Over the past fifteen years, I’ve helped hundreds of students land their highest SAT and Digital SAT scores ever. And that experience has given me special insight into the Math section of the test. Specifically, I’ve noticed that even a student who finds classroom Math to be a breeze might struggle to score really well on that part of the SAT (before they work with me, that is).
Why might that be? Well, since sixth grade, your academic math classes have likely followed the same approximate path that most curricula do. The progression typically goes something like this:
Arithmetic/Pre-Algebra ➡️ Algebra I ➡️ Geometry ➡️ Algebra 2.
If you’re more advanced, this continues on to Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry ➡️ Calculus.
A Sophomore reading this post might currently be enrolled in Geometry, Algebra 2 or some version of Pre-Calculus. Eleventh-graders may already be taking Calculus…though you might only be learning Algebra 2, depending on where in the progression you are and how your school organizes things.
But here’s what freaks some students out: when you take your first SAT, you might find that the majority of the questions in the Math sections do NOT focus on the subtopics you’ve learned most recently!
Those two semesters of Geometry that are fresh in your mind because you just learned them this or last year? There’s only a small handful of Digital SAT questions in that subject area. Meanwhile, those Percentage and Linear Equation problems you learned back in middle school (and soon forgot all about, since you weren’t using them) are heavily tested!
Furthermore, several questions might focus on topics that you know vaguely, but that are dialed up to a harder level than what your homework has demanded. And finally, if you try to look up what math the SAT does test you on, you end up with a list of pretty vague terms from the College Board, like “Algebra” and “Advanced Math.” (I mean, those words could mean a LOT of things!)
It’s enough to drive any high schooler mad—that is, until they understand what math they need to wipe the dust off of and upgrade, which math topics they need to simply remember from class…and what topics don’t fall anywhere near the SAT bullseye (and therefore aren’t worth studying at the moment).
ARTICLE CONTENTS
1. Watch this article as a video
2. Structure of the Digital SAT Math Section
3. Which Math Topics Are Tested on the SAT?
b. Problem Solving and Data Analysis
c. Algebra
4. Conclusion
Watch this article as a video:
How Is the SAT Math Organized?
So, what are these mythical math topics of which I speak? The ones that—once you master them—will help you sail to a full 800 possible points on the Math portion of the Digital SAT?
The later sections of this post lay out ALL of the content that you’ll need to learn in order to slay the SAT Math section. But first, you need to understand the basic structure of the test.
The Digital SAT Math section tests your ability to quickly and correctly answer math questions from a wide range of subjects: from number fundamentals all the way up to certain Pre-Calculus topics. The Math section is actually divided into two different modules:
Module 1 (which is roughly the same for everybody) and Module 2 (which is easier or harder for you, depending on how well you performed in Module 1!).
Each of the two Modules has the same timing and structure: 22 questions in 35 minutes. (Multiply the time by 1.5 for an extended time test taker and by 2 if you get double time!)
About 75% of the questions (~33 Questions in total) in the SAT Math modules are multiple choice questions, each giving you four answer choices (A, B, C and D) to choose from. However, peppered throughout the section are approximately 11 self-produced questions, formerly called “grid-in” questions.
For these self-produced questions, you have to come up with the correct number entirely on your own—you’re not given answer options to choose from—and then type that number into the BlueBook app. Obviously, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with these different question types—and exactly how to supply your answers come test day—to ensure you don’t make careless mistakes and suffer point deductions because of it!
By the by, if you tend to have trouble answering all 22 questions within the 35 minutes you’re given (for regular-time test takers) in either Module, you’ll need a guessing strategy. Do I have advice for how to guess intelligently? You guessed it! (Pardon the pun.)
Which Math Topics Are Tested on the SAT?
Now it’s time to get down to business. Below are ALL the math topics you need to master to earn a perfect score on the Digital SAT’s Math section (and none of the topics you don’t need to study)!
Basic math facts
First, there are certain Math facts you need to have down pat in order to solve ANY problem at all on the test! It’s like how you need to know your alphabet before you can read and comprehend complicated Reading texts.
