Test Crushers Chronicle

Why do we love zero so much? Why is it so important to have a zero sitting opposite a quadratic equation? It's not magic. There's a very important reason!

Why do we love zero so much? Why is it so important to have a zero sitting opposite a quadratic equation? It's not magic. There's a very important reason!

Dialogue isn't easy to analyze. Because it often contains no direct statements from the author about its meaning, it may feel squishy and subjective. But there's a sure way to identify the purpose of any dialogue.

Dialogue isn't easy to analyze. Because it often contains no direct statements from the author about its meaning, it may feel squishy and subjective. But there's a sure way to identify the purpose of any dialogue.

If you think you're not good at "coming up with interpretations" of texts, you're in luck on the Reading section of the SAT. You don't have to "come up with" anything. In fact, trying to reach for meaning can work against you. The text will give you everything you need. Just let it say what it says and don't worry about having your own ideas.

If you think you're not good at "coming up with interpretations" of texts, you're in luck on the Reading section of the SAT. You don't have to "come up with" anything. In fact, trying to reach for meaning can work against you. The text will give you everything you need. Just let it say what it says and don't worry about having your own ideas.

You probably realize that taking a multiple choice test means having the answer in front of you. To take advantage of that fact, learn how to efficiently check each of the answer choices.

You probably realize that taking a multiple choice test means having the answer in front of you. To take advantage of that fact, learn how to efficiently check each of the answer choices.

Math problems on the SAT are not about following a step-by-step process (although learning these processes does help). It's more about thinking mathematically. That is, it's about looking at patterns, making observations, and experimenting.

Math problems on the SAT are not about following a step-by-step process (although learning these processes does help). It's more about thinking mathematically. That is, it's about looking at patterns, making observations, and experimenting.

The subject of a sentence is not necessarily what the sentence is "about." To find the subject, you sometimes have to forget the meaning of the words and just look at how they are related to each other. You'll find that everything ultimately depends on one word, the foundation of the whole sentence; that's the subject.

The subject of a sentence is not necessarily what the sentence is "about." To find the subject, you sometimes have to forget the meaning of the words and just look at how they are related to each other. You'll find that everything ultimately depends on one word, the foundation of the whole sentence; that's the subject.

Technically, you can solve every linear equation problem using the same equation form. (And if you have to choose one, go with slope-intercept form; many questions on the SAT math section revolve around the slope and y-intercept). But sometimes, it's a little bit more direct to use point-slope or standard form. So learn those as well, and practice moving from one form to another.

Technically, you can solve every linear equation problem using the same equation form. (And if you have to choose one, go with slope-intercept form; many questions on the SAT math section revolve around the slope and y-intercept). But sometimes, it's a little bit more direct to use point-slope or standard form. So learn those as well, and practice moving from one form to another.

In order to talk about a subject, you have to start talking about it. To open the door to a topic, authors use transitions and topic sentences that let the reader know the context for the details to follow.

In order to talk about a subject, you have to start talking about it. To open the door to a topic, authors use transitions and topic sentences that let the reader know the context for the details to follow.

When interpreting a point on a graph, keep in mind that every point represents not just a pair of numbers, but a relationship between two values. It stands not for a number but for a fact: the fact that when one thing has a certain value, another thing can have a certain related value. It can be translated into a sentence that has the form, "When..., then..."

When interpreting a point on a graph, keep in mind that every point represents not just a pair of numbers, but a relationship between two values. It stands not for a number but for a fact: the fact that when one thing has a certain value, another thing can have a certain related value. It can be translated into a sentence that has the form, "When..., then..."

Questions on the SAT have to be very specific in what they're asking, so that everyone who reads the question carefully can come to the same understanding. Use that fact to home in on the answer. Every word counts. Every single way in which the question is defined or qualified will correspond to some facet of the answer.

Questions on the SAT have to be very specific in what they're asking, so that everyone who reads the question carefully can come to the same understanding. Use that fact to home in on the answer. Every word counts. Every single way in which the question is defined or qualified will correspond to some facet of the answer.

There's nothing wrong with feeling proud of doing things the right way. But because pride focuses on our favorite thing (ourselves!), it can become a distraction from details outside of us. Feel free to pat yourself on the back, but let that be a reminder to double check the details.

There's nothing wrong with feeling proud of doing things the right way. But because pride focuses on our favorite thing (ourselves!), it can become a distraction from details outside of us. Feel free to pat yourself on the back, but let that be a reminder to double check the details.

Combining sentences is not so much about yoking two of them together as it is about breaking one of them down into parts that can be attached to the other.

Combining sentences is not so much about yoking two of them together as it is about breaking one of them down into parts that can be attached to the other.

Do you find yourself having to learn the same formulas over and over again? To improve your long-term memory of formulas, keep reminding yourself of why each of them works. If you know the "why," the "what" follows easily.

Do you find yourself having to learn the same formulas over and over again? To improve your long-term memory of formulas, keep reminding yourself of why each of them works. If you know the "why," the "what" follows easily.

The SAT loves to combine the two grammatical concepts of pronoun number agreement and apostrophe usage. Learn the difference between these similar words and when to use each.

