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SAT Math: what it asks, and how to practise

The SAT's Math section is College Board's test of the maths most students learn by the end of high school, taken on a computer in its Bluebook app. This page sets out what College Board says the section covers and how it runs, and which parts preplaud lets you practise. preplaud covers the maths only; the SAT's Reading and Writing section isn't covered here.

Practise SAT maths Read the SAT Math guide Practise for this test

What College Board says

Questions	44
Time	70 minutes, in two 35-minute modules
Format	Multiple choice, and some questions where you enter the answer yourself; within each module the questions run from easier to harder
Calculator	Allowed for the whole Math section: a Desmos calculator is built in, or you can bring your own, as long as it isn't a CAS model
Four areas	Algebra (13 to 15 questions), Advanced Math (13 to 15), Problem-Solving and Data Analysis (5 to 7), Geometry and Trigonometry (5 to 7)
In context	About 30% of the questions are set in a real-world context

From College Board's SAT Suite pages (sources below). Question counts and timing are for the standard test; College Board lists accommodations separately.

The four areas, and where to practise each

Algebra: linear equations in one and two variables, linear functions, systems of two linear equations, and linear inequalities. Practise in Linear equations & systems and Functions & growth.
Advanced Math: equivalent expressions, nonlinear equations and systems, and nonlinear functions (quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational, radical, absolute value). Practise in Quadratics & powers, Expressions & nonlinear equations and Functions & growth.
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis: ratios, rates and units; percentages; one-variable data (centre and spread); two-variable data and scatterplots; probability and conditional probability; inference from samples and margin of error; and what observational studies and experiments can show. Practise in Data and percents and Statistics & studies.
Geometry and Trigonometry: area and volume; lines, angles and triangles; right triangles and trigonometry; and circles. Practise in Geometry and Trigonometry & circles.

The SAT & GRE maths check, on the Tests page, mixes all nine chapters in one timed run.

What practice can and cannot do

It makes the moves automatic. Most SAT maths items reward one known move (the roots of a quadratic add to −b/a; an angle in a semicircle is 90°), and every preplaud item explains the move it uses, step by step.
It doesn't copy the test. preplaud's questions are its own, made by its own generators in the SAT's style, and preplaud makes no claim that practice raises an SAT score.
Do College Board's practice tests too. Its full-length adaptive practice tests in Bluebook are the nearest thing to the real format, timing and calculator.

Start now

Practise SAT maths Take the maths check

Sources

College Board: SAT test structure (44 questions, 70 minutes, two 35-minute modules, some answers entered rather than selected)
College Board: the Math section, overview (two modules, easier to harder within each, the four areas and their question counts, about 30% in context)
College Board: Algebra, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, Geometry and Trigonometry, and the Math specifications (Advanced Math) (what each area covers)
College Board: SAT Suite calculator policy (the built-in Desmos calculator, and your own non-CAS one, throughout the Math section; read 21 October 2026)

preplaud is independent. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by College Board. SAT is a trademark of College Board, used here only to describe what the practice is for. preplaud's questions are its own and are not copies of College Board's. preplaud gives no pass marks, norms or score predictions.