About The Digital SAT® Math Section
The Digital SAT® Math section tests your proficiency in specific aspects of mathematics that can demonstrate your math readiness for college. In this section, you will find multi-step problems with math scenarios in science, social science, work environments, and other real-life situations. To solve these questions, you need mathematical problem-solving skills, conceptual understanding, and general fluency in math. This comprehensive guide will provide you with everything about the Digital SAT Math syllabus, format, scoring, and question types. We will also discuss the level of math that you may see on the test and share some review tips to help you prepare better.
SAT Math Format and Syllabus
The transition from paper and pencil SAT to digital SAT comes with several changes regarding format, question types, and test duration. Click on the tabs below to understand the structure of the Math section for both Digital and paper and pencil SAT.
The Digital SAT Math section is composed of two equal-length modules, with 44 questions to be completed in 70 minutes. Unlike the paper and pencil SAT, you are allowed to use a calculator throughout the Math section on the Digital SAT. The following table displays a breakdown of the number of questions on each module and the time allotted to answer them.
What are the types of math questions on the Digital SAT?
You will find both multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and student-produced response questions (SPR) on the Math section of the Digital SAT. According to the College Board®, 75% of the questions on the test will be MCQs, and 25% will be SPRs.What are the topics on the Digital SAT Math section?
The Math section on the Digital test will focus on four key domains highlighted in the table below:
| Key Elements | No. of Questions | Percentage of Test |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra | 13-15 | ~35% |
| Advanced Math | 13-15 | ~35% |
| Problem Solving and Data Analysis | 5-7 | ~15% |
| Geometry and Trigonometry | 5-7 | ~15% |
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AlgebraThese questions will require you to analyze and solve linear equations, systems of equations, and inequalities using multiple techniques.
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Advanced MathThese questions evaluate your understanding of quadratic, polynomial, exponential radical, rational, absolute value, and other nonlinear equations.
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Problem Solving and Data AnalysisThese questions check your quantitative reasoning skills about topics like rates, ratios, proportions, and interpretation of one- and two-variable data.
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Geometry and TrigonometryThese questions focus on trigonometry, the area and volume of geometric figures like circles, triangles, and more.
On the paper and pencil format, the SAT Math Test was divided into two parts – a “calculator” portion and a “no calculator” portion, with a total of 58 questions to be completed in 80 minutes. A 5-minute break used to be provided between the calculator and no-calculator portions of the Math Test. Here is a breakdown of the number of questions in each portion and the time allotted to answer them.
What were the types of math questions on the paper and pencil SAT?
You would find two types of questions in the SAT Math section – Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Grid-in Questions for which students would have to produce their own responses. Out of 58 questions, 45 were MCQs with four answer choices and 13 were grid-ins that required students to produce their own responses.
What were the topics on SAT Math?
The Math section on the paper and pencil test focused on four key areas highlighted in the table below:
| Key Elements | No. of Questions | Percentage of Test |
|---|---|---|
| Heart of Algebra | 19 | 33% |
| Problem Solving and Data Analysis | 17 | 29% |
| Passport to Advanced Math | 16 | 28% |
| Additional Topics in Math | 6 | 10% |
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Heart of AlgebraThese questions focus on systems of linear equations and functions asking you to solve equations which represent a situation plus establish connections between different representations of linear equations.
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Problem Solving and Data AnalysisThese questions focus on ratios, percentages, and proportional reasoning asking you to analyze graphical and statistical data, evaluate reports, make inferences, and draw conclusions.
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Passport to Advanced MathThese questions focus on the level of math that you will study in higher education courses such as science, economics, math, technology, and engineering.
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Additional Topics in MathThese questions focus on geometry, trigonometry, radian measure, complex numbers, and applications of surface area and volume.
To learn more about the important topics and concepts tested on the Math section in detail, read our guide to the Digital SAT syllabus.
What Level of Math is on the SAT?
The Math section is based on high school curricula, so, likely, the SAT math topics you encounter will be familiar to you. This test evaluates what you have learned in high school and your readiness for basic college courses. The section focuses on your problem-solving skills and evaluates your ability to make real-world connections through multi-step problem questions.
Do SAT Math questions get progressively harder?
