SAT/ACT Math secret: Draw a picture! (Even the cavemen did it!)

Have you seen the news on the Neanderthals? Apparently they drew pictures. And so should you.

One of the most secret and under-utilized strategies on the ACT and SAT math sections is to draw a picture (even when it doesn’t look like a draw-a-picture-sort-of-problem.)

In fact, if there were one statement I would get tattooed on my forehead to save me the trouble of saying it over and over and over again it would be this:

SAT/ACT Math tip: Draw a picture! Draw a picture! Draw a picture! If you do only do ONE thing to improve your test score, do this: DRAW A PICTURE! Click to Tweet

Just by drawing a picture of the math problem, you are 90% of the way to the correct answer.

ACT example

This question is from the 2017-2018 ACT Practice Test.

This is the PERFECT problem to draw a picture for.

Really, almost EVERY problem is the PERFECT problem to solve by DRAWING A PICTURE. Click to Tweet

Some of my students will immediately see that it is increasing by -3, and grab their calculators and start punching in numbers.

But there is an easier (and faster) method to use to solve this problem.

2. Identify what you are looking for.

(This is another huge tip that will save you huge points. All the time kids give the RIGHT answer to the WRONG question.)

We can immediately cross out the negative answer choices. Some quick estimating in our head and E is the only possible answer. (Here’s the rest of the solution)

Drawing pictures saves time! (and usually ensures correct answers) Click to Tweet

1. Draw a picture

(How did I know how to draw a line with a slope of 1? See the video explanation at the bottom of the page.)

2. Identify what you are looking for

3. Look at what you’ve got

Be like a caveman

Drawing a picture saves time, brain cells, and ensures more right answers! Click to Tweet

Even a four-year old gets it

I began SAT/ACT tutoring from home when my daughter was born. So she’s grown up listening to me tutor kids online. I had no idea she was paying attention until one morning when her dad was making her pancakes for breakfast.

My husband squinted at the recipe on the back of the box and said, “Hmm. I don’t understand this recipe.”

She immediately piped up with, “Daddy, draw a picture!”

He laughed and said, “It’s not that sort of problem.”

She immediately counted with, “Daddy, EVERY problem is a draw-a-picture-sort-of-problem.”

From the mouths of babes…..

Are you convinced yet?

EVERY problem is a draw-a-picture-sort-of-problem! Click to Tweet