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How to Prepare for SAT Math

By Glyn Caddell, BSME · Author of Digital SAT Math Secrets · Tutoring since 2008 — Updated July 30, 2026

The Digital SAT includes two math modules. To prepare for the math on the Digital SAT, students should start with a diagnostic test.

Table of Contents

1. Start with a Diagnostic SAT

There are three reasons to start with a diagnostic test. First, it will introduce you to the format of the test. Second, it will give you your baseline score, so you know how much you need to improve to reach your target. Third, a good diagnostic test will inform you about which topics you need the most help with.

2. Review Your Strengths & Weaknesses

There are 17 topics that are tested on the Digital SAT Math Modules. Pinpoint the topics that provide the most room for improvement on the test.  The Digital SAT Math topics are listed below in order of prominence.

  1. Linear Functions
  2. Combining Like Terms & Solving Equations
  3. Angles, Polygons, & 3-D Shapes
  4. Quadratic Functions
  5. Functions
  6. Data & Probability
  7. System of Equations
  8. Ratios & Proportions
  9. Exponential Growth/Decay
  10. Circles
  11. Percent
  12. Transforming Functions
  13. Trigonometry
  14. Solving for a Variable in Terms of Another
  15. Exponents
  16. Common Math Tricks
  17. No Solution & Infinite Solutions

 

3. Get Help Preparing for the SAT

Get help reviewing topics you need help with. Help can be from a tutor, an SAT prep class, video and/or books. Our SAT math book Digital SAT Math Secrets covers all of the topics in detail with over 900 practice questions.

4. Create a Schedule for Studying

Make sure that your practice and help fits into your schedule. A detailed schedule can create a routine and accountability. If you proactively set aside time to study with a plan, then you’re more likely to actually study.

It’s a good idea to plan your test and studying at a time of the year when you don’t have a lot of other commitments, such as sports or AP exams.

5. Take Another Test

After studying, take another test to see how your studying is progressing.

6. Reassess Your Strategy Based on Your New Assessment

At this point, some of your weaknesses may have become strengths or at least improved. Reassess the most important topics to study.

7. Continue Studying

Based on your new assessment, continue studying. Study the topics that will improve your SAT score the most.

8. Take Many Practice Tests

Take more practice tests. This will get you used to the pacing of the test and prepare you for the real test. We have ten Digital SAT practice tests on our website for students to refine their SAT math skills.

After your tests continue to assess your strengths and weaknesses  to determine your study plan. A tutor will be able to help you focus and work on areas that you may still be struggling with.

The 17 Math Topics on the Digital SAT

The Digital SAT ends with two Math Modules. There are 17 topics that are tested on the Digital SAT Math Modules. The Digital SAT Math topics are listed below.
  • Linear Functions
  • Combining Like Terms & Solving Equations
  • Angles, Polygons, & 3-D Shapes
  • Quadratic Functions
  • Functions
  • Data & Probability
  • System of Equations
  • Ratios & Proportions
  • Exponential Growth/Decay
  • Circles
  • Percent
  • Transforming Functions
  • Trigonometry
  • Solving for a Variable in Terms of Others
  • Exponents
  • Common Math Tricks
  • No Solution & Infinite Solutions

i. Linear Functions

Linear functions questions test students’ knowledge on the linear equation y=mx+b and how slope applies to rate of change and the y-intercept applies to the initial value.

ii. Combining Like Terms & Solving Equations

The topic combining like terms & solving equations includes combining like terms, simplifying expressions, finding equivalent expressions, and solving equations.

iii. Angles, Polygons, & 3-D Shapes

The topic angles, polygons & 3-D shapes include angles, triangles, quadrilaterals (specifically parallelograms), spheres, cylinders, cones, and rectangular prisms. Rarely, there can be a question about regular hexagons, but that is really a  question about equilateral triangles, since regular hexagons can be divided into six equilateral triangles. Questions can ask the measure of an angle, length of a side, height, volume, or density.

iv. Quadratic Functions

The topic quadratic functions includes the forms of the quadratic function, zeros of the function, vertex of the function, and properties of the roots of the function.

v. Functions

Function questions typically ask students to evaluate a function using the equation, graph or table. Sometimes the question asks students to calculate the output, value of the function, and sometimes students are asked to calculate the input, normally the x-value or t-value.

vi. Data & Probability

The topic data & probability includes arithmetic mean, mode, median, range, standard deviation, probability, histograms and pie charts. Students are asked to interpret data from a chart and/or perform calculations related to the probability of an event occurring. Some questions will ask to find the likelihood of an event occurring while others may ask for the total possible outcomes, such as number of different ordered groups or number of combinations.

vii. System of Equations

The topic system of equations includes solving for a variable in a system of two equations with two variables or to identify an equation(s) that represents a mathematical relationship in a text.

viii. Ratios & Proportions

The topic ratios & proportions includes analyzing the relationship between quantities, determining how one value compares to another, and solving problems involving equivalent ratios. These questions often require students to simplify ratios, scale values up or down, and use cross-multiplication to find missing terms. They may appear in contexts such as comparing ingredients in a recipe, analyzing speed or density, or solving word problems involving part-to-whole or part-to-part comparisons. Some complex questions give a ratio for lengths of a real item and a scaled version, then ask students to use that to calculate areas.

ix. Exponential Growth/Decay

The topic exponential growth/decay includes analyzing the growth and decay functions, evaluating values based on time and rate of change, and identifying if a situation is an example of exponential change or not.

x. Circles

The topic circles includes the equation of a circle, (x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2; the area of a circle, A=\pi r^2; circumference of a circle, C=2\pi r; and relationships between angles in a circle and corresponding sector or arc lengths.

xi. Percent

Percent questions test students’ understanding of percentages by asking students to solve for the percent, part, or whole, given the other values. Complex percent questions include fending the original value before an percent increase or decrease.

xii. Transforming Functions

The topic transforming functions includes drawing mathematical conclusions about the values of a function after a transformation, such as a horizontal translation, vertical translation, dilation, and/or reflection.

xiii Trigonometry

The topic trigonometry questions includes knowledge of sine, cosine, and tangent in a right triangle or in similar triangles

sin(A)=\dfrac{opp}{hyp} ,

cos(A)=\dfrac{adj}{hyp} ,

tan(A)=\dfrac{opp}{adj}

More complex questions involve the relationship that sinA=cos(90-A), where A is an angle less than 90^o.

xiv. Solving for a Variable in Terms of Others

The topic solving for a variable in terms of others includes questions that on ask students to solve for a specific variable in an equation or formula in terms of the other variables. Sometimes the questions are relatively easy and only require one step, while complex ones require multiple steps including factoring out a variable.

xv. Exponents

The topic exponents questions on the SAT ask students to simplify an expression by combining terms and combining exponents, adding exponents when multiplying terms with the same base, subtracting exponents when dividing terms with the same base, and multiplying exponents when one term with an exponent is raised to another exponent. Some questions may ask students to identify equivalent forms of an expression written in more complex forms than the provided form.

xvi. Common Math Tricks

The topic common math tricks includes substituting values in for expressions or simply adding equations together to get a final equation that the question is looking for, rather than solving for each variable. Many times common math tricks can be applied to a number of different questions types on the test.

xvii. No Solution & Infinite Solutions

The topic no solution & infinite solutions includes questions that ask students to determine what value a constant must have in an equation for a system of equations to have no solution or infinite solutions. This is common for a system of equations including a linear equation and a quadratic equation. In this system, it is important to remember the rules about the discriminate in the quadratic formula for determining the number of solutions.

How Often Is Each Math Topic Tested on the Digital SAT?

There are 17 topics tested on the Digital SAT Math modules, but some are more common than others. Below is a table that shows each question category and how often it appears on the test based on the ten full-length paper practice tests released by the College Board.

Math CategoryOverallMin %Max %
Linear Functions15.0%13.0%18.5%
Combing Like Terms & Solving Equations11.7%5.6%14.8%
Angles, Polygons, &  3-D Shapes10.4%5.6%16.7%
Quadratic Functions9.6%5.6%13.0%
Functions8.9%3.7%16.7%
Data & Probability8.7%5.6%11.1%
System of Equations8.1%3.7%13.0%
Ratios & Proportions5.7%1.9%7.4%
Exponential Growth/Decay5.6%3.7%9.3%
Circles3.5%1.9%5.6%
Percent3.1%1.9%3.7%
Transforming Functions2.6%0.0%7.4%
Trigonometry2.0%0.0%3.7%
Solving for a Variable in Terms of Others1.9%0.0%3.7%
Exponents1.3%0.0%1.9%
Common Math Tricks0.9%0.0%3.7%
No Solution & Infinite Solutions0.9%0.0%1.9%

Common Mistakes in Preparing for Math on the Digital SAT

There are many common mistakes in preparing for the math on the Digital SAT. Most problems in preparation come from effort, resources and knowledge.

Not Allocating Enough Time to Prepare

It takes time and effort to raise your SAT scores. To improve 70-130 points on the SAT, students need approximately 40 hours of effective studying. To improve 130-250 points on the SAT, students need approximately 80 hours of effective studying.

Not Studying Often Enough

One major pitfall is not studying often enough. For tutoring, we recommend at least two tutoring session per week. This results in four days per week of studying because the students are assigned homework to do between sessions.

If students study once per week or less, a full week will go by without reviewing what was just learned. This results in facts and strategies not getting retained. Also, if a student studies once per week or less, it will take too long to get through all of the material

Studying with Outdated Material

There was a significant change in the content on the Digital SAT compared to the most recent version of the SAT. If a student uses older resources, he will not study efficiently. This is because some of the material studied may not appear on the test, or it might be asked in a different way. For example. questions with imaginary numbers appeared on the old version of the test, but hasn’t appeared on the Digital SAT.

Not Practicing with the Desmos Calculator

The Desmos calculator is built into the Bluebook application, so it is available to students during the math modules. It is a powerful calculator that can help students solve some math questions relatively easy. It helps eliminate manual mistakes and helps solve questions faster, saving time.

Diagnostic SAT with Assessment

The best way to find out what topics you need the most help with is to take a diagnostic SAT with an advanced assessment. Students can take a free practice SAT with Caddell Prep to get their accurate score based on the College Board scoring and an advanced assessment that shows exactly which Math topics they need the most help in to improve their scores the most.

Glyn Caddell - Founder of Caddell Prep

Glyn Caddell

Glyn Caddell holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT and has been tutoring New York City students since 2008. He founded Caddell Prep in 2012 and is the author of Digital SAT Math Secrets: Lessons & Tricks to Quickly Improve to a Perfect 800 on the Math Test, which contains over 900 practice problems and is used in Caddell Prep’s SAT math classes. He is founding president of the Staten Island Technical High School alumni association and teaches every lesson on this site personally.