Digital SAT Manual 8.0

Digital SAT ®
Manual
Version 8.0
© 2023 by TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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Contributors
Very special thanks to the primary instructional authors of this book: Amy Minster,
Kenneth Brenner, Sara Kuperstein, and Scott O’Neal.
Special thanks to Deborah A. Weber for her work in producing this edition.
Special thanks also to Aaron Lindh, Christine Lindwall, Gabby Peterson, Kathy
Ruppert, and Jess Thomas.
Thank you also to the following individuals who contributed to this edition: Tania
Capone, Remy Cosse, Stacey Cowap, Wazhma Daftanai, Harrison Foster, John
Fritschie, Leiana Fung, Beth Hollingsworth, Kevin Keogh, Anthony Krupp, Ali
Landreau, Brittany Lee, Jomil London, Addie Lozjanin, Dave Mackenzie, Sion-
ainn Marcoux, Valerie Meyers, Jason Morgan, Acacia Nawrocik-Madrid, Denise
Pollard, Robert Otey, Christopher Vakulchik, and Suzanne Wint.
—Amy Minster
Content Director of
High School Programs
Contents
General Introduction............................................................................. 1
Reading and Writing Introduction........................................................ 13
Reading
The Reading Basic Approach................................................................ 23
Vocabulary............................................................................................. 35
Purpose.................................................................................................. 55
Dual Texts.............................................................................................. 77
Retrieval................................................................................................ 93
Main Idea ............................................................................................. 105
Claims.................................................................................................... 117
Charts.................................................................................................... 135
Conclusions........................................................................................... 157
Master the POE..................................................................................... 175
Poetry.................................................................................................... 197
Advanced Skills..................................................................................... 213
Vocabulary Hit Parade........................................................................... 229
Reading Drills........................................................................................ 259
Writing
Rules Intro ........................................................................................... 277
Complete Sentences ........................................................................... 285
Connecting Clauses .............................................................................. 295
Punctuation with Describing Phrases................................................... 307
Lists ...................................................................................................... 321
No Punctuation...................................................................................... 329
Punctuation Review.............................................................................. 337
Verbs .................................................................................................... 353
Pronouns ............................................................................................... 367
Nouns.................................................................................................... 377
Modifiers............................................................................................... 385
Transitions............................................................................................. 393
Rhetorical Synthesis............................................................................. 405
Writing Drills......................................................................................... 421
Reading and Writing Module................................................................ 435
Math
Math Introduction................................................................................. 447
Plugging In the Answers....................................................................... 465
Math Vocabulary 101............................................................................ 475
Plugging In ............................................................................................ 483
Linear Solving 101................................................................................. 497
Linear Solving ..................................................................................... 503
Nonlinear Solving 101........................................................................... 519
Nonlinear Solving ................................................................................ 535
Functions .............................................................................................. 551
Representation and Interpretation....................................................... 565
Working with Data 101......................................................................... 579
Working with Data................................................................................ 593
Coordinate Geometry 101..................................................................... 607
Coordinate Geometry............................................................................ 617
Proportional Relationships 101............................................................. 633
Proportional Relationships.................................................................... 641
Geometry and Trigonometry 101.......................................................... 655
Geometry and Trigonometry................................................................. 677
Advanced Coordinate Geometry........................................................... 695
Definitions and Formulas Review......................................................... 703
Question Identification Drill.................................................................. 715
Preparing for Test Day................................................................... 729
Answer Key.................................................................................. 737
Pacing Reviews............................................................................ 749
vi | Contents
DIGITAL SAT:
WHAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW
1
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
WHAT IS THE DIGITAL SAT AND

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT?
What DOES SAT stand for, anyway?
S ______________________
A ______________________
T ______________________
How important is it?
Per
so
SAT
nal
Personal SAT
GPA GPA
Small Liberal Large State

Arts Colleges Universities
The Digital SAT and YOU!

Can you really improve your Digital SAT score with test prep? _____________
When is the Digital SAT administered?_______________________________
How many times can you take the Digital SAT? ________________________
When will YOU take the Digital SAT? _______________________________
Knowing the structure and scoring of the Digital SAT will

help you use the techniques and strategies
you will learn in this course.
2 | © TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
STRUCTURE OF THE DIGITAL SAT
Reading and Writing (RW)

Test Questions “Pretest” Questions Time
Module 1
Module 2
There is no break between the two modules in the RW section and no break
between the two modules in the Math section.
There is a 10-minute break between the RW section and the Math section.
Math
Test Questions “Pretest” Questions Time
Module 1
Module 2
Notes:
• Total test time is about two-and-a-half hours, including the break.

• Reading and Writing questions are all multiple-choice.
• Math questions are about 75% multiple-choice and 25% student-
produced responses (we call these “fill-ins”).
• All multiple-choice questions have four answer choices.
• There is no penalty for wrong answers, so don’t leave any questions
blank.
• Questions in RW are grouped by type and in order of difficulty
within those groups.
• Questions in Math are in a rough order of difficulty.
Experimental Questions
College Board has stated that 2 questions in each module will be “pretest”
questions, or experimental ones. These are not marked in any way, and in the
Math section, the experimental questions could be either multiple-choice or
fill-ins.
© TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC | 3

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
How is the Digital SAT scored?

The test is a two-stage adaptive test, which means _______________________
_____________________________________________________________
SECOND MODULE:
__
___ ___________ ON AVERAGE
D o
FIRST MODULE:
consists of a broad
mix of easy, medium,
and hard questions
Do
__ SECOND MODULE:
__
_
___________ ON AVERAGE
If you get enough questions correct in the first module,

your second module will be harder, but you’ll also have a
chance of getting the highest possible score. If you don’t get
enough questions correct in the first module, your
second module will be easier, but there will also be a cap
on how high your score can be.
Total Score:____________________________________________________
Section Scores: _________________________________________________
What’s a good score?
A good score can help get you admitted into the school of your
dreams, but it is only one part of your application. Make sure
you do your research when choosing where to apply. This in-
cludes determining how each school uses test scores and what
scores its most recent incoming first-year class had.

DIGITAL SAT STRATEGIES

We’re going to teach you how to nail every part of the Digital SAT. Each section
will have its own approaches and techniques to master. However, there are some
strategies that apply across the Digital SAT.
P _________________________
O ________________________
O ________________________
D ________________________
Pacing
The Digital SAT includes a built-in timer. The pace at which you work questions
will depend on the section of the test you’re on and your own strengths and weak-
nesses. You’ll find more information in the content chapters of this book, but here
are some general strategies that will help with pacing and POOD.
Think of POOD as taking the easy test first. You will go through each module in
two passes, first doing ALL the questions you are good at, then trying some of the
harder ones and guessing on the rest. When you are deciding what to do with the
question on the screen, ask yourself the following and act accordingly.
Can I answer this

question accurately?
Yes, and it won’t take Maybe, but it might take

Not if I had all day!
long! a while.
There is no penalty for

Answer and Advance Guess and Go to the
to the next question.
Skip it for now.
next question.
guessing on the Digital
SAT!

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Mark and Move

So, what if you start a question that looked like it was in your POOD, but then
you get stuck? Then you’ll use the Mark for Review tool. Each question has a place
Don’t be stubborn! Try to
get as many points as you to mark it so that you can easily come back to that question in your second pass.
can instead of focusing on As soon as you get that sinking feeling of being stuck, Mark and Move. On your
one hard question. second pass, you may be able to identify the step that had eluded you the first time
and be able to finish solving the problem. However, if you come back to the ques-
tion on your second pass and still can’t be sure of a single answer, Guess and Go.
1 Mark for Review ABC
Keeping Track of Your Work

At any point in the module, you can see your work at a glance by clicking on the
black question number button at the bottom of the screen.
Question 7 of 27
On the review page, you can see at a glance which questions are answered, unan-
swered, and marked. Here is what some questions might look like on the review
page after you have done some work.
4 5 6 7
The boxes that appear gray here will be blue on your screen. What is true of these
questions?
_____________________________________________________________
Which of these questions will this student try on the second pass?
_____________________________________________________________
Why?_________________________________________________________
What should the student do with the remaining question(s)?
_____________________________________________________________
Of course, you don’t want to run out of time without entering an answer for every
question because _______________________________________________________.
So, in the last minute or two, make sure to _________________________________.

Navigating the Test Modules

• In your first pass, only do questions that you think you
can get right without spending too much time. Make a
quick decision, and skip past any questions that aren’t
easy enough to do right away.
• If you immediately know you never want to attempt a
certain question, fill in a random guess before moving to
the next question so you won’t waste time going back.
• If you start a question and get stuck, Mark and Move.
Come back to these after doing all the questions you can
do quickly and accurately.
• In the last minute or two, answer any remaining
unanswered questions.
Organizing Your Work

When working through each question, keep track of your thinking. Making notes
on the screen or on your scratch paper will help to keep you moving and keep
your thoughts focused on the task at hand. We’ll teach you how to do this for RW
questions and Math questions in the following chapters.
What are some tools you can use to keep track of your thoughts about a given
question in the testing app?
_____________________________________________________________
What are some ways to do the same while working in your test prep books?
_____________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Eliminating Answers
P _________________________
O _________________________
E _________________________
The Digital SAT testing app includes an Answer Eliminator tool, which you can
activate by clicking the ABC button above the question. This can help you keep
track of your thoughts as you work through a question by only showing you the
answers that are still in the running.
1 Mark for Review ABC
Which choice completes the text with the most

logical and precise word or phrase?
A rejects Undo
B provides Undo
C harmonizes C
D fuses D
These cross-outs will stay on the question, so if you Mark and Move but then come
back to the question, you’ll be able to see which answers you eliminated already.
And if you end up needing to guess, you’ve improved your odds of getting it right.
Guessing
So, what should you do for those few questions you never want to tackle?
__________________________________________
But what should you guess? Does it matter?
__________________________________________

HOW TO USE THIS COURSE TO NAIL

THE DIGITAL SAT
Please keep some things in mind as we go through this course:
• This isn’t school. We don’t give you a grade, but we do expect you to
realize that YOUR score improvement reflects the amount of work
YOU put into the course.
• The homework assigned is, therefore, for YOUR benefit.
• Try to do at least a half an hour of practice for the Digital SAT each
day. Like playing an instrument or a sport, preparing for the Digital
SAT will be easier (and you will improve faster) if you do at least
some work each day. Cramming in three hours of Digital SAT prac-
tice the night before class won’t give you a significant improvement.
Consistent daily practice is the best way to ensure success.
• Review your work! When you complete your homework online, you’ll
get an explanation for each question. Always build in time to read the
explanations and assess your performance. This is the most efficient
way to improve.
• You must use the techniques. Many will seem strange at first. You will
get used to them, but only if you practice them.
Setting Goals
Of course, all students want to improve their scores. A big difference between
those who succeed and those who don’t is whether they set realistic goals and pur-
sue them systematically. Also keep in mind that learning doesn’t always happen
in a linear fashion or overnight; sometimes it takes a step backwards to take two
steps forwards. Don’t be discouraged! Keep working with your instructor, and you
will enjoy success in the long run.
If you are serious about increasing your scores significantly,

then you MUST:
1. Attend ALL the classes.
2. Complete and review ALL the homework.
3. Take and review ALL the practice tests.
4. Use the techniques in class, on the homework, on the
practice tests, and on the real Digital SAT.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Your first homework assignment is to set some specific goals for yourself. Fill out
the following exercise using your score report from the first test.
My present score:
Reading and Writing ______________ Math ______________
My target score:
Reading and Writing ______________ Math ______________
What are my biggest strengths from the first practice test?
_____________________________________________________________
What are my biggest areas to improve based on the first practice test?
_____________________________________________________________
Content:
What content areas do you need work on? Be specific (not just “grammar” but
“subject-verb agreement,” not just “algebra” but “solving systems of equations”).
Reading: ______________________________________________________
Writing: _______________________________________________________
Math: ________________________________________________________
Strategy:
Many content areas have specific strategies that you’ll learn in this book. Which
general strategies for taking the Digital SAT do you need to learn?
Using the Using the Using the

scratch paper built-in tools built-in calculator

Pacing:
How was your pacing on the RW modules of the first test?
Module 1: I finished early. I finished right on time. I ran out of time.
How was your pacing on the Math modules of the first test?
Accuracy:
On the RW modules, how many of the questions you got wrong were due to care-
less errors?
Module 1: Few if any About half of them Nearly all of them
On the Math modules, how many of the questions you got wrong were due to
careless errors?
Based on your pacing and accuracy, how will you alter your approach to the next
test?
RW: __________________________________________________________
Math: ________________________________________________________
How do you plan to assess your progress toward your goals as you learn?
_____________________________________________________________

READING AND WRITING
INTRODUCTION
13
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
• Understand the composition and sequence of the RW section

• Recognize the RW categories by their questions
• Apply the Reading and Writing Basic Approach
• Understand how to use POOD on the RW section
There are _____________ Reading and Writing modules.
Each module has _____________ questions and is _____________ minutes long.
_____________ are Reading questions and _____________ are Writing questions.
Each text (or pair of texts) has _________ question associated with it.
The section is always in the same order:
_______________ _______________ _______________
________% ________ % ________%
READING
The first set of Reading questions will test _______________________. The rest of
this section tests Reading Comprehension and will generally ask you for the mean-
ing or purpose of some or all of the text. Additionally, any text that is literature
(a ___________ or a ___________) or has a ___________ falls into this category.
RULES
Rules questions test __________________ and __________________. They always
have the same question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
RHETORIC
These questions fall into two categories: _____________________________ and
____________________________________, in that order. Look for transition words
or something that has bullet points.

READING AND WRITING INTRODUCTION
Let’s break down the order of the RW section further:
Reading Rules Rhetoric
Vocabulary Reading Punctuation Transitions Rhetorical

Comprehension & Grammar Synthesis
These topics represent the five main skills you’ll need for the RW portion of the
Digital SAT. Learn to recognize what each one looks like, and you’ll be able to
move through the section in your Personal Order of Difficulty based on your
strengths and weaknesses in these skill areas.
Which Category?
College Board has a number of different question types in the Reading and
Writing section. The question types will always appear in the same order, but it’s
important to know what question phrasing goes with what question type.
Identify the category of each example question.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Vocabulary Reading Rules Transitions Rhetorical

Comprehension Synthesis
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a
whole?

Based on the texts, how would Douglass (Text 1) most likely respond to Lincoln
(Text 2)?


DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
According to the text, what is true about Lady Windermere?

What is the main idea of the text?

Which quotation from the poem most effectively illustrates the claim?

Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to illustrate the claim?

Do any of these questions Which choice most logically completes the text?
look like they might not be in
your POOD right now? Vocabulary Reading Rules Transitions Rhetorical
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish
this goal?


Pacing and POOD on the RW Section

Following Personal Order of Difficulty on Reading and Writing means choosing
where you start the section. Learn which question types are fastest and easiest for
you to get right, and start with those. Some questions might look too long, time-
consuming, or difficult. In that case, Guess and Go and focus your time where
you can get the most points.
Remember your POOD!

