CHAPTER 20
Sample Math
Questions:
Multiple-Choice
In the previous chapters, you learned about the four areas covered by
the SAT Math Test. On the test, questions from the areas are mixed
together, requiring you to solve different types of problems as you REMEMBER
progress. In each portion, no-calculator and calculator, you’ll first It’s important not to spend too
see multiple-choice questions and then student-produced response much time on any question. You’ll
questions. This chapter illustrates sample multiple-choice questions. have on average a minute and
These sample questions are divided into no-calculator and calculator fifteen seconds per question on the
no-calculator portion and a little
portions just as they would be on the actual test.
less than a minute and a half per
question on the calculator portion.
Test-Taking Strategies If you can’t solve a question in a
reasonable amount of time, skip
While taking the SAT Math Test, you may find that some questions it (remembering to mark it in your
are more difficult than others. Don’t spend too much time on any one booklet) and return to it later.
question. If you can’t answer a question in a reasonable amount of
time, skip it and return to it after completing the rest of the section.
It’s important to practice this strategy because you don’t want to waste
time skipping around to find “easy” questions. Mark each question
that you don’t answer in your booklet so you can easily go back to it
later. In general, questions are ordered by difficulty, with the easier REMEMBER
questions first and the harder questions last within each group of In general, questions are ordered by
multiple-choice questions and again within each group of student- difficulty with the easier questions
produced response questions. Don’t let the question position or first and the harder questions last
question type deter you from answering questions. Read and attempt within each group of multiple-
to answer every question you can. choice questions and again within
each group of student-produced
Read each question carefully, making sure to pay attention to units response questions, so the later
and other keywords and to understand exactly what information questions may take more time to
the question is asking for. You may find it helpful to underline key solve than those at the beginning.
257
,PART 3 | Math
information in the problem, to draw figures to visualize the information
given, or to mark key information on graphs and diagrams provided in
REMEMBER the booklet.
Knowing when to use a calculator is
When working through the test, remember to check your answer
one of the skills that is assessed by
the SAT Math Test. Keep in mind that
sheet to make sure you’re filling in your answer on the correct row
some questions are actually solved for the question you’re answering. If your strategy involves skipping
more efficiently without the use of a questions, it can be easy to get off track, so pay careful attention to
calculator. your answer sheet.
On the calculator portion, keep in mind that using a calculator may
not always be an advantage. Some questions are designed to be solved
more efficiently with mental math strategies, so using a calculator
may take more time. When answering a question, always consider the
reasonableness of the answer—this is the best way to catch mistakes
that may have occurred in your calculations.
Remember, there is no penalty for guessing on the SAT. If you don’t
know the answer to a question, make your best guess for that question.
Don’t leave any questions blank on your answer sheet. When you’re
unsure of the correct answer, eliminating the answer choices you know
are wrong will give you a better chance of guessing the correct answer
from the remaining choices.
REMEMBER
On the no-calculator portion of the test, you have 25 minutes to answer
Never leave questions blank on the
20 questions. This allows you an average of about 1 minute 15 seconds
SAT, as there is no penalty for wrong
per question. On the calculator portion of the test, you have 55 minutes
answers. Even if you’re not sure of
the correct answer, eliminate as to answer 38 questions. This allows you an average of about 1 minute
many answer choices as you can 26 seconds per question. Keep in mind that you should spend less time
and then guess from among the on easier questions so you have more time available to spend on the
remaining ones. more difficult ones.
258
, Chapter 20 | Sample Math Questions: Multiple-Choice
Directions
3 The directions below precede the no-calculator portion of the SAT Math
Test. The same references provided in the no-calculator portion of the
SAT Math Test are also provided in the calculator portion of the test.
PRACTICE AT
3
satpractice.org
Familiarize yourself with all test
directions now so that you don’t
have to waste precious time on test
day reading the directions.
Math Test – No Calculator
2 5 M INU TES, 2 0 QU EST I O NS
Turn to Section 3 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.
For questions 1-15, solve each problem, choose the best answer from the choices
provided, and fill in the corresponding bubble on your answer sheet. For questions 16-20,
solve the problem and enter your answer in the grid on the answer sheet. Please refer to
the directions before question 16 on how to enter your answers in the grid. You may use
any available space in your test booklet for scratch work.
1. The use of a calculator is not permitted.
2. All variables and expressions used represent real numbers unless otherwise indicated.
3. Figures provided in this test are drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated.
4. All figures lie in a plane unless otherwise indicated.
5. Unless otherwise indicated, the domain of a given function f is the set of all real numbers x for
which f(x) is a real number.
r
c 2x 60° s 45° s√2
w h b x
30° 45°
b a x√3 s
A = pr 2
1
A = bh c 2 = a2 + b 2 Special Right Triangles
A = w
2
C = 2pr
h r r h h
h
w r w
V = pr 2h 4
V = pr 3
1
V = pr 2h V = 1 wh
V = wh
3 3 3
The number of degrees of arc in a circle is 360.
The number of radians of arc in a circle is 2p.
The sum of the measures in degrees of the angles of a triangle is 180.
