SAT Prep Notes — The

Complete Guide

Covers the Digital SAT: format, both sections,

every question type, must-know formulas, and
test-day strategy.

1. The Big Picture: How the

Digital SAT Works

Reading &
Math
Writing

64 minutes
70 minutes total
total (2
Time (2 modules × 35
modules ×
min)
32 min)

54 total (27 44 total (22 per

Questions
per module) module)

Format Multiple Mostly multiple

choice (4 choice; ~25%
 Reading &
Math
Writing

options) student-
produced (grid-
in)

Allowed on entire
section (built-in
Calculator N/A Desmos
calculator
provided)

Key facts about the digital format:

Adaptive by module: Module 1 of each

section has a mix of difficulty. Your
performance determines whether Module 2 is
the "harder" or "easier" version — this affects
your score ceiling, so treat Module 1 like it
matters most.
Total score: 400–1600, made of two 200–
800 section scores (Reading & Writing +
Math).
No penalty for wrong answers — always
guess if unsure, never leave a question blank.
 Each Reading & Writing question is tied to its
own short passage (no more long shared
passages with 10 questions).
You can flag and skip questions within a
module and return to them before time runs
out (but you cannot go back once you submit
a module).

2. Reading & Writing Section

This section blends what used to be "Reading"

and "Writing & Language" into one. Questions fall
into four categories:

A. Information and Ideas (~26% of

questions)

Tests whether you can find, interpret, and use

information from a passage or graphic.

Central Ideas and Details: Identify the main

point or a specific detail. Read the question
first, then hunt for the answer in the text —
don't rely on memory.
Command of Evidence (Textual): Choose the
quotation that best supports a claim or fills a
 blank. Eliminate answers that are true but
don't support the specific claim asked about.

Command of Evidence (Quantitative): Read a

graph/table and pick the answer choice the
data supports. Focus only on the data points
relevant to the claim — ignore the rest of the
chart.
Inferences: Complete a logical conclusion
the passage implies but doesn't state directly.
The right answer is always modest and
directly supported — never a leap.

B. Craft and Structure (~28% of questions)

Tests vocabulary in context and how texts are

built.

Words in Context: Pick the best word/phrase

for a blank. Cover the answer choices, predict
your own word first, then match.
Text Structure and Purpose: Identify how a
paragraph is organized (e.g.,
problem→solution, claim→counterclaim) or
why the author included a detail.
Cross-Text Connections: Given two short
passages, determine how the authors would
respond to each other's ideas.
C. Expression of Ideas (~20% of
questions)

Editing-style questions — you choose the most

effective version, not just a "grammatical" one.

Rhetorical Synthesis: You're given bullet-

point notes and a goal ("compare X and Y,"
"explain a cause"). Pick the sentence that
best accomplishes that specific goal — many
wrong answers are true statements that don't
fit the goal.
Transitions: Choose the best logical
connector (however, therefore, similarly, for
example, etc.). Determine the relationship
between the two ideas first (contrast,
cause/effect, addition, example) before
looking at choices.

D. Standard English Conventions (~26% of

questions)

Grammar and punctuation, testing whether you

know when rules apply — not just what the rules
are.

Must-know grammar rules:

Subject–verb agreement: Find the true
subject (ignore interrupting phrases set off by
commas). Singular subject → singular verb.
Comma rules:

Use commas around non-essential

(extra) information; no commas around
essential info.

Never use a single comma to separate a

subject from its verb.
Use a comma before a coordinating
conjunction (FANBOYS) joining two
independent clauses.

Semicolons and colons:

Semicolon joins two independent clauses

(complete sentences) closely related in
meaning.
Colon introduces a list, explanation, or
elaboration — the clause before the colon
must be a complete sentence.

Apostrophes: its (possessive) vs. it's (it is);

plural (dogs) vs. possessive (dog's) vs. plural
possessive (dogs').
Pronoun agreement: Pronoun must match its
antecedent in number; avoid ambiguous
 pronoun references.
Parallel structure: Items in a list or
comparison must share the same
grammatical form.
Modifier placement: A modifying phrase
should sit next to the word it describes
("Running late, my keys were left behind" is
wrong — keys can't run).
Verb tense/mood consistency: Stay
consistent within a sentence unless a real
time shift is described.

