Desmos Resources for SAT & ACT Test Takers
Ever since College Board and ACT first allowed test takers to use calculators to tackle math problems on their respective tests, students have sought out any advantage these tools could offer. Those of us who have seen more than one version of these illustrious exams come and go know well that every math problem can be answered without a calculator. But considering how many problems are more easily solved with support and how powerful Desmos can be on certain SAT and ACT (digital, of course) questions, learning some key techniques and strategies can lead to a much happier test day experience. Any student sitting for an exam that includes Desmos as an embedded calculator option should explore the interface in advance and master simple applications like sliders and regression table. Those willing to invest a small amount into a guided course will find the Demystifying Desmos on the SAT Course…
SAT Calculator Policy and Strategy
One of the great testing innovations of the 21st century was when the College Board first allowed calculators on at least some SAT Math questions–actually this was 1994, but close enough. That breakthrough in solving convenience and power is matched only by the addition of a powerful Desmos calculator to the digital SAT in 2023. As someone who survived SAT testing with nothing but a #2 pencil, scrap paper, and my wits, I can attest to the advantages of the right calculator at the right time. Recent refinements to College Board’s SAT Calculator Policy merits some discussion about which devices are acceptable for test day: The Desmos calculator embedded in the Bluebook testing app This is a powerful calculator that includes features similar to a handheld graphing calculator. If you are familiar with how to use this calculator, the embedded version is a good choice. Graphing calculators that do not…
When Desmos is Best
On the SAT Math section, students have plenty of options for handling calculations. The longest running way to solve math problems has historically been to work them out by hand, and this still remains a compelling choice in some instances. Over the last several decades, the SAT also permitted students to bring and deploy graphing calculators on the Math section. And most recently, the digital SAT includes a robust version of Desmos, a free online graphing calculator. Lots of options can lead to overwhelm, especially when each one shines brightest in certain scenarios. However, experience shows that Desmos is absolutely ideal for certain kinds of math questions on the test. When should you consider deploying Desmos? SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES The first and arguably best use case for Desmos is for questions involving systems of equations, of which you’ll find many on the SAT. The large, colorful Desmos display…
How to Prep Before You Really Prep
Timing is everything, which means there is a right time to sit for the SAT & ACT (usually as early in 11th grade as makes sense) and a right time to prep–usually 2-4 months in advance of your target test date. That doesn’t mean the years and months before you officially commit to prep don’t matter. On the contrary, college entrance exams evaluate critical reading, writing, and math skills developed through elementary and secondary schooling. The core skills that drive academic excellence also provide the foundation for superior test scores. So what should students be doing before they really commit to test prep? 1. READ REGULARLY Reading, as many of us heard relentlessly while growing up, is fundamental. The ability to understand what you read quickly and efficiently, regardless of topic or style, may be one of the most important success skills in any field. Yet, many teens put off…
All Easy Math Problems Are Alike…
Even if you’ve never read Anna Karenina, you’ve likely heard Leo Tolstoy’s famous assertion, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” My much less controversial take has nothing to do with complex social dynamics but rather with a far simpler subject: math. All easy math problems are alike; each difficult math problem is difficult in its own way. If we consider math problems in the context of learners with the requisite instruction and experience to even have a chance to successfully solve, the easy math problems are the ones most of them solve correctly. All problems in this category share obvious traits: Easy math problems test easily understood and remembered content. Easy math problems have obvious solution methods. Easy math problems may require few steps to solve completely. Easy math problems may require little time to solve completely. Easy math problems primarily require…
Getting Ready for AP Exams
The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and May is AP month! Every test deserves smart, serious preparation, particularly the ones that can grant college credit to high scorers. So how are you getting ready for your APs? On the Tests and the Rest podcast, we invited expert educators to share key strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready for many of the most popular AP exams: SCIENCE GETTING READY FOR THE AP PHYSICS 1 EXAM GETTING READY FOR THE AP CHEMISTRY EXAM GETTING READY FOR THE AP COMPUTER SCIENCE A EXAM MATH GETTING READY FOR THE AP CALCULUS AB OR BC EXAM GETTING READY FOR THE AP STATISTICS EXAM GETTING READY FOR THE AP PRECALCULUS EXAM SOCIAL STUDIES GETTING READY FOR THE AP US HISTORY EXAM GETTING READY FOR THE AP GOVERNMENT EXAM GETTING READY FOR THE…