🔢SAT Math Hacks

If you’re looking to maximize your overall score, you’ll definitely want to start with math.
Unlike the interpretation that typically comes with reading/writing passages, math is entirely
rule-based. That means once you understand the key concepts and patterns between questions,
you can consistently solve similar problems regardless of how they’re presented.

With that in mind, let’s go over a few tips to help you crush the math section:

1.​ Desmos.
Seriously, Desmos is absolutely GOATED. I wish I had it when I took the SAT. Desmos can help
you solve problems in seconds instead of minutes. But knowing how to use it is crucial. Make
sure you’re familiar with things like sliders, function definitions, keyboard shortcuts, and
mouseovers. (More on this below in my section dedicated just for Desmos!)
2.​ Plug and Chug.
For some questions, it doesn’t make sense to solve it out. You may need to plug in your answers
anyways to check what works. For other questions, plugging in is actually the way to solve the
question. Even if you’re confident in your algebraic ability, plugging in can function as a way to
check your work. And if you’re not? Plugging and chugging is great for guessing-and-checking.
(Side note – Desmos is also great for this strategy).

3.​ Translate Words to Math.

Word problems are tough. Know how to translate them into numbers: it makes them much more
workable. I’m including this translation table for y’all so you never get stuck on a word problem
again.
English Math

is, was, will be

equals, costs
adds up to, results in
the same as, equivalent to
=
plus, sum
added to, combined with
increased by, more than
together with, and
+
minus, subtract
decreased by, less than
difference between
fewer than, smaller than
-
 times, of
product of
twice, double, triple
by
×
per, out of
divided by, ratio of
split into, shared by
each, every
÷
"a number"
"how much" 𝑥, 𝑛, or another
"how many"
"what" variable
Pro tip: During the test, scan the question for these keyword triggers. For example, a phrase like
“five less than twice a number is 23” becomes “2x - 5 = 23”
4.​ Figure it Out (Geometrically).
Don’t forget that you’re given a piece of scratch paper during the test (you’ll need to bring your
own pencil or pen, though). If geometric properties like side lengths and angles are given, but
there's no figure, you can draw one yourself! Or even if you're given a figure, you can still draw
it out and label additional info. Remember that you also have access to a formula sheet in the
top-right corner of the Bluebook app. Still, many of the formulas you need aren't listed on that
sheet, so I've included some more useful ones below:

Pictured: Equation of a circle, arc length formula, area of a sector (not often tested, but good to
know conceptually), sum of interior angles, angle relationships, and triangle classifications.
Pictured: Special right triangles (on your sheet, but good to memorize), pythagorean triples,
SOH CAH TOA, and the unit circle (recommended only for top scorers, otherwise not worth the
time).

5.​ Focus Your Study Efforts.

Here’s a more study-focused tip, but it can even apply during the test if you’re wondering which
questions to prioritize. Unlike Reading/Writing (which is fairly evenly split between topics),
Math is unique in the sense that it’s split as follows:
●​ Algebra (35%)
●​ Advanced Math (35%)
●​ Problem-Solving and Data Analysis (15%)
●​ Geometry and Trigonometry (15%)

As you can see, the content leans heavily towards the Algebra and Advanced Math side. (Hint
hint: that should give you a good idea of where to focus your study efforts). More specifically,
these are topics like…
-​ Linear equations in one variable
-​ Linear equations in two variables
-​ Linear functions
-​ Linear inequalities in one or two variables
-​ Systems of two linear equations in two variables
-​ Equivalent expressions
-​ Nonlinear functions
-​ Nonlinear equations in one variable and systems of equations in two variables

If you’re serious about improving your score and want someone to guide you through these
topics, check out the SAT Bootcamp that I’m running with my boy Dan. This kid is the smartest
guy I know. He got a PERFECT 1600 on the SAT and now he’s teaching you all his best tips and
tricks to do it too! (I also developed part of the curriculum, and you guys know I wouldn’t let
you down). Our students improve an average of 100 points in just four weeks, so if you want to
be the next star student, just make sure you sign up before February 11th.

Now, onto those tips I promised for everyone’s favorite online graphing calculator.

📈DESMOS!
Okay, quick aside – do you guys know how lucky you are to have the literal DESMOS
GRAPHING CALCULATOR on your test? Back in my day, we had to use our TI-84s. And we
didn’t even get it for all the questions.

“Whatever, unc,” you’re probably thinking. But seriously, Desmos is a godsend on this test. To
show you just how powerful it is, I’m going to list out 20 of my best tips for using it effectively,
with visuals!

