Hunter Math Section: What Makes It Different

The Hunter College High School entrance exam math section isn't like the SHSAT or ISEE. While those tests focus on computation and standard problem-solving, Hunter emphasizes logical reasoning, pattern recognition, and creative problem-solving. Success requires thinking like a mathematician, not just calculating like a calculator.

Key Differences from Other Tests

Aspect	SHSAT/ISEE	Hunter
Problem Type	Straightforward, formula-based	Multi-step, requires insight
Calculator	Not allowed	Not allowed (same), but less computation
Logic Puzzles	Rare	Common and heavily weighted
Answer Format	Multiple choice + grid-in	Multiple choice only
Trick Questions	Some	Many—designed to catch assumptions
Visual/Spatial	Some geometry	Heavy emphasis on spatial reasoning

The 5 Hunter-Specific Math Skills

Skill 1: Pattern Recognition & Number Sequences

Hunter loves problems where you must identify underlying patterns.

Example Problem:

In the sequence 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ..., what is the 10th term?

Hunter-Style Thinking:

Don't just look for +4, +6, +8... Go deeper!
Notice: 2 = 1×2, 6 = 2×3, 12 = 3×4, 20 = 4×5, 30 = 5×6
Pattern: Each term = n(n+1) where n is the position
10th term: 10 × 11 = 110

Key Lesson:

Hunter rewards finding the RULE, not just the next number. Always ask: "What's the underlying relationship?"

Skill 2: Logic Puzzles & Deductive Reasoning

These problems require systematic elimination and logical thinking.

Example Problem:

Amy, Ben, and Carlos each have a different pet: a cat, a dog, and a fish. Amy is allergic to fur. Ben's pet doesn't need a tank. Who has which pet?

Hunter-Style Solution Process:

	Cat	Dog	Fish
Amy	❌ (fur)	❌ (fur)	✓
Ben	✓	✓ possible	❌ (tank)
Carlos	✓ possible	✓ possible	❌ (Amy has it)

Answer: Amy has fish, and since Ben can't have the fish, Ben has either cat or dog. If Ben has cat, Carlos has dog. If Ben has dog, Carlos has cat. Need more info? Re-read: "Ben's pet doesn't need a tank" eliminates fish but doesn't distinguish cat/dog. This is incomplete—Hunter would provide one more clue!

Key Lesson:

Make a chart. Eliminate systematically. Don't guess—prove your answer!

Skill 3: Spatial Reasoning & Visualization

Hunter heavily tests your ability to mentally manipulate shapes and visualize transformations.

Example Problem:

A cube has one face painted red, one face painted blue, and the rest unpainted. If the cube is rolled in a specific direction, which faces can end up on top?

Hunter-Style Approach:

Draw it: Even rough sketches help
Label faces: Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Left, Right
Track adjacent faces: Red can never be opposite to blue on a cube where they're on adjacent faces
Test systematically: Roll forward, backward, left, right

Pro Tip for Spatial Problems:

If you struggle with visualization, use your pencil as a 3D object. Or better yet, practice with actual cubes/dice at home. Physical manipulation builds mental visualization skills!

Skill 4: Creative Problem-Solving (Multiple Approaches)

Hunter values finding elegant solutions, not just brute force.

Example Problem:

What is the sum of all integers from 1 to 100?

❌ Brute Force Approach (Don't do this!):

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + ... + 100 = (waste 5 minutes calculating)

✅ Hunter-Style Elegant Solution:

Pair numbers: (1 + 100) + (2 + 99) + (3 + 98) + ...
Each pair sums to: 101
Number of pairs: 100 ÷ 2 = 50 pairs
Total: 50 × 101 = 5,050

Or use the formula:

Sum = n(n+1)/2 = 100(101)/2 = 5,050

Key Lesson:

Hunter rewards mathematical thinking, not just arithmetic. Always ask: "Is there a smarter way?"

Skill 5: Reading Comprehension (Yes, in Math!)

Hunter math problems often have dense word problems that test reading as much as math.

Example Problem:

A farmer has chickens and cows. There are 30 animals total. If the animals have 74 legs combined, how many chickens does the farmer have?