No, the SAT Math questions do not get progressively harder. Just like the paper and pencil test used to be a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions, the Digital SAT Math section includes a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. The Digital SAT Math section includes two modules, the first of which includes a mix of questions at varying difficulty levels to get a sense of your ability level. The difficulty level of the second module adjust to how you performed on the first module.
Is SAT Math harder than ACT Math?
The SAT and ACT Math sections are different in various ways. The Digital SAT Math section gives you 70 minutes for 44 questions, whereas the ACT Math section requires 60 questions to be completed in 60 minutes. This means that you get more time per question on SAT Math than you would on the ACT Math section. In addition, the SAT Math section focuses heavily on algebra and data analysis, while the ACT Math section covers a range of topics including trigonometry, advanced algebraic concepts, and modeling. Ultimately, the difficulty of the test depends on your familiarity with the test format, your overall math skills, and your ability to manage time effectively during the test.
Is SAT Math harder than PSAT?
The Math section on the PSAT covers fewer advanced topics and is designed to be a slightly easier version of the SAT. It is generally taken by students during the sophomore or junior year of high school and is often considered a “practice” test for the SAT. However, the PSAT is still challenging. You need to have strong math skills and test taking strategies to score well on it.
Can you skip the Math section of the SAT?
No, you cannot skip the Math section of the SAT, as it makes up 50% of your total SAT score.
How to Calculate Your SAT Math Score
The SAT Math score ranges from 200-800 and is calculated by converting your raw scores to scaled scores. The raw scores from both modules are added together, and then the total raw score is converted to the scaled score of 200-800. Note that this score conversion is based on the SAT Math score chart released by the College Board every year. To understand how scores are calculated and how section scores contribute to your final score, read our Digital SAT scoring guide.
What is the passing score for SAT Math?
The College Board does not mention any passing scores for students. However, for successful college admission, it is good to get more than the average SAT Math score for a particular year.
What is a good SAT score in math?
A score of 700 and above is generally considered a good SAT Math score. However, a good SAT score in math can also be determined by the average SAT Math score of a particular year. If you score above the national average, it may be considered a relatively good score.
What is the highest SAT Math score and how many people get a perfect SAT Math score?
The highest SAT Math score is 800. Getting a perfect score is quite rare. In 2023, only 9% of the total SAT test takers scored between 700᠆800.
What is the average SAT Math score?
The average SAT Math score changes from year to year depending on the total score of all the test takers for a particular year. The average score for the SAT Math section in 2023 was 508.
Start practicing with high quality Digital SAT questions and in depth explanations.
Digital SAT Math Review Tips
We know that preparing for the Digital SAT Math section can seem overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you will be ready to take the test with confidence. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
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Learn what is on the Math test.It is important to know the format, question types, and duration of the test. Knowing all the basics is a good way to kickstart your test prep.
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Practice as much as you can.There is no better way of improving your math skills than practicing. Learning how to apply all the formulas and developing a thorough understanding of the topics on the test are essential for a strong performance. You can find a compiled list of all the formulas useful for solving the math questions on our SAT Math formula sheet.
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Time yourself.You must practice time management. When you time yourself, it will also help you determine your concentration and testing endurance level while under pressure. This may help decrease test day anxiety as well as boost your performance.
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Focus on your weak points.By analyzing which areas you are struggling with, you can study efficiently. Improving your weaknesses and locking down your strengths will increase your success in the SAT Math section.
Lastly, it is crucial to make an effective study plan to complete your preparation on time. Knowing how to study for SAT Math can help you prepare the study plan, and also give you tips on approaching different questions on the test. You can perfect your math skills by using UWorld’s SAT Math practice test. Our in-depth answer explanations and performance-tracking tools will help you get closer to your targeted score.
References
- 2023 Total Group SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report. (2023). collegeboard.org. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/2023-total-group-sat-suite-of-assessments-annual-report%20ADA.pdf
- The Digital SAT® Suite of Assessments Specifications Overview (2022). collegeboard.org. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/digital-sat-test-spec-overview.pdf
- The Math Section (n.d.). collegeboard.org. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/whats-on-the-test/math
- Scoring Your Paper SAT Practice Test #1 | SAT Suite of Assessments – The College Board (n.d.). collegeboard.org. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/scoring-sat-practice-test-1-digital.pdf