Start with the questions that you are best at,
not just whatever’s first!
POOD is all about doing the questions that are easiest for you first. In the RW mod-
ules, we recommend doing that within each category, rather than making a full pass
through the module looking for easy questions. Why is this an advantage?
_____________________________________________________________
Start with your strongest category and answer all of the questions in that category
before moving on to your second-strongest one. You may guess on some of the
questions that aren’t in your POOD, but it’s best not to plan to come back to a
category once you’ve already moved on.
RW Basic Approach
For all questions in Reading and Writing, use the same Basic Approach:
Reading and Writing Basic Approach

1. Read the question.
2. Identify the question type.
3. Follow the Basic Approach for that question type.
Throughout this course, you’ll learn strategies for how to approach every type of
question you can expect to see on the Reading and Writing section. Once you
have established what type of question you’re looking at, you’ll then apply the ap-
propriate strategy for that question type.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Use Your Tools

On the RW modules, you’ll be able to highlight portions of the texts and ques-
tions (but not the answer choices). Then, you can add your own annotations to
anything you’ve highlighted. In the RW lessons, you’ll learn how to use these
tools to your significant advantage for many different types of questions.
Bluebook
22%
Section 1: Reading and Writing 31:37
Directions Hide Annotate More
Traditional Persian instruments and a drum machine, folk music and 1 Mark for Review ABC
contemporary trap beats, American and Middle Eastern: Danny Asadi’s
music ______ a variety of influences to create a sound all his own. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word
or phrase?
A rejects
B provides
C harmonizes
D fuses
Bluebook
22%
music ______ a variety of influences to create a sound all his own. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word
or phrase?
A rejects
B provides
C harmonizes
D fuses
New Annotation: “Traditional Persian instruments and a drum machine, folk music and contemporary trap beats, American and Middle Eastern:” CLOSE
Highlight Color: Underline style: U
blends together
Save Cancel

Bluebook
22%
blends together

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word
music ______ a variety of influences to create a sound all his own.
or phrase?
A rejects
B provides
C harmonizes
D fuses
Once you have made an annotation, you can use what you wrote down to apply
Process of Elimination with the Answer Eliminator tool.
As you work through this book, make sure to have a highlighter on hand. Even
though your test will be digital rather than on paper, using your highlighter in
this book just as you would use the Highlighter tool on the test will help you re-
hearse what you need to do on test day. You can also practice writing annotations
with your pencil or pen.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Test 1 Analysis
Reading – Vocabulary:
Module 1: ___________ out of ___________ correct; ___________%
Reading – Reading Comprehension:
Rules:
Rhetoric – Transitions:
Rhetoric – Rhetorical Synthesis:

Strengths:
Reading: ______________________________________________________
Rules: ________________________________________________________
Rhetoric: ______________________________________________________
Areas of Improvement:
Reading: ______________________________________________________
Rules: ________________________________________________________
Rhetoric: ______________________________________________________
Order on Next Test:
Vocabulary: First Second Third Fourth Last
Reading Comprehension: First Second Third Fourth Last
Punctuation/Grammar: First Second Third Fourth Last
Transitions: First Second Third Fourth Last
Rhetorical Synthesis: First Second Third Fourth Last

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• The three categories of questions in the RW section, in order, are _________________, _________________,
and _________________.
• Reading consists of __________________________ and _______________________________.
Rules consists of __________________________ /__________________________.
Rhetoric consists of __________________________ and _______________________________.
• The first step for an RW question is always to __________________________.
• What does it mean to follow your POOD on the RW section?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What tools are only available on the RW section and will be very useful?
__________________________
__________________________

READING QUESTIONS:
BASIC APPROACH
Reading Questions Rules Questions Rhetoric Questions
23
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand the structure of the Reading questions within the RW

module
• Learn the eight Reading question types
• Expand the RW Basic Approach into the Reading Basic Approach
WRITING
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to sample questions

• Incorporate overall test strategies into the Reading section
Structural Components
Reading questions are always before / after Writing questions in each Reading and
MATH
Writing module.
There are typically ________ Reading questions within each of the two Reading
and Writing modules.
Each text (or pair of texts) will be approximately ________ words.
Texts are likely to fall into the following genres:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Each text (or pair of texts) will be accompanied by exactly ________ question(s).
Each question will be accompanied by ________ answer choices.
It is true / false that Reading questions generally increase in order of difficulty

within each question type.
Each question will be one of ________ possible Reading question types.

READING QUESTIONS: BASIC APPROACH
READING
What’s Your Type?
College Board comes up with a lot of different ways to ask its questions, but all of
the questions can be placed into eight categories, or question types. As you saw in
the RW introduction, understanding what type of question you’re being asked is
the first step towards improving your RW score!
Question Type Your Job, in 20 Words or Less
WRITING
Vocabulary Pick a good vocabulary word for a blank in the text or
define an existing word in context.
Purpose Determine why the author wrote the text, why the author
included a sentence, or how the author structured the text.
Dual Texts Understand how a person from one text would agree or
disagree with a person or idea from another text.
MATH
Retrieval Determine what the author said about a person, place, or
idea.
Main Idea Determine the main topic for the text overall.
Claims Choose an answer that best illustrates, strengthens, or
weakens a claim from the text.
Charts Choose information from a chart that would illustrate a
concept, strengthen or weaken a claim, or complete an
example.
Conclusions Choose the most logical concluding phrase or sentence to
a text.
The question types should appear in the same order you see
above, but not every question type will appear on every
module. Remember that within each question type, questions
will generally increase in difficulty. The more questions of a
single type you have, the more you’ll notice this increase in
difficulty across that question type.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
THE BASIC APPROACH

You’ve already learned the RW Basic Approach, but now, as promised, it’s time to
adapt it for the Reading questions. All Reading questions can be handled by fol-
lowing the same five steps.
WRITING
1. Read the Question.

2. Identify the Question Type.
3. Read the Text(s).
4. Highlight What Can Help (and Annotate if Needed).
5. Use POE.
MATH
Let’s learn the steps by tackling one of the more straightforward question types
you’ll see, a Retrieval question.
Step 1: Read the Question

You want to understand what you’re being asked to do before you start reading
every last word of the text, so read the question first.
1 Mark for Review

According to the text, why did Kraemer and his
team suggest that high-skill gamers were more
excited at the start of the game?
Reading the question first gives you a clear task and

guides your focus when actively reading the text.

READING
Step 2: Identify the Question Type
Different question types will require different information from the text. Identify-
ing the question type tells you exactly what needs to be found in the text in order
to answer the question.
1 Mark for Review
WRITING
According to the text, why did Kraemer and his
team suggest that high-skill gamers were more
excited at the start of the game?
Based on the list you saw previously, this question is which of the eight question
MATH
types?
_____________________________________________________________
What word or phrase helps identify the question type?
_____________________________________________________________
Use the language of the question stem to understand which

type of question you are being asked.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Step 3: Read the Text(s)

Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to find it! It’s important to think
of reading the text as searching for an answer to the question rather than trying to
understand every last word and idea within the text.
In 2016, researcher William J. Kraemer and
colleagues at The Ohio State University looked to
establish a link between competitive electronic
WRITING
gaming and physiological stress responses.

Kraemer and his team chose 32 participants
of both high and low skill levels to participate
in an online game and monitored their heart
rates continuously throughout the game. The
researchers noted that while the high-skill
players began the game with an elevated heart
rate that only rose slightly throughout the course
MATH
of the game, low-skill players exhibited a normal

heart rate at the start of the game that increased
dramatically as the game progressed. This led
Kraemer and his team to hypothesize that while
high-skill gamers may be more excited at the
start of the game, they are not as stressed by the
events of an online game as low-skill gamers are.
Which sentence states that Kraemer and his team suggested that high-skill gamers
were more excited at the start of the game?
_____________________________________________________________
Read with the question in mind—you’re reading to find an

answer to the question, not to fully comprehend the text.

READING
Step 4: Highlight What Can Help
(and Annotate if Needed)
For each Reading question, you’ll use the Highlight function to highlight infor-
mation in the text that either directly answers the question or provides evidence
that should support the correct answer. For certain question types, you’ll also
write down a word or phrase in the Annotation box that can help you separate
WRITING
right answers from wrong answers.
In 2016, researcher William J. Kraemer and
colleagues at The Ohio State University looked to
establish a link between competitive electronic
gaming and physiological stress responses.
Kraemer and his team chose 32 participants
of both high and low skill levels to participate
in an online game and monitored their heart
MATH
rates continuously throughout the game. The
researchers noted that while the high-skill
players began the game with an elevated heart
rate that only rose slightly throughout the course
of the game, low-skill players exhibited a normal
heart rate at the start of the game that increased
dramatically as the game progressed. This led
Kraemer and his team to hypothesize that while
high-skill gamers may be more excited at the
start of the game, they are not as stressed by the
events of an online game as low-skill gamers are.
Which sentence explains what led Kraemer and his team to their conclusion?
_____________________________________________________________
Which phrase from that sentence answers the question? Highlight this phrase in
your book.
With this particular question type, the answer you found in the text is as far as
you need to go—since the answer is stated in the text, you don’t need to annotate,
so you can move on to the answer choices.
Treat Reading questions as if each were an open-book test.

The answers are correct because the text says so. Correct
answers are not based on interpretation or analysis!

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Step 5: Use POE

Using what you highlighted, seek to eliminate three wrong answers: these answers
won’t be consistent with your highlighting (and annotation if you have one). The
one correct answer may not—in fact, it probably will not—repeat exactly what the
text says, but it will be fully supported by the text, and that’s all that matters.
WRITING
The best reason to eliminate an answer is because it is not

consistent with what you highlighted and/or annotated.
A Because the low-skill gamers were already

MATH
too stressed at the start of the online game

to play competitively
Is this consistent with your highlighting? Yes No Maybe
Why or why not?
_____________________________________________________________
B Because the high-skill gamers had a

higher initial heart rate than did the
low-skill gamers
Why or why not?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
C Because the high-skill gamers knew their
experience would give them an edge over
the low-skill gamers
WRITING
Why or why not?
_____________________________________________________________
MATH
Because the high-skill gamers played with
superior connection speeds compared
with those of the low-skill gamers
Why or why not?
_____________________________________________________________
The Reading Basic Approach is your most powerful tool

on Reading questions. Use it at every opportunity to improve
your score!
POE in a Nutshell
You may have noticed that some of the previous answers repeated exact words
from the text in an attempt to trick you or sounded logical but had no support.
We call these answers “trap answers,” and they are designed to attract students
away from the correct answer. We’ll examine these traps throughout this book,
but here are some of College Board’s favorite traps:
• Recycled Language • Beyond the Text

• Extreme Language • Right Answer, Wrong Question
• Opposite • Half-Right

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Try It Out: Annotate with the Basic Approach!

Use the Reading Basic Approach on the following question. Consider the sen-
tences before and after the underlined sentence in order to best determine what
role the sentence plays in the text. Write down, or annotate, that role before going
to the answers and using POE.
The following is from Stephen Crane’s

WRITING
2 Mark for Review

1895 novel The Red Badge of Courage.
Henry, a Union soldier in the Civil Which choice best describes the
War, is confronted with a rumor that function of the underlined sentence
he will be forced to fight in his first in the text as a whole?
battle the next day.
A It elaborates on the idea that
He had, of course, dreamed of
Henry has had
battles all his life—of uncertain
contradictory attitudes
MATH
and bloody fights that had

about war.
excited him with their vastness
and fire. In dreams, he had seen

himself in many struggles. He B It presents a detailed
had imagined people secure explanation of Henry’s
in the protection of his fierce dreams of wartime glory.
bravery. But, awake, he had
regarded battles as bloody marks

on the pages of the past. He had C It shows Henry’s elation at
put them as things of the past the prospect of meeting the
with his imaginings of heavy enemy in battle.
crowns and high castles. There
was a portion of the world’s
history which he regarded as D It reveals the strangeness of
“the time of the wars.” But it, Henry’s notions of war
he thought, had disappeared compared to those of his
forever. fellow soldiers.
Which of the eight question types is the question above? _____________________

READING
POOD and You
As you tackle these questions, you’ll need to (rather efficiently) decide whether a
question is within your Personal Order of Difficulty or not. Here are three basic
ideas to consider:
________________________: Reading question types come in a set order, as you

saw before, and you’ll learn how to identify each question type in later chapters. A
WRITING
great starting point to apply your POOD is deciding to start with either Vocabulary
(the first question type) or Reading Comprehension (the other seven question
types). We’ll cover Vocabulary in the very next chapter and Reading Comprehen-
sion in the chapters after. Use those chapters, as well as drills, homework, and
practice tests, to determine which type of Reading questions you’d rather start
with.
MATH
________________________: Fictional passages will contain a blurb introducing
the author and title. This will help you quickly decide whether or not to do these
passages. You’ll also spot poems quickly, and your strengths and weaknesses will
tell you when to do those.
____________: For non-literature passages, you may be able to tell from glancing at
the passage whether it is about natural science, social science, or history/culture. If
you have significant topic-based strengths and weaknesses, use that knowledge to
decide your POOD.
Pace Yourself
With just 1 minute and 11 seconds per question, time management is key:
• If two minutes have gone by and you’re still debating between

multiple answers, it’s time to Mark and Move.
• If you see a question that you immediately identify as something you
should never spend time on, you should Guess and Go.
• If you see a question that you think you might be able to do later on,
skip over it and come back to it if there is time.
• If this is already your second time looking at a question and you’re
still stuck, Guess and Go and see if there’s another question worth
tackling.
• The faster you recognize questions that you should Guess and Go on
or skip entirely, the more time you’ll have for all of the other ques-
tions that are in your POOD.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• What are the eight Reading question types?
1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
4. _______________________________
5. _______________________________
6. _______________________________
7. _______________________________
8. _______________________________
• What are the five steps of the Reading Basic Approach?
1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________
• Remember that correct answers in Reading are based on _______________________________________,
not _____________________________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
VOCABULARY
35
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand how the Reading Basic Approach can be used on

Vocabulary questions
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to Vocabulary questions
• Expand your Vocabulary skill set
WRITING
• Formulate a plan for studying vocabulary
Vocabulary Fast Facts

Vocabulary questions will appear _________ on any module in which they appear.
MATH
Vocabulary texts will usually be ____________ than the texts for the other Read-
ing question types.
Vocabulary questions can either ask you to _______________________________ or,
less commonly, _______________________________.

READING QUESTIONS: VOCABULARY
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—VOCABULARY
1. ____________________________.
2. ____________________________. The following terms or phrases will

help you identify a Vocabulary question.
WRITING
• most logical and precise word or phrase
• most nearly means
3. ____________________________. As you read, identify who or what

the blank is describing.
MATH
4. __________________________________________________________.
• Highlight a clue word or phrase in the text that describes the who
or what that the blank is referring to.
• Be on the lookout for transition words that can switch the
direction of the sentence.
• Write down your own word or phrase for the blank in the
Annotation box.
5. ____________________________. On Vocabulary questions, the
most common trap answers will be ___________________________,
___________________________, and ___________________________.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
“Sound” Isn’t a Sound Approach

For most Vocabulary questions, it may be tempting to simply take the four answer
choices and throw them into the blank to see what “sounds good.” But there’s a
problem with this approach. Consider the following:
Barnaby Jones was, above all else, Mark for Review

i
a ________ individual, as his friends
WRITING
and family would often say. Blah Which choice completes the text
blah blah blah blah blah blah… with the most logical and precise
word or phrase?
A hostile

B cheerful
MATH
C sincere
D prepared
The problem is that any of these answers can “sound” logical in the sentence if we
don’t consider the rest of the text. If the sentence after the first one in the example
said:
“There was no trick about him or his demeanor, and he would be as genuine to
his wife as he was to a complete stranger on the bus.”
Highlight the words that describe Barnaby.
Which answer would be most consistent with those highlights? _____
On the other hand, consider if the next sentence were the following:
“If the weather forecast showed even the slightest chance of rain, you could bet
that an umbrella, poncho, and backup pairs of both shoes and socks would be
added to his workbag immediately.”
Highlight the words that describe Barnaby in this sentence.
Now which answer would be most consistent with those highlights? _____
The correct word for the blank will be based on the clues in
the surrounding text, not on how the answer choice sounds.
The Basic Approach can help you choose the most accurate
word for the blank.

