HAVERHILL - Who says Haverhill High School students aren't good at math?

Six members of the class of 2008 received a perfect score of 280 on the MCAS exam they took last spring as sophomores. Statewide, only 920 students - about 1 percent - of the 72,738 who took the math exam earned this distinction.

It wasn't the first time Haverhill students achieved perfect scores. Two members of the class of 2007 earned a perfect score in English and one scored perfectly in math, while four members of the class of 2006 scored perfectly in math.

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test is considered one of the toughest state-mandated tests in the nation, according to officials at the state Department of Education.

Only those who take the MCAS in their sophomore year have a chance at attaining a perfect score of 280. Retests eliminate the more difficult questions and offer a maximum score of only 238, said Paula Chausse, MCAS coordinator for Haverhill High.

Haverhill High's mathematics whizzes are Jessica Chang, Alex Conant, Brian Murray, Vincent Pham, Christopher Quan and Allison Spicer.

For Murray, 16, preparing to take the MCAS meant reviewing previous test questions to get a feel for how they are presented.

"Our math teacher, Joan Willets, gives us a lot of review questions she takes directly from old tests," Murray said.

Chang, 16, suggests taking your time when answering MCAS questions.

"Some kids rush to try to get through it," Chang said. "Take your time. You have all day because it's not a timed test."

Open-response questions are one part of the tests where students can get tripped up, so Spicer, 17, recommends reading the questions carefully so you fully understand what is being asked.

"Make sure you answer every part of the question," Spicer said. "You can't skip any part of an open-response question."

Multiple choice questions are as close to a bonus as test-takers are likely to get, said Conant, 16.

"If you solve the problem and your answer matches one of the test's answers, then you're OK," he said. "If all else fails, guess."

Doing well on the MCAS offers potential rewards in terms of state scholarship opportunities, but these students said it doesn't carry the prestige of other tests.

"Most people think the SATs are harder, and they probably are," said Quan, 17. "The SATs are more competitive. Colleges will be looking at those scores."

Students who score either in the advanced category in the mathematics or English language arts section of the 10th-grade MCAS, score in the proficient or advanced category on the second subject (math or English) and have a combined MCAS score that ranks in the top 25 percent in their school district may be eligible for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.

This merit scholarship provides four years of free tuition to full-time students attending any University of Massachusetts campus or any state or community college.

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Students' tips for scoring well on MCAS math

* Take your time answering questions - the test is not timed.

* Read questions slowly and carefully.

* Answer all parts of the open-response questions - ones where a student supplies the answer versus taking it from multiple choice.

* Guess at the answer when all else fails.