The questions on the Math section are one of the following types:
The Math portion of the SAT is composed of three sections: two 25 minute sections and one 20 minute section. The following table summarizes the 3 math sections on the SAT:
Section | Total Time | Total Number of Questions |
---|---|---|
Section1 | 25 | 20 Multiple Choice Questions |
Section2 | 25 | 8 Multiple Choice Questions 10 Student Response Questions |
Section3 | 20 | 16 Multiple Choice questions |
SAT Math Skills
The Math skills tested by the SAT are surprisingly limited; most of what is on the test has been covered by tenth grade. In addition to actual mathematical knowledge, many useful tricks and techniques can be used to quickly improve a student's score. Following is an overview of areas tested in Math section of the SAT:
1. Number and Operations (Approximately 10-14% of questions)
- Basic properties of numbers and their terminology (e.g. negative numbers, prime numbers, factors, integers, sets, sequences)
- Squares, square roots and exponents
- Order of Operations
- Fractions and decimals
- Percents
- Ratios and Proportions
- Averages
- Arithmetic Word Problems
2. Algebra and Functions (Approximately 38-42% of questions)
- Simplifying algebraic expressions
- Operations on Algebraic expressions (including factoring of quadratic equations)
- Equations and inequalities involving roots, exponents and absolute values
- Solving systems of equations and inequalities
- Direct and inverse variation
- Algebraic word problems
- Functions (domain, range, translations of graphs, functions using special symbols)
- Equations of lines (slope, intercept)
3. Geometry and Measurement (Approximately 38-42% of questions)
- Properties of parallel and perpendicular lines
- Coordinate Geometry (slopes, distance between points, midpoints of lines)
- Triangles (area, angles, properties of equilateral, isosceles, right and special triangles, the congruency and similarity of triangles, Pythagorean theorem)
- Quadrilaterals and other polygons (including area, interior and exterior angles, perimeters)
- Circles (area, circumference)
- Solid geometry (volume and surface area of solids)
- Transformations (translations, rotations, reflections)
4. Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability (Approximately 6-10% of questions)
- Data interpretation (reading tables and line, bar and other graphs)
- Descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, weighted average)
- Probability (of one event or two or more independent or dependent events)
- Geometric Probability (probability that a random point chosen will fall within a particular geometric figure)__________