READING
Learn the Basics
With its iridescent and seemingly
1 Mark for Review
balloon-like features, the metallic
sculpture Rabbit by artist Jeff Which choice completes the text
Koons might appear like a with the most logical and precise
fantastic rendering from a child’s word or phrase?
imagination, but in 2019 it was sold
WRITING
for the ________ price of $91 million, A creative
making it the most expensive
artwork ever sold at auction by a
living artist. B bizarre
C economical
MATH
D astronomical
How can you identify that this is a Vocabulary question?
_____________________________________________________________
Who or what is the blank describing?
_____________________________________________________________
Highlight a clue in the text that describes the who or what.
Based on the clue, what would be a good word or phrase for the Annotation box
that describes the price of the artwork?
_____________________________________________________________
Is (A) a good match for your word? Yes No Maybe
Is (B) a good match for your word? Yes No Maybe
Is (C) a good match for your word? Yes No Maybe
Is (D) a good match for your word? Yes No Maybe

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Outside of Your Comfort Sentence

When looking for clues, consider the entire text, not just the sentence the blank is
in.
Among the research that scientists

2 Mark for Review
have done on climate change is a
study that focused on how natural Which choice completes the text
WRITING
actors, such as certain species of with the most logical and precise
ants, can positively influence their word or phrase?
environments. One study found
that an increased presence of ants A enhanced
_______ damage to plants in a field
when compared to fields with
minimal ant presence. B confirmed
MATH
C maintained
D reduced
Highlight the word or phrase in the question indicating that this is a Vocabulary
question.
_____________________________________________________________
Is there a clue that describes the who or what in the same sentence as the blank?
___________
Based on the clue, what would be a good word or phrase for the Annotation box
that describes how the presence of ants affects damage to plants?
_____________________________________________________________
Is (A) a good match for your word? Yes No Maybe
Is (B) a good match for your word? Yes No Maybe
Is (C) a good match for your word? Yes No Maybe
Is (D) a good match for your word? Yes No Maybe

READING
Switching It Up On You
Be on the lookout for transition words that could affect the direction of the sen-
tence.
For decades, scientists had believed

3 Mark for Review
that dinosaurs predated octopuses,
but a singular finding has _______ Which choice completes the text
WRITING
that belief. A fossil discovery in with the most logical and precise
Montana of a vampyropod, an word or phrase?
ancestor of both octopuses and
vampire squid, is believed to be A obscured
330 million years old. Previous
If you weren’t sure what
discoveries revealed vampyropod
fossils that were only 240 million B revitalized
“obscured” means, be
years old, which would have placed sure to study the
MATH
them after the age of dinosaurs. Vocabulary Hit Parade.
C challenged
D supported
_____________________________________________________________
What is the transition word in the sentence? Does it keep the sentence headed in
the same direction or does it change the sentence’s direction?
_____________________________________________________________
Based on the clue and transition, what would be a good word or phrase for the
Annotation box to describe what the singular finding has done to the scientists’
belief ?
_____________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Try It Out: Creating a Word for the Blank

Make sure to ask who or what the blank is referring to, highlight a clue, and
check for transition words before coming up with your own word or phrase for the
blank.
i. The _________________ of morning yoga are numerous, including

reduced anxiety and increased energy.
WRITING
ii. The physics professor was considered to be a _________________

instructor by his students. He would deduct a full letter grade for any
exam submitted one minute past the deadline.
iii. Jennifer was a _________________ of the new school dress code, but
the rest of her friend group thought it stifled creativity and personal
MATH
expression.
Respect the Context

You won’t always be able to come up with a great word or phrase for the blank.
However, remember that three of the four answers either won’t be supported by
the text at all or won’t be as well supported by evidence as the correct answer is.
Use POE heavily to track down and eliminate those three wrong answers!
Though his work is not nearly

4 Mark for Review
as celebrated now as is that
of his contemporary William Which choice completes the text
Shakespeare, Jacobean playwright with the most logical and precise
John Fletcher was influential in his word or phrase?
time. Scholars believe he penned at
least a dozen plays on his own, and A performances
his _______ with other playwrights
such as Beaumont and Massinger,
and even with Shakespeare on B friendships
The Two Noble Kinsmen, gained
Fletcher notoriety and success in
the theater in his day. C collaborations
D competitions
Which answers can be eliminated using the context that Fletcher and everyone
else in the text are playwrights? __________
Of the remaining answers, which one is less consistent with the descriptions of
Fletcher and the other playwrights given towards the end of the text? _____

READING
Beware of the Opposition
Once you’ve come up with a great word or phrase for the blank, make sure to stay
consistent with the tone or direction of your word.
Due in large part to its geographic

5 Mark for Review
centrality, the Turkish city of İzmir
was a key connecting port city for Which choice completes the text
WRITING
the major trade route famously with the most logical and precise
known as the Silk Road. Its ______ word or phrase?
Iran, from which it received large
shipments of silk directly from the A contrast with
Persian city of Isfahan, combined
Which answers can be
with its accessibility to European
ports such as Marseilles, made it an B similarity to
eliminated right away
ideal trading hub. because they are the
MATH
opposite of your word?
C proximity to
D detachment from
Assume = The Worst

A vocabulary word is the right word on the Digital SAT because the text says so.
Never go beyond what the text can support.
Not only was Arthur Ashe one

6 Mark for Review
of the best tennis players of all
time, as well as the first African Which choice completes the text
American to win the Wimbledon with the most logical and precise
Men’s Tennis Championship, word or phrase?
but he was also an ________ his
fellow players, serving as the A adversary of If you weren’t sure what
president of the Association of
“advocate” means, be sure
Tennis Professionals, a group that to study the Vocabulary Hit
successfully increased players’ B advocate for
shares of prize money in many
Parade.
tournaments.
C advisor to
D entertainer of
Choices (A) and (C) are examples of answers that are _______________________.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Devious Distractions
Sometimes, College Board will pull words (or their synonyms) from the wrong
part of the text and throw them into the answer choices. Don’t let those recycled
words distract you from the evidence you highlighted and the word you anno-
tated.
In the small Pacific Island Republic

WRITING
7 Mark for Review

of Vanuatu, sand drawings are
appreciated for more than their Which choice completes the text
alluring beauty. Each intricate with the most logical and precise
composition holds valuable word or phrase?
educational significance,
depicting a scene from history or A instructive
mythological lore from the Vanuatu
culture, thus serving an ______
MATH
purpose as both a snapshot and a B elaborate

time capsule of culture.
C imaginative
D aesthetic
What in the text is described by a word meaning “elaborate?”
_____________________________________________________________
What in the text is described by a word meaning “aesthetic?”
_____________________________________________________________
Choices (B) and (D) are types of _______________________________________.

READING
Try It Out: Identifying Vocabulary Traps
Many times, coming up with a good word for the blank will be enough to elimi-
nate all three answers. If you get stuck, immediately ask yourself, “Which of these
answers is a trap?”
Consider the following sentence: Fans of third-wave ska music appreciate the
_________ of punk rock chord progressions and brass instruments. Detractors of the
WRITING
genre have criticized this synthesis, calling it “ discordant” and “abrasive.”
Using the Vocabulary Basic Approach, what would be your own word or phrase
for the blank? ___________________________________
Consider the following four answers and determine which is the correct answer as
well as which trap the other three answers fall into:
MATH
A) history
Correct Opposite Recycled Language Beyond the Text
B) separation
C) critique
D) combination

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Most Nearly Means Make a Blank

Occasionally, you’ll be given an excerpt from a literature source that asks you to
define a word in context rather than choose a word for a blank. Luckily, you can
treat the word as if it were a blank and apply the same Basic Approach that you
have been using.
The following text is adapted from

8 Mark for Review
WRITING
Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s short

story “A Thread Without a Knot.” As used in the text, what does the
Harrison, an assistant in the History word “resigned” most nearly mean?
Department, has just informed his
advising professor of his intention A Graceful
to study abroad to complete his
If you weren’t sure what dissertation.
“deferential” means, B Deferential
be sure to study the Professor Endicott’s thin
MATH
shoulders executed a resigned

Vocabulary Hit Parade.
shrug. “You are always right C Condescending
in your calculations, my dear
Harrison,” he said; adding, with
an ambiguous intonation, “And I D Cumbersome
suppose I am to salute in you the
American scholar of the future.”
How can you identify that this is a Vocabulary question?
_____________________________________________________________
If three answers have been eliminated and you don’t know the remaining word,
what should you do? _________________________________________________

READING
A “Novel” Approach
Literature excerpts can contain dialogue, and sometimes you’ll need to examine
multiple pieces of dialogue to determine a word for the blank.

9 Mark for Review
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1891 short
story “The Red-Headed League.” As used in the text, what does the
WRITING
The main character, Sherlock word “imperiled” most nearly
Holmes, is speaking with one of his mean?
clients, Mr. Merryweather, as they
attempt to prevent a robbery. A Evaluated
“You are not very vulnerable
from above,” Holmes remarked,
as he held up the lantern and B Underscored
gazed about him.
MATH
“underscored” means,
“Nor from below,” said Mr. C Salvaged be sure to study the
Merryweather, striking his stick Vocabulary Hit Parade.
upon the flags which lined the
floor. “Why, dear me, it sounds D Hazarded
quite hollow!” he remarked,
looking up in surprise.
“I must really ask you to be a

little more quiet,” said Holmes
severely. “You have already
imperiled the whole success of
our expedition. Might I beg that
you would have the goodness
to sit down upon one of those
boxes, and not to interfere?”
Between a word you sort of know and a word you don’t know, you should
___________________________________________________________________.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Vexing Verbosity
The more Vocabulary questions that your module has, the more likely you’ll
notice an increase in the difficulty of the words as you go. Use POE when you can,
and on practice tests, make a note to yourself to study any words you didn’t know
so you will catch them next time.
Upon being named the eighteenth

10 Mark for Review
WRITING
president of Rensselaer Polytechnic

Institute (RPI), Shirley Ann Jackson Which choice completes the text
continued to forge a ________ career with the most logical and precise
path. At RPI, she was the first African word or phrase?
American to hold that position,
just as she was the first African A dormant
If you weren’t sure what American to study theoretical
one or more of these physics at the Massachusetts
words means, be sure to B
MATH
Institute of Technology and the first tenuous

study the Vocabulary woman to be appointed Chairman
Hit Parade. of the US Nuclear Regulatory
Commission in 1995. C trailblazing
D pervasive
If you don’t know three of the words but think the fourth word might work, you
should _____________________________________.

READING
Three Cheers for the Hit Parade!
Throughout this chapter, you may have noticed a reference to the Vocabulary Hit
Parade, located on page 229 of this book. Creating a plan to study vocabulary is
one effective way to maximize your RW score. Here are three ways you can get
started:
1. Vocabulary Quick Check: Once you complete a Reading chapter,
WRITING
fill out a word or synonym for each Hit Parade word located in the
Vocabulary Quick Check right before the chapter Summary.
2. Daily Practice Makes Perfect: Aim to spend 5–10 minutes a day

reviewing the Hit Parade words in addition to your regular practice
assignments.
MATH
3. It’s Your Hit Parade: If you come across other words that you don’t
know in texts, questions, or answers while prepping for the Digital
SAT, add them to the blank space at the end of the Hit Parade on
page 243.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
VOCABULARY DRILL
Time: 9 minutes
1 Mark for Review 3 Mark for Review

Fans of comic book superheroes might think that American research scientist Avery August has
WRITING
bats reside only in caves, but a more common ________ devoted a significant part of his career to ________ the
for bats is forests. In fact, without bats to prey on the molecular behavior and structure of proteins active
insects that feast on tree seedlings, the forests would in T-cell responses, and his investigations have led to
rapidly diminish. advances in understanding how treatments can help
prevent the growth of cancer cells.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase? Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase?
MATH
A passage
A teaching

B habitat
B guiding
C diet
C exploring
D legend
D tailoring
2 Mark for Review

Music history scholars believe it not mere ________ that
the “Golden Age” of tango music was comparable to
that of the big band genre. Both musical styles were
popular at the same time, and they featured markedly
similar orchestrations.

A coincidence

B fortune
C destiny
D harmony

READING
While empathy and nurturing are qualities that some Microbiologist Craig Cameron’s work is focused on
primates demonstrate, certain breeds of parrots go helping scientists to study and combat the spread of
one step further. When researchers at ETH Zurich in viruses. Concentrating on RNA virus infections, he
Switzerland provided their parrots with metal rings has developed antivirals that inhibit the function
as a “currency” to ________ food, the birds shared the of certain genes, thus stopping the spread of deadly
rings with each other, helping each parrot make a viruses in the body by ________ their replication.
beneficial transaction.
WRITING
A animating
A exchange for

B incubating
B substitute as
MATH
C promoting
C plea for
D hindering
D distribute as
7 Mark for Review

5 Mark for Review
Among the many products recommended by
Writer Barbara Kimenye, known for her compelling financial advisors, mutual funds offer clients the
series of books about a boy at an African boarding ability to potentially ________ their investments from
school, lived a life that ________ two continents and disruptions in the stock market. Since a mutual fund
many cultures. Born and raised in England, she is made up of many different types of stock rather
moved to Uganda, then Kenya, before returning to than stock in a single company, the gains from some
England later in life. of the stocks typically offset the losses from others.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase? and precise word or phrase?
A reviewed A regulate

B rejected B shield
C depicted C bolster
D bridged D strike

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The following text is from Charles Reade’s 1857 story Already established as one of the most eminent
“The Box Tunnel.” In the story, the narrator describes painters of the twentieth century, British artist David
a man accused of a crime, and the narrator’s friend Hockney ________ discovered a new form of photo
responds. collage during a project in the 1980s. When he had
“I am inclined to believe that he is innocent,” I taken a series of Polaroid pictures to prepare for an
replied. “He showed no embarrassment when I interior painting, he was so pleased with the Cubist
addressed him, and no uneasiness when the guard effect of the photos that he made them the focus of
WRITING
came round. His conversation was open to a fault. the artwork itself, discarding the painting he had
I might almost say that he talked too freely of the originally intended to make.
business which he had in hand.”
“That again is strange, for I know no one more and precise word or phrase?
reticent on such subjects. He actually told you that
he had the seventy-five thousand pounds in his A despondently
pocket?”
MATH

As used in the text, what does the word “reticent” B deliberately
most nearly mean?
C inadvertently
A Withdrawn
D paradoxically
B Confident
C Suspicious
10 Mark for Review

D Culpable
While swimmers and surfers have long been aware of
the danger that sharks pose in the ocean, researchers
in Florida and Australia have discovered a ________
threat to beachgoers in these regions. The epaulette
shark can leave the water and walk—using its lower
fins—on land for up to two hours. Fortunately, the
shark’s walk is limited to a distance of about 35 yards,
but the researchers still advise caution.

