Student-produced response questions, also known as grid-in questions, are one feature of the SAT‘s math portion. Unlike other questions on the SAT, grid-in questions are not multiple choice. Rather, you must independently determine the correct answer and enter it in the space provided.
Grid-in questions can cause students great concern and can lower scores if students do not know how to approach them. Consider these four steps for maximizing your grid-in performance.
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1. Learn where grid-in questions are on the SAT: Grid-in questions are only found in the SAT math section. Of the 58 math questions, 22 percent are grid-in.
They can occur in both the calculator and no-calculator sections and are a significant fraction of your total SAT math score. As a result, you will definitely want to spend time familiarizing yourself with the format.
2. Become familiar with the format: Your first encounter with a grid-in question may be a bit confusing. Once you look at the answer format, however, it proves terribly difficult.
You will write your answer in the boxes, with one number or character per box. Decimal points and the fraction slash mark each count as characters and have their own box. For example, .333 would count as four characters and use four boxes. The fraction 1/3 would require three characters and take three boxes. You can write your answer flush with the left-most or right-most box. Either format is correct for grid-in questions.
Below each box is a column of numbers and symbols, each with its own bubble. Your answer will not be graded unless you fill in the bubble that matches the character you write in the box. This includes the decimal and fraction slash mark. And be sure to fill in only one bubble per column.
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3. Choose only one answer: One of the most confusing aspects of grid-in questions is that certain problems have more than one right answer, while others may have one correct answer with several possible answer formats.
But don’t let this confuse you. Learn to recognize each type of grid-in question, and read the problem closely to determine the appropriate range of answers. Consider these three examples.
— Example 1: one correct answer with one correct format
Jenny is preparing to take the SAT. She knows that there are two math portions — one that allows calculators and has 38 questions and one with 20 questions that does not allow calculators. If 22 percent of all the problems are student-produced response questions and if they are split proportionally among the two sections, how many grid-in questions should there be on the no-calculator section (to the nearest whole number)?
This is the equation to solve for the answer: 22/100 = x/20, so x = 4.44. The value 4.44 is rounded down to 4.
Jenny writes the 4 in an answer box and fills in the bubble for the number 4 below it. She leaves the other three boxes empty. Note, however, that five grid-in questions are on the actual SAT no-calculator math portion.
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— Example 2: one correct answer with several possible formats
Ben takes the SAT and misses one grid-in question, three multiple-choice questions in the calculator portion and three multiple-choice questions in the no-calculator portion. If 22 percent of all SAT math questions are grid-in, what proportion of his correct answers came from grid-in questions?
There are 51 correct answers in total on the math section of Ben’s test or 58 – 1 – 3 – 3 = 51. Of the 58 math questions, 22 percent or 13 are grid-in. So, 12/51 is the proportion of correct answers from grid-in questions, but Ben only has four spaces available for recording his answer.
Ben could reduce the fraction to 4/17 or four total characters, including the slash. He could also use his calculator to determine that 12/51 =.235294. Rounded to three decimal places, Ben writes.235 to use all four boxes in his answer.
Note that he does not need to use a “0” in front of the decimal. Either 4/17 or.235 would be acceptable.
— Example 3: multiple correct answers
This last example is based on a simplified version of this official practice question.
Given 13 > 2x + 1 > 5, what is a possible value for x?
To solve, calculate 2 > x > 6. That gives you 3, 4 and 5, which are are all acceptable answers. Decimals or fractions in this range (like 2.1 or 5.99) are okay too, but it is best to keep it simple. You do not receive bonus points for filling in all the boxes.
4. Practice your answers: Before you take the SAT, ensure you spend time practicing grid-in questions. It may sound trivial now, but on test day, you will want as few distractions as possible.
It may seem especially odd to give decimals and slashes equal weight with numbers when writing a math answer. Leaving blank spaces in an answer also goes against many test-takers’ instincts.
When completing practice questions, print some blank grid-in answer sheets from a practice test and use those sheets when formulating your answers. If you are not completely comfortable with the format yet, ask a parent or your math teacher to double-check your answers.
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Understand SAT Grid-In Questions originally appeared on usnews.com
