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SAT Exam Prep

Essential SAT strategies and content review, reading comprehension, writing & language, and math concepts tested on the digital SAT.

Cheat Sheet

4 sections 16 key points
1

Reading & Writing: Key Strategies

4 pts
Read the question first, then the passage, know what you're looking for
Evidence-based questions: the answer must be directly supported by the text
Eliminate obviously wrong answers first, then compare remaining choices
Vocabulary in context: re-read the sentence with each answer choice plugged in
2

Writing & Language Rules

4 pts
Subject-verb agreement: identify the true subject (ignore prepositional phrases)
Comma rules: FANBOYS conjunctions, introductory phrases, non-essential clauses
Pronoun clarity: a pronoun must clearly refer to one specific noun (antecedent)
Parallel structure: items in a list or comparison must follow the same grammatical form
3

Math: Algebra & Functions

4 pts
Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b (m = slope, b = y-intercept)
Quadratic formula: x = (-b ± √(b²-4ac)) / 2a
Systems of equations: substitution or elimination method
Function notation: f(x) means 'the output when input is x', treat it like y
4

Math: Geometry & Data

4 pts
Circle: area = πr², circumference = 2πr
Triangle: area = ½bh; Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c²
Special right triangles: 30-60-90 (x, x√3, 2x) and 45-45-90 (x, x, x√2)
Percent change = (new - old) / old × 100

Sample Flashcards

Card 1 of 6

Question

What is the quadratic formula?

Answer

x = (-b ± √(b²-4ac)) / 2a, where ax² + bx + c = 0. The discriminant (b²-4ac) tells you the number of solutions: positive = 2, zero = 1, negative = 0 real solutions.

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Quick Quiz

1. If f(x) = 3x² - 2x + 1, what is f(2)?

2. Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?

3. A shirt originally costs $40 and is on sale for $28. What is the percent decrease?

4. In a 30-60-90 triangle, if the shortest side is 5, what is the hypotenuse?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the digital SAT?

The digital SAT has two sections: Reading & Writing (54 questions, 64 minutes) and Math (44 questions, 70 minutes). It uses adaptive testing, the difficulty of the second module depends on your performance in the first.

What is a good SAT score?

The SAT is scored on a scale of 400-1600. A score above 1200 is considered competitive. Top universities often look for scores of 1400+. The national average is around 1050.

Can I use a calculator on the SAT?

Yes, a calculator is allowed on the entire math section of the digital SAT. The Desmos graphing calculator is also built into the testing app.

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