Does the SAT Math Measure Your "Talent" in Math?

IDK. Easy school?

I know a lot of kids who get A's in math class, but can't do well on SAT Math.

At least in my area, getting a high grade in a class isn't impossible. If you do your work and study moderately (or hard), getting an A or an A- is doable. Especially in math classes. With the exceptions of AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Statistics, math courses in my school tests on questions that are IDENTICAL with the questions gone over in class. Of course the numbers and words are changed, but the type of questions are the same. Simply put, my school's math tests check on how you memorized the choreography. The SAT, however, doesn't care if you picked up a routine at school, it wants to see if you know how to play around with math.

Many students know basic math concepts like the Pythagorean theorem, functions, exponents, all of that stuff taught in math class. If you show a high school student " a² + b² = c² ", chances are that he/she will recognize it. It's great that many high school students are familiar with some basic math, but that doesn't mean they know how to use it.

Source: PWN the SAT

If you can calculate the value of x by your hand (or your head), then you know your exponent rules well. The answer is 998, if you wanted to know.

As mentioned in previous posts, knowing advanced math concepts won't do you many favors on the SAT. Take the question above for example. Exponents aren't advanced math, although this exponent problem is difficult.

Unmistakably, the SAT Math obscures basic math concepts so students like you (and I) have trouble solving the problem.

But does that mean the SAT Math measures your ability in math? After all, it does require you to see through the veil placed over the problem.

Not with those glasses though

Answer is: yeah... kind of... sort of...?


Certainly, it takes some thinking to do well on the SAT Math. You can't stroll through the problems like it's a predictable rehearsal. At all times, you have to be alert and observant. And definitely, you need to know how to play around with basic math concepts. So the SAT certainly does measure your math capabilities to some degree.

However, the SAT Math can't determine your math capabilities perfectly. The test is worded in an overly complicated way, so it takes some reading comprehension to understand the problem. (I thought this was a math test!?!?) Practicing the SAT Math a LOT can make even the SAT problems look like a routine, because the test reuses similar questions. Also, the SAT Math tests on SOME math concepts, NOT all of them. You can be really good at trigonometry, but struggle with arithmetic word problems.

Here's my case. I've scored an 800 (hence my blog) on the SAT Math. By no means I am a math genius. I have yet to score a hundred on Pre-Calculus tests and I am finding AP Calculus AB quite a challenge (at this moment). And I am certain that you can tell that I, despite scoring perfectly on the SAT Math, is NOT, by any means, a math genius.

By the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether or not the SAT Math measures your "talent" in math. What matters is that you achieve the score that you wish to get.


TLDR: The SAT measures a part of your math ability, and don't sweat it.