1) THINGS TO JUST MEMORIZE
Yes, you can use the built-in Desmos calculator (or your own approved hand-held calculator) for the entire Math section of the Digital SAT. That said, if you rely on using it for every single step of every single problem…you might not be able to finish in time! Do yourself a favor:
Please know your multiplication/division tables like the back of your hand!
Though those tables are the #1 set of facts to memorize, you will also deeply benefit from having these math facts down cold, too:
perfect squares up to 25²
perfect cubes up to 6³
powers of 2 up to 2¹⁰
common Pythagorian triples
comprehensive fraction to decimal to percent conversions
But the good news is that you don’t even need to look up the figures in that list: I’ve done the hard work for you and written them all out here.
2) NUMBER BASICS
You’ll need to understand the Number System (words like “rational,” “integer,” and “whole number,” etc.) and Number Properties (odd/even, positive/negative, primes, etc.). Knowing these will help you immensely when you manipulate Fractions and solve Ratios and Proportions. In addition, you should be nimble with Order of Operations and the basics of Solving Equations.
Problem solving and data analysis
The first category of Math that the College Board itself gives a name to is called “Problem Solving and Data Analysis.” This topic covers 15% (7 questions) of the SAT Math section. Though that might not seem like many questions, you actually will need to understand these math skills for the SUBSEQUENT Math topic categories in this post. You’re laying an important foundation with these items—so don’t skimp here!
3) PROBLEM SOLVING
To get to the heart of most math problems, you first need to understand how to translate word problems from English words into math operations. Next, you’ll need to master Percentage problems, like “percent of,” “percent increase,” “percent decrease” and “percent change.” (Yes, they’re all different!) After that, you’ll need to deftly navigate Fractions, Ratios and Proportions, which I wrote about here. (And don’t forget about effortlessly calculating fractions with my Advanced Fraction Tricks!) Once you’re able to navigate fractions with ease, you can handle solving Ratio and even Compound Ratio questions! FINALLY, we get to all the varieties of multi-step word problems. This includes Algebra Word Problems (Distance, Work, Average, and Rate Conversion questions), as well as Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode, Range, Standard Deviation, and Margin of Error concepts), Probability, and Counting Principles.
4) DATA
Many SAT questions will require you to interpret Charts, Graphs, Scatterplots and Two-Way Tables, as well as other types of data: Stacked Graphs, Bar Graphs, Stem-Leaf Plots, Histograms, Dot Plots, and Box-Whisker Plots. These work in conjunction with “Problem Solving” questions because you’ll often have to locate the correct numbers from a chart or table to THEN find a probability or median, etc. Finally, you will need to correctly evaluate Statistical Claims.
Algebra
The next type of Math, which the College Board simply calls “Algebra,” means Pre-Algebra/Arithmetic and Algebra I—basically, anything having to do with lines and linear equations. A whopping 35% (15 questions) of the Digital SAT Math section focuses on this kind of math!
Do these subjects sounds like kid stuff to you? Well…believe it or not, most of my private students come to me making the MOST of their SAT Math mistakes on exactly these questions, and I think I know why.
See, you probably learned these topics a few years ago, even as early as late elementary school! However, you likely learned the “7th grade math” topics…with “7th grade” difficulty (i.e. EASY). NOW, though, the Digital SAT is asking you to take those “easy” math topics and raise the difficulty level to that of a Junior in high school. Thus, you have to upgrade your knowledge of these seemingly elementary topics.
5) ALGEBRA
On the Digital SAT, you need to understand Linear Equations—how to recognize them, how to model them, and what a linear equation means in the real world. You’ll need to understand all about Graphing Lines, as well as a few “linear” topics that are typically considered “Coordinate Geometry”: the Distance Formula and the Midpoint Formula. Next, you need to master Systems of Linear Equations, which is putting two linear equations together: how many solutions (if any) does your system have, and what are they? You’ll also need to upgrade your knowledge of Inequalities, Compound Inequalities, and Absolute Values and even how to put Inequalities and Absolute Values together in an equation!
Advanced Math
The third category of Math is given the very broad name “Advanced Math,” which also covers 35% (15 questions) of the math tested on the Digital SAT! To translate this into more common parlance, these are the topics that cover what’s generally thought of as Algebra 2 and Functions. Depending on what order your school has laid out your math curriculum in, you’d probably learn these in “Algebra 2” and “Pre-Calculus.”
6) ALGEBRA 2
Algebra 2 covers a lot of ground, starting with tricky Exponents/Powers/Roots. Then, you need to know how to Factor Quadratic Polynomials and graph the resulting Parabolas. Can you find the Vertex, Axis of Symmetry, Sum of the Roots and Product of the Roots? Next, you’ll need to know how to manipulate Complex Fractions and Rational Expressions. Finally, you’ll need to know how to perform Compound Interest problems, deal with Sequences, and solve Systems of (Non)Linear Equations (i.e. finding out where a line and a polynomial intersect)!
7) FUNCTIONS
The appearance of “F(x)” means you’re looking at a Function. Most of the time, they’re simply the equations you’ve already been using, but just with “F(x)” instead of the “y.” If you’ve never worked with Functions before, you’ll need to understand Function Vocabulary and basics—as well as Coordinate Geometry Vocabulary—so you can secure a few extra points. If you already know what Functions are, you’ll need to brush up on Finding the Domain, Finding the Range, Composite Functions, and Transformation of Functions. Finally, you’ll need to learn how to graph and solve Exponential Functions!
geometry and trigonometry
Funnily enough, certain types of math that schools place a lot of emphasis on barely get the time of day on the DSAT! In fact, ALL of “Geometry and Trigonometry” is lumped into this category…which comprises only 15% (7 questions) of the Digital SAT’s Math sections!
8) PLANE (2-D) GEOMETRY
Plane Geometry encompasses two-dimensional shapes and geometric concepts, like these: Lines and Angles, Triangles (equilateral, isosceles, right triangles, “special” right triangles), Polygons (quadrilaterals—like parallelograms, rectangles, squares, rhombuses and trapezoids—as well as other shapes), and Circles. You’ll need to be able to find Perimeters, Areas, Interior and Exterior Angles, and lengths in Similar Triangles. Also expect to be asked to graph Circles on the Coordinate Plane!
9) SOLID (3-D) GEOMETRY
The moment someone mentions the “Volume” or “Surface Area” of a shape that’s in three dimensions, you’re in the realm of Solid Geometry. All of the solids that the Digital SAT can test you on can be broken down into these three categories: Prisms, Pyramids, and Spheres.
10) TRIGONOMETRY
It can be counterintuitive which Trig concepts show up on the Digital SAT—and which Trig concepts don’t! For a top SAT Math score, you need to be familiar with this small smattering of concepts, so you can nail the test’s two or three Trig questions: SOHCAHTOA (Sine, Cosine and Tangent ratios), Complementary Angle Relationships, Radians, and the value of the basic Trig ratios for Special Angles.
conclusion
After YEARS teaching this material and getting exceptional scores (and college acceptances!) for my students, I’ve captured it all in my online course: The Ultimate Digital SAT Math Guide!
This binge-able, pauseable, and repeatable video + ebook course teaches you all the content and strategies you need to know to ace the Digital SAT’s Math Section…in less than 3 hours! Using my own computer screen to demonstrate, I walk you through every aspect of the test, from its Blue Book format (what’s the Desmos calculator, and how do you use it??) to how to identify YOUR specific math weak spots….and turn them into strengths.
If you want to become fully comfortable with all of the Math concepts I just mentioned—as well as learn my “Math jiu jitsu” problem-solving tricks, create your own bespoke study plan, AND get permanent access to my all-killer-no-filler Digital SAT Math Cheat Sheet—you can purchase The Ultimate Digital SAT Math Guide here:
Alternatively, if you want to be taught one-on-one by the real human behind the course, you can find out how private tutoring with me works. Or, if you already know you’re ready to launch to success, contact me here to inquire about availability for a tutoring package or hourly sessions.
