Cube Counting and Angles

[marymatthews]

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I have completed 4 CDP tests so far and I am averaging a score about 20
My worst section is Cube Counting and Angles
I get about 9 right in each of them
How can I improve Cube Counting and Angles? Any advice? Practice tips?
Thanks

 

[Nat426]

I tried to do the cubes by writing down 5,4,3,2,1 and then counting each type and marking next to the appropriate number. This was taking too long and i was getting only 9-10 correct. I decided to approach it differently and it has been working for me. (now averaging 13-15) I call it the "finger method" i.e. if it asks for the cubes with two sides showing, i count all the cubes and each time i see a two sided i put a finger up, after counting the structure, if i have two fingers up, mark two, etc. It sounds cheezy but it works way better for me and it cut my time down significantly on that section. Yes, i could all the cubes more than once but it's still less than counting and marking every single cube. The other bonus is you never take your eyes off the cubes, so less likely you'll lose your place.

 

[AJS11]

I use the Kaplan strategy when it comes to cube counting (which is basically what was said above). Write "1 2 3 4 5" on your paper then start making tallies (make sure you don't count the 1 as a tally!). Once you have counted all the blocks you can answer the 2-3 questions on that specific figure in a matter of seconds. I seem to manage it into my PAT time pretty well, you should give it a shot and see if it works for you.

For angles, there really isn't much of a strategy. I usually am able to pick out the 2 smallest/largest immediately. Use that as a guideline to cross out answer choices then give yourself 10 seconds to make a decision on which of the last two is larger. GO WITH YOUR GUT FEELING. Angles are notorious for psyching people out of the right answer.

 

[TexanGal]

I have a REALLY weird method - but it really works for me. I usually get 15/15 right unless I flubbed up somewhere. It's a bit hard to explain but I'll do my best.

I start all the way at the left end and look at every single cube and write down how many sides are painted. So for example, front column on the end I would write like:
5
4
3

So the cubes stay in order from top to bottom, then next to that column I will write the cube column that is behind that one... and just keep going in order all the way through. I put a line like / in between the different sections so that in case I mess up somewhere, I know where to go back and look.
Does that kind of make sense?

 

[marymatthews]

I have a REALLY weird method - but it really works for me. I usually get 15/15 right unless I flubbed up somewhere. It's a bit hard to explain but I'll do my best.

I start all the way at the left end and look at every single cube and write down how many sides are painted. So for example, front column on the end I would write like:
5
4
3

So the cubes stay in order from top to bottom, then next to that column I will write the cube column that is behind that one... and just keep going in order all the way through. I put a line like / in between the different sections so that in case I mess up somewhere, I know where to go back and look.
Does that kind of make sense?

Hi, this is the exact cube structure that I got all wrong actually.
Would it be possible to go over specifically the cubes and the number of exposed sides please? I went over CDPs explanation but I am still confused, especially with that 2 sided cube in the lower right corner?
Could you please explain this structure exactly?
Thanks

 

[marymatthews]

I tried to do the cubes by writing down 5,4,3,2,1 and then counting each type and marking next to the appropriate number. This was taking too long and i was getting only 9-10 correct. I decided to approach it differently and it has been working for me. (now averaging 13-15) I call it the "finger method" i.e. if it asks for the cubes with two sides showing, i count all the cubes and each time i see a two sided i put a finger up, after counting the structure, if i have two fingers up, mark two, etc. It sounds cheezy but it works way better for me and it cut my time down significantly on that section. Yes, i could all the cubes more than once but it's still less than counting and marking every single cube. The other bonus is you never take your eyes off the cubes, so less likely you'll lose your place.

Hi, I am still confused by your method. Could you please elaborate?
I currently use the 0 1 2 3 4 5 method that Kaplan gives.
Thanks

 

[herkulease]

I have a REALLY weird method - but it really works for me. I usually get 15/15 right unless I flubbed up somewhere. It's a bit hard to explain but I'll do my best.

I start all the way at the left end and look at every single cube and write down how many sides are painted. So for example, front column on the end I would write like:
5
4
3

So the cubes stay in order from top to bottom, then next to that column I will write the cube column that is behind that one... and just keep going in order all the way through. I put a line like / in between the different sections so that in case I mess up somewhere, I know where to go back and look.
Does that kind of make sense?

Isn't this question one of those questions on CDP that won't appear on the DAT. cube columns 1,2,3 as labeled by you all looking like they are floating. which is a no-no on the real thing. All top cubes have to be supported in some fashion. Unless I've been reading it wrong all this time.

 

[TexanGal]

Haha you guys, I actually have no idea how to complete that one. That is a TOUGH one - nothing like the ones on the DAT at all. I was just using that for the examples sake.

 

[herkulease]

forget it I see it now. I busted out legos to build mock one.

Its one of those stupid CDP illusions that thankful will not appear on the real DAT.

 

[LuckMC11]

forget it I see it now. I busted out legos to build mock one.

Its one of those stupid CDP illusions that thankful will not appear on the real DAT.

so if its floating, do you count the bottom or not? or just not worry about this type of question?

 

[herkulease]

so if its floating, do you count the bottom or not? or just not worry about this type of question?

its actually not floating. Its an illusion.

from all accounts the real DAT does not have illusions. Nor can we even have floaters.

so I added how it looks.

the arrow points to the angle at which we see it from how CDP draws it.

I can't rotate the set to mimic cdp.

 

[LuckMC11]

o wow took me a minute to realize that what u showed is the same thing as before, i see what u mean by the "illusion" now

 

[marymatthews]

So overall the questions on CDP are harder than the actual DAT?
If I am scoring 20s on CDP, I should be more than fine on the real DAT?
Thanks

 

[jirotrom]

its actually not floating. Its an illusion.

from all accounts the real DAT does not have illusions. Nor can we even have floaters.

so I added how it looks.

the arrow points to the angle at which we see it from how CDP draws it.

I can't rotate the set to mimic cdp.

NO ILLUSIONS!!! Thank GOD... Thats really the only part Im having trouble in CDP

 

[carborn2]