What Subjects Are on the Digital SAT?

Are you taking the digital SAT soon or beginning your preparations but aren't sure what's on the test? You may know that there's math calculations and some passages to read, but what subjects are on the SAT, exactly?

In this guide, we'll break down the subjects you need to know to do well on each section of the digital SAT. We'll end with tips you should follow when studying for the SAT.

Digital SAT Overview: Sections and Timing

Before we start looking in-depth at what subjects are on the SAT, let's first get a broad overview of what the SAT covers. There are two sections on the digital SAT: Reading and Writing (R&W) and Math.

In total, the digital SAT lasts 2 hours and 14 minutes. The SAT sections will always go in this order: the two Reading and Writing modules, a ten minute break, then the two Math modules. 

Below, for each section of the SAT, I'll explain what subjects it covers.

What Subjects Are on SAT Reading and Writing?

All questions on SAT Reading and Writing are based on passages. The reading passages in the digital SAT will be shorter than those on the paper exam, and instead of answering multiple questions in response to a single passage, you’ll now answer only one question per passage. That means you'll see 64 short passages on this section (one for each question), and each passage will be about 25-150 words long.

SAT Reading and Writing includes the following question types:

1. Information and Ideas (12–14 questions): Use details from brief texts, tables, and infographics to determine the main idea, choose the best evidence to support a claim, answer comprehension questions, or infer the most logical way to complete an excerpt.
2. Craft and Structure (13–15 questions): Define words and phrases that appear in lines of poetry or sentences of prose, evaluate how passages are making arguments, or connect ideas presented in two excerpts (e.g., determining whether one idea builds on another or whether two paragraphs are making similar or different claims).
3. Expression of Ideas (8–12 questions): Select the transitional word or phrase that makes the author’s meaning clearer for readers, or use a short set of provided notes to decide which of the answers achieves a particular purpose (e.g., which answer represents a comparison, or which answer represents a contrast).
4. Standard English Conventions (11–15 questions): Choose answers that reflect your knowledge of conventional grammar and mechanics.

The order and number of these types of questions will differ because, according to the College Board, each student will receive a unique test form.

Subjects This Section Covers

The digital SAT features a greater range of topics, tones, and styles than the paper test, with more questions stemming from the humanities and a few poetry questions added (often by authors from the early 1900s and before). However, the passages and their corresponding questions will be grouped by the skill set they’re testing rather than by the reading topic. 

Even though the SAT Reading and Writing passages will be on different subjects such as literature, science, and social science, you don't need to worry about having any prior knowledge on what each passage discusses. You'll be able to answer all the questions based on information provided in the passage, so you don't need to worry about memorizing information on biology, U.S. documents, etc. beforehand.

The SAT Reading and Writing section primarily tests critical reading skills such as the ability to read a passage and understand the conclusions the author makes, being able to understand what certain vocabulary means, and the ability to analyze the relationship between graphics and the passages they accompany. The skills you use for this section are similar to the skills you use in your English classes when you're reading a book, article, or other form of writing. For both your class and the exam, you'll need to be able to analyze the piece of writing and the author's intentions.

What Subjects Are on SAT Math?

With the new digital SAT format, SAT Math will be 70 minutes long and 44 questions, divided equally between two modules. Of the 44 questions, 33 will be multiple choice, and 11 will be grid in. You can use a calculator on the entire section.

Subjects This Section Covers

The digital SAT will no longer test reading skills in the Math section. The digital format will instead feature more concise, straightforward questions that focus on your mathematical understanding rather than your reading ability.

Here are the types of questions you'll see on SAT Math:

• Algebra (13–15 questions): Develop, analyze, or solve linear equations and inequalities as well as systems of equations.
• Advanced Math (13–15 questions): Create, interpret, or solve a variety of problem types, such as quadratic equations, polynomial operations, or absolute-value equations.
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis (5–7 questions): Answer prompts about ratios, rates, or proportions; convert units; calculate percentages; analyze data with one or two variables; or infer data and evaluate claims from statistics.
• Geometry and Trigonometry (5–7 questions): Solve problems involving perimeter, area, or volume; angles, triangles, or trigonometry; and circles. The digital SAT will have nearly double the number of geometry and trigonometry questions as the paper version (15% of the section as opposed to the previous 8%).