A blatant

B innocuous
C latent
D confounding

VOCABULARY QUICK CHECK

Word Synonym or Definition
obscure
advocate (n.)
deference
underscore
dormant
tenuous
pervasive

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• Two phrases that identify a Vocabulary question are ___________________________________ and
___________________________________.
• First, identify ___________ or ___________ the blank is referring to.
• Next, ___________________________________ in the sentence that describes that person or thing.
• Watch out for ___________________________________ that may change the direction of the sentence.
• Write down your own ___________ or ___________ for the blank in the Annotation box.
• If the question is asking what a word most nearly means, ________________________________________
______________________.
• The most common trap answers on Vocabulary questions are ___________________________________,
___________________________________, and ___________________________________.
• Make a habit of studying the ___________________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
PURPOSE
55
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand how the Reading Basic Approach can be used on Purpose

questions
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to Purpose questions
• Learn the three main purposes of a text
WRITING
• Differentiate between what was written and why it was written
Purpose Fast Facts

Purpose questions will appear ____________ on any module in which they appear.
MATH
Purpose texts will typically be ____________ than Vocabulary texts.
Purpose questions can either ask you to __________________________________,
_____________________________________, or ______________________________
____________________________.

READING QUESTIONS: PURPOSE
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—PURPOSE
1. ____________________________. As you read, highlight key terms in
the question stem so you know which of the three tasks you are being
given.
2. ____________________________. The following terms or phrases will
WRITING
help you identify a Purpose question.
• main purpose
• overall structure
• function
MATH
3. ____________________________. As you read, make sure to pay
attention to structural words and phrases that might explain the
organization or purpose of the text or sentence.
4. __________________________________________________________.
• Highlight words or phrases that are related to the main focus of

the text.
• Determine whether the author is explaining, supporting, or

contradicting the main idea or what attitudes the author expresses
towards the main focus.
• Write down a combination of the two above points in the

Annotation box.
5. ____________________________. On Purpose questions, the most
common trap answers will be ___________________________,
___________________________, and ___________________________.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Asking the Right Question

The first step to finding the purpose of a text is to focus on why something was
included in the text, not just what was stated in the text.
i Mark for Review

In the romantic comedy Chasing Faith, the main
WRITING
character, Ryan Jeffries, asks the school’s most

popular girl, Faith Peters, to an upcoming school
dance. In reply, Faith exclaims, “I actually
already have a date for Friday, and I’m not feeling
that well, so I’m not sure I’ll go at all. Honestly, I
have so much homework that I should probably
stay home and complete it.” This clichéd dialogue
was cited by critics as one of the reasons for the
MATH
movie’s poor performance in theatres.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the

text?
A To provide a list of reasons as to why an

invitation is declined
B To offer support for a negative assessment

of a film
What answer would you probably pick if you only considered what happens in the
text? ________
Which answer would you probably pick if you asked, What is the biggest, most
likely reason this author wrote this text? ________
Purpose questions ask you to consider the author’s voice and

focus on why he or she included something. Wrong answers will
often be based on only part of the text or include assumptions
about the author’s purpose that lack evidence within the text.

READING
Three Purposes
Almost every piece of evidence that an author can include in the text is there to
accomplish one of three purposes:
• To explain. These pieces of evidence are informational in nature and

detail or describe an idea that the author believes may be important
to the text.
WRITING
• To support. These pieces of evidence are meant to advocate for or
back up a given claim or viewpoint, which may or may not be the
author’s.
• To contradict. These pieces of evidence are meant to dispute or offer

an alternative idea to a given claim or viewpoint, which may or may
MATH
not be the author’s.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Learn the Basics

Prior to the “printing revolution”
1 Mark for Review
in Europe, manuscripts had to
be laboriously copied by hand, Which choice best states the main
typically by monks who served as purpose of the text?
scribes. Then, in 1440, Johannes
Gutenberg developed the printing A To praise Gutenberg for
WRITING
press, which worked by pressing an inventing the printing press

inked surface onto paper by means
of a screw mechanism. Books
could be cheaply mass-produced, B To explain how the printing
making knowledge of all sorts press changed Europe
available to the populace. Literacy
rates increased exponentially,
and academia flourished. One C To describe how a printing
MATH
profound, albeit unintended, press operates

consequence of this newfound
access to ideas was the political and
religious strife that endured for D To warn readers about the
centuries thereafter, giving rise to dangers of the printing
movements such as the Protestant press
Reformation and the French
Revolution.
How can you identify that this is a Purpose question?
_____________________________________________________________
Who or what is the main focus of the text? Highlight this focus.
What does the text say about the main focus? Highlight this evidence.
Does the evidence explain, support, or contradict the focus? _________________
Based on the highlighting, what would be a good phrase for the Annotation box
that captures the author’s goal and the main focus?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
Putting the Fun in Function
A Purpose question can also ask for the function of a sentence in the text. The sen-
tence in question will always be underlined, and the surrounding sentences are the
key to understanding the underlined sentence’s function.
Paleontologists generally agree that

2 Mark for Review
the asteroid strike that created the
WRITING
Chicxulub crater off the coast of Which choice best describes the
Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula during function of the second sentence in
the Cretaceous period caused the the overall structure of the text?
extinction of the dinosaurs. A
more contentious issue, however, A It refutes the theory that the
is whether the asteroid impact was asteroid was the sole cause
the sole cause of the extinction, as of extinction.
opposed to simply one of myriad
MATH
adverse factors that ultimately
induced the animals’ demise. B It illustrates why most “refutes” means, be sure
Some contend that climatic and paleontologists agree that to study the Vocabulary
atmospheric changes, largely the asteroid caused the Hit Parade.
caused by volcanic activity and an dinosaur extinction.
increase in the size of the oceans
due to continental shifts, imperiled
the dinosaurs centuries before C It details the evidence
the Chicxulub asteroid struck the discounting the asteroid
Earth. strike as the sole cause of
extinction.

D It states a limitation in
current paleontological
knowledge regarding the
extinction of the dinosaurs.
_____________________________________________________________
Who or what is the main focus of the underlined sentence?
____________________________________________________________________________
Does the underlined sentence explain, support, or contradict the sentence before?
_____________
Does the sentence after the underlined sentence explain, support, or contradict the
underlined sentence? ________________
Based on the above, what would be a good phrase for the Annotation box?
_____________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Try It Out: Before and After

As you just saw, the function of a sentence is connected to the sentences before and
after it. Read beyond the underlined sentence to keep things functioning smoothly
for you on test day.
Consider the following sentence: “Malls are my least favorite place.”

WRITING
Which do you know from that sentence?
what the author said about malls or why the author said something about malls
Now consider the sentence before: “I’m not meeting up with Jaya. Malls are my
least favorite place.”
MATH
What do you learn from the bold sentence?
the what or the why
Now consider this sentence: “I suggest that we order pizza.”
the what or the why
Now consider the sentence after: “I suggest that we order pizza. Every time we try
to order individual dishes, it just takes way too long.”
the what or the why
Finally, consider the following: “I just find the stock market really confusing.”
the what or the why
Now consider the sentence before: “My friends want me to start playing the
stock market game with them. I just find the stock market really confusing.”
the what or the why
Now consider the sentence after: “My friends want me to start playing the stock
market game with them. I just find the stock market really confusing. My mind goes
blank when I’m assaulted with a bunch of numbers and lines on graphs.”
Does this sentence explain more about what the author finds confusing or more
about why the author mentions confusion?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
Don’t Panic
The longer the answers, the more likely you’ll be able to use POE and eliminate
answers that don’t match the function of the underlined sentence.
Chimpanzees have a complex

3 Mark for Review
hierarchical social structure,
and adults can be aggressive Which choice best describes the
and territorial. Unfortunately, function of the third sentence in
WRITING
some people attempt to raise the overall structure of the text?
their primate “cousins” as
human children, believing that a A It provides additional
pampered infant chimp dressed insight into why
in baby clothes will grow up just chimpanzees have an
like its human “siblings.” But instinctive tendency toward
nature cannot be subjugated by aggressive behavior.
wishful thinking. Chimpanzees
MATH
can be dangerously ferocious
when provoked or otherwise B It summarizes the theory
angered. As noted in a recent that the researchers from
study by a prominent zoological the zoological society
society, there are numerous cases attempted to prove by
of chimpanzees being raised by conducting their study.
humans ultimately attacking their
“parents.”
C It states a general principle
that is illustrated by the
information about
chimpanzees provided in
the text.

D It offers a different
interpretation of the
zoological society’s findings
about aggressive
chimpanzees.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Mapping the Structure

It’s also possible for a Purpose question to ask for the overall structure of the text.
You’re still looking for the main focus, but as with Function questions, paying
attention to the roles sentences play can help you come up with an annotation
efficiently.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519),

4 Mark for Review
WRITING
one of the most prominent

figures in western art, was also Which choice best describes the
a scientist, and his anatomical overall structure of the text?
knowledge greatly influenced his
artwork. Da Vinci was concerned A It describes aspects of
with depicting the human body Vitruvian Man, then
in a naturalistic way, drawing discusses how the drawing
upon his expert familiarity fits within da Vinci’s
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with its intricacies. Influenced broader artistic vision.

“assertion” means, be sure
by Vitruvius, an architect and
to study the Vocabulary engineer of ancient Rome, da
Hit Parade. Vinci created the now famous B It makes an assertion about
work Vitruvian Man around 1490. da Vinci, then offers an
This drawing, which features a example that supports that
male figure inscribed in both a assertion.
circle and a square, attempts to
represent ideal body proportions.
Da Vinci’s scientific approach to C It examines Vitruvius’s
the human form even influenced influence on da Vinci, then
Michelangelo, da Vinci’s discusses Vitruvius’s
contemporary and great artistic influence on Michelangelo.
rival.

D It explains how two
scientists are similar, then
discusses how two artists
are different.
_____________________________________________________________

READING
Try It Out: Explain, Support, or Contradict
Consider the following sentence: Originally conceived in the 1960s, timeshares are
properties with divided ownership or use rights.
Sentence 2: The concept behind them is that travelers get to experience the thrill of a
luxury vacation home at a fraction of the cost.
WRITING
Does Sentence 2 Explain, Support, or Contradict the previous sentence?
Sentence 3: Indeed, it’s true that timeshare ownership costs less per year on average
than purchasing and maintaining a private vacation home.
MATH
Sentence 4: However, timeshares, like all things, have their detractors.
Sentence 5: Critics of the practice have cited that timeshare owners of the same prop-
erty often want to reserve the same vacation dates, which forces some owners to accept
less-than-ideal windows for their trips.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Purpose and Prose

Even when College Board reaches back one hundred (or more) years for a text, re-
member that authors of all eras include evidence to explain, support, or contradict.
The following text is adapted

5 Mark for Review
from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel
Frankenstein; or The Modern Which choice best states the main
Prometheus. The speaker, Victor, is purpose of the text?
WRITING
recounting his childhood growing

up with his cousin, Elizabeth. A To surmise that Victor’s
relationship with Elizabeth
We were brought up together;
could have been even closer
there was not quite a year
had their personalities been
difference in our ages. I need not
more similar
say that we were strangers to any
species of disunion or dispute.

MATH
Harmony was the soul of our B To describe Victor and

companionship, and the diversity Elizabeth’s youthful
and contrast that subsisted in relationship and how their
our characters drew us nearer respective traits contributed
together. Elizabeth was of a to the dynamic between
calmer and more concentrated them
disposition; but, with all my
ardour, I was capable of a more

intense application and was C To explain that Victor’s
more deeply smitten with the passionate desire to learn
thirst for knowledge. about the world was
sometimes distressing to
Elizabeth

D To lament that Elizabeth
was less focused on
intellectual pursuits than
Victor and did not apply
herself to them as fiercely

READING
Stay the Course
No matter the task, keep identifying what the text or sentence in question is focus-
ing on and how the sentences around it explain, support, or contradict it.
The following text is from Robert

6 Mark for Review
Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella “The
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Which choice best states the
Hyde.” function of the underlined sentence
WRITING
in the text as a whole?
He is not easy to describe.
There is something wrong with
A It identifies a puzzling
his appearance; something
situation that is resolved by
displeasing, something
the sentences that follow.
downright detestable. I never
saw a man I so disliked, and yet

I scarce know why. He must be B It elaborates on the
MATH
deformed somewhere; he gives phenomenon introduced by
a strong feeling of deformity, the previous two sentences.
although I couldn’t specify the
point. He’s an extraordinary-

looking man, and yet I really can C It offers observations that
name nothing out of the way. No, contradict those stated in
sir; I can make no hand of it; I the previous sentence.
can’t describe him. And it’s not
want of memory; for I declare I
can see him this moment. D It presents an idea that is
rejected in the next three
sentences.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Try It Out: Identifying Purpose Traps

Consider the following text.
Traditionally, most cardiovascular exercise programs focused on aerobic exercise,

which utilizes low-intensity movements to promote the transformation of carbo-
hydrates into energy with the use of oxygen. By the turn of the twentieth cen-
tury, however, some developers of home cardiovascular programs had begun to
WRITING
incorporate more anaerobic exercise into their products, particularly in the form of
HIIT, or high-intensity interval training. HIIT intentionally deprives the body of
oxygen, forcing the body to utilize other metabolic processes to break down those
same carbohydrates.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

MATH
Consider the following four answers and determine which is the correct answer as
well as which trap the other three answers fall into:
A) It identifies two approaches to exercise, then explains a characteristic of the

first approach.
Correct Opposite Extreme Language Right Answer, Wrong Question
B) I t describes two approaches to exercise, then elaborates upon a feature of the

second approach.
C) I t details two ideologies, then includes evidence that proves the latter to be
correct.
D) It explains what was once characteristic of many cardiovascular exercise

programs.

READING
Purpose and Poetry
Poems deviate from regular texts, as they often focus more on tone and imagery
than evidence or explanation. When you see a poem, you just need to adjust what
you’re looking for in the text.
The following text is from Richard Poetry texts can show

7 Mark for Review
Lovelace’s 1642 poem “To Althea, up on several different
WRITING
from Prison.” The speaker, a Which choice best states the main question types, including
prisoner, is addressing Althea, a purpose of the text? Purpose. Be on the look-
woman whom he longs to see again. out for poetry examples
Stone walls do not a prison make, A To express the speaker’s joy throughout the question
Nor iron bars a cage: despite his being in prison type chapters, and there’s
Minds innocent and quiet take even a chapter just for
That for an hermitage. Poetry questions.
If I have freedom in my love, B To show confidence in the
MATH
And in my soul am free, speaker’s belief that he will
Angels alone, that soar above, eventually be released from
Enjoy such liberty. prison
C To acknowledge that prison

is difficult to endure

D To end the speaker’s
relationship with Althea so
he can finally stop longing
for her
Who or what is the focus of the text?
_____________________________________________________________
What tone does the author take towards the focus? ________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Rhyme and Reason

For the structure of a poem, you’ll need to keep track of what happens chrono-
logically in the story, remembering that poems often rely on tone and that the
author’s tone may shift depending on what is being discussed.

