PAT tricks

[miko22]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I was wondering if anyone out there had any good "tricks" they used to mastering the PAT. Or does practice make perfect?

 

[pbure]

I was wondering if anyone out there had any good "tricks" they used to mastering the PAT. Or does practice make perfect?

barrons has some decent ways of tacking the pat. however! i saw their tips for hole punching,cube counting,keyholes etc..and i have to say they are not all that helpful. at least for me. i prefer not to worry about all these little rules during the test like how many layers are there in the hole punching and how many holes does that equal? i just prefer to visualize it and trust my instincts. on cube counting u can assign a number from 1-5 for each cube..then just add up whatever you need for each question. angles there is no trick other than to try and discern the smallest and largest angles first..then go from there. keyholes..try to look at the projection the object would make on a wall (shadow). pattern folding..remember that it folds into the page..and to leave at least 13-15 minutes for that section. top right end is just impossible for me..so i'm definitely not going to pretend like i know what the hell im doing with those questions. good luck

 

[DrTacoElf]

For cube counting always move from top to bottom and left to right. Tally each "level/floor" like this. This figure would have four levels and on the top level there would be 4 cubes with the following number of sides shaded 5 sides, 3 sides, 2 sides and 4 sides.

4: put # sides here. I.e. 5,3,2,4

----


3:


----

2:


----

1:



This way if problems arise you can recheck a single level if you get messed up. Always tally the whole figure before answering any questions since there are multiple questions for each figure.




For hole punching tracking layers (by # folds) is VERY valuable!

 

[miko22]

Hey thanks a lot for your responses. I will try to incorporate your ideas into my studying. I read about someone on here folding their actual scrap paper for the hole punching questions? Any input on that? Also, what about comparing angles with your pencil? Thanks a bunch!

 

[DrTacoElf]

Hey thanks a lot for your responses. I will try to incorporate your ideas into my studying. I read about someone on here folding their actual scrap paper for the hole punching questions? Any input on that? Also, what about comparing angles with your pencil? Thanks a bunch!

Folding paper is good for learning but on the actual test you will run out of time. Not sure about the pencil thing.

 

[shindrome]

i heard that you can you use the mouse cursor to compare. but what do i know? i haven't taken the test yet. i know someone who scored 24 on this section and for angle ranking he said that you just have to trust your first instincts!

 

[jk5177]

There's no mouse cursor if I remember right.

 

[Typo]

Play Halo as much as possible.

 

[JavadiCavity]

Play Halo as much as possible.

I second that.

 

[jdcinza13]

don't even get started playing Halo....It's so addictive it's sickening. thank goodness I don't have an Xbox, that way i get it in small doses...

 

[quakinator]

I second that.

I third this motion! Go Master Chief! Can't wait til Nov 9th...HALO 2!!!!!!!!!

 

[clevelandDDS]

Play Halo as much as possible.

Oh No!!!!!! I suck at Halo!!!!!!! 🙂

 

[g3k]

Play Halo as much as possible.

What is Halo???

g3k

 

[calbear14]

What is Halo???

g3k

http://www.bungie.net/Games/Halo/page.aspx?section=About&subsection=Main&page=1

 

[jdcinza13]

call me a nerd, and I don't play video games too much, but I actually thought about trading in my PS2 and my games to get an Xbox and Halo along w/ Halo 2 when it comes out. Then I thought better of it and decided to make money by betting on football games this season and using that to just go buy a new one. We'll see what happens!

 

[drusier]

yea trade in that 800mhz celeron (aka xbox1) and get yourself a pc. Try couterstrike source... on topic yes always tally the cubes, and if i could do it again I would do more practice on angels. The dat ones are harder than topscore, kaplan, or barrons.

this may seem confusing but try to use the alising of the diagional lines. Its hard to explain but on a crappy 17 monitor at 8x6 its very apparent. You will notice say two angles with one of their respective sides pointing to the same place in space the other side is the one that is different. Now look for the jaggies. Are the stepping in or out? Are they getting larger or smaller? Try a few and let me know if you need me to explain this mumbo more

 

[Typo]

I third this motion! Go Master Chief! Can't wait til Nov 9th...HALO 2!!!!!!!!!

Hey Quakinator, since you're a BYU boy too, you ought to get together with Javadi and I for a little Halo.

On another note, we've hijacked Miko's thread. I highly recommend using DrTacoElf's advice for the cube counting. A friend taught me a tally method that seriously saved my butt on the PAT section - I would have completely run out of time had I not learned it just a few days before the test. Definitely practice tallying - if you do it, you'll get every single cube counting question right.

 

[luder98]

Did you guys see a lot of hole punching at the folding edge? I think this is the toughest one of hole punching stuff.

 

[pbure]

Did you guys see a lot of hole punching at the folding edge? I think this is the toughest one of hole punching stuff.

Taco! Great strategy. Everyone should definitely use that method..I just got 45 out 45 questions right on Kaplans practise cube problems.
As for hole punching, I usually get 15/15 on that. (no not because i'm such a genius) but I find that it is very helpful to look at the final punch and then go step by step to see where its going to leave a hole. That way you can at least eliminate anywhere from 2-3 answers right off the bat. Trying to mentally unfold it might not work for everyone. Also remember that the paper is never rotated or moved around!
If I could grasp the top right end stuff i'd be a PAT master..but i;m lucky to get 8-10/15 on that section..anyone have any good tips for that??