Test-taking method

[mathguy]

OK, I'm curious to know: How do you guys go through the test? Do you do all the number crunchers first, or do you go through page by page doing word problems and everything?

[Quelloquialism]

Punches first, stated and geometry on the second pass. Only exception is on tests like UIL A, when the entire first page of stated and geometry are basically over-glorified punches, in which I treat the first page (and sometimes the second) as punches.

[Celsion]

I just started doing all the number punches first this year, and my score has raised significantly in my opinion.
Last year's high: 129 (District)
This year has been 160+ with 192(Invitational A) being my highest.
I would then do the first 6 geometry problems, and do as many stated as possible. I still need to use HP though, can't stop using the TI calc.

[thething2]

I always do the punch-ins first, and then go back to the word and geometry. I like to go fast and flip the pages loudly as an intimidation factor:) My main problem is that I go too slow, and don't see all of the word problems on the back pages. My scores have been hovering around 160 this year, which is about a 30 point increase from last year. Last year I went straight through. I don't really see much of a difference in the strategy, but it is a little harder to go straight through because you have to know not to spend too much time on one problem. I have a hard time avoiding that, so that's why I switched.

[The3point14]

[mathguy]

Cool. Thanks for the input guys, I am myself a pre-cruncher. As for the loud flipping--I do that sometimes; it's really funny to hear other people groan!!!

[StephenWong]

NUMBERS ARE LAME, anyone can do them, i think calculator should be just stated and geometric and 20 minute test. I do numbers first btw, b/c they go by like 10-12 minutes

[ZachB]

I have a very structured approach to the test:

1. Do all crunchers
2. Do any problems #66-70 I can quickly solve
3. Work stated and geometries pages 1-2
4. Work stated and geometries pages 5-6
5. Work stated and geometries pages 3-4
6. Do any problems #66-70 I didn't answer in step 2
7. Check last page push buttons using power series shortcuts
8. Generally proof test

This works well for me. I generally work problems from easier to more difficult, with few exceptions. Also, it helps I can get the crunchers in 8 minutes on good days. Oddly enough, I have yet to get a 300 at a meet because I often screw up typing some of the stated and geometries in the calculator. Oh, the humanity!

[Quelloquialism]

[Kurt]

I usually go through Fibonacci numbered problems first (yes, I punch #1 twice).

And then I go by primes that aren't Fibbonacci numbers, and then lucky numbers that aren't either of the first two, and then happy numbers that aren't any of the first three.



...Or I do all of the punches, and then do the S&G in order. I guess I really should do the last page a bit earlier though...I can usually do that page quicker than I can do page 4 S&G. For times that I don't finish, I guess I probably would be better off doing page 7 before attempting page 4...hmm...