SAT Basics
The SAT has two main sections. Name both.
Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math
What are "Paired questions" (Part A and Part B) on the SAT Reading section?
Part A asks about a passage. Part B asks you to identify the evidence that supports your Part A answer
"The scientist's findings were SEMINAL, influencing decades of future research." What does SEMINAL most likely mean here?
Highly influential / groundbreaking / foundational
Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 22
x = 5
What is sin(30°)?
1/2 (or 0.5)
What is the maximum composite score on the SAT?
1600 (800 per section)
Name the four main reading passage types found on the SAT.
Literature, Historical Documents, Science, Social Science
"Her speech was ELOQUENT, moving the audience to tears." What does ELOQUENT mean?
Fluent and persuasive in expression
What is the slope of a line passing through (2, 3) and (6, 11)?
Slope = 2 (rise/run = 8/4 = 2)
Factor completely: x² − 9
(x + 3)(x − 3) — difference of squares
Approximately how long is the Digital SAT
About 2 hours 14 minutes
A question asks: "What is the central idea of this passage?" This is testing which reading skill?
Finding the main idea
"The critic's review was SCATHING, calling the film a complete disaster." SCATHING most nearly means:
Harshly critical / severely damaging
A store marks up an item by 20% and then offers a 10% discount. What is the net percent change in price?
8% increase (1.20 × 0.90 = 1.08)
Solve: x² − 5x + 6 = 0
x = 2 or x = 3
What does "adaptive testing" mean in the context of the Digital SAT?
The difficulty of Module 2 adjusts based on your performance in Module 1
If a passage is written with admiration and awe toward its subject, how would you describe the author's TONE?
Reverent / admiring / appreciative (accept similar positive tones)
"The new policy was seen as DRACONIAN by many citizens." What does DRACONIAN mean in context?
Excessively harsh or severe
The mean of five numbers is 14. Four of the numbers are 10, 12, 16, and 18. What is the fifth number?
14 (sum needed = 70; 10+12+16+18 = 56; 70−56 = 14)
If f(x) = 2x² − 3x + 1, what is f(−2)?
15 (2(4) − 3(−2) + 1 = 8 + 6 + 1 = 15)
Name two ways colleges use SAT scores in their admissions process.
Any two: scholarship eligibility, course placement, admissions decisions, merit aid qualification
What is the difference between an author's PURPOSE and a passage's MAIN IDEA?
Main idea = what the passage is about; Author's purpose = WHY the author wrote it (to inform, persuade, entertain, etc.)
"Despite his TACITURN reputation, he delivered a surprisingly lengthy speech." TACITURN means:
Reserved / tending to say little / not talkative
A circle has a circumference of 16π. What is the area of the circle?
64π square units (C = 2πr → r = 8; A = πr² = 64π)
In a right triangle, the two legs are 5 and 12. What is cos(θ) for the angle opposite the side of length 5?
cos(θ) = 5/13 (hypotenuse = 13; adjacent = 5; cos = adj/hyp)