SAT OwlDigital SAT skill guides
One guide for each of the official Digital SAT skills: what the questions look like, a step-by-step method, a worked example, and the traps that cost students points.
Geometry and Trigonometry
How to solve SAT area and volume questions
Solve SAT area, volume, and surface area questions with the reference sheet formulas, composite shapes, and scale factors, plus worked examples and traps.How to solve SAT circle questions
Find a circle's center and radius by completing the square, compute arc length and sector area in degrees or radians, and use SAT circle angle rules.How to solve SAT lines, angles, and triangles questions
Solve SAT angle and triangle questions with parallel line rules, triangle angle sums, and similar triangle proportions, plus worked examples and traps.How to solve SAT right triangle and trigonometry questions
Use the Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles, SOHCAHTOA, and sin-cos complements on SAT right triangle questions, with worked examples and traps.
Solve SAT area, volume, and surface area questions with the reference sheet formulas, composite shapes, and scale factors, plus worked examples and traps.How to solve SAT circle questions
Find a circle's center and radius by completing the square, compute arc length and sector area in degrees or radians, and use SAT circle angle rules.How to solve SAT lines, angles, and triangles questions
Solve SAT angle and triangle questions with parallel line rules, triangle angle sums, and similar triangle proportions, plus worked examples and traps.How to solve SAT right triangle and trigonometry questions
Use the Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles, SOHCAHTOA, and sin-cos complements on SAT right triangle questions, with worked examples and traps.
Standard English Conventions
How to solve SAT Boundaries questions on punctuation
SAT punctuation rules for joining clauses and setting off extra information, with original worked examples and the comma and semicolon traps to avoid.How to solve SAT Form, Structure, and Sense grammar questions
SAT grammar for agreement, verb tense and form, pronouns, possessives, and modifiers. A clear method with original examples and the top traps.
SAT punctuation rules for joining clauses and setting off extra information, with original worked examples and the comma and semicolon traps to avoid.How to solve SAT Form, Structure, and Sense grammar questions
SAT grammar for agreement, verb tense and form, pronouns, possessives, and modifiers. A clear method with original examples and the top traps.
Information and Ideas
How to solve SAT Central Ideas and Details questions
A tutor's method for SAT main idea and detail questions, with original worked examples and the wrong-answer patterns that show up most often.How to solve SAT Command of Evidence questions
Pick the quotation, finding, or data point that supports an SAT claim. Covers textual and table or graph questions with original worked examples.How to solve SAT inference questions
Finish the logic of SAT "most logically completes the text" passages. A method for inference questions, two original examples, and common traps.
A tutor's method for SAT main idea and detail questions, with original worked examples and the wrong-answer patterns that show up most often.How to solve SAT Command of Evidence questions
Pick the quotation, finding, or data point that supports an SAT claim. Covers textual and table or graph questions with original worked examples.How to solve SAT inference questions
Finish the logic of SAT "most logically completes the text" passages. A method for inference questions, two original examples, and common traps.
Craft and Structure
How to solve SAT Cross-Text Connections questions
Compare two short SAT passages and predict how one author would respond to the other. A step-by-step method, an original paired example, and traps.How to solve SAT Text Structure and Purpose questions
Identify an SAT passage's purpose, its overall structure, or the role of one sentence. A step-by-step method, original examples, and traps to avoid.How to solve SAT Words in Context questions
Choose the most precise word for an SAT blank or a word's meaning in context. A clue-finding method, original examples, and common vocabulary traps.
Compare two short SAT passages and predict how one author would respond to the other. A step-by-step method, an original paired example, and traps.How to solve SAT Text Structure and Purpose questions
Identify an SAT passage's purpose, its overall structure, or the role of one sentence. A step-by-step method, original examples, and traps to avoid.How to solve SAT Words in Context questions
Choose the most precise word for an SAT blank or a word's meaning in context. A clue-finding method, original examples, and common vocabulary traps.
Advanced Math
How to solve SAT equivalent expressions questions
Expand, factor, and simplify SAT equivalent expressions, match coefficients, apply exponent rules, and check answers fast with a test value or Desmos.How to solve SAT nonlinear equations and systems
Solve SAT quadratic, radical, and absolute value equations, use the discriminant, and handle line-and-parabola systems, with worked examples and traps.How to solve SAT nonlinear functions questions
Work SAT quadratic and exponential function questions, read vertex, zeros, and growth rates from each form, and avoid common sign and percent traps.