Hunter-Style Reading Strategy:

Identify what you know:
- Total animals = 30
- Total legs = 74
- Chickens have 2 legs, Cows have 4 legs
Identify what you're solving for: Number of chickens (not cows, not total animals)
Set up equations:
- c + w = 30 (chickens + cows)
- 2c + 4w = 74 (total legs)
Solve:
- From equation 1: c = 30 - w
- Substitute: 2(30 - w) + 4w = 74
- 60 - 2w + 4w = 74
- 2w = 14
- w = 7 cows
- c = 30 - 7 = 23 chickens

Common Hunter Math Traps

Trap #1: The "Almost Right" Answer Choice

Example: If the question asks for chickens and you calculated cows (7), guess what's in the answer choices? Both 7 AND 23! Hunter deliberately includes your intermediate steps as wrong answers.

Defense: Circle what the question actually asks for. Re-read before selecting your answer.

Trap #2: The Assumption Trap

Example Problem: "A rectangle has a perimeter of 20. What is its area?"

Common Mistake: Assuming it's a square (5×5 = 25)

Truth: Could be 6×4 (area=24), 7×3 (area=21), 8×2 (area=16), 9×1 (area=9)...

Defense: If there are multiple possibilities, the question will provide more constraints OR ask "which could be true" instead of "what is."

Trap #3: The Units Trap

Example: "Sarah runs 3 miles in 24 minutes. How many miles does she run in 2 hours?"

Common Mistake: 3 miles/24 min × 2 = 6 miles (wrong—you multiplied by 2 hours, not 2 units of 24 min)

Correct: 2 hours = 120 minutes. 120 ÷ 24 = 5 intervals. 5 × 3 miles = 15 miles

Defense: Always convert to the same units first!

Hunter Math Study Strategy

What to Practice (Priority Order)

Priority	Topic	% of Test	How to Practice
1	Logic puzzles & reasoning	~30%	Daily logic puzzles, Sudoku, Ken-Ken
2	Pattern recognition	~25%	Number sequences, visual patterns
3	Spatial reasoning	~20%	Paper folding, cube nets, reflections
4	Word problems	~15%	Multi-step problems requiring equations
5	Standard computation	~10%	Fractions, decimals, percentages

Weekly Practice Schedule

45-Minute Daily Sessions:

Monday: Logic puzzles (15 min) + Pattern problems (30 min)
Tuesday: Spatial reasoning practice (30 min) + Review mistakes (15 min)
Wednesday: Word problems (30 min) + Speed drills (15 min)
Thursday: Mixed practice test questions (45 min timed)
Friday: Deep error analysis of Thursday's test (45 min)
Saturday: Creative problem-solving (find multiple solution methods)
Sunday: Rest or light review (play math games, KenKen, etc.)

Resources for Hunter Math Prep

Recommended Practice Materials:

Beast Academy (online): Excellent for creative problem-solving
MOEMS (Math Olympiad): Similar difficulty and style to Hunter
KenKen & Sudoku: Builds logical reasoning
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) Prealgebra: Advanced problem-solving
Past Hunter practice tests: Best indicator of actual test format

Test Day Strategy

Time Management (25 questions in 25 minutes typical)

First Pass (10 min): Do all questions you can solve in under 30 seconds
Second Pass (10 min): Tackle medium-difficulty problems
Third Pass (5 min): Make educated guesses on hard problems

Important:

Unlike SHSAT, Hunter has no penalty for wrong answers. NEVER leave a question blank. If you're out of time, quickly bubble in your best guess for remaining questions.

Sample Problem Walkthrough

Problem:

In a classroom, 3/5 of students play sports. Of those who play sports, 2/3 play soccer. If 8 students play soccer, how many students are in the class?

Hunter-Style Solution:

Work backwards: Don't start with total students
8 students play soccer: This represents 2/3 of sports players
Sports players total: 8 ÷ (2/3) = 8 × (3/2) = 12 students
12 sports players = 3/5 of class: 12 ÷ (3/5) = 12 × (5/3) = 20 students
Check: 20 × 3/5 = 12 play sports. 12 × 2/3 = 8 play soccer. ✓

Success Story:

"I was great at computation but struggled with Hunter's logic puzzles. I started doing KenKen puzzles every morning at breakfast—just 10 minutes. After two months, my brain started recognizing patterns automatically. On test day, the logic section felt like a fun game instead of a test. Hunter math isn't about memorizing formulas—it's about training your brain to think logically!"

— Daniel R., Hunter Class of 2027

Remember: Hunter math rewards creative thinking, not just correct arithmetic. Practice seeing problems from multiple angles, looking for elegant solutions, and enjoying the puzzle-solving process. The students who do best on Hunter math are the ones who find math fun, not frightening!

Hunter Math Section: What Makes It Different