Here's a more detailed list of the 24 main subjects SAT Math covers: 

Basic Algebra

• Linear functions
• Single variable equations
• Systems of linear equations
• Absolute value

Advanced Algebra

• Manipulating polynomials
• Quadratic equations
• Dividing polynomials
• Exponential functions
• Function notation
• Solving exponential equations
• Solving exponential equations

Problem Solving and Data Analysis

• Ratios and proportions
• Scatterplots and graphs
• Categorical data and probabilities
• Experimental interpretation
• Median, median, mode, standard deviation

Additional Topics

• Coordinate geometry - lines and slopes
• Coordinate geometry - nonlinear functions
• Geometry - circles
• Geometry - lines and angles
• Geometry - solid geometry
• Geometry - triangles and polygons
• Trigonometry
• Complex numbers

The majority of questions (over half) will be on algebra, so this is the subject you should focus most of your studying on.

A maximum of 15% of questions will cover geometry and trigonometry, and these questions will ask only basic questions on these subjects, so if you haven't taken classes in either of them, you should still be able to learn the information you need to know fairly easily.

How to Prepare for the Subjects on the SAT: 3 Further Tips

Knowing what subjects are on the SAT will help you become more comfortable and familiar with the exam, which will likely help your score. Follow these three additional tips to be sure you're getting the most out of your digital SAT prep.

Answer High-Quality Practice Questions

Now you know which subjects are on the SAT, but you still need to be familiar with SAT questions. Just knowing that algebra, geometry, and trig will be on SAT Math isn't enough; you'll want to know how questions on each of these subjects are worded in order to become really familiar with the SAT and maximize your score.

Answering lots of practice questions is the best way to do this. You can use questions from practice exams (discussed more below), or from a high-quality SAT prep book.

Take Complete Practice Exams

During your studying, you'll want to take at least one (and ideally at least three to four) complete practice SATs. Taking complete practice SATs is important because it gives you the most realistic idea of what the real digital SAT will be like. You'll learn how testing for several hours affects you, if you get tired and distracted towards the later sections, and, after you score your exam, you'll have a good idea of how well you'd do on the actual SAT. You'll also get to experience switching between the different subjects the SAT tests and learn how well you manage that.

Be sure to take your SAT under realistic testing conditions. That means take the test on the computer, all in one sitting, timed, and with minimal distractions. Try to use official practice tests on the Bluebook App since they'll be the closest to the real SAT. 

Target Your Weak Areas

When you're studying for the SAT, make sure you're spending most of your time on the areas you need to improve in the most. After each practice exam or set of practice problems you complete, go through the questions and figure out which subjects you're making most of your mistakes in.

Try to get as specific as possible. Maybe your SAT Math section is your lowest score, but which questions exactly are you getting wrong? Maybe you're nailing the algebra questions but get tripped up geometry, for example. This is where your knowledge of the subjects on the SAT will come in handy because you'll be able to more easily identify the areas you need to improve in the most.

After you've figured out which subjects you can improve the most in, spend most of your time on these areas. By doing so, you'll likely see score improvements more quickly.

Conclusion: What Subjects Are on the Digital SAT Test?

The digital SAT has two major sections that will test your skills in reading comprehension, writing and grammar, and math. Each of these sections includes material from several different subjects that you should be comfortable with.

Knowing which subjects are on the SAT will help you be better prepared for the test. To help with your studying, you should also complete high-quality practice problems and practice exams and pinpoint your weak areas so that your studying is effective and focused.

What's Next?

Wondering what a good SAT score is? Learn how to set a score goal based on the schools you want to get into.

Want access to more practice SATs? We have links to free and official SAT practice tests you can use during your studying!

Thinking about using Khan Academy for SAT prep? Khan Academy can be a great resource if you know how to use it correctly. Read our guide to learn how to make the best use of Khan Academy!