Welcome to this section
Learning goal: know exactly what is on the Digital SAT so nothing on test day is a surprise.
Everything on this page comes from official College Board sources. When you finish it, you will know the shape of the whole test.
The shape of the test
The whole test runs 2 hours and 14 minutes: 64 minutes of Reading and Writing, a 10-minute break, then 70 minutes of Math.
| Part | Time | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 64 minutes | 54 questions |
| Break | 10 minutes | Breathe. Walk. Snack. |
| Math | 70 minutes | 44 questions |
The test adapts to you, and that is good news
Each section comes in two equal parts called modules. Do well on part one and part two gets harder. Harder questions mean you are on track for a higher score, so if module two feels tough, do not panic. That is the test telling you that you are doing well.
Inside each module, questions generally run from easiest to hardest. Bank the easy points first.
Pacing
Reading and Writing gives you about a minute and 11 seconds per question. Math gives you more, about a minute and 35 seconds each. You have room to think. Use it.
What is in Reading and Writing
- Information and Ideas. What the passage says, what it suggests, and what evidence backs it up.
- Craft and Structure. Word meanings in context and why the writer built the passage this way.
- Expression of Ideas. Making writing sharper and better fitted to its purpose.
- Standard English Conventions. Grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
What is in Math
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Algebra | 13 to 15 |
| Advanced Math | 13 to 15 |
| Problem-Solving and Data Analysis | 5 to 7 |
| Geometry and Trigonometry | 5 to 7 |
About two thirds of the Math section is algebra and advanced math. That is exactly where we are pointing your practice.
Most of the test is multiple choice, but a few Math questions ask you to type your own answer instead of picking one. Do not let that surprise you on test day.
The calculator is always allowed
The calculator is allowed on every single Math question. You can bring your own approved handheld, and the Desmos graphing calculator is built right into Bluebook, the College Board app you will take the test in. We are going to make Desmos one of your best tools. There is a whole play for it in Math Plays. One more rule: calculators stay put away during Reading and Writing.