8 Mark for Review
Sam Walter Foss’s 1897 poem “The
WRITING
House by the Side of the Road.” Which choice best describes the
overall structure of the text?
I would not sit in the scorner’s seat
Nor hurl the cynic’s ban—
A The speaker rejects two
Let me live in a house by the side
possible approaches, then
of the road
describes one he considers
And be a friend to man.
superior and plans to
implement.
I see from my house by the side of
MATH
If you weren’t sure what the road

“advocates” means, be sure By the side of the highway of life, B The speaker rejects an
to study the Vocabulary The men who press with the ardor increasingly popular
Hit Parade. of hope, attitude, then advocates for
The men who are faint with the an alternative worldview.
strife,
But I turn not away from their

smiles and tears, C The speaker regrets his past
Both parts of an infinite plan— behavior, then describes the
Let me live in a house by the side positive societal change that
of the road he envisions.
And be a friend to man.

D The speaker defends his
philosophy, then criticizes
those who reject it.

READING
PURPOSE DRILL
Time: 10 minutes

An Australian team, including researcher Hugh The following text is from Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s
WRITING
Worrall, conducted a systematic literature review 1892 short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The speaker,
that suggests that support groups are valuable tools a woman recovering from illness on a rented summer
for helping individuals who suffer from mental estate, writes in her journal about the room in which
illness. Examining research spanning from 1989 to she is staying.
2017, the team reviewed 57 studies that dealt with It is a big, airy room, the whole floor nearly, with
the effectiveness of support groups for persons living windows that look all ways, and air and sunshine
with mental illness and, in some instances, for their galore. It was nursery first and then playground and
caregivers. The team found consistent evidence for
MATH
gymnasium, I should judge; for the windows are
the efficacy of professionally-facilitated, family-led barred for little children, and there are rings and
support groups; professionally-facilitated, program- things in the walls.
based support groups; and psychoeducational support
groups for caregivers. The paint and paper look as if a boys’ school had
used it. It is stripped off—the paper—in great
Which choice best states the function of the patches all around the head of my bed, about as far
underlined sentence in the overall structure of the as I can reach, and in a great place on the other side
text? of the room low down. I never saw a worse paper in
my life.
A To demonstrate the challenges faced by the
team in collecting its data Which choice best states the main purpose of the
text?

B To summarize the results of the team’s review A To validate any negative feelings the nursery
children may have had about the wallpaper
C To discuss a specific earlier study that

exemplifies the team’s findings B To describe the speaker’s current
surroundings and remark upon a feature of
those surroundings
D To present the specific process by which the
team arrived at its conclusions
C To describe the aesthetic deficiencies and
unpleasant nature of the wallpaper
D To specifically identify which aspects of the

wallpaper the speaker finds most offensive

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The following is adapted from Tennessee Williams’s Not all bears hibernate throughout the winter
1944 play The Glass Menagerie. The speaker, Tom months. Rather, there are degrees of hibernation, and
Wingfield, recalls his mother’s plans to find a suitor the extent to which an individual bear hibernates,
for Tom’s sister, Laura. if at all, depends on factors such as species, climate,
It became an obsession. Like some archetype of the pregnancy, and food availability. Zoo bears, for which
universal unconscious, the image of the gentleman food is typically provided daily, may consequently
caller haunted our small apartment. ... never hibernate, although they may sleep more
WRITING
during wintertime. Zookeepers sometimes even need

An evening at home rarely passed without some to restrict the caloric intake of bears in captivity
allusion to this image, this spectre, this hope. which, failing to lose weight during a hibernation
Even when he wasn’t mentioned, his presence period like their counterparts in the wild do, can
hung in Mother’s preoccupied look and in my easily become overweight and unhealthy.
sister’s frightened, apologetic manner - hung like a
sentence passed upon the Wingfields! Which choice best describes the function of the
underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
MATH

text? A I t illustrates how animal caretakers respond to
the zoo bears’ behavior discussed in the text.
A To show that Tom and Laura disagree with
their mother about Laura’s future
B It mentions a unique physical characteristic of
zoo bears that is elaborated on later in the text.

B To emphasize Tom’s desire that Laura never
marry and remain living at home
C It explains the behavior of the zoo bears
mentioned earlier in the text.
C To convey that Tom’s mother’s behavior caused
him and Laura distress
D It demonstrates how zoo bears exemplify the
information about hibernation provided in the
D To reveal Tom’s fear that Laura will be text.
unhappy in her romantic relationships

READING
The following text is from John Steinbeck’s 1937 The following is from Sir Walter Scott’s 1919 poem
novella Of Mice and Men. As George and his “Love of Country.”
companion Lennie travel through rural California, Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Lennie drinks from a river and George addresses him Who never to himself hath said,
in response. This is my own, my native land!
“You never oughta drink water when it ain’t Whose heart hath ne’er within him burn’d,
running, Lennie,” he said hopelessly. “You’d drink As home his footsteps he hath turn’d,
WRITING
out of gutter if you was thirsty.” He threw a scoop From wandering on a foreign strand!
of water into his face and rubbed it about with his If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
hand, under his chin and around the back of his For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
neck. Then he replaced his hat, pushed himself back High though his titles, proud his name,
from the river, drew up his knees and embraced Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
them. Lennie, who had been watching, imitated Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up The wretch, concentred all in self,
his knees, embraced them, looked over to George Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
MATH
to see whether he had it just right. He pulled his hat And, doubly dying, shall go down
down a little more over his eyes, the way George’s
hat was. Which choice best describes the function of the
underlined portion in the text as a whole?
Which choice best describes the function of the
underlined sentence in the text as a whole? A It lists the seemingly desirable assets that
actually lead one to self-destruction.
A It illustrates an interpersonal dynamic that
exists between George and Lennie.
B It expresses the speaker’s disdain for those
who are rich and powerful.
B It reveals the conflicting aspects of Lennie’s
personality that appear in response to
criticism. C It summarizes circumstances that the speaker
believes are outweighed by personal values.
C It shows the mutually beneficial relationship

between George and Lennie. D It emphasizes the dignity of those who love
their respective countries.
D It demonstrates the effect that Lennie’s

troublesome behavior has on George.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The following is from Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s 1883 The following is from Ernest Hemingway’s 1952
poem “Solitude.” novella The Old Man and the Sea. Santiago, an
Laugh, and the world laughs with you; impoverished elderly fisherman, is walking with his
Weep, and you weep alone; young companion.
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, “Santiago,” the boy said to him as they climbed the
But has trouble enough of its own. bank from where the skiff was hauled up. “I could
Sing, and the hills will answer; go with you again. We’ve made some money.” The
WRITING
Sigh, it is lost on the air; old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy
The echoes bound to a joyful sound, loved him. “No,” the old man said. “You’re with a
But shrink from voicing care. lucky boat. Stay with them.” “But remember how
you went eighty-seven days without fish and then
Which choice best states the main purpose of the we caught big ones every day for three weeks.”
text? “I remember,” the old man said. “I know you did
not leave me because you doubted.” “It was papa
made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him.” “I
A To acknowledge that people are drawn to
MATH
know,” the old man said. “It is quite normal.”

positive emotions and repelled by negative
ones
Which choice best describes the overall structure of
the text?
B To advise others to hide their pain and
personal problems in order to maintain social A It describes in detail the causes for the
relationships desperate circumstances one character is
experiencing, then reveals another character’s
attempt to support him in his crisis.
C To express resentment that the speaker was
often ignored when sad or distraught
B It presents one character’s suggestion and
offers a reason for that suggestion, then
D To criticize people who abandon others in presents another character’s rejection of that
times of emotional distress suggestion and a reason for the rejection.

C It depicts one character’s persistent attempts
to persuade another, then explains the other
character’s rationale for agreeing to the
request.

D It establishes one character’s concern for
another, then outlines the reasons why that
concern is not reciprocated.

refute
assert
advocate (v.)
• ____________________________, ____________________________ and ____________________________

are the three phrases that identify a Purpose question.
• Remember that Purpose questions are asking for ____________________________ rather than
____________________________.
• Start each Purpose question by asking _______ or _______ is the main focus of the text.
• Then, find and highlight evidence discussing the focus, and determine whether the evidence
____________________________, ____________________________, or ____________________________

the focus.
• On poetry questions, pay careful attention to the _________ of the text and eliminate answers that are
the ____________________________ of the tone.
• The other trap answers you will see most often on Purpose questions are ____________________________
and ____________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
DUAL TEXTS
77
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Adapt the Reading Basic Approach for use on Dual Texts questions
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to Dual Texts questions
• Learn to highlight and identify claims within text(s)
• Differentiate between multiple points of view
WRITING
Dual Texts Fast Facts

The combined texts will not exceed ___________ words.
MATH
The topic of the Dual Texts will likely be ________________________ or
____________________________.
Dual Texts questions will often ask you how how ____________________ from
one text would respond to a ___________________, _________________, or
___________________ from another text. They can also ask for an ____________
about which the authors or people from ____________________________ would
agree.

READING QUESTIONS: DUAL TEXTS
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—DUAL TEXTS
It will be pretty obvious when you’re confronted with a Dual Texts question, so
let’s modify the Basic Approach to tackle the question as efficiently as possible.
1. ____________________________. As you read, highlight the person or The questions in this

chapter feature Text 2
group in Text 2 that will be responding to a claim or idea from
responding to Text 1,
Text 1—you should also highlight the claim or idea from Text 1.
WRITING
but if a question asks
If the question is looking for an idea about which both texts would you to identify Text 1’s
agree, proceed to Step 2. response to Text 2, work
the texts in reverse
2. ___________________________________________________________ order instead.
_______________. Your goal here is to find and highlight either the

claim referenced by the question or the main idea of the text if the
MATH
question is more general.
3. ____________________________________________________________
______________. Your goals here are to find a reference to the same

claim or main idea(s) that you highlighted in Text 1 and highlight
what the author or people referenced by the question had to say about
that claim or idea.
4. ____________________________________________________________.
• If the question is asking for a response, determine whether the

person or group in Text 2 is explaining, supporting, or
contradicting the claim or idea from Text 1.
• Write down the relationship or the common thread between the

texts in the Annotation box.
5. _______________________. On Dual Texts questions, the
most common trap answers will be ______________________,
___________________________, and ____________________________.
Dual Texts questions ask you to consider the relationship

between a pair of texts by examining the interactions
between the texts. Understanding what interactions are
possible is the key to establishing the relationship between
the texts and applying POE.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Three Responses
If the question is asking for a response, the person or group from

one text will likely do one of the following:
• Support the Claim or Idea from the other text.

WRITING
• Contradict the Claim or Idea from the other text.
• Do a combination. The person or group in one text

might support one aspect of the other text’s argument
but oppose another aspect of it.
MATH
Learn the Basics
Text 1
1 Mark for Review
Biologists once classified dinosaur
Based on the texts, how would Lida
species as reptiles, as they were
and McKellar (Text 2) most likely
vertebrates, laid eggs, had some
respond to the claim made by the
sharp teeth, and contained bone
“biologists” presented in Text 1?
structures in the shape of scales.
This taxonomy was retained until
the 1980s, when cladistics, a type A By confirming the
of classification system, was used assumption that reptiles
to prove that birds descended from and birds are equally
extinct dinosaur species. related to dinosaurs
Text 2
If you weren’t sure what Chinese paleontologist Xing Lida B By stating that the biologists
“retained” means, be sure found a preserved dinosaur tail in neglected to mention that
to study the Vocabulary amber dated to 99 million years bone structure is the most
Hit Parade. ago. Lida noticed that the fossil important characteristic
had the remnants of vertebrae and when comparing species
feathers, and Ryan McKellar, a
Canadian paleontologist, cites the
C By recognizing the validity
fossil as evidence that birds and
dinosaurs are very closely related. of the claim based on their
McKellar and Lida maintain that own research into shared
dinosaurs and birds share many features between species
characteristics, such as laying
eggs, walking upright on two legs,
D By disagreeing with the
having feathers, and being warm-
premise that dinosaurs
blooded.
were reptiles as their own
research supports a
different conclusion

READING
As you read the text, highlight the claim or idea from Text 1, then find the person
or group from Text 2 who will be responding and highlight that view.
Do Lida and McKellar support or contradict the claim from Text 1?
_____________________________________________________________
WRITING
So, what would be a good summary of the relationship between the texts for the
Annotation box? ____________________________________________________________
MATH

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Conditions, Conditions
Good writers will acknowledge the other side of their argument when necessary,
and College Board texts are no exception. If a text supports or contradicts the
other text but includes something that acknowledges the other side, highlight that
acknowledgment because the correct answer will often account for that wrinkle.
WRITING
Text 1
2 Mark for Review
Parkinson’s disease is very
Based on the texts, what would the
challenging to detect until it
scientists in Text 2 most likely say
progresses, especially due to
about the researchers’ claim in
the wide varieties in which
Text 1?
it manifests. Analyzing
cerebrospinal fluid for biomarkers
MATH
may be the best method to diagnose A The claim is flawed because

Parkinson’s disease due to its the researchers incorrectly
location near the brain. Because assumed that cerebrospinal
the fluid samples from patients fluid was the only way to
with early Parkinson’s disease identify Parkinson’s disease
contain different proteins from in patients.
those of patients without the
disease, researchers at the Van
Andel Institute have claimed that B The claim is preliminarily
this method could be the most valid because they did
efficient way to detect and treat the successfully identify
disease as early as possible. Parkinson’s early on, even
though there may be more
Text 2 efficient methods to do so.
While researchers did successfully
identify biomarkers in cerebro-
C The claim is rational
spinal fluid that could help identify
Parkinson’s disease earlier than because the efficiency of the
was previously possible, the cerebrospinal fluid and
method to obtain cerebrospinal breathing pattern methods
fluid involves costly, invasive, are equivalent.
and specialized techniques and
resources. Therefore, scientists
D The claim is confusing
at MIT are working to develop a
because there is no proof
simpler method that identifies the
that biomarkers in
disease solely based on a person’s
cerebrospinal fluid
breathing patterns.
significantly differ between
patients with and without
Parkinson’s disease.
Do the scientists in Text 2 support or contradict the researchers’ claim in Text 1?
_____________
Highlight the phrase or sentence in Text 2 that goes in the opposite direction of
your answer to the previous question.

