The Art of SATergy: Excerpt from game theory book concerning multiple choice

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/the-art-of-satergy/

by apmee • 18 years ago

4 1 18 years ago

freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com

tokenadult• 18 years ago

An interesting application of game theory to standardized testing. For the record, the single best approach to learning to score better on standardized tests is to read avidly in the language of the test. Here's how I put it in a FAQ message for high school students:

READ, READ

To learn how to score well on a standardized test reading section, the number one piece of advice is READ, READ, READ, and READ. Read about what you like to know more about. Read things that are fun for you. Find books and magazines about interesting topics and read them. Turn off the TV and read. Put away the video game controller and read. Read hard things, and read easy things. Read a lot.

For years, I wondered why it came so readily to mind to write "READ, READ, READ" in all capital letters like that when I give advice on this subject, as I have frequent occasion to do. Recently, I reread the section "Suggestions for Study" in the front matter of John DeFrancis's book Beginning Chinese Reader, Part I, which I first used to learn Chinese back in 1975. In that section of that book, I found this passage, "Fluency in reading can only be achieved by extensive practice on all the interrelated aspects of the reading process. To accomplish this we must READ, READ, READ" (capitalization as in original).

Also for the record, the SSAT test used by some secondary schools is not developed by as elaborate a process as the SAT test used for college admission. There is a rather higher likelihood that the SSAT will have poorly constructed questions. But for any entrance test, the first form of effective preparation is to read widely and avidly.

The Art of SATergy: Excerpt from game theory book concerning multiple choice

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