The Digital SAT Math section is designed to assess students' mathematical skills and logical thinking abilities. The Math section consists of two modules, each containing 22 questions, and each module lasts 35 minutes. The difficulty level of the questions in the second module is adjusted according to the student's performance in the first module. The questions in the section are presented in four areas: algebra, advanced mathematics, problem-solving and data analysis, geometry, and trigonometry.
The types of questions are divided into two categories – multiple-choice and open-ended questions that require the student to write their own answers. Approximately 25% of the questions are open-ended, and 75% are multiple-choice.
Some students face certain difficulties in the math section of the exam, which prevent them from achieving high scores. Scoring well on the Digital SAT Math section requires planned and purposeful preparation. The preparation phase and certain actions during the exam can help you improve your mathematical abilities and acquire additional skills for the test. Let’s take a look at these steps.
Set a Goal
The first step to achieving a perfect score in the Digital SAT Math section is to set a clear target. Some universities place special emphasis on the math score of the exam. For example, if you want to apply to an engineering program, a high math score is essential. In some fields, universities expect the math score to be higher than others. Therefore, you should analyze your field, universities, and current mathematical skills to set your target. To achieve a high score, you should first analyze which topics you need to focus on more and where your gaps are. Your strategy for progress may vary according to your current level of knowledge. In short, you should first determine your current level and the level you want to reach.
Evaluate the Topics Correctly
It is not enough to divide the section into four areas. You should know which topics are more likely to appear in the exam and assess the topics according to your target. For instance, if you want to improve your low math score, you should know that topics such as functions, linear functions, triangles and polygons, quadratic equations, percentages and ratios, mean, median, mode, and others make up about 50% of the exam, and you should focus on them. If you are aiming for a perfect score of 800, you should also master less common topics like multivariable division, trigonometry, complex numbers, experimental interpretation, etc. Therefore, you should be aware of your target and evaluate the topics accordingly.
Identify Your Weaknesses
Every student may have different weaknesses. For example, one student may not have sufficient mathematical skills, while another may be knowledgeable but struggles to solve questions quickly, leading to a low score. Students may need to strengthen both their subject knowledge and other skills.
Analyze Why You Made Mistakes
During your exam preparation, you may make certain mistakes while solving tests or taking practice exams. Many students fail to reflect on "why did I get this question wrong?" and make the same mistakes again. Understanding the error and working on its cause can be exhausting, so many students avoid this process and ignore their mistakes. If you don’t understand why you got a question wrong, the chances of repeating that mistake are quite high. Therefore, if you want to achieve perfect results in the exam, review the questions you got wrong in practice tests and identify the mistakes.
Keep Practicing
No successful outcome can be achieved without consistency and discipline. Students must understand that time is limited, and they should act accordingly. Every hour you dedicate to preparation should contribute to your progress. You need to continuously work on your weaknesses and transform them into strengths. The benefits of the steps outlined above can only be realized when they are applied consistently. Otherwise, failure becomes inevitable.
Memorize Formulas and Master Their Application
Certain topics in mathematics require the memorization of formulas and their correct application. Without memorizing the formulas and repeatedly applying them to various types of questions, you cannot quickly solve the questions. Therefore, you should not overlook memorizing formulas and always practice applying them.
Use the Calculator Correctly
The built-in Desmos calculator in the Digital SAT is a powerful tool for the exam. You can use it to quickly perform multi-step calculations and plot graph systems for equations.
However, the calculator is not necessary for every question. Learning to solve questions without using the calculator will strengthen your mathematical skills and prevent you from relying solely on the calculator. Remember, understanding the question and the solution path is the key, and in many cases, solving questions without the calculator can be faster.
Review Your Answers
If you want to achieve the highest score in the exam, review your answers at the end of each module if you have extra time. For instance, if your goal is to get 800 points, you should be so proficient in solving problems that you have some extra time to go over the questions. Let’s assume you aim for the highest score and finish a module ahead of time. In this case, don’t just sit idle; immediately review any questions that you are not 100% sure about and try solving them in a different way.
Try Different Strategies
You might forget the solution to a particular question or get confused during the exam. For example, you may be presented with four options that meet a particular inequality condition, but the question asks you to choose the one that does not satisfy the condition. If you are unsure how to solve the inequality, you can substitute the answers to find the correct one. If you forget one method for solving a problem, quickly apply another strategy.
Never Leave a Question Blank
As you know, incorrect answers in the exam do not affect your score. Therefore, if you are unsure about a question, you can make an educated guess or eliminate answers to narrow down the choices. Every question you answer contributes to your score.
Stay Calm and Focused During the Exam
Many students experience confusion when facing difficulties in the exam and make similar mistakes in other questions. Regardless of what happens during the exam, you must remain calm and focus all your attention on the questions. Otherwise, you might reflect your confusion in other questions or waste time, increasing the likelihood of a poor result. To address issues such as time loss, stress, etc., you should participate in practice exams and work on resolving your existing problems.