1.​ Function definitions (such as 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3)

2.​ Function operations (such as 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑏, or evaluating a function, like 𝑓(5))
3.​ Creating a slider (ex. 𝑏 = 12) – SUPER useful for guessing and checking!
4.​ Creating a point (ex. (1, 5))
5.​ Creating a list (such as 𝐿 = [1, 2, 3])
6.​ Statistics operations (like 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛(𝐿))
2 2 2
7.​ Non-function relations (like (𝑥 − 3) + (𝑦 − 2) = 2 )
𝑛
8.​ 𝑠𝑞𝑟𝑡 and 𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡 (typing these converts to either 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 for 𝑠𝑞𝑟𝑡 or 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 for 𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡)
9.​ Adjusting visibility (you can click on the circle to the left of your equation to hide it)
10.​Graph options (setting bounds on 𝑥 and 𝑦, switching between radians and degrees)
 11.​Adding exponents (use Shift+6 for a shortcut)
12.​Adding operators (use +, −, /, * on your keyboard for a shortcut)
13.​Adding parentheses (use Shift+9 or Shift+0 for a shortcut)
14.​Adding subscripts (use Shift+_ for a shortcut)
15.​Naming points (ex. 𝐴 = (2, 3)) and re-using them later
16.​Graphing inequalities (use <= or >= for a shortcut)
17.​Add constraints to a function (ex. 𝑦 ≤ 5𝑥 − 20{0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5})
18.​Create polygons (ex. 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑔𝑜𝑛(𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶)) – don’t know when you’d use it, but pretty cool
19.​Move around the graph (left click / pinch on trackpad, or use left click / middle mouse)
20.​Bring an external mouse (no, I promise you won’t look like a sweaty tryhard)

Honestly though, the biggest / most underrated time-saves come from using the keyboard instead
of your mouse or handheld calculator (IMO). Make sure you’re familiar with those tips
(especially ones like #12) above!

📖Secret Reading Strategies

Reading/Writing can be a beast, especially for non-native English speakers. But even though it’s
perceived as more “up to interpretation” than math, there are still a few key things to keep in
mind for this section, like how there’s still only ever one correct answer. Let’s go over that tip
(and more) for you down below:

1.​ One Correct Answer.

For every question, there is only ever one unequivocally correct answer. How you find that
answer is up to you. You can either a) Choose the correct answer right away, OR you can b)
eliminate the three wrong answers. Remember: even one small detail can make an entire answer
choice incorrect. If you’re having trouble finding it, read closely until you can cross it out.

To show you guys how to actually apply this strategy, I’ve got an illustrative example for you
down below:

Pro Tip: An answer can be incorrect because it’s factually incorrect (obviously), but even
factually true answers can be incorrect if they’re simply irrelevant to what the question is asking.

2.​ Chain of Thought.

For logical reasoning type questions (Command of Evidence, Inferences) it's important to form
and maintain a chain of thought to guide you through the questions. This can take different
forms, but typically I like to piece together information in steps, such as in an "if-then" format.
Pair this with "Cut The Fluff" to reason through the hardest passages.

Another example down below:

3.​ Cut the Fluff (Context Clues).

Not everything in a question is relevant. That doesn't mean you shouldn't read a question, but
rather you should know where to focus your attention. Read the blurbs at the top, the question
stem at the bottom, and then lock in on the middle (bulk) of the text with a new sense of focus.

Here’s an example of how this works:

 4.​ Words in Context.
Oh boy. These questions are tough. And yes, it's true that you may not know every single word
listed in the answer choices. But there are still things you can do to get these questions correct.
Pay close attention to context and connotation. If needed, use related words to try to deduce the
meaning of other, unknown words. Knowing common prefixes, suffixes, and root words also
helps.

This one’s probably my favorite example of how to apply a strategy. Take a look below:
 5.​ Mind Mapping.
This strategy is honestly underrated. To use mind mapping, keep a mental map of the passage
as you read through it. Take note of things like the main idea, tone, and flow of the passage.
Having a general idea of where everything is laid out makes it easier to go back if you need to
re-read. Also, make use of the "highlight", "notes", and "line reader" functions in the Bluebook
app as you see fit! (Many students don't even know these exist).

