The SAT Math Section

How’s your Geometry? Statistics? Probability calculation skills? Rusty, maybe? For your sake, we’ll hope not, because the SAT Math section, one of the three you’ll take on the SAT, is a doozy. The other two, Critical Reading and Writing Skills will knock your socks off, too, but let’s deal with one problem at a time, okay?

The good news? You’ll only be stuck on the SAT Math section for 70 minutes. The bad news? You’ll have to remember some Algebra.

Take a gander below for all the nitty gritty numerical details.

SAT Math Basics

When you show up to the testing center, you better warm up that calculator (yes, you can bring your own) because you’ll have three Math sections to complete on the SAT – two 25-minute sections, and one 20-minute section. They can earn you between 200 and 800 points, which accounts for one third of your total points on the SAT. I know – that’s a hefty chunk to stake on some digits, but I didn’t make the rules.

Here’s the good news: the average Math score for 2008 was a 515, so not too many people are scoring up in that upper 700-800 range. Whew!

The two sections hold 54 questions, 44 of which are multiple choice, and 10 that require you to form a response (called grid-ins). Let’s go over each type in detail.

SAT Math Questions: Multiple-Choice

• Work on these first. Because these math questions actually have choices, these are the easiest ones to answer and require less time than the grid-ins. At the very worst, you can guess and you’ll have at least a shot at getting the answer right.
• They get harder. As you answer them in order, which you will if you’re test-savvy, they will become increasingly more difficult. So it’s good to get your feet wet on the first ones, because you’ll have an easier time getting them right. (Getting things right = a higher score.)
• What they measure: These are designed to test your ability in the following four areas: Number and Operations, Algebra and Functions, Geometry and Measurements, and finally Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability.
• Question set-up: Each question offers you a problem that you must solve, and five answer choices below it.

SAT Math Multiple-Choice Example:

If x and y are real numbers and the square of y is equal to the square root of x, which of the following must be true?

1. x = y4
2. x ≥ 0
3. y ≥ 0

(A) I only
(B) I and II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

(B) I and II only is the correct answer.

SAT Math Questions: Grid-ins

• Work on these second. Because you’ll need to do some calculations and scratch out the correct answer yourself, work on these second. Plus, since there are only ten of these, if you don’t get to them all, you’ll still have a higher chance of scoring well if you answer all the multiple-choice questions.
• They get harder. Again, these get harder as you go, so answer them in order.
• What they measure: These test the same things as the multiple-choice, but also test your ability to calculate correctly. If you make a mistake, you don’t get a choice! Guess, anyway, though since you aren’t penalized for wrong answers.
• Question set-up: Each question offers you a problem that you must solve, and a grid where you must fill in the answer.

SAT Math Grid-in Example:

Let the function f be defined by f(x) = x2 - 7x + 10 and f(t + 1) = 0, what is one possible value of t?

Correct Answer: Either 1 or 4 (not both)

Terrified yet? Don’t be. You can do it!