The math on the SAT is primarily Algebra, so make sure you know your Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and Algebra 2. You’ll see a little bit of Geometry, but there’s no Pre-Calculus or anything else beyond Algebra 2.
To improve your score in a meaningful way, your SAT Math review must go far beyond the typical SAT math study guide by combining all of the following elements.
In general, you should spend 1 to 3 months studying for the SAT. The amount of time that you spend studying will depend on your background and skill level, but make sure your SAT Math prep is direct and to the point. In other words, the instruction should be concise and the lessons should only include the topics that are covered on the test - nothing more and nothing less. The best SAT Math test prep must be incredibly efficient.
The SAT math subject test isn’t hard if you have a solid understanding of Algebra and Geometry. That’s why the most effective SAT math help will build your Algebra and Geometry foundation from the ground up.
In the past, the best way to prepare for the SAT was to use a test prep book with an SAT math practice test or find a tutor or class. Unfortunately, a book was often not helpful enough and in-person instruction was very expensive. Nowadays, you can have the best of both worlds – affordability and effectiveness – by using an online SAT math test prep course that includes the teacher inside of the lessons.
SAT prep is definitely worth it if you can find a program that uses your time efficiently. For example, instead of commuting to a classroom or juggling schedules with a tutor, find an online program that uses targeted instruction and practice.
If you can afford to spend a thousand dollars or more, the best SAT test prep courses are in-person classes provided by Princeton Review and Kaplan. However, your best option may be to find an online course that’s just as effective and much less expensive.
You should start your SAT prep a few months before the exam. This approach will give you plenty of time no matter how much preparation you need.
The cost of an SAT tutor is about $70 an hour on average, but the range is anywhere from $50 to $200 an hour. How much an SAT tutor costs depends primarily on your location. For example, if you’re in Manhattan, you can expect to pay hundreds of dollars an hour for a tutor.
At an average rate of $70 an hour, the cost of private SAT tutoring can add up to thousands of dollars. If you can afford this kind of a price tag, then it’s worth it. However, most families don’t have this luxury. For the vast majority of students preparing for the SAT, an affordable online program with SAT tutors built into the lessons is the way to go.
In this day and age, you can find a good SAT math tutor online. Whether you’re looking for a live tutor or an online course, simply do a keyword search. The top results will usually be for live tutors or tutoring centers in your area. However, if you look beyond the first page, you can find online programs like MathHelp.com that simulate the private SAT math tutoring experience very well.
Very helpful SAT program and amazing instructors.Moises Morel - March 2025
I originally used my MathHelp subscription for the Math Accuplacer, which I ended up scoring wonderfully on, my final score landing in the 99th percentile actually. I enjoyed that review course so much I switched to SAT prep for my exam coming up on December 7th. I would say the video explanations and the review modules were the most helpful for me while preparing for the exams.Mysha Faiz - December 2024
I really liked the structure of how there was video, some practice, and then a mini test for each section. As a whole, the SAT math was very helpful and allowed for me to refresh my memory on a lot of topics that I haven’t covered in a long time.Hunter Baran - April 2024
The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Since its debut in 1926, its name and scoring have changed several times; originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, it was later called the Scholastic Assessment Test, then the SAT I: Reasoning Test, then the SAT Reasoning Test, then simply the SAT.
The SAT is wholly owned, developed, and published by the College Board, a private, not-for-profit organization in the United States. It is administered on behalf of the College Board by the
Educational Testing Service which until recently developed the SAT as well. The test is intended to assess students' readiness for college. The SAT was originally designed not to be aligned with high school curricula, but several adjustments were made for the version of the SAT introduced in 2016, and College Board president David Coleman has said that he also wanted to make the test reflect more closely what students learn in high school with the new Common Core standards.
The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. The College Board states that the SAT is intended to measure literacy, numeracy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college. They state that the SAT assesses how well the test-takers analyze and solve problems—skills they learned in school that they will need in college.
The SAT has two main sections, namely Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW, normally known as the "English" portion of the test) and the Math section. These are both further broken down into four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Math (no calculator), and Math (calculator allowed). The test taker was also optionally able to write an essay which, in that case, is the fifth test section. The total time for the scored portion of the SAT is three hours (or three hours and fifty minutes if the optional essay section was taken).
Two section scores result from taking the SAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. Section scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 800, and each section score is a multiple of ten. A total score for the SAT is calculated by adding the two section scores, resulting in total scores that range from 400 to 1600. There is no penalty or negative marking for guessing on the SAT: scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly.
The mathematics portion of the SAT is divided into two sections: Math Test – No Calculator and Math Test – Calculator. In total, the SAT math test is 80 minutes long and includes 58 questions: 45 multiple choice questions and 13 grid-in questions. The multiple choice questions have four possible answers; the grid-in questions are free response and require the test taker to provide an answer.
Become a MathHelp.com member today and receive unlimited access to lessons, grade reports, practice tests, and more!
Become a memberBecome a MathHelp.com member today and receive unlimited access to lessons, grade reports, reviews and more!
Become a member