This strategy used to be much more important on the old SAT (where we had longer passages),
but it can still apply on the DSAT. You might just give less focus to how the passage progresses
over time, and instead note down other key details like character relationships, author’s
viewpoint (especially for Cross-Text Connections questions), and tone.
📓Must-Know Grammar Rules
Assuming your brain isn’t permanently fried from text speak and social media, you’ll likely find
grammar rules one of the easiest parts of the test to study. Even though reading and writing is
lumped into one section of the test now, grammar rules are still tested in their own distinct
category of questions (called Standard English Conventions). Khan Academy even has its own
section specifically for grammar.

The reason this section is separate from Reading Tips is because grammar (like math) is mainly
rule-based. If you know the rules and the ways they might test them, you should be able to rack
up some easy points here. Let’s go over some must-know tips:

●​ Semicolons and periods function the same way (full stop) if they are in the same spot in
the answer. If both show up in the same spot, they are both wrong.
○​ However, semicolons CAN also be used to separate items in a complex list (i.e.,
where the list items themselves already have commas). In that special case, they
function more like commas, not like periods.
●​ Nonessential clauses are information that is not needed in a sentence and serves to add
additional info or clarify something.
○​ They must be punctuated by the same punctuation on both sides (ex: “My friend
Mahad, who is smarter and funnier than Gohar, picked out these questions with
me”)
●​ Essential clauses are information that is needed in a sentence, otherwise the meaning
would substantially change.
○​ They do not need punctuation (ex: Shayan used the prep platform Adaptilearn to
study for his SAT)
●​ Independent clauses are sentences that can stand on their own and have a subject and a
verb. Do not connect two independent clauses together with a comma, unless you have a
FANBOYS conjunction in between (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So). Use a full stop like a
period or semicolon!
●​ Colons are used when an explanation or list follows previous information (before the
colon must be a complete sentence).
●​ Subjects and verbs must agree with one another in number (Subject-Verb Agreement)
○​ Singular subject → Singular verb (ex. The dog loves people)
○​ Plural subject → Plural verb (ex. The dogs love people).
●​ Be aware of prepositional phrases that modify nouns (also known as Adjective Phrases)
○​ The student in all of my classes tell us that the test was hard. (Incorrect)
○​ “Classes” is PLURAL, but does NOT count as part of the subject. The
subject-verb pair is STUDENT - TELLS, not CLASSES - TELL)
○​ Correct Version: The student in all of my classes tells us that the test was hard.
 ○​ These adjective phrases provide specificity to a noun in order to enhance our
understanding but do not count as part of the subject.
●​ Pro Tip: Remove the words between the subject and verb to make the relationship clearer
○​ The student in all of my classes tells us that the test was hard. ✓

⏰Last-Minute Tips
Here’s a collection of miscellaneous tips you should keep in mind prior to (and during) the test.

Review all missed questions meticulously. Understand why you got something wrong, why the
correct answer is correct, and why the other answers are incorrect. It’s not enough to just slam 5
practice tests if you don’t learn from your mistakes, so spend the time to review while you prep.

Timing is everything on the digital SAT. On average, you have ~70 seconds per RW question and
~95 seconds per Math question. That doesn’t mean you should dedicate the same amount of time
to each question though. Some questions might take you 30 seconds, while others might take you
3 minutes. The key is to distribute your time effectively and answer as many questions
confidently as you can. Remember that the DSAT also has experimental questions that don’t
count toward your score, so getting caught up on a single question for too long is a bad idea.

My advice? If you’ve looked at a problem for about 30 seconds and still don’t know how to
proceed, mark it for review and move on. You can always come back to it later.

Speaking of which, make sure you’re familiar with the Bluebook app before test day. For
Reading/Writing, you’ll be able to highlight and annotate text, and even use a line reader as
needed. For Math, you get a formula sheet and Desmos calculator. On both sections, you can
cross off answers you know are wrong or mark questions for review to come back to later. I hate
to say it, but if you haven’t taken a practice test and explored all those options prior to test day,
you’re probably cooked. So go ahead and download Bluebook now if you haven’t already.

As for test day itself, don’t cram the night before. It’s much more important to get a good night’s
sleep, and maybe do some light prep the morning of. Here’s a list of a few more DOs and
DON’Ts for test day:

DO DON’T
●​ Bring your ID and admissions ticket ●​ Cram the night before the test
●​ Bring a light snack for the break ●​ Get stuck on one question for too long
●​ Use tools like the highlighter, answer ●​ Forget to charge your testing device
eliminator, formula sheet, and Desmos ●​ Arrive late to the testing center

Good luck studying, and may you all get the scores you need for your dream school 🤝