READING
No Cutting Corners
Answers to Dual Texts questions can often be longer and consist of two separate
parts. Make sure to read to the end of each answer before deciding whether that
answer is consistent with the highlighting and annotation.
WRITING
Text 1
3 Mark for Review
When did human ancestors
Based on the texts, how would
obtain the ability to walk upright?
Guy and his team (Text 2) most
Scientists have attempted to use
likely describe the hypothesis of
the fossil record to find out. A
Bergeret-Medina and Macchiarelli
femur fragment was found in 2004
presented in Text 1?
by student Aude Bergeret-Medina
and paleoanthropologist Roberto
MATH
Macchiarelli. The researchers A It holds true but only in
hypothesized that the remains specific circumstances like
likely didn’t belong to a human those in Guy and his team’s
species that consistently walked study.
upright, based on the fact that a
bony ridge found in the specimen is
lacking in modern human anatomy. B It is mostly correct, but it
requires marginal
Text 2 adjustments based on the
Franck Guy, a paleoanthropologist new analysis by Guy’s team.
who initially agreed with Bergeret-
Medina and Macchiarelli, studied
C It holds little intrigue as a
the femur bone and concluded that
it did in fact belong to a species that theory, despite the findings
consistently walked upright on two regarding bipedalism from
limbs, a form of locomotion known Guy and his team.
as bipedalism. Guy and his team
identified at least 12 features that
D It may seem reasonable
correspond to upright locomotion
based on one trait, but it is
in addition to the single trait that
not supported by further
indicated a lack of bipedalism.
analysis incorporating
Based on this research, Guy asserts
many traits.
that a combination of traits should
be used to determine bipedalism,
rather than any single trait within
a species.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Try It Out: Reading to the End of Sentences
1. Consumers are annoyed by yearly credit card fees, ______
Which answer best completes the above sentence by supporting the

first half of the sentence?
WRITING
a. but fees allow credit card companies to offer substantial perks to

their consumers.
b. as the fees are easy to forget and can come as an unwelcome
surprise each year.
MATH
c. though many accept them without first reading the fine print on
the agreement.
2. Many artists get freelance work by offering a sample composition for

free, ______
Which answer best completes the above sentence by contradicting it?
a. but they expect to be compensated if multiple pieces are requested

as a result of the sample.
b. and this can lead to exposure, which is worth more to an artist

than money.
c. as discussions of price at the outset of a relationship can

discourage potential employers.
3. Rashida believes that all government policy is driven by economics,

______
Which answer best completes the above sentence by admitting one of

its points and then contradicting it?
a. a lthough most government programs are not required to yield any

type of profit.
b. and recent online polls show that most individuals surveyed share
Rashida’s beliefs.
c. and while this may be true regarding tax policy, it doesn’t apply to
environmental programs.

READING
Topics Change, but Approaches Stay the Same
It’s most common for Dual Texts to focus on natural science, but it’s possible to
see topics on social science or even culture. Luckily, the Basic Approach works
exactly the same regardless of topic. That said, don’t forget the value of coming
back to a question on a topic with which you’re less comfortable.
WRITING
Text 1
4 Mark for Review
Andalusian is a dialect of Spanish
Based on the texts, how would
rather than its own unique
the author of Text 2 most likely
language. The dialect shares
respond to the claims of the author
fundamental characteristics with
of Text 1?
traditional Spanish, such as the
same word for the second person
MATH
plural informal subject pronoun A By emphasizing that
and the same pronunciation for Andalusian features
certain letter sounds. The push distinctive grammar and
to define Andalusian as its own sounds even if the language
language is largely driven by shares some similarities
those focused on preserving their with Spanish
own culture rather than by those
focused on proper categorization of
languages. B By stating that a person who
speaks Andalusian will also
Text 2 be able to understand
Andalusian is a unique series Spanish
of patterns and words that
deserves recognition as its own
C By clarifying that
language. Many sounds that are
differentiated in Spanish have Andalusian is a much more
been merged into single unique challenging language to
sounds in Andalusian. Speakers master than Spanish
of Andalusian use different object
pronouns, different verb forms,
D By agreeing that most
and different gender forms to craft
linguists don’t think
their spoken word. Andalusian also
differences between sounds
uses many unique words not found
and other word types are
in the Spanish dictionary.
significant

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Thanks for the Assist, College Board

Sometimes, College Board will underline the claim from Text 1 if the text doesn’t
include a word or phrase that the writers think clearly indicates a claim or opinion
to the reader. You still need to read the claim carefully in these cases, but this can
help you move through the Basic Approach more efficiently.
WRITING
Text 1
5 Mark for Review
Despite the fact that the deep
Based on the texts, how would the
ocean, which begins at 200 meters
researchers in Text 2 most likely
below sea level, contains more
respond to the underlined claim in
than 90% of the total seawater,
Text 1?
only about a third of modern fish
species reside in the ocean’s depths.
MATH
Some scientists have offered a A By admitting that the claim

possible explanation for this may seem logical but
phenomenon: deep ocean waters offering an alternative
are cold and have fewer resources, explanation for an outcome
so it is harder for fish species to based on their own research
If you weren’t sure what survive there.
“undermines” means,
Text 2 B By largely agreeing with the
be sure to study the
Seeking a better understanding claim but insisting that
of the habitats of aquatic species, additional clarity is needed
researchers at the University of to better define the
Washington have identified several boundaries of the deep
time periods in Earth’s history ocean
when fish species preferred the
deep ocean, based on an analysis
C By questioning the claim for
of the fossil record, which can be
traced back millions of years. The implying that fish species
researchers have hypothesized that are unable to survive in cold
the majority of fish species did not temperatures
move their habitats to shallower
waters for survivability—instead,
D By criticizing the claim for
shifting continental boundaries
assuming a connection
over a long period of time moved
between depth and
the physical shorelines closer to the
temperature, as their own
fish.
research undermines that
connection

READING
A Polite Fight
Not every text is going to “disagree” and “criticize” the other text, like you’ve seen
in some of the previous questions. If a person or group from Text 2 suggests that
someone from Text 1 needs to consider an alternative explanation or expand his or
her research somehow, these answers count as contradictions as well!
WRITING
Text 1
6 Mark for Review
Both terrestrial and gas planets
Based on the texts, how would the
are capable of supporting natural
researchers at the University of
satellites, more commonly known
Texas (Text 2) most likely respond
as moons. One of the limiting
to Quarles’s findings (Text 1)?
factors that can determine how
many moons a terrestrial planet,
MATH
such as Earth, can support is the A They would claim that tidal
size of the moons themselves. heating has a different
Using a computer simulation, Dr. effect on the stability of a
Billy Quarles at Valdosta State moon’s orbit around a
University found that Earth could planet than a moon’s size
support more than ten small moons does.
(average radius of 470 km), six
medium moons (average radius If you weren’t sure what
of 1,190 km), or four large moons B They would assert that over
“repudiate” means, be
(average radius of 1,736 km). an extended period the tidal
sure to study the Vocabu-
heating experienced by a
Text 2 moon will vary.
lary Hit Parade.
Researchers at the University of
Texas have argued that fewer
C They would suggest that the
moons can be supported by a
planet than previously thought findings may not account for
due to the many factors affecting all of the factors that affect
moons as they orbit a planet. For the number of moons a
example, tidal heating, which planet can support.
causes stretching and compressing
of a moon, affects the stability of a
D They would repudiate
moon’s orbit and how many moons
Quarles and his team for
could orbit near each other at a
ignoring the effects of
time. The researchers’ estimates
compression on tidal
indicate that Earth could support
heating.
seven small moons, four medium
moons, or three large moons.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
DUAL TEXTS DRILL

Time: 8 Minutes

WRITING
Text 1 Text 1
Nanoparticles are miniscule particles invisible to Most social media users are not able to assess which
the naked eye that behave in unique ways governed posts contain factual statements and which contain
by Ostwald ripening. According to this phenomenon, erroneous ones. Therefore, social media sites have
nanoparticles dissolve and distribute onto larger a responsibility to filter posts for users to help them
particles. This occurs because larger particles have see posts with statements validated by fact-checking
a smaller surface area-to-volume ratio and are more software. Without these filters, people will see posts
thermodynamically stable. with inaccurate data and believe they are true,
MATH
causing the spread of misinformation throughout

Text 2 society.
Nanoparticles are advancing technology in a wide
range of fields. The behavior of nanoparticles is based Text 2
on their structure, not their size. Smaller particles Research from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial
clump together to match up their irregular edges Intelligence Laboratory shows that algorithms
and defects into a smooth surface, which subjects the designed by social media sites to filter posts for the
particles to less friction and strengthens the bonds purpose of limiting misinformation can infringe on
between the particles. This process decreases the freedom of speech or accidentally block the wrong
surface area-to-volume ratio of the larger particles. posts. Therefore, the MIT researchers claim that
social media sites should not impose misinformation
Based on the texts, which statement would both filters of their own on users’ posts and should allow
authors most likely agree with? users to create their own if they desire to do so.
A Nanoparticles group together to achieve a Based on the texts, how would the MIT researchers
structural benefit. from Text 2 most likely describe the argument
presented in Text 1?

B Irregular edges on nanoparticles prevent them A It is no longer worthy of discussion based on
from forming larger particles. the results of the MIT group’s research.

C Nanoparticles are used in a wide variety of B It is primarily correct, but it requires minor
fields, such as biology, chemistry, and physics. refinement based on the MIT group’s research.

D Nanoparticles cannot be seen by humans C It may be well-intentioned, but it can have
unless special techniques are used. unintended consequences based on the MIT
group’s research.
D It holds true only in specific conditions such as

those in the MIT group’s research.

READING
Text 1 Text 1
Moisture-driven electricity generation (MEG) devices According to a 2010 study, people living in households
are a promising field, as this technology could be used making up to $75,000 a year experience greater levels
to power wearable devices, such as heart monitors. of happiness corresponding with greater income
These devices harness moisture from the atmosphere levels, but the pattern did not remain consistent once
to generate electricity using thin fabric, salt, and a the total household income of individuals in the study
WRITING
water-absorbent gel. This technology could provide a exceeded $75,000 a year. The study concluded that
clean source of energy for years to come. there is a correlation between personal happiness
and household income up to that $75,000 threshold.
Text 2
While they can generate small amounts of energy Text 2
from water in the air, MEG devices are not a sufficient Matthew Killingsworth expanded upon a 2010
source of energy due to their reliance on uncertain study to determine whether households with higher
weather conditions. When there is too much moisture incomes experienced increased life satisfaction and
MATH
in the air, these devices become saturated and positive experiences. According to his own study,
cease to function. They also do not generate enough higher incomes did contribute to greater levels of
electricity to feasibly power other devices. happiness, but he did not find any plateau to this
trend. Killingsworth concluded that households
Based on the texts, the authors of Text 1 and Text 2 making beyond $75,000 a year should experience
would both agree with which of the following higher levels of life satisfaction than those making
statements? equal to or less than $75,000 a year.
A MEG devices benefit a wide range of scientific Based on the texts, how would Killingsworth from
fields. Text 2 most likely respond to the underlined
conclusion in Text 1?

B MEG devices can generate some electricity A By identifying that the claim has merit, but his
from moisture in the air. research proved that the pattern does not top
out at a certain income level
C Scientists do not know how to use MEG devices

to power other electrical devices. B By criticizing the claim for being based on a
hypothesis that all households experience
happiness in similar ways
D Researchers working in this field are striving
to generate other types of energy beyond
electricity from water in the atmosphere. C By questioning the claim for implying that
households that make beyond $75,000 can’t
experience happiness

D By largely agreeing with the claim but
objecting that the pattern is more likely to
exist at higher income levels

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Text 1 Text 1
Many biologists believe that acoustic communication When the predator population in a region increases
among vertebrates developed differently depending significantly, it places a correspondingly increased
on the species. There is considerable variability strain on local prey populations. One method for
among specific hearing structures and the sensitivity protecting these prey populations is chemical
of those structures depending upon the family to camouflage. Researchers in Finland spread the
WRITING
which a species belongs. Further differences in the chemical odor of birds throughout a habitat to see
vocal tracts of vertebrate species support a conclusion if this camouflage made it harder for the birds’
that acoustic communication likely evolved predators to find the birds’ nests. The initial results
independently at various times in different species. indicated that the chemical significantly reduced
predation of the birds by red foxes.
Text 2
In a 2022 paper, Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen and his Text 2
research team hypothesized a common origin of According to scientists at the Latvian State Forest
MATH
acoustic communication 400 million years ago for all Research Institute (SILAVA), more research is
choanate (possessing internal nostrils) vertebrates. needed in order to increase the efficacy of chemical
Investigating a far broader range of species than camouflage across multiple predators. While a
that of previous studies, the team identified various chemical odor may have reduced predation of birds
structures related to acoustic communication that by red foxes, other predators, such as raccoon dogs,
were common to all of the species investigated. They were not affected. This could be due to the fact that
also found evidence of acoustic communication raccoon dogs don’t rely on their sense of smell to find
in groups previously believed to lack acoustic bird habitats as much as red foxes do.
communication, including certain species of
salamanders, frogs, and turtles. Based on the texts, what would the scientists in Text 2
most likely say about the researchers’ initial results
Based on the texts, how would Jorgewich-Cohen and in Text 1?
his team (Text 2) most likely respond to the belief of

the biologists presented in Text 1? A They are flawed because the scientists
incorrectly assumed that a chemical odor
A By challenging the assumption that different would work for all predator species.
hearing structures will result in different
hearing sensitivities
B They are rational because the chemical odor
deterred predation by red foxes and raccoon
B By conceding that the variability in vocal dogs equally.
tracts of the studied species is likely indicative
of variability in other related structures
C They are confusing because there is no proof
that introducing a chemical odor actually
C By disputing the idea that specific structural reduces the number of prey animals consumed
variations related to a trait in some species by predators.
preclude a common origin of that trait

D They are respectable because they do identify
D By accepting that choanate vertebrates are one way to use chemical camouflage to protect
almost certainly anomalous in sharing a some prey, but there is more to be learned to
common origin of acoustic communication improve the process.

retain
undermine
repudiate
• Dual Texts questions often ask how a _____________ or _____________________ from one text will
respond to a ______________ or ___________ from the other text.
• On the text that contains the statement, find and highlight the _______ or _______ from the question.
• On text that will be responding, find and highlight what the __________ or _________ from the
question says about that same claim or idea.
• Determine whether Text 2 __________ or ________________ the claim or idea from Text 1.
• Type that relationship into the ___________________________.
• If the question asks about an idea on which the texts would most likely agree, find and high-
light the _______________________ from Text 1, and then find and highlight what is said about the
_____________________________ in Text 2.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• Make sure you read __________________________________________________.
• The trap answers you will see most often on Dual Texts questions are
_________________, ____________________, and _____________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
RETRIEVAL
93
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand how the Reading Basic Approach can be used on

Retrieval questions
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to Retrieval questions
• Learn the different ways that College Board can ask for details
WRITING
Retrieval Fast Facts

Retrieval questions are focused on ____________________________________ and
MATH
not __________________________________________.
Retrieval questions ask you to find __________ from the text, such as _________
is said about a person or idea, _________ something happens in the text, or
___________ two ideas are similar.

READING QUESTIONS: RETRIEVAL
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—RETRIEVAL
1. ____________________________. As you read, highlight the person or
idea(s) that you are being asked to retrieve information about.
2. ____________________________. The following phrases will help you
WRITING
identify a Retrieval question.
• according to the text
• based on the text
3. _____________________. As you read, make sure to focus on the
MATH
sentence and phrase of the text that specifically deal with the person
or idea(s) from the question.
4. _________________________________________________________.
• Highlight words or phrases that are related to the main focus of

the text.
• Many times, you’ll be able to go right to Step 5 once you’ve

highlighted. However, you should always annotate if it helps you
summarize what was said about the person or idea.
5. _______________________. On Retrieval questions, the most
common trap answers will be ______________________,
___________________________, and ____________________________.
Retrieval questions are always looking for information from

the text about a person or thing. When applying POE, compare
the answers directly to the information you highlighted
without making outside assumptions.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Learn the Basics
Software developer and board

1 Mark for Review
game designer Emerson Matsuuchi
often incorporates his background According to the text, what is true
in computers into the games he about Matsuuchi’s board game
produces while still remaining true designs?
WRITING
to the promise of in-person social

engagement associated with board A They typically take longer
games. This can best be seen in his for Emerson to develop than
title Spector Ops, which utilizes his software programs do.
programming principles to create a
tense, competitive game of hidden
movement and science fiction. B They synthesize elements
This dual interest also appears in from a discipline not
MATH
his game VOLT, which simulates commonly associated with

the thrill of arena robotics in-person experiences.
competitions.

