Math traps and shortcuts
Solve
48 * 0.25
12
Choose the correct pronoun: "Between you and (I / me), this test will be a breeze."
Me
What should you always do before reading a long passage on a timed test?
Skim the questions first (Gives you a mental checklist of what key details and keywords to scan for).
If a square sheet of paper is folded in half once from left to right, and folded in half again from top to bottom, how many total layers of paper are there?
4 layers (2* 2 = 4)
A jacket costs $80 and is marked down 20%. The following week, it goes on sale for an additional 10% off the sale price. What is the final price?
$57.60 (Trap alert: 20% + 10% is NOT 30% off! 20% off $80 = $64; 10% off $64 = $57.60).
Spot the error: "The stack of heavy medical textbooks (was / were) sitting on the desk."
Was
An "inference" question asks about information that is:
A) Stated word-for-word in paragraph 1
B) Supported by clues in the text, but not stated directly
C) The reader's personal opinion
B (Clues from the text + logical deduction).
Using the 4-layer paper from the previous question: if one single hole is punched through the center of the folded square, how many holes appear when unfolded?
4 holes
If 3x-7=14, what is the value of 6x?
42
Identify the misspelled word: Accommodate, Definitely, Embarass, Occurrence.
Embarass (It needs two r's and two s's: Embarrass).
In the phrase "The scientist had a pragmatic approach to the experiment," does "pragmatic" mean: careless, practical, or theoretical?
Practical / Realistic
In a Figure Matrix grid (3 rows by 3 columns), what two directions should you check to find the pattern rule?
Left-to-right (across rows) and top-to-bottom (down columns)
A runner completes 3 laps around a rectangular field that is 50 yards long and 30 yards wide. How many total yards did the runner cover?
480 yards (Perimeter \bm{= 50 + 50 + 30 + 30 = 160} yards; \bm{160 \times 3 = 480}. Trap alert: calculating area (\bm{50 \times 30 = 1,500}) instead of perimeter).
Which transition word best connects these sentences? "Adele wanted to sleep in; __________, her alarm went off at 6:30 AM."
However / Nonetheless / Nevertheless (Shows contrast between her desire and reality).
What makes an answer choice an "Extreme Language Trap" on multiple-choice reading tests?
Words like "always," "never," "all," "none," or "only." (Passage authors rarely make absolute claims; moderate choices like "tends to" or "suggests" are more often correct).
In Figure Classification, what surface-level feature do test-makers use most often to distract you from the real structural rule?
Size, shading, or color (The real rule is usually structural: number of sides, lines, or symmetry).
A circular garden has a diameter of 10 feet. If the test asks for the area in terms of pi , what is the classic trap answer students mistakenly pick?
100pi
What punctuation error is present here? "The storm passed quickly, the sun was shining again in minutes."
A comma splice (Two independent clauses joined by only a comma; fix it with a period, semicolon, or a comma + "and").
If a question asks for the main idea, why is an answer choice that accurately describes a cool fact from paragraph 2 usually wrong?
It is too narrow / a supporting detail, not the umbrella theme of the whole passage.
What is the Golden Rule of the TACHS Ability section if the countdown timer hits 30 seconds and you still have 4 questions left?
Guess on every single one! (There is no penalty for wrong answers on the TACHS—never leave a bubble blank).