Expand, factor, and simplify SAT equivalent expressions, match coefficients, apply exponent rules, and check answers fast with a test value or Desmos.How to solve SAT nonlinear equations and systems
Solve SAT quadratic, radical, and absolute value equations, use the discriminant, and handle line-and-parabola systems, with worked examples and traps.How to solve SAT nonlinear functions questions
Work SAT quadratic and exponential function questions, read vertex, zeros, and growth rates from each form, and avoid common sign and percent traps.
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis
How to solve SAT observational study and experiment questions
Decide what an SAT study design supports. Learn when results generalize, when they show cause and effect, and how to spot overreaching answer choices.How to solve SAT margin of error and sampling questions
Use SAT sample data to estimate population values, read margin of error correctly, and avoid overgeneralizing, with two worked examples and common traps.How to solve SAT mean, median, and spread questions
Find mean and median from lists and frequency tables, judge how outliers change them, and compare spread on SAT one-variable data questions.How to solve SAT percentage questions
Handle SAT percent change, reverse percents, and successive discounts with multipliers, plus worked examples and the traps that cost students points.How to solve SAT probability and two-way table questions
Find SAT probabilities and conditional probabilities from two-way tables by choosing the right denominator, with a worked example and common traps.How to solve SAT ratios, rates, and unit conversion questions
Set up SAT proportions, split totals by ratio, and convert units, including square units, with a reliable method, worked examples, and common traps.How to solve SAT scatterplot and line of best fit questions
Read SAT scatterplots, interpret line of best fit slope and intercept, find residuals, and tell linear from exponential models with worked examples.
Decide what an SAT study design supports. Learn when results generalize, when they show cause and effect, and how to spot overreaching answer choices.How to solve SAT margin of error and sampling questions
Use SAT sample data to estimate population values, read margin of error correctly, and avoid overgeneralizing, with two worked examples and common traps.How to solve SAT mean, median, and spread questions
Find mean and median from lists and frequency tables, judge how outliers change them, and compare spread on SAT one-variable data questions.How to solve SAT percentage questions
Handle SAT percent change, reverse percents, and successive discounts with multipliers, plus worked examples and the traps that cost students points.How to solve SAT probability and two-way table questions
Find SAT probabilities and conditional probabilities from two-way tables by choosing the right denominator, with a worked example and common traps.How to solve SAT ratios, rates, and unit conversion questions
Set up SAT proportions, split totals by ratio, and convert units, including square units, with a reliable method, worked examples, and common traps.How to solve SAT scatterplot and line of best fit questions
Read SAT scatterplots, interpret line of best fit slope and intercept, find residuals, and tell linear from exponential models with worked examples.
Algebra
How to solve SAT linear equations in one variable
A step-by-step method for SAT linear equations in one variable, with worked examples, no-solution questions, common traps, and a Desmos check.How to solve SAT linear equations in two variables
How to write, read, and graph SAT linear equations in two variables, including standard form, intercepts, and parallel and perpendicular lines.How to solve SAT linear functions questions
Learn to find, use, and interpret linear functions on the SAT, with a method for slope and intercept, two worked examples, common traps, and a Desmos tip.How to solve SAT linear inequalities questions
Solve SAT linear inequalities in one or two variables, translate "at least" and "at most" word problems, and test points in systems of inequalities.How to solve SAT systems of linear equations
Solve SAT systems of two linear equations with substitution, elimination, and shortcuts, plus how to handle no-solution and infinite-solution questions.
A step-by-step method for SAT linear equations in one variable, with worked examples, no-solution questions, common traps, and a Desmos check.How to solve SAT linear equations in two variables
How to write, read, and graph SAT linear equations in two variables, including standard form, intercepts, and parallel and perpendicular lines.How to solve SAT linear functions questions
Learn to find, use, and interpret linear functions on the SAT, with a method for slope and intercept, two worked examples, common traps, and a Desmos tip.How to solve SAT linear inequalities questions
Solve SAT linear inequalities in one or two variables, translate "at least" and "at most" word problems, and test points in systems of inequalities.How to solve SAT systems of linear equations
Solve SAT systems of two linear equations with substitution, elimination, and shortcuts, plus how to handle no-solution and infinite-solution questions.
Expression of Ideas
How to solve SAT Rhetorical Synthesis notes questions
SAT notes questions reward the choice that meets the stated goal. Learn a goal-first method, work through an original example, and avoid the usual traps.How to solve SAT transition questions
Pick the right SAT transition by naming the logical relationship first. Includes a chart of common transitions, original examples, and traps.
SAT notes questions reward the choice that meets the stated goal. Learn a goal-first method, work through an original example, and avoid the usual traps.How to solve SAT transition questions
Pick the right SAT transition by naming the logical relationship first. Includes a chart of common transitions, original examples, and traps.