The SAT loves to combine the two grammatical concepts of pronoun number agreement and apostrophe usage. Learn the difference between these similar words and when to use each.

There are two kinds of questions on the SAT that have to do with the number of solutions to an equation. The simpler of these two is about the number of solutions to an equation with one variable in the first degree (that is, not squared or cubed or nthed). In this case, the equations that have zero solutions look very similar to those that have infinite solutions. Be ready to tell the difference!

There are two kinds of questions on the SAT that have to do with the number of solutions to an equation. The simpler of these two is about the number of solutions to an equation with one variable in the first degree (that is, not squared or cubed or nthed). In this case, the equations that have zero solutions look very similar to those that have infinite solutions. Be ready to tell the difference!

Don't get bogged down in the minutiae. In order to process an SAT reading passage efficiently, you have to identify what's essential and only pay close attention to the details you actually need. Use transitions to analyze the underlying structure of a passage, and then fit details into that structure as needed.

Don't get bogged down in the minutiae. In order to process an SAT reading passage efficiently, you have to identify what's essential and only pay close attention to the details you actually need. Use transitions to analyze the underlying structure of a passage, and then fit details into that structure as needed.

For problems involving comparison words like "than" or "as," check to see if the comparison is faulty. What is actually being compared? Are they the same kinds of thing? Are they the things the author intended to compare?

For problems involving comparison words like "than" or "as," check to see if the comparison is faulty. What is actually being compared? Are they the same kinds of thing? Are they the things the author intended to compare?

The number one may seem very simple and obvious, but it has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. One to watch for is the invisible coefficient. When you see a variable by itself without a coefficient, think of that as having a coefficient of one.

The number one may seem very simple and obvious, but it has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. One to watch for is the invisible coefficient. When you see a variable by itself without a coefficient, think of that as having a coefficient of one.

Language isn't just a tossed salad of ideas, facts, and opinions. It has structure, like a sandwich. Use this structure to indicate relationships and create emphasis.

Language isn't just a tossed salad of ideas, facts, and opinions. It has structure, like a sandwich. Use this structure to indicate relationships and create emphasis.

Just because the actual math is easy doesn't mean there are no pitfalls in an SAT math question. Remember that the SAT often sets problems up in a slightly unexpected way, so be sure to read the question carefully and label the units when you write down your equations.

Just because the actual math is easy doesn't mean there are no pitfalls in an SAT math question. Remember that the SAT often sets problems up in a slightly unexpected way, so be sure to read the question carefully and label the units when you write down your equations.

Just being a true statement doesn't make an answer correct. It also has to have the same structure and subject matter as the question itself. A "how" question can't be answered with a location. A "where" can't be answered with a reason. Be sure you understand what the question is asking before you start looking for the answer.

Just being a true statement doesn't make an answer correct. It also has to have the same structure and subject matter as the question itself. A "how" question can't be answered with a location. A "where" can't be answered with a reason. Be sure you understand what the question is asking before you start looking for the answer.

You don't have to use the "right tool for the right job." You can pound a nail in with the grip end of a saw. But wouldn't it be nice if you had a hammer? Learn which of the forms of linear equations works best for which purpose, and you won't waste time transforming equations into a form you don't actually need.

You don't have to use the "right tool for the right job." You can pound a nail in with the grip end of a saw. But wouldn't it be nice if you had a hammer? Learn which of the forms of linear equations works best for which purpose, and you won't waste time transforming equations into a form you don't actually need.

The most harmful lie that we've all been taught about poetic imagery is that interpreting it is a creative activity. We think we're supposed to think about how the images make us feel and what they remind us of. But when an author uses an image, they usually have some very definite purpose in mind, and it may not be the one we immediately think of. The good news is, correct interpretation is a lot less work than "creative" interpretation. All you have to do is keep your own grubby hands off the text and let it tell you what it means.

The most harmful lie that we've all been taught about poetic imagery is that interpreting it is a creative activity. We think we're supposed to think about how the images make us feel and what they remind us of. But when an author uses an image, they usually have some very definite purpose in mind, and it may not be the one we immediately think of. The good news is, correct interpretation is a lot less work than "creative" interpretation. All you have to do is keep your own grubby hands off the text and let it tell you what it means.

Exponential functions can be a bit intimidating at first. Practice thinking of growth and decay functions as a process of taking a percentage of a starting quantity, then taking the same percentage of the new quantity, and so on until you've reached the specified number of times.

Exponential functions can be a bit intimidating at first. Practice thinking of growth and decay functions as a process of taking a percentage of a starting quantity, then taking the same percentage of the new quantity, and so on until you've reached the specified number of times.

Combining sentences on the SAT is an exercise in reduction. Your goal is to go from redundancy to efficiency, eliminating unnecessary repetition and turning additional clauses into phrases.

Combining sentences on the SAT is an exercise in reduction. Your goal is to go from redundancy to efficiency, eliminating unnecessary repetition and turning additional clauses into phrases.

The choices on the math section are designed to include answers that could result from a slight error in setting up the problem at the beginning. But often, you can rule out these answer choices from the beginning by comparing them to the description of the situation.