SAT Math: A Detailed Overview to Jumpstart Your Test Prep

The SAT Math tests algebra, word problems, geometry, statistics and more. There may seem like a lot of question types, but there are way fewer than on the ACT.

The SAT tends to ask the same sorts of math questions over and over. So use Resolve Prep to familiarize yourself with the most common types, and your score will increase significantly.

Question difficulty varies enormously, but don't panic! The built-in Desmos calculator can make even the hardest problems doable. Check out our Desmos tutorial here.

How is it Structured?

Two Modules: The Math section is divided into Module 1 and Module 2, back to back with no break between them. For each module, you have 35 minutes to complete 22 questions. The 10-minute break comes before the Math section, after Reading and Writing.
Adaptive Testing: The Math section is adaptive. Module 1 is moderate difficulty. If you do well, you will get a significantly harder Module 2. If you don’t do as well, you will get an easy Module 2. Keep in mind, to get a high score, you MUST get the harder Module 2.
Questions Ordered by Difficulty: The questions in each module proceed roughly from easiest to hardest. Keep in mind that "easy" really means "most people get this right" and "hard" means "most people get this wrong." In other words, a question may be very tricky or have difficult wording and count as "hard" even though the actual math required is quite simple.
Two Question Formats: Most questions are multiple choice. But the SAT also includes many "Student-Produced Response" questions, in which you must type in an answer. Familiarize yourself with the inputting rules before the test.

How is it Scored?

Well, the College Board has not released its scoring algorithms. Here are some pretty good conclusions we can make based on statements from the College Board and the Bluebook tests themselves:

Questions aren’t worth the same: Different questions will have different weights, based on difficulty level, how many skills are tested, and how "guessable" it is.
Guess: On all questions, there's no penalty for guessing: if you're not sure of the answer, it's better to guess than leave the response blank.
Module 1 Questions are important: Because you can't get the harder module without doing well on the first, don’t mess up in Module 1!
Student-Produced Response Questions count more: Because they are nearly impossible to guess correctly on, these non-multiple choice questions have a slightly bigger impact on your score. So if you're aiming for a really high score, pay special attention to these, especially when you're checking your work.
Experimental Questions: There are two questions in each module that will not be scored—the test writers are still developing these questions. Unfortunately, there is no way to know which questions are unscored, so you still have to try hard on every question.

With this scoring system, it is entirely possible that you and your friend could get the same number of questions wrong on the same day but receive radically different scores.

Myth: some months have easier scales

Students often think that certain months always have more generous scales on the SAT, based on which kind of students are more likely to take the test in fall, spring, etc. This is not true! Of course the test difficulty and scoring can vary, but it does so in a completely unpredictable way. The College Board has predetermined the difficulty of each question and the scoring algorithms, so neither is affected by the students taking it that day. There is absolutely no reason to assume that, for example, the May test will be harder than the August test.

What Does it Test?

The College Board typically uses broad categories to identify the topics of their questions. The test is very heavy in topics that would typically be covered in Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 courses.

Algebra

(about 35% of the test)

Generally Algebra 1: Lines, Linear inequalities, and Systems of Linear Equations.

Try an Algebra question:

Advanced Math

(about 35% of the test)

Generally Algebra 2: Quadratics, Exponential functions, Absolute value, Polynomials, Rational functions, Radicals, and Exponents.

Try an Advanced Math question:

Problem Solving and Data Analysis

(about 15% of the test)

This more eclectic collection involves some basic statistics and pre-algebra topics: Ratios, Rates, Proportions, Percents, Scatterplots, Probability, Survey statistics, and Margin of error.

Try a Problem Solving and Data Analysis question:

Geometry and Trigonometry

(about 15% of the test)

Content typically seen in a geometry class: Area, Volume, Angles, Right triangles, Similar Triangles, Trigonometry, and Circles

Try a Geometry and Trigonometry question:

Most students should focus on specific topics they are unfamiliar with rather than tackling the College Board’s very broad categories. So, instead of "Geometry," let’s focus on "SOH-CAH-TOA." Or instead of "Problem Solving and Data Analysis", let’s focus on "Frequency Tables." The Topics area of Resolve Prep has broken down the types in this specific way.

How do I get started?

Well, we cover this in our getting started guide. But start by taking a diagnostic test so you can see the scope of the task ahead of you. If you take a Bluebook test, don’t review the specific questions yet, so that you can retake the test later. But do input your Bluebook results on our site so we can recommend practice topics based on what you got wrong!

Learn Desmos early

For the math, you will need to master the built-in Desmos calculator if you want to maximize your score. We recommend this for both very weak and very strong math students.

After that, you just have to start learning topics. If you got a percent question wrong, review the topics of percents and then do enough practice on percents that you are sure you will never get another percent question wrong. Then, move on to your next mistake. Once you review all the topics from a given test, it’s time to take another practice test. We offer 8 full-length practice tests (1 of them free), plus a math-only test. Subscribers also have access to hundreds of extended practice problems on many topics. We recommend taking the Resolve Prep tests first and then taking Bluebook tests when you get closer to your official test date.

Best of luck on your test prep journey!