Tackling No Maps
Here is an example of an item with no map:
|
|
| 7. |
Points A, B,
and C are the vertices of a triangle. Points A, C, D,
and E are the vertices of a rectangle. The length
of AB is 5 and the length of CD is
7. Sides AB and BC are congruent.
If  Ë, then what is the area of rectangle ACDE? |
| (A) |
 |
| (B) |
5 |
| (C) |
7 |
| (D) |
35 |
| (E) |
49 |
|
You might think this item would be simpler to solve than
a Treasure Map item since all the information is provided within
the stem. But the lack of a corresponding visual makes it tougher
to grasp, especially for ultratidy types who don’t want to muss
up their SAT test booklets with pictures.
If you see a No Map item like the one above, don’t try
to “visualize” it in your mind and then solve it there. Instead,
draw the figure yourself and follow these steps:
Step 1: Draw a diagram.
Be as accurate as possible with your sketch, but don’t
spend a lifetime getting the shading just right. Having a diagram
in front of you will free up precious room in your brain for determining
values for lines and angles.
After drawing yourself a picture, you can proceed with
the item using the usual Treasure Map steps 2, 3, and 4.