259
uthorized copying or reuse of any part of this page is illegal. 32 CO NTI N U E
Sample Math
Questions:
Multiple-Choice
In the previous chapters, you learned about the four areas covered by
the SAT Math Test. On the test, questions from the areas are mixed
together, requiring you to solve different types of problems as you REMEMBER
progress. In each portion, no-calculator and calculator, you’ll first It’s important not to spend too
see multiple-choice questions and then student-produced response much time on any question. You’ll
questions. This chapter illustrates sample multiple-choice questions. have on average a minute and
These sample questions are divided into no-calculator and calculator fifteen seconds per question on the
no-calculator portion and a little
portions just as they would be on the actual test.
less than a minute and a half per
question on the calculator portion.
Test-Taking Strategies If you can’t solve a question in a
reasonable amount of time, skip
While taking the SAT Math Test, you may find that some questions it (remembering to mark it in your
are more difficult than others. Don’t spend too much time on any one booklet) and return to it later.
question. If you can’t answer a question in a reasonable amount of
time, skip it and return to it after completing the rest of the section.
It’s important to practice this strategy because you don’t want to waste
time skipping around to find “easy” questions. Mark each question
that you don’t answer in your booklet so you can easily go back to it
later. In general, questions are ordered by difficulty, with the easier REMEMBER
questions first and the harder questions last within each group of In general, questions are ordered by
multiple-choice questions and again within each group of student- difficulty with the easier questions
produced response questions. Don’t let the question position or first and the harder questions last
question type deter you from answering questions. Read and attempt within each group of multiple-
to answer every question you can. choice questions and again within
each group of student-produced
Read each question carefully, making sure to pay attention to units response questions, so the later
and other keywords and to understand exactly what information questions may take more time to
the question is asking for. You may find it helpful to underline key solve than those at the beginning.
257
,PART 3 | Math
information in the problem, to draw figures to visualize the information
given, or to mark key information on graphs and diagrams provided in
REMEMBER the booklet.
Knowing when to use a calculator is
When working through the test, remember to check your answer
one of the skills that is assessed by
the SAT Math Test. Keep in mind that
sheet to make sure you’re filling in your answer on the correct row
some questions are actually solved for the question you’re answering. If your strategy involves skipping
more efficiently without the use of a questions, it can be easy to get off track, so pay careful attention to
calculator. your answer sheet.
On the calculator portion, keep in mind that using a calculator may
not always be an advantage. Some questions are designed to be solved
more efficiently with mental math strategies, so using a calculator
may take more time. When answering a question, always consider the
reasonableness of the answer—this is the best way to catch mistakes
that may have occurred in your calculations.
Remember, there is no penalty for guessing on the SAT. If you don’t
know the answer to a question, make your best guess for that question.
Don’t leave any questions blank on your answer sheet. When you’re
unsure of the correct answer, eliminating the answer choices you know
are wrong will give you a better chance of guessing the correct answer
from the remaining choices.
REMEMBER
On the no-calculator portion of the test, you have 25 minutes to answer
Never leave questions blank on the
20 questions. This allows you an average of about 1 minute 15 seconds
SAT, as there is no penalty for wrong
per question. On the calculator portion of the test, you have 55 minutes
answers. Even if you’re not sure of
the correct answer, eliminate as to answer 38 questions. This allows you an average of about 1 minute
many answer choices as you can 26 seconds per question. Keep in mind that you should spend less time
and then guess from among the on easier questions so you have more time available to spend on the
remaining ones. more difficult ones.
258
, Chapter 20 | Sample Math Questions: Multiple-Choice
Directions
3 The directions below precede the no-calculator portion of the SAT Math
Test. The same references provided in the no-calculator portion of the
SAT Math Test are also provided in the calculator portion of the test.
PRACTICE AT
3
satpractice.org
Familiarize yourself with all test
directions now so that you don’t
have to waste precious time on test
day reading the directions.
Math Test – No Calculator
2 5 M INU TES, 2 0 QU EST I O NS
Turn to Section 3 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.
For questions 1-15, solve each problem, choose the best answer from the choices
provided, and fill in the corresponding bubble on your answer sheet. For questions 16-20,
solve the problem and enter your answer in the grid on the answer sheet. Please refer to
the directions before question 16 on how to enter your answers in the grid. You may use
any available space in your test booklet for scratch work.
1. The use of a calculator is not permitted.
2. All variables and expressions used represent real numbers unless otherwise indicated.
3. Figures provided in this test are drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated.
4. All figures lie in a plane unless otherwise indicated.
5. Unless otherwise indicated, the domain of a given function f is the set of all real numbers x for
which f(x) is a real number.
r
c 2x 60° s 45° s√2
w h b x
30° 45°
b a x√3 s
A = pr 2
1
A = bh c 2 = a2 + b 2 Special Right Triangles
A = w
2
C = 2pr
h r r h h
h
w r w
V = pr 2h 4
V = pr 3
1
V = pr 2h V = 1 wh
V = wh
3 3 3
The number of degrees of arc in a circle is 360.
The number of radians of arc in a circle is 2p.
The sum of the measures in degrees of the angles of a triangle is 180.
259
uthorized copying or reuse of any part of this page is illegal. 32 CO NTI N U E