C They are developed using
advanced software
simulations rather than
traditional playtesting.

D They often lack futuristic
themes in an effort to evoke
a more traditional social
gathering.
How can you identify that this is a Retrieval question?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
Reason ≠ Purpose
Even if a question includes the word “why,” as long as you see according to the text
or based on the text, you have a Retrieval question. Retrieval questions never ask for
the author’s purpose, but they could ask why or how something happens in a text.
WRITING
The following is adapted from
2 Mark for Review
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1896
novel A Lady of Quality. The young Based on the text, why does the
woman of the house has been chaplain bow to the young woman?
dressed in boys’ clothes throughout
her childhood, and a chaplain is A He attempts to offer a swift
meeting her for the first time. apology for criticizing the
The chaplain gave such a start young woman’s attire.
MATH
as made him drop his shovel If you weren’t sure what
hat. “Mistress!” And this was “deference” means, be
she—this fine young creature B He wishes to retrieve his sure to study the
who was tall and grandly dropped shovel hat from the Vocabulary Hit Parade.
enough built and knit to seem a floor in a dignified manner.
radiant being even when clad in
masculine attire. He picked up
C He wants to show deference
his hat and bowed so low that
towards the woman for her
it almost swept the floor in his
beauty and demeanor
obeisance. He was not used to
towards him.
female beauty which deigned to
cast great smiling eyes upon him,
for at my Lord Twemlow’s table
D He wants to demonstrate
he sat so far below the salt that
how he would greet dinner
women looked not his way.
guests at Lord Twemlow’s
table.
How can you identify that this is a Retrieval question?
_____________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Info, Not Infer

Retrieval questions can be asked in a way that makes it sound like outside
assumptions or reasoning may be needed. This is never the case! Even if you’re
asked about a character’s feelings or attitude, that feeling or attitude will have
direct support in the text that you can highlight before applying POE.
WRITING
The following excerpt is from

3 Mark for Review
Mark Twain’s satirical novel A
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s According to the text, how does
Court. The narrator is a man from the narrator feel about the
the modern era trapped in the time “opportunity for adventure?”
of King Arthur.
The king and the whole Round A He is initially skeptical of it,
MATH
Table were in raptures over this although the other knights

If you weren’t sure what consider it an honor.
preposterous opportunity for
“vexation” means,
adventure. Every knight of the
be sure to study the
Table jumped for the chance,
Vocabulary Hit Parade. and begged for it; but to their B He tries to keep his feelings
vexation and chagrin the king contained, although it is
conferred it upon me, who had evident that he is proud to
not asked for it at all. be chosen for the
opportunity.
By an effort, I contained my
joy when Clarence brought me
the news. But he—he could not C He envies how freely the
contain his. His mouth gushed other knights express
delight and gratitude in a steady excitement, although
discharge—delight in my good Clarence’s enthusiasm
fortune, gratitude to the king for encourages him.
this splendid mark of his favor
for me. He could keep neither
his legs nor his body still, but D He appreciates the kindness
pirouetted about the place in an the king has shown him,
airy ecstasy of happiness. although he feels like he is
being punished.

READING
Try It Out: Info, Not Infer
Consider the following three sentences. For each sentence, circle all of the options
that are supported by the sentence and cross out those that are not supported.

i. Jaya feels overwhelmed by the number of essays she has due
tomorrow, though she knows that she could have spaced them out
more appropriately.
WRITING
a. Jaya was assigned all of the essays on the same day, as they all have
the same due date.
b. Jaya did not space her essay assignments out as well as she could
have.
MATH
c. Jaya had at least an entire week to complete each of the essays.
d. Jaya’s current feelings of stress are at least partially due to her own
decisions.
ii. Though they typically stick to their historical habitat in the Arctic
Circle, beluga whales have been spotted as far south as San Diego, a
city on the coast of California.
a. It is possible to see a beluga whale outside of the Arctic Circle.
b. San Diego, California, has an unusually high frequency of beluga

whale sightings.
c. Beluga whales follow a migratory route from California to the

Arctic Circle.
d. San Diego is not the historical habitat of beluga whales.
iii. An avid soccer fan, Miguel was saddened to see which team his
favorite club had drawn for its opening round match.
a. Miguel believes that the matchup will be a difficult game for his
soccer club to win.
b. Miguel was inconsolable despite the efforts of his family and close
friends.
c. Miguel was more upset at the matchup announcement than fans

of the opposing soccer club were.
d. Miguel’s reaction may have been different if another team had

been selected as the opponent.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Retrieval and Poetry

Like Purpose questions, Retrieval questions can accompany poetry texts. You can
be asked to retrieve an idea from the text as normal, but you can also be asked how
the poet compared two different items in the text.
WRITING

4 Mark for Review
the poem “XCII” from the 1907
collection Sappho, by Bliss Carman. Based on the text, in what way are
passers-by like meadow grasses?
Like a red lily in the meadow
grasses,
Swayed by the wind and burning A They are a symbol of a
in the sunlight, teeming community.
I saw you, where the city chokes
MATH
with traffic,
If you weren’t sure what Bearing among the passers-by B They become obscured
“obscured” means, be your beauty, when viewed in direct
sure to study the Unsullied, wild, and delicate as a sunlight.
Vocabulary Hit Parade. flower.
And then I knew, past doubt or
C They cause congestion,
peradventure,
which adds to the city’s
Our loved and mighty Eleusinian
traffic problems.
mother
Had taken thought of me for her
pure worship.
D They create a backdrop
against which something
can stand out.
Highlight the word in the text that indicates where a comparison takes place.
Based on the comparison, what would be a good phrase for the Annotation box
that would describe the similarity between passers-by and meadow grasses?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
When All Else Fails
Retrieval questions can sometimes ask you about a person or idea that is the focus
of the entire text. If are not sure what to highlight in the text because of this, go
directly to the answers and eliminate the answers that are not consistent with what
you can see in the text.
WRITING
The following text is from Jane
5 Mark for Review
Austen’s 1817 novel Northanger
Abbey. Catherine is the oldest According to the text, what is true
daughter in a middle-class family. about Catherine?
The day which dismissed the
music-master was one of the A Catherine is not a
happiest of Catherine’s life. particularly studious
MATH
Her taste for drawing was not individual.
superior; though whenever she
could obtain the outside of a
letter from her mother or seize B Catherine frequently
upon any other odd piece of debates with her music-
paper, she did what she could master but neglects to
in that way, by drawing houses appreciate his expertise.
and trees, hens and chickens,
all very much like one another.
C Catherine can be unfairly
Writing and accounts she was
critical when examining
taught by her father; French by
others’ drawings.
her mother: her proficiency in
either was not remarkable, and
she shirked her lessons in both
D Catherine believes her
whenever she could.
music-master is a good
instructor.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
RETRIEVAL DRILL
Time: 5 minutes

The following text is taken from the 1898 novel The following text is from Walt Whitman’s poem
WRITING
Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner. The adolescent “1861,” written in that same year.
narrator has grown up in the village of Moonfleet, Armed year! year of the struggle!
which is located near a vast bay.
Our village lies near the centre of Moonfleet Bay, a No dainty rhymes or sentimental love verses for
great bight twenty miles across, and a death-trap you, terrible year!
to up-channel sailors in a south-westerly gale. For Not you as some pale poetling, seated at a desk,
with that wind blowing strong from south, if you lisping cadenzas piano;
cannot double the Snout, you must most surely
MATH
come ashore; and many a good ship failing to round But as a strong man, erect, clothed in blue clothes,
that point has beat up and down the bay all day, advancing, carrying a rifle on your shoulder,
but come to beach in the evening. And once on the
With well-gristled body and sunburnt face and
beach, the sea has little mercy, for the water is deep
hands—with a knife in the belt at your side.
right in, and the waves curl over full on the pebbles
with a weight no timbers can withstand.
Based on the text, in what way is the year like a
According to the text, what is true of Moonfleet Bay? man?
A It can be navigated safely by most good ships. A It contains a longing for peace amidst battle.

B It has the strongest winds in the region. B It is full of love and romance.
C It is dangerous during gusty weather C It has been marked by losses from war.
conditions.
D It keeps moving forward despite adversity.

D It is impossible to land in but easy to pass.

READING
Ophthalmologist Patricia Bath’s career began A team lead by Eduardo Mayoral at the Universidad
at the Yeshiva University and Harlem Hospital de Huelva in Spain investigated a series of footprints
Center, where she researched the relationships left by hominins, human ancestors, on the Iberian
among cancer, diet, and stress. In a program at Peninsula (on which Spain is located). Mayoral and
the Center led by Rabbi Moses D. Tendler, Bath his team determined that the footprints, known as
examined the impact of streptomycin residue on the Matalascañas footprints, were most likely made
bacteria. Based on this research, she later concluded by individuals from the Neanderthal evolutionary
WRITING
that cancer is a catabolic disease and that tumor lineage. The Matalascañas footprints are the first
growth is a symptom of cancer. She also formulated palaeoanthropological evidence discovered on the
a mathematical equation that could be used to Iberian Peninsula that dates from the Pleistocene era,
accurately predict the growth of cancer cells. which was 300,000 years ago. Thus, the Matalascañas
footprints are an important piece of evidence for
According to the text, what led Bath to conclude that understanding early human movements during the
cancer is a catabolic disease? Pleistocene Era.
MATH
A She researched the links among diet, stress, Based on the text, why do the authors suggest that the
and cancer progression. Matalascañas footprints are important?
A The footprints are the first findings from a

B She studied bacteria that had been exposed to given era discovered in Iberia.
streptomycin.

B The footprints are the first evidence that
C She developed a mathematical formula to hominins of the Neanderthal lineage had lived
chart the growth of tumors. during the Pleistocene era.

D She discovered that tumor growth is a C The footprints confirm that the Matalascañas
symptom of cancer. hominins were native to the Iberian
Peninsula.

D The footprints are evidence of a definite
categorization that can be applied to all
hominid footprints of this era.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
deference
vexation
obscure
• Two phrases that identify a Retrieval question are _______________________________ and ___________
________________________________.
• Remember that Retrieval questions ask for _______________________________ and not
________________________.
• Start each Retrieval question by highlighting _______ or _______ is the main focus of the question.
• Even if a Retrieval question asks you _______ or ______, it’s still looking for ___________.
• _________ the information in the text and then _____________, but don’t forget to ____________________
when a text or question is more complex.
• The trap answers you will see most often on Purpose questions are ____________________,
_________________________________, and __________________________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
MAIN IDEA
105
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand how the Reading Basic Approach can be used on Main

Idea questions
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to Main Idea questions
• Learn to separate claims from evidence
WRITING
Main Idea Fast Facts

Main Idea questions are looking for the ________________ or _______ of the text.
MATH
Like _____________ questions, Main Idea are focused on ____________________
____________________ and not __________________________________________.
Unlike ___________________ questions, Main Idea questions do not directly ask
about details, but rather, what ____________________ those details are supporting.

READING QUESTIONS: MAIN IDEA
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—MAIN IDEA
1. ____________________________. Highlight the term “main idea” so

you don’t forget the task.
2. ____________________________. Main Idea questions will typically
WRITING
be phrased one way:
• Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
3. _____________________. As you read, focus on separating main idea

from details, which we will explore in this chapter. You are looking
for the sentence or idea that each of the other sentences or ideas in the
MATH
text supports.
4. ____________________________________________________________.
• Highlight words or phrases that are related to the main focus or

claim of the text.

highlighted. However, you should always annotate if it helps you
summarize a more complex text or if there is not a clear main idea
to highlight.
5. _______________________. On Main Idea questions, the most
common trap answers will be ____________________________,
___________________________, and ____________________________.
Wrong answers on Main Idea questions will often focus on a

detail that is actually supported by the text but is not the main
idea—so above all else, stay consistent with the highlighting
(and annotation, if you made one).

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Learn the Basics
In a study led by Barbara Maher at

1 Mark for Review
Lancaster University, researchers
investigated the ability of western Which choice best states the main
red cedar to reduce particulate air idea of the text?
pollution in suburban gathering
WRITING

places, such as playgrounds. To A Although ivy does not have
test their hypothesis, Maher and the smooth waxy leaves that
her team planted adult western are optimal for pollution
red cedar trees near one suburban control, ivy is still a viable
playground and planted ivy, alternative to western red
another common pollution reducer, cedar.
at a different suburban playground
in an area with a similar pollutant
MATH
mix. The team then monitored the B Because of the texture of its
“viable” means, be sure
air quality at both playgrounds leaves, western red cedar
to study the Vocabulary
over a period of time. They found can help to cleanse the
Hit Parade.
that the small, rough, evergreen atmosphere around
leaves of the western red cedar suburban playgrounds.
acted like a filter that captured
particulate pollution and prevented
it from circulating back into the C Because its evergreen leaves
atmosphere, while the smooth, are so rough, western red
waxy leaves of the ivy plants did cedar is ineffective at
not capture particulate pollution capturing particulate
nearly as well. pollution.

D The studies have proved
that planting western red
cedar is the most effective
solution to the problem of
pollution around children’s
playgrounds.
How can you identify that this is a Main Idea question?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
The Sum of Its Parts
Authors of literature texts do not always directly state their main ideas, as their
focus often lies more on entertainment than explanation or supporting an argu-
ment. When you see a text that is a continuous description of a character or an
idea, use the Annotation box to write a brief summary of the text before going to
POE.
WRITING
2 Mark for Review
Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886
novel Kidnapped, in which the Which choice best states the main
narrator, Balfour, is kidnapped and idea of the text?
taken to sea. He has just met the
ship’s cabin attendant, Ransome. A Ransome suffered traumatic
MATH
He told me his name was events as a sailor that
Ransome, and that he had caused him to experience
followed the sea since he was memory loss.
nine, but could not say how
old he was, as he had lost his
reckoning. He showed me tattoo B Ransome has problems
marks, baring his breast in the remembering facts and
teeth of the wind and in spite of never properly finished
my remonstrances, for I thought school.
it was enough to kill him; he
swore horribly whenever he
C Ransome wants to convey a
remembered, but more like a
particular image of himself
silly schoolboy than a man; and
to the narrator.
boasted of many wild and bad
things that he had done.

