SAT Math is the second of the two sections of the digital SAT: 70 minutes split into two 35-minute modules, with 44 questions in all.
The test is taken on a device in the College Board's Bluebook app, and it adapts to you: how you do on the first module decides whether the second one is harder or easier. This guide sets out the structure of the section, the four areas of maths it covers, what the calculator policy allows, how the score is reported and what that means for the way you prepare.
What the digital SAT's Math section looks like
According to the College Board's page on how the SAT is structured, the test has two sections, Reading and Writing first and Math second, with a 10-minute break between them. Each section is divided into two equal-length modules.
| Section | Time | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 64 minutes (two 32-minute modules) | 54 |
| Math | 70 minutes (two 35-minute modules) | 44 |
| Total | 134 minutes, that is 2 hours 14 | 98 |
The first module of each section contains a broad mix of easy, medium and hard questions. Based on how you perform on it, the second module is either more difficult or less difficult. Within each module, the College Board's overview of the section says, questions are arranged from easiest to hardest.
About 75% of the math questions are four-option multiple choice. The rest are student-produced responses: you work out the answer and type it into a field. Some of these questions accept more than one correct answer, but you only enter one. Since you type your own number, being comfortable moving between fractions, decimals and percentages saves time.
The four math topics on the SAT
The College Board describes the section as focused on the areas of maths that play the biggest role in college and career success, with questions that measure fluency, understanding and the ability to apply concepts. It groups them into four areas, and questions from all four appear in each module. About 30% of the questions are set in context: a science, social studies or real-world scenario that you need to read before you can do the maths.
| Area | Number of questions | Share of the 44 |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra | 13 to 15 | About 30% to 34% |
| Advanced Math | 13 to 15 | About 30% to 34% |
| Problem-Solving and Data Analysis | 5 to 7 | About 11% to 16% |
| Geometry and Trigonometry | 5 to 7 | About 11% to 16% |
The arithmetic of that table matters for revision. Algebra and Advanced Math together account for 26 to 30 of the 44 questions, between 59% and 68% of the section. Geometry and Trigonometry is one of the two smaller areas; for its formulas, our guide to the area and circumference of a circle covers two of the most common ones.
The SAT calculator policy and Desmos
You can use a calculator for the whole Math section. The SAT Suite calculator policy offers two options: the Desmos calculator built into Bluebook, which you can switch between graphing and scientific modes at any point, or your own approved handheld calculator. Calculators are optional, and the College Board recommends bringing a familiar, approved model if you prefer a handheld.
The main rule is that calculators with CAS, a computer algebra system, are no longer allowed. A quick check is whether the model has "CAS" in its name, can manipulate algebraic expressions symbolically, for example by factoring or expanding, or gives exact symbolic answers to equations. The policy lists examples such as the TI-Nspire CAS, the HP Prime and the Casio ClassPad models. Phone calculator apps, models with QWERTY keyboards and devices with wireless, Bluetooth or cellular connections are also prohibited.
A few other rules apply on the day. You must remove programs that solve equations or manipulate algebra, and any stored documents. You may not use a calculator during the Reading and Writing section. And although basic four-function calculators are allowed, the policy does not recommend them, because they typically do not follow the order of operations; our guide to BIDMAS and the order of operations explains why that matters.
The policy also covers the practical side. Students can't share calculators, all sound must be turned off, and only battery-operated handheld equipment is allowed, with no power cords. Calculator covers stay under the desk throughout. If your calculator has characters one inch or larger, or a raised display that other students might see, the proctor decides where you sit.
How the SAT scores the math section
The SAT reports two section scores, one for Reading and Writing and one for Math, each on a scale from 200 to 800. The total score is the sum of the two, from 400 to 1600.
The College Board also publishes a college and career readiness benchmark for each section. For Math it is 530: according to the College Board, students who meet or exceed it have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in a first-semester, credit-bearing college course in algebra, statistics, precalculus or calculus. Scores from 510 to 520 count as approaching the benchmark, and scores up to 500 as not yet approaching it. The College Board adds that students below the benchmark can still succeed in college, especially with extra preparation.
The same scale runs through the rest of the SAT Suite, which helps if you take a PSAT first. On the PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT 10, the Math section is scored from 160 to 760, and on the PSAT 8/9 from 120 to 720. The College Board's grade-level benchmarks for Math are 510 in grade 11 and 480 in grade 10, set to show whether a student is on track for the SAT benchmark of 530.
The benchmark is a reference, not a pass mark. Colleges set their own expectations, so the score that matters for you is the one asked for by the programmes you are applying to.
How to prepare in the weeks before the test
Start with a full-length practice test in Bluebook, the same app used on test day, to see the format and get a first score. Because the second module depends on how you do in the first, careful work from the very first question matters.
Pacing is simple arithmetic: 35 minutes for 22 questions is about 1.6 minutes per question in each module. Because questions run from easiest to hardest, it usually pays to move steadily through the first part and keep more time for the end.
Practise with the calculator you will actually use. The College Board's advice is not to bring a calculator that is new to you, and if you plan to use Desmos, to explore it in the test preview or a practice test beforehand. Finally, spend most of your revision time where most of the questions are: algebra and advanced math.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the math section of the SAT?
70 minutes, in two modules of 35 minutes, with 44 questions in all.
Can you use a calculator on the SAT?
Yes, for the whole Math section: the Desmos calculator built into Bluebook or your own approved handheld calculator without CAS.
What topics are on the math section of the digital SAT?
Algebra and Advanced Math, with 13 to 15 questions each, and Problem-Solving and Data Analysis and Geometry and Trigonometry, with 5 to 7 each.
What Math score shows college readiness on the SAT?
The College Board's benchmark for Math is 530 on the 200 to 800 scale.
Is the digital SAT adaptive?
Yes. The second module of each section is harder or easier depending on how you did on the first one.
Practise mental maths in Kalc
Ten minutes a day, adapted to your level, with spaced repetition bringing back what you miss.