If you feel that you could benefit from working with professional SAT Subject Test in Math tutors as you pursue your academic goals, Varsity Tutors can match you with a certified private instructor who meets your academic needs. The SAT Subject Tests are optional standardized tests that high school students may take for a variety of reasons. If you're interested in pursuing a career in mathematics, taking the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics signals your intentions to every undergraduate program you apply to. Some colleges and universities also award college credit for SAT Subject Tests, allowing you to start your college career with more advanced material. Finally, a good score on an SAT Subject Test may help your application stand out from the field in the competitive college application process.
Regardless of why you're taking the test, it's important to understand what you're getting into. The SAT Subject Test in Mathematics is divided into separate Level 1 and Level 2 exams, with Level 2 dealing with more advanced concepts. If you're unsure which test makes the most sense for you, a private SAT Math tutor can help you identify the correct test and prepare accordingly.
How can SAT Math Subject Test tutors help me deepen my understanding of mathematical concepts?
Your high school math teacher does their best to help every student in the classroom succeed, but with so many students and a short school year, there's only so much that they can do. Working with a private instructor allows you to supplement your classroom instruction with individualized attention that proceeds at your pace. If you understand algebra but have a harder time with geometry, your study sessions can concentrate on the latter to help you learn more efficiently. If you understand right triangle trigonometry, your instructor can also skip it in favor of other topics to keep your sessions engaging. You won't be able to customize your classroom experience in the same manner.
A professional private instructor can also design your SAT Subject Test in Mathematics tutoring sessions around your preferred learning style. If you're a visual learner, your instructor might use graphs and charts to help you picture important concepts in your head. If you're more of an auditory student, your tutor may instead adopt a lecture-based session format with oral repetition to emphasize key concepts. If you're a kinesthetic learner who learns best by doing, your sessions might consist of multiple practice problems to give you valuable experience working with different types of material.
Studying in a one-on-one learning environment also offers several advantages. Since you are your instructor's sole priority during your SAT Math tutoring sessions, all of your work receives timely feedback. This allows you to correct any mistakes while the material remains fresh in your mind. Similarly, you can ask any questions you have as you have them, enabling you to seek extra help before a simple misunderstanding can get out of hand.
Some of the questions on the SAT Subject Test in Math expect you to use a calculator. Graphing calculators often have clunky interfaces, and many students struggle to get them to do what they want them to on a consistent basis. Your SAT Subject Test in Mathematics tutor can provide a demonstration of how to use the machine and then give you plenty of practice problems to help you get the hang of it. If you end up with a "syntax error," your instructor can help you pinpoint exactly what went wrong so you can correct your mistake instead of puzzling over where you slipped up.
What topics are covered on the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics?
The Level 1 SAT Subject Test in Math covers number and operations (10-14%), algebra and functions (38-42%), geometry and measurement (38-42%), and data analysis, statistics, and probability (8-12%). The Level 2 exam includes items about number and operations (10-14%), algebra and function (48-52%), coordinate geometry (10-14%), three-dimensional geometry and measurement (4-6%), trigonometry (12-16%), and data analysis, statistics, and probability (8-12%). There is some overlap between the two exams, but the Level 2 test digs deeper than the Level 1 does. For example, test-takers stick with linear functions on the Level 1 test, while the Level 2 covers linear, exponential, trigonometric, and logarithmic functions.
Some students are tempted to take the Level 1 SAT Subject Test in Mathematics because the material is easier, but that may not be advantageous if the topics on the Level 2 exam are fresher in your mind. Schools also understand that the Level 2 exam is more challenging than the Level 1, so they won't weight scores on each exam evenly.
Can SAT Math Subject Test tutors help me improve my test-taking skills?
Sure. Both the Level 1 and Level 2 SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics last one hour, consist of 50 multiple-choice questions, are scored on a scale from 200-800, and allow the use of an approved calculator. You may bring a scientific or graphing calculator to the exam, but you'll need a graphing calculator to answer some of the questions. It's also best to double-check that your calculator is in good working order so that you don't have to deal with any surprises once the test begins.
Your time limit can feel onerous, so you might want to take practice exams to learn what the time available to you might feel like in advance of your testing date. If you find that you're consistently unable to finish on time, your instructor can show you time-saving tips to help you pick up the pace without filling in random bubbles.
For example, it might be possible to eliminate one or more obviously incorrect answer choices even if you aren't sure what the correct response is. Since there is no penalty for guessing incorrectly on the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics (and you can even miss a few and earn a perfect score), it is in your best interest to take a guess and move on instead of puzzling over a single question for an extended period of time.
Similarly, you have to use the resources available to you intelligently. You don't have time to run all of your arithmetic through your calculator, so understanding when and how to use it can help you take the test more efficiently. Likewise, reference tables with geometric formulas are provided for your use during the test. These can be handy, but try to only look at them when you need to.
If you experience test anxiety, taking practice exams during SAT Subject Test in Mathematics tutoring sessions may also help you feel more comfortable on test day. If getting rid of the fear of the unknown isn't enough to help you relax, your SAT Subject Test in Mathematics tutor may show you mindfulness techniques such as meditation to help you calm your nerves and concentrate on the question in front of you.
Perhaps most importantly, you can review your practice exams with your instructor to identify where you are making progress and which areas might benefit from further study. If you aren't confident about questions concerning plane coordinate geometry but consistently answer them correctly, you might have more self-confidence moving forward. Meanwhile, a student who consistently misses questions about the law of cosines might want to study it again before they sit down for the test, regardless of how well they think they know it.
Why is Varsity Tutors the best way to connect with SAT Math test tutors?
If you were going to try to find your own instructor, you would need to somehow verify that they know the material covered on the exam you plan to take. You would also need to make sure that they have the communication skills required of a great teacher. Finally, you would need to see if your schedules are compatible. Do you really have time to do all of that?
Instead, let Varsity Tutors find you a private instructor who meets all of your academic and scheduling needs in as little as 24 hours. Not only is the instructor we recommend to you certified as a knowledgeable expert in high school mathematics, but you can also meet them over our proprietary Live Learning Platform for added convenience. Our Live Learning Platform is essentially an online classroom with powerful features like video chat functionality and a virtual whiteboard that brings face-to-face instruction anywhere with a strong internet connection. That's right, you no longer need to worry about the hassle of a commute to meet with your instructor.
You are also in control over when your sessions take place, so you won't need to sacrifice extracurricular activities you enjoy or your other classes to study for your standardized exam. How long you spend studying is also up to you because we want to make your study experience as convenient as possible.
If you're ready to jump start your test prep, contact an educational consultant today for more information on how Varsity Tutors can find you an SAT Subject Test in Mathematics tutor. We look forward to hearing from you!