D Ransome wishes to frighten
the narrator through his
description of horrible
misdeeds.
Based on the description provided in the text, what would be a good summary of
Ransome’s interaction with the narrator to enter into the Annotation box?
_____________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Main Idea, Specific Traps

As with Retrieval questions, the only answers you can choose are the ones that are
consistent with the support that was highlighted in the text. Be careful with an-
swers that go Beyond the Text, ones that used Recycled Language, or ones that
are Right Answer, Wrong Question, such as answers that focus on a detail and
not the main idea.
WRITING

3 Mark for Review
from the 1844 short story The
Schoolmaster’s Progress by Which choice best states the main
Caroline M. S. Kirkland. The idea of the text?
narrator is describing William
Horner, a young teacher with a A A teacher is able to repair
MATH
growing reputation at his school. his house thanks to a raise

When schooltime came round in salary from his employer.
with the following autumn, and
“impose” means,
the teacher presented himself
be sure to study the for a third examination, such a B A teacher is told that he does
Vocabulary Hit Parade. test was pronounced no longer not need to take an
necessary; and the district examination that had been
consented to engage him at the required previously.
astounding rate of sixteen dollars
a month, with the understanding
C A teacher disagrees with a
that he was to have a fixed home,
promotion as he does not
provided he was willing to allow
wish to impose upon the
a dollar a week for it.
school.

D A teacher receives positive
news upon his return to
work, with a condition.

READING
Try It Out: Main Ideas and Details
For each of the following paragraphs, highlight the sentence that contains the
main idea, which should be the sentence that the other two sentences in the
paragraph are supporting.
i. Social media event planning has both its challenges and its draw-
backs. It’s relatively straightforward to create an event, and it’s easy
WRITING
to see which guests have confirmed as attending or not. However,
because of the convenience, it’s common for guests to not reply until
hours or even minutes before the event itself, leading to last-minute
phone calls and text messages that create stress.
ii. Many college hopefuls list the possibility of living in a new state or
region of the world as among the biggest draws towards attending a
MATH
four-year university. Despite this exciting prospect, the issue is most
certainly a complex one. Should any particular newly-minted college
students unexpectedly dislike their new surroundings, those indi-
viduals may not have the option to immediately transfer to a better
setting.
iii. The manatee, an endangered species, is an aquatic herbivore that

prefers shallow waters such as marshes and rivers. These waterways
are populated not just by manatees, but also by various watercraft
operated by humans. Therefore, people must navigate their boats with
extreme caution as they traverse marshes and rivers, lest they injure
the manatees that call these areas home.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Main Idea and Poetry

In another similarity to Retrieval questions, Main Idea questions can accompany
poetry texts. Don’t panic—the imagery and comparisons included by the author
will point to one central idea, so use the Annotation box if needed to write down
the consistent focus of the poem’s lines.
WRITING

4 Mark for Review
Anna Seward’s 1799 poem Sonnet
XVIII. The poem is about a stormy What is the main idea of the text?
evening in November.
Ceas’d is the rain; but heavy A The storm is weakening but
drops yet fall retains some of its past
From the drench’d roof;—yet intensity.
MATH
If you weren’t sure murmurs the sunk wind

Round the dim hills; can yet a
what “retains” means, B The storm is quite heavy
be sure to study the passage find
Whistling thro’ yon cleft rock, and is drenching the
Vocabulary Hit Parade. countryside.
and ruin’d wall.
The swoln and angry torrents
heard, appal,
C The storm has damaged the
Tho’ distant.—A few stars,
roofs and walls of the
emerging kind,
farmhouses.
Shed their green, trembling
beams.

D The storm is too violent for
anyone to brave its wind
and rain.
Based on the details of the poem, what are the main points made about the storm
that could be entered into the Annotation box?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
MAIN IDEA DRILL
Time: 5 Minutes

The following text is adapted from Walt Whitman’s The following text is taken from the 1898 novel
WRITING
1867 poem “With Antecedents.” The speaker is a Moonfleet, by John Meade Falkner. The narrator, John,
young man contemplating his recent and ancient is describing the town of Moonfleet, where he grew
ancestors. up.
As for me, (torn, stormy, even as I, amid these Now, there were not two hundred souls in
vehement days;) Moonfleet, and yet the houses that held them
straggled sadly over half a mile, lying at intervals
I have the idea of all, and am all, and believe in all; along either side of the road. Nothing was ever
MATH
I believe materialism is true, and spiritualism is made new in the village; if a house wanted repair
true--I reject no part. badly, it was pulled down, and so there were
toothless gaps in the street, and overrun gardens
Have I forgotten any part? with broken-down walls, and many of the houses
that yet stood looked as though they could stand but
Come to me, whoever and whatever, till I give you
little longer.
recognition.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
What is the main idea of the text?
A Moonfleet is so dilapidated as a town that it

A The speaker is credulous and will believe
will soon be abandoned.
anything he is told.

B Moonfleet has expanded to its current size to
B The speaker is having trouble accounting for
hold the increased population.
contrasting belief systems.
C Moonfleet is a town whose overall population

C The speaker has recently endured turbulent
is economically depressed.
weather and personal struggles.
D Moonfleet lacks enough carpenters to repair

D The speaker is claiming kinship with all
the run-down houses.
cultures and philosophies.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The following text is from William Shakespeare’s In 2009, microbiologist Paul Davies hypothesized
1606 play The Tragedy of Macbeth. Lord Macbeth is that basic forms of life emerged at multiple times
discussing the medical condition of his wife, Lady and that other unique branches of the tree of life
Macbeth, with her doctor. would most likely be found in Earth’s harshest
Cure her of that! Canst thou not minister to a mind environments. While most scientists still believe that
diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, all life on Earth shares a common ancestor, recently
raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with the accumulation of examples of a “dark biome”—a
WRITING
some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuffed collection of organisms previously unknown to
bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon her science—has grown. For example, in 2023, researcher
heart? Armando Azua-Bustos found that almost half his
samples of bacteria from the brutally arid Atacama
What is the main idea of the text? Desert in Chile were substantially different from any
known forms of life on Earth.

A Lord Macbeth is challenging the doctor to
come up with a solution for his wife’s Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
MATH
affliction.
A The dark biome is difficult to study because of
the harsh environments in which it is likely to
B Lord Macbeth is mocking the idea that the be found.
doctor can cure Lady Macbeth.

B There is increasing evidence for the possibility
C Lord Macbeth is expressing his belief that the that basic life forms emerged separately on
doctor is intentionally withholding an antidote Earth more than once.
for his wife’s condition.

C The ability of researchers to identify different
D Lord Macbeth is questioning the doctor’s forms of life in harsh environments has
assessment of Lady Macbeth’s condition. increased due to technological advances.

D Arid environments are the most likely location
for the emergence of new forms of
microorganisms.

viable
impose
retain
• The primary phrase that identifies a Main Idea question is ______________________________.
• Remember that, like Retrieval questions, Main Idea questions are asking for _______________________
_____________________________ and not ____________________________________________________.
• As you read, look for the _________ or _________ that the details in the text are supporting.
• _________ the main claim or focus in the text and then _______________________.
• Don’t forget to ____________________ when a text is more of a description and doesn’t include a clear
____________________.
• The other trap answers you will see most often on Main Idea questions are
______________________________, _________________________________, and ____________________
_____________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
CLAIMS
117
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand how the Reading Basic Approach can be used on Claims

questions
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to Claims questions
• Learn to separate claims from evidence
WRITING
• Differentiate among illustrating, strengthening, and weakening a

claim
Claims Fast Facts

MATH
Claims questions will ask you to ________________, ________________, or
________________ a claim made in the text.
Like _____________ questions, Claims questions are focused on _______________
___________________ and not ____________________________________.
Claims questions can appear mixed in with ________________ questions, as the

two question types test similar skills.
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—CLAIMS

1. ____________________________. Highlight whether you are
illustrating, strengthening, or weakening the claim.

identify a Claims question:
• illustrates
• support
• weaken or undermine
• claim, argument, hypothesis, or prediction
3. _____________________. As you read, focus on identifying the claim

referenced in the question stem. Be on the lookout for evidence that
supports the claim but is not the claim itself.

READING QUESTIONS: CLAIMS
READING
4. ____________________________________________________________.
• Highlight the claim referenced by the question stem.

highlighted. Annotate a summary of the text if it’s difficult to fol-
low, but keep your focus primarily on the highlighted claim (and
WRITING
evidence if needed) when using POE.
5. _______________________. On Claims questions, the most
common trap answers will be ______________________,
___________________________, and ____________________________
MATH
________________.
Two critical reminders for Claims: have a highlighted claim in

the text before approaching the answer choices and remember
exactly which job (illustrate, strengthen, or weaken) the
correct answer needs to do.
Claims and Evidence

A claim is an argument made by the author or someone else in the text. Claims
need to be supported by evidence and can be disagreed with.
Evidence is a detail or a collection of details. Evidence is usually factual and

cannot be disagreed with.
The possible purposes for evidence in a text are to
1) illustrate, or explain, claims
2) strengthen, or support, claims
3) weaken, or contradict, claims
A claim is part of a text’s main idea but not the exact same thing as a main idea.
Your focus on Claims questions should be to find the argument mentioned in the
question itself.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Learn the Basics
“On the Grasshopper and Cricket”

1 Mark for Review
is an 1816 poem by John Keats.
In the poem, Keats suggests that Which quotation from “On the
the sounds of nature never stop, Grasshopper and Cricket” most
writing, __________ effectively illustrates the claim?
WRITING
What word in the

A “A voice will run from hedge
text helps you identify to hedge about the new-
the claim? mown mead.”

B “The poetry of earth is
ceasing never.”
MATH
C “From the stove there shrills

the cricket’s song.”

D “That is the Grasshopper’s—
he takes the lead.”
How can you identify that this is a Claims question?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
Claims and Poetry
As you can already see from the first example, Claims is another question type
that may be accompanied by poetry texts. The good news is that you only need to
read the lines in each answer choice and ask whether they provide an example of
the highlighted claim—no advanced poetry degree required!
WRITING
“Occoneechee, The Maid of the
2 Mark for Review
Mystic Lake” is a 1916 poem
by Robert Frank Jarrett. The Which quotation from “Occoneechee,
poem describes the life of The Maid of the Mystic Lake” most
Occoneechee, the daughter of a effectively illustrates the claim?
Native American chief, as one of
loneliness and quiet: __________ A “Junaluska, chief, her father, /
Occoneechee was his pride, / In
MATH
the lonely little wigwam, / High
upon the mountain side.”

B “Though the life of
Occoneechee / Was one lonely
strange career, / And the
solitude and silence / Made the
romance of it drear.”

C “Occoneechee’s Mother Qualla
/ Passed away from earth to
God, / When this maiden was a
baby / And was covered by the
sod.”

D “Years had flown since
Occoneechee / Saw her loving
Whippoorwill, / High upon the
Smoky Mountain, / Near the
crystal rippling rill;”

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Quotation Qualms
Most questions that ask you to illustrate a claim are followed by four excerpts from
a piece of literature which can sometimes run long. Focus on reading carefully and
don’t dismiss these longer quotes before you get to the end of them.
WRITING
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Bram

3 Mark for Review
Stoker. In the novel, the narrator
describes Count Dracula and Which quotation from Dracula
the Count’s involvement in an most effectively illustrates the
unfortunate event that the narrator claim?
finds reprehensible: __________
A “I would fain have rebelled,
but felt that in the present
MATH
state of things it would be

madness to quarrel openly
with the Count whilst I am
so absolutely in his power;
and to refuse would be to
excite his suspicion and to
arouse his anger.”

B “Somewhere high overhead,
probably on the tower, I
heard the voice of the Count
calling in his harsh,
metallic whisper. His call
seemed to be answered from
far and wide by the howling
of wolves.”

C “I suppose one ought to pity
any thing so hunted as is the
Count. That is just it: this
Thing is not human—not
even beast. To read Dr.
Seward’s account of poor
Lucy’s death, and what
followed, is enough to dry
up the springs of pity in
one’s heart.”

D “It gave me almost a turn to
see again one of the letters
which I had seen on the
Count’s table before I knew
of his diabolical plans.
Everything had been
carefully thought out, and
done systematically and
with precision.”

READING
Half Right = All Wrong
Claims that you are asked to illustrate will often have two (or more) components
to them. When applying POE, be on the lookout for answers that address just one
of the components from the claim but neglect the other(s).
WRITING
“Astrophel” is an 1894 poem by
4 Mark for Review
Algernon Charles Swinburne. In
the poem, which describes the Which quotation from “Astrophel”
changing sky after a sunset over a most effectively illustrates the
garden, Swinburne describes this claim?
celestial event using elements from
the garden, writing, __________ A “The letters and lines on the
pages / That sundered mine
MATH
eyes and the flowers / Wax
faint as the shadows of ages
/ That sunder their season
and ours.”

B “A star in the moondawn of
Maytime, / A star in the
cloudland of change; / Too
splendid and sad for the
daytime / To cheer or eclipse
or estrange.”

C “A star in the silence that
follows / The song of the
death of the sun / Speaks
music in heaven, and the
hollows / And heights of the
world are as one.”

D “The flowers of the sun that
is sunken / Hang heavy of
heart as of head. The bees
that have eaten and
drunken / The soul of their
sweetness are fled.”

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Thanks for the Support

Claims questions can also ask you to strengthen a claim from the text. To find a
claim in a longer text, look for words like prediction, hypothesis, argument, or even
the word claim itself. Once you’ve found the claim, the correct answer should be
the one that is as consistent with the claim as possible.
WRITING
Researchers working on
5 Mark for Review
conservation efforts in rainforests
predict that nearly 500 species of Which finding, if true, would most
birds, most of which live in tropical directly support the researchers’
regions such as rainforests, are at prediction?
risk of being removed from their
native homes and entered into the A Pet shops report an
MATH
pet trade due to their desirability increased demand from

as pets. The researchers believe their customers for tropical
that the unique colorations of the birds with distinct
birds make them attractive to colorations.
potential consumers and owners.

B International legislation is
being introduced to promote
If you weren’t sure conservation of sought-after
what “prevalent” songbird species.
means, be sure to
study the Vocabulary
Hit Parade. C The awareness of rainforest
conservation efforts has
become more prevalent in
recent years.

D Additional species of
uniquely colored birds have
been discovered in non-
tropical regions of the
world.
_____________________________________________________________

READING
The Right Pieces of the Puzzle
It’s entirely possible for a text to include multiple claims or for multiple answers to
begin the same way. Make sure to highlight the correct claim based on what the
question asks for, and read to the end of each answer when applying POE.
WRITING
“Inattentional blindness” is a
6 Mark for Review
phenomenon in which people
miss unexpected objects when Which finding, if true, would most
asked to perform a visual task. directly support Utz and her team’s
Some researchers believed that hypothesis?
only eyesight would be prone
to such a lapse as the eyes are A On average, subjects
most often confronted with counted the beats correctly
MATH
irrelevant details and trained to but missed most of the
discard those details. However, animal sounds.
researcher Sandra Utz and her
team hypothesized that a similar
“inattentional deafness” may occur B Most subjects identified
in the right circumstances. To test animal sounds in all music
this hypothesis, the team inserted tracks they heard.
animal sounds into music tracks
and then asked human subjects to
count the beats in the track. The C Most subjects reported that
team then surveyed the subjects it was easier to make out the
regarding the nature of what they animal sounds than it was
heard. to count the beats properly.

D On average, subjects
reported noticing the
animal sounds quickly and
losing track of the beat
count.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Technique Trounces Trickery

College Board can even ask for a quotation that supports a claim, rather than just
illustrates a claim. No matter how many different ways a Claims question can be
asked, the Basic Approach has you covered!
WRITING
American writer Louise

7 Mark for Review
Meriwether