The SAT Math section can feel like a beast, especially with test anxiety trying to mess with your confidence. But don’t worry—there are plenty of test-taking strategies that will help you stay calm, stay focused, and score big. And with the new Digital SAT, you’ve got a secret weapon right at your fingertips: the Desmos calculator.
In this post, we’re going to walk through some smart strategies to tackle SAT Math and show you how to use the Desmos calculator to your advantage so you can approach test day with confidence.
Strategy 1: Know When to Use the Desmos Calculator
First things first: the new Digital SAT lets you use the Desmos calculator throughout the entire Math section. This is a game-changer because it saves you from doing tricky calculations by hand. However, don’t rely on the calculator for everything—sometimes using your brain is faster!
Here’s how to make smart decisions about when to use Desmos:
- Use it for complicated calculations: If you see a problem that involves nasty decimals, complex fractions, or exponents, Desmos can save you loads of time. Type in the values, hit enter, and boom—no more stressing over long division or tricky mental math.
- Graphing made easy: Desmos is fantastic for graphing problems. If you need to visualize a linear equation, quadratic, or even a system of equations, Desmos can graph it for you in seconds. This is especially useful if you’re not sure what a graph looks like or how it behaves.
- Avoid simple mistakes: For basic calculations like multiplying or dividing, using Desmos can help you avoid silly errors caused by rushing. Even though you could do some calculations in your head, it doesn’t hurt to double-check on the calculator.
That said, don’t let SAT anxiety push you to overuse the calculator! Simple problems like adding and subtracting small numbers are often faster to solve without any tools.
Strategy 2: Read the Problem Carefully
One of the most common mistakes students make isn’t about math skills—it’s about misreading the problem. When test anxiety kicks in, it’s easy to rush through the question, miss key details, and end up solving for the wrong thing.
Here’s what to do:
- Highlight key info: As you read each question, use the highlighting feature available in the Digital SAT to mark the important information. Are they asking for the value of xxx, or the total amount of something after a certain time? Did they throw in extra info you don’t need? Catching these details upfront can save you from falling into the SAT’s sneaky traps.
- Watch out for units: Make sure you’re working with the right units—miles, feet, dollars, etc. The SAT loves to throw in different units to trip students up. For example, if a problem gives time in minutes but asks for an answer in hours, you need to convert before you solve.
Strategy 3: Use the Process of Elimination
One of the best ways to beat SAT anxiety is to focus on eliminating wrong answers rather than trying to find the right one right away. This strategy can help, especially on tougher questions where the correct answer isn’t immediately obvious.
Here’s how it works:
- Disregard the impossible answers: On the SAT, some answer choices will be way off. Maybe they’re too big, too small, or don’t make sense in the context of the question. By getting rid of these, you narrow down your options and increase your chances of guessing correctly if you need to.
- Test the remaining choices: If you’re not sure which answer is correct, plug the remaining options back into the equation or problem. If one of them works, you’ve found your answer!
This method is especially handy when you’re feeling the pressure of time running out or when test anxiety makes you second-guess yourself.
Strategy 4: Manage Your Time Wisely
Time management is key on the SAT, especially when SAT anxiety can make you feel like you’re running out of time. There are 58 questions on the Math section, and you’ve got 80 minutes to solve them, so that’s about a minute and a half per question.
Here’s how to pace yourself:
- Skip and return: If you’re stuck on a problem, don’t waste precious time trying to figure it out. Skip it, mark it, and move on to the next one. You can always come back later if you have time at the end.
- Prioritize the easy ones: Answer the questions you know first. This builds your confidence and ensures you’re grabbing as many easy points as possible before tackling the trickier problems.
- Keep an eye on the clock: Don’t let the clock make you panic, but do keep track of time. Check in with yourself halfway through the section to see how you’re doing. If you find you’re spending too long on one question, move on.
Strategy 5: Practice With the Desmos Calculator Before Test Day
Desmos is a powerful tool, but only if you know how to use it. Since it’s built into the Digital SAT, take some time before test day to get comfortable with it. The more familiar you are with its features, the faster and more accurately you’ll be able to use it during the test.
Here are some things to practice:
- Graphing functions: Try entering different linear and quadratic equations to see how Desmos graphs them.
- Solving equations: Use Desmos to solve basic equations and check your work.
- Finding intercepts: Use Desmos to quickly find the intercepts of a graph—this can come in handy for SAT problems that ask for specific points on a graph.
The more you practice, the less likely test anxiety will creep in when you’re using Desmos on the real test. You’ll feel confident navigating the calculator and knowing exactly when to use it.
Final Thoughts
The SAT Math section doesn’t have to be intimidating, especially if you have a solid game plan and know how to use the Desmos calculator to your advantage. By following these strategies—reading questions carefully, eliminating wrong answers, managing your time, and practicing with Desmos—you’ll be in great shape to tackle SAT Math confidently, even when test anxiety tries to throw you off.
So, take a deep breath, trust your prep, and go crush that Digital SAT!