Hey! What’s going on in your mind? Aren’t you able to learn formulas, or are you relying on the formula sheet that the SAT will provide? You might be unsure if you will even get the formula sheet on the digital SAT or not?
Here’s the answer to all your questions:
Yes, you will get a formula sheet on the Digital SAT. But a basic formula reference is provided in the Bluebook section of the Digital SAT. You cannot entirely rely on the given formula sheet, since it covers standard geometry and algebra formulas, not everything you need to know.
What’s on the Digital SAT Math Section?
The Math section of the Digital SAT includes four primary content areas: Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry and Trigonometry. The Math section presents questions that have been mixed throughout the section instead of in categories, as is done in the Reading & Writing section. Questions are arranged by increasing difficulty in this section. Math problems will start out easier in the first half and will progress to more challenging problems in the second half of the section.
What’s Included in the SAT Formula Sheet?
The SAT includes a reference sheet for formulas that can help students work through math problems. While these formulas are ones that students should normally have memorised and committed to memory, having them in front of you can help improve accuracy and speed—so you won’t have to recall a forgotten formula.
The reference sheet includes:
- Area and circumference of a circle
- Area of a triangle, rectangle, and trapezoid
- Volume of rectangular solids, cylinders, and spheres
- Pythagorean Theorem
- Basic slope and distance formulas
What Should You Still Memorise?
Since the Digital SAT formula sheet only includes a few key geometry formulas, you’ll still need to memorise other important formulas from the remaining math topics.
To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a complete list of the formulas not included on the official sheet, so you’ll know exactly what to focus on for SAT math success!
Key Algebra Formulas to Know
Algebra questions on the Digital SAT focus on linear equations, functions, and inequalities. Students should have a solid understanding of the various ways to represent linear relationships and growth, including:
- Standard form
- Point-slope form
- Slope-intercept form
- Slope
Digital SAT Advanced Math Formulas
The Advanced Math section of the Digital SAT relies heavily on what is learned in Algebra and Algebra II. Students should expect to be asked to work with systems of linear and quadratic equations, polynomials, nonlinear functions and exponential functions, radicals, absolute value equations, and other topics related to advanced algebra.
Important formulas and concepts to review include:
- Forms of quadratic equations (standard, vertex, and quadratic formula)
- Polynomial factoring techniques
- Radical operation rules
- Properties of radicals
- Exponential functions
Formulas for Problem Solving and Data Analysis
SAT Problem Solving and Data Analysis questions often require working with percentages, probability, and interpreting data from tables, charts, and graphs—these skills are also relevant to ACT Science, as both include students applying mathematical reasoning and drawing conclusions based on different sets of data, like charts or graphs in a science context.
Students should feel comfortable using the formulas and strategies of dealing with data sets—averages, percentages, probability, value conversions from fractions to decimals, and percentages.
Geometry & Trigonometry Formulas (That Are Not Included in the SAT Formula Sheet)
The SAT Reference Sheet does not contain all of the Geometry and Trigonometry formulas that will be necessary to work through those questions on the exam. Students should be very familiar with concepts that are typically taught in Geometry and Pre-Calculus, and should be comfortable with these types of questions when they come up.
Here are some key items to review:
- Equation of a circle
- Arc length
- Area of a sector
- Angles created by parallel lines and intersecting lines
- Basic trig ratios (sine, cosine, tangent)
- Types of triangles and their properties
- Interior angles of triangles
- Surface Area formulas for 3D shapes.
That’s a huge time saver and a solution that requires less reliance on the onscreen tool.
Pro Tip:
Although the formula sheet is available to help you, you shouldn’t be slowed down by it. Prepare with it in advance so you are clear on where to look, or better yet, learn the basics!
How The Princeton Review Can Help You Master SAT Math Formulas
The formula sheet is helpful, but confidence is built through practice and smart preparation – that is where The Princeton Review can help.
Focused Formula Practice: The Princeton Review’s SAT courses only focus on the formulas that will be tested, and help you internalize those formulas through focused, efficient, frequent practice.
Test-Taking Strategies: Know when to use the formula sheet, and when mental shortcuts or estimating is faster and better. Test-taking strategies are also a big part of feeling confident on test day.
Diagnostic Assessments: Discover the formulas that they were forgetting or incorrectly applying—and learn specific ways for each individual to address those areas for improvement.
Expert instruction: Instructors analyse formula-based questions, step by step, to allow students to develop speed and accuracy.
Practice With Official-Style Questions: Familiarise yourself with Digital SAT tools, including how to rapidly access the formula sheet in the bluebook section while taking the test.
Bottom line: The Princeton Review doesn’t simply prepare you for using the formula sheet—it prepares you to move beyond its use.