Preparing for SAT Math can feel overwhelming — but here’s the good news: the test revolves around a finite set of concepts that appear again and again.
In this post, we’ll cover every essential concept, and break down 11 key topics that tend to appear in almost every SAT exam. Stick around till the end — I have a free SAT Math Cheatsheet to help you revise all of this faster!
Let’s dive into the high-priority concepts:
🔵 1. Circles
Circles don’t appear in every question set, but when they do, it’s often about formulas and logical reasoning.
What to Know:
- Equation of a circle: (x−h)^2 + (y−k)^2 = r^2
- Radius & Center identification
- Arc length and sector area formulas
- Inscribed angles, central angles, and their relationships
- Using coordinate geometry to find distances/relationships
🧠 Watch for diagrams with missing values — they love testing your reasoning here!
🟨 2. Quadratics
Quadratics are tested in various forms — from basic factoring to graph transformations.
What to Know:
- Solving by factoring, completing the square, and quadratic formula
- Identifying roots, vertex, and axis of symmetry
- How the discriminant affects the number of solutions
- Vertex form and how it relates to graph shifts
🧠 You don’t always need to solve! Sometimes recognizing the form is enough.
➖ 3. Lines
Straight lines are foundational — expect questions that test both algebra and interpretation.
What to Know:
- Slope-intercept form: y=mx+by
- Parallel and perpendicular lines’ slopes
- Finding equations from points/slope
- Intersections of two lines (solution to systems)
- Interpreting linear graphs in context (word problems)
🧠 Always relate slope to the real-world rate of change if it’s a word problem.
🔺 4. Triangles
A few key properties go a long way with triangle questions.
What to Know:
- Triangle sum: All angles add up to 180°
- Isosceles and equilateral triangles and their properties
- Special right triangles: 30-60-90 and 45-45-90
- Triangle Inequality Theorem
- Side ratios in right triangles
- Congruent & Similar Triangles
🧠 When in doubt, draw and label! Visualizing helps you spot relationships.
📐 5. Trigonometry
Only the basics are tested, but they show up more often in the digital SAT.
What to Know:
- SOHCAHTOA: Sine, Cosine, Tangent
- Applying trig ratios in right triangles
- Understanding complementary angles
- Trig in word problems involving height/distance
🧠 You won’t need unit circle or identities — just triangle-based ratios.
📈 6. Exponential Functions
A favorite for testing growth/decay and interpretation skills.
What to Know:
- General form: y=a(1+r)^t for growth, or y = a(1 – r)^t for decay
- Identifying exponential growth vs. decay
- Matching real-world scenarios to exponential equations
- Interpreting graphs and tables with exponential patterns
🧠 Look for phrases like “doubles every year” or “decreases by 30%” — those are clues.
🔺 7. Angles
Angle problems can appear in standalone diagrams or within polygons.
What to Know:
- Vertical, adjacent, and linear pair angles
- Angles in parallel lines cut by a transversal
- Interior and exterior angles of polygons
- Complementary and supplementary angle relationships
🧠 Set up small equations — they often ask for missing values rather than theory.
🔢 8. Exponent Rules & Radicals
These rules are tested directly and within algebraic expressions.
What to Know:
- am⋅an=am+na^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n}
- (am)n=amn(a^m)^n = a^{mn}
- a0=1a^0 = 1, a−n=1ana^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}
- a⋅b=ab\sqrt{a} \cdot \sqrt{b} = \sqrt{ab}
- Rational exponents: a1/2=aa^{1/2} = \sqrt{a}
🧠 Many students lose easy points here due to sign or simplification mistakes.
📊 9. Statistics
Statistical questions often feel new, but the math is simple.
What to Know:
- Mean, median, mode, range
- Understanding standard deviation at a conceptual level
- Effects of outliers on mean vs. median
- Interpreting box plots, histograms, and data tables
- Understanding data shifts and re-scaling
🧠 They won’t ask you to calculate standard deviation, just interpret it.
🧱 10. Area, Surface Areas & Volumes
Geometric formulas can be easy points — if you know which ones to apply.
What to Know:
- Area of rectangles, triangles, and circles
- Volume of rectangular prisms, cylinders, and cones
- Surface area understanding
- Composite figures
- Real-world units and context-based geometry
🧠 Always check if they want volume, area, or just the setup. SAT often tests interpretation over calculation.
🛑 11. Polygons
These questions test pattern recognition and understanding of structure.
What to Know:
- Sum of interior angles: (n−2)×180∘(n – 2) \times 180^\circ
- Properties of regular polygons (equal sides & angles)
- Exterior angle: 360∘÷n360^\circ \div n
- Identifying number of sides from given angle measures
🧠 This topic often blends with angle-based problems — be ready to mix formulas.
🎁 Want to Review These Concepts in One Place?
That’s a lot of info, I know. Which is exactly why I created a SAT Math Cheatsheet — so you don’t have to dig through your notes every time.
📥 The Cheatsheet includes:
- Every must-know formula
- All the key topics listed above
- Simple definitions + usage tips
- Clean layout for fast revision
📌 Want a copy?
