math test, about 20% to | | | | |
| 40% of all questions are from theGeometry | | | | A. 4 |
| section. In SAT exam, about 35% pf questions | | | | |
| are from the Geometry.In the GMAT exam only | | | | B. 8 |
| 20% of all questions are Geometry problems. | | | | |
| | | | C. 16 |
| Miscellaneous Problems | | | | |
| | | | D. 18 |
| Makers of standardized tests have a special | | | | |
| liking for oddball questions.These questions | | | | E. 32 |
| are derived from concepts of more than one | | | | |
| topic and oftenrequire common sense besides | | | | Answers: |
| basic section concepts. It is not uncommon | | | | |
| tofind a problem on a geometrical figure, | | | | 1. D |
| which can be resolved into an algebraic | | | | |
| expression with some simple common sense | | | | 2. C |
| method. In the world ofGMAT and GRE, the | | | | |
| category of miscellaneous problems is called | | | | 3. |
| Word Problems.The key to do well in this | | | | |