SAT Test - Math

Welcome to the SAT test math section. In this section, you will find helpful tips and advice to handle both types of problems you will find on the math section of the SAT test.

The new SAT has three math sections: 2 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section.

Each section presents both multiple-choice and 'grid-in' questions. Questions are presented in order of difficulty, by type. That means that if questions 1 through 5 are multiple choice and questions 6 through 10 are grid-ins, question 1 will be the easiest of the multiple choice questions, and question 5 the hardest; and question 6 will be the easiest grid-in, and question 10 the hardest.

Section	% of Test
Problem Solving (Multiple Choice)	81
Problem Solving (Grid in)	19
Total	100

A Brief Note about the SAT Test Math Section

Relax already. You haven't even reviewed any of our material and you're already hyperventilating. (We know because we're watching you. Muaaa ha ha ha ha ha.)

But seriously though, the SAT does not cover advanced calculus and they are not going to ask you for the log of pi. If you understand some basic rules of algebra and geometry and you follow our tips and advice for identifying the test's "tricks", you should do just fine. On a final note, this is not graded like a typical school test. The average student, after all, scores between 1530 and 1550 on the 2400 scale.

Now that you are Relaxed and Ready to Go...

Example SAT Questions

1.) Each canvas bag will hold exactly 5 pounds of Famous Joe's tomatoes. How many bags will be necessary to hold 5 kilograms worth of these same tomatoes? (1 kilogram = 2.25 pounds.)

2.) Let $ be defined for all nonzero integers a and b such that:

      

What is the value of 2$3?

3.) What is the value of c if 2.4c=96?

4.) An SAT1 student leaves his house at 8:55 a.m. and proceeds to drive at an average speed of 60 miles per hour. How far will he drive by 9:10 a.m?

5.) In a group of 15 high school students, 7 play football, 8 play baseball, and 3 do neither. How many students play both football and baseball?

SAT Test Problem Solving (MC)

SAT Test Structure

The problem solving multiple choice questions will comprise 58% of the total math questions you will see on the SAT*. They will appear in ascending order of difficulty.

Review your math skills as necessary

The SAT problem solving questions are equally split among arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. If you have not taken calculus, or statistics, don't worry. These questions are not asked on the SAT. See our books section for suggestions if you feel the need to review the math concepts covered in the problem solving section.

A note about the reference data

You may know by now that the SAT test writers will give you some of the common formulas in the test book such as the area of a triangle, Pythagorean relationship, etc. Do NOT place too much emphasis on these reference formulas. If your math skills are rusty, you will still want to do a review on your own before the exam. There are many other helpful hints you should know such as an odd number multiplied by another odd number always equals an odd number, etc.

SAT Math

SAT Test Structure

Grid-in problem solving questions (also known as 'student-produced response' questions) will comprise 19% of the math problems you face on the SAT. As their name implies, you won't have answer choices to select from. Rather, you'll have to work out the problem presented to you and grid in your answer in the columns of digits provided. These questions will appear in ascending order of difficulty.

The Fine Art of Gridding

Some test-takers worry that they will lose points by entering their answers into the grid incorrectly. Relax. The gridding system is similar to the one you'll use to enter your name and other information on the score sheet. For example, if your answer to a question is "100," you would fill in the 'bubbles' for 1, 0, and 0 in the appropriate columns.

Here are some tips for mastering the fine art of gridding in problem solving answers:

- Always enter your answers starting with the left hand column  (unless you're very comfortable working with numbers from right to left). Leave the columns on the right blank if your answer doesn't require you to use all of them. If you have four columns of digits to use and your answer is "10," grid in 1 in the left-hand column, 0 in the column to the right of that, and leave the remaining two columns blank.

- Remember that '0' is not an a grid-in option in column 1 (the left-hand column). If your answer is simply '0,' you'll need to enter it in one of the other three columns.

- Remember that you have the option of entering non-whole number answers as either fractions or decimals. 1/2 is read the same way that .5 is.

- Always check your math and be sure of your answer before you grid it in.

- If you come up with an answer that does not fit in the grid, you've probably made a mistake. (The exception is if your answer is in the form of a fraction that uses two or more two-digit numbers, like 18/20. In that case, either reduce the fraction to one that will fit – 9/10 – or enter it as a decimal number.)

Aside from gridding, you can prepare for these math questions the same way you prepare for multiple choice math questions.

Review your math skills as necessary

The SAT math sections draw on basic mathematical skills from first year algebra and geometry, plus some basic concepts from second year algebra. If you have not taken calculus or statistics, don't worry. The SAT does not ask questions that require those skills. See our books section for suggestions if you feel the need to review the math concepts covered in the problem solving section.

A note about the reference data

You may already know that the SAT test writers include reminders of some of the most common mathematics formulas in the test book, such as how to determine the area of a triangle, Pythagorean relationship, etc. These can be helpful references, but DO NOT place too much emphasis on them. If your math skills are rusty, you will still want to do a review on your own, well before you take the exam. There are many other helpful formulas and hints you should know besides those printed in the test booklet - such as the rule that an odd number multiplied by another odd number always equals an odd number, etc.