Strategy for grammar questions: Read the whole

sentence (not just around the blank), and check
whether each underlined clause is complete or
incomplete — most punctuation questions come
down to that one distinction.

3. Math Section

A. Algebra (~35%)

Linear equations and inequalities (one and

two variables)
 Systems of linear equations — solve by
substitution, elimination, or by comparing
slopes/intercepts
Linear functions — interpreting slope and y-
intercept in context
Systems of equations shortcut: if a system
has no solution, the lines are parallel (same
slope, different intercept); infinite solutions
means identical lines (same slope AND
intercept).

B. Advanced Math (~35%)

Nonlinear functions: quadratics, exponentials,

polynomials
Quadratic formula: x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a

Factoring, completing the square, vertex

form: y = a(x − h)² + k, vertex at (h, k)
Exponent rules: aᵐ·aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ, (aᵐ)ⁿ = aᵐⁿ, a⁻ⁿ
= 1/aⁿ
Function notation and transformations: f(x) +
k shifts up, f(x − h) shifts right
Equivalent expressions — simplifying and
rewriting algebraic expressions
C. Problem-Solving and Data Analysis
(~15%)

Ratios, rates, proportions, percentages

Percent change: (new − old) / old × 100

Unit conversion and scaling

Reading tables, scatterplots, and two-way
tables
Statistics: mean, median, mode, range,
standard deviation (conceptual — know that
more spread = higher SD)
Probability: P(event) = favorable outcomes /
total outcomes
Linear vs. exponential growth — linear adds a
constant amount, exponential multiplies by a
constant factor

D. Geometry and Trigonometry (~15%)

Area/volume formulas:

Circle: A = πr², circumference = 2πr

Triangle: A = ½bh
Rectangle/parallelogram: A = bh
Cylinder volume: V = πr²h
Sphere volume: V = (4/3)πr³
 Right triangles: Pythagorean theorem a² + b²
= c²
Special right triangles: 45-45-90 (sides x, x,
x√2); 30-60-90 (sides x, x√3, 2x)
Trig ratios (SOH-CAH-TOA): sin =
opposite/hypotenuse, cos =
adjacent/hypotenuse, tan =
opposite/adjacent
Circle theorems: arc length = (angle/360) ×
2πr; sector area = (angle/360) × πr²
Coordinate geometry: distance formula,
midpoint formula, slope formula

Reminder: The Digital SAT gives you a reference

sheet with most geometry formulas on-screen —
don't memorize those; memorize the ones not
provided (like special right triangles and percent
change).

4. Cross-Section Strategy

Timing

Reading & Writing: ~75 seconds per

question. Since each question has its own
 short passage, don't over-read — read actively
for the answer, not for full comprehension of
every detail.
Math: ~95 seconds per question, but they get
harder as you go within a module — don't
burn 3 minutes on question 3 and rush
question 20.

General test-taking tactics

1. Answer every question — no guessing

penalty, so never leave anything blank.
2. Process of elimination beats finding the
"right" answer directly, especially in Reading &
Writing.
3. Plug in numbers on abstract algebra
questions with variables in the answer
choices.
4. Use the on-screen calculator freely on Math
— but mental math is often faster for simple
steps.
5. Flag and move on if a question is taking too
long; return to it if time allows.
6. Read the question before the passage/graph
in Information and Ideas questions — know
what you're looking for first.
7. Don't second-guess grammar answers — the
shortest, simplest grammatically-correct
option is usually right in Standard English
Conventions questions.

Building a study plan

1. Take a full-length diagnostic test first to find

weak areas.
2. Study Math content gaps (formulas/rules you
don't know) separately from Math strategy
(pacing, calculator use).
3. For Reading & Writing, drill grammar rules
explicitly — they're learnable facts, unlike
"vocabulary in context," which needs broad
reading practice.
4. Take timed practice modules, not just
untimed problem sets, in your last few weeks
— timing pressure is often the real obstacle.
5. Review every wrong answer and write down
why you missed it (careless error vs. content
gap vs. timing) — this matters more than the
number of practice tests you take.
Tip: Formats and question distributions can shift
slightly between test administrations — check the
official College Board site closer to your test date
to confirm current specifics.