SAT Format & Scoring
How many main sections does the Digital SAT have?
Two sections: Reading & Writing, and Math
In the sentence 'The scientist's findings were seminal to the field,' what does 'seminal' most nearly mean?
Groundbreaking / foundational / highly influential
What are the FOUR main passage types found in the SAT Reading & Writing section?
Literature, Historical Documents, Social Science, and Natural Science
Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 22
x = 5
What is the formula for the area of a circle with radius r?
A = πr²
What is the score range for each section of the SAT, and what is the maximum total composite score?
200–800 per section; 1600 total composite
A passage states: 'The diplomat's candor surprised everyone at the summit.' What does 'candor' most nearly mean?
Honesty / frankness / straightforwardness
An author opens with a personal anecdote, then provides statistics, then ends with a call to action. What is the author's PRIMARY purpose?
To persuade the reader to take action by combining emotional appeal with factual evidence
A store sells shirts for $24 each. After a 25% discount, what is the sale price of one shirt?
$18
A right triangle has legs of length 6 and 8. What is the length of the hypotenuse?
10 (using the Pythagorean theorem: 6² + 8² = 36 + 64 = 100; √100 = 10)
The Digital SAT uses 'adaptive testing.' What does this mean?
The second module's difficulty adjusts based on how well you did on the first module
In context, the word 'ephemeral' in 'the ephemeral nature of social media trends' most nearly means ___.
Short-lived / fleeting / temporary
In a Paired question (Part A / Part B), what is Part B always asking you to do?
Identify the evidence in the passage that BEST supports your answer to Part A
equation y = 2x + 5 is graphed. What is the slope, and where does it cross the y-axis?
Slope = 2; y-intercept = 5 (point: 0, 5)
In a right triangle, sin(θ) = opposite/hypotenuse. If the opposite side = 5 and the hypotenuse = 13, what is sin(θ)?
sin(θ) = 5/13
Approximately how many questions are on the Reading & Writing section of the Digital SAT, and how long do you have?
54 questions (two modules of 27); 64 minutes total
A passage describes a politician who 'vacillated on the issue for months.' What does 'vacillated' most nearly mean?
Wavered / went back and forth / was indecisive
A passage describes an experiment, presents conflicting results, and concludes that more research is needed. What is the author's TONE?
Objective / cautious / measured / analytical
If f(x) = x² − 4x + 3, what are the zeros (roots) of the function?
x = 1 and x = 3 (factor: (x−1)(x−3) = 0)
The volume of a cylinder is V = πr²h. If r = 3 and h = 7, what is the volume? (leave in terms of π)
V = 63π cubic units
Name TWO ways colleges typically use SAT scores in their admissions process.
Any two: evaluate academic readiness, compare applicants, scholarship eligibility, course placement, or meet minimum admission requirements
The word 'propitious' appears in: 'The calm weather proved propitious for the launch.' Which meaning fits the context BEST: (A) dangerous, (B) favorable, (C) unexpected, or (D) brief?
(B) favorable — 'propitious' means giving or indicating a good chance of success
You must choose the sentence that best completes a passage about urban heat islands. Which transition word signals a CONTRAST between the previous sentence and the new sentence?
Words that signal contrast: However, Nevertheless, Yet, On the other hand, Despite, Although, Whereas, Conversely
A system of equations: 2x + 3y = 12 and x − y = 1. Solve for both x and y.
x = 3, y = 2 (substitute x = y + 1 into the first equation)
In a circle, a central angle of 60° intercepts an arc. If the radius is 12, what is the LENGTH of that arc? (leave in terms of π)
Arc length = (60/360) × 2π(12) = (1/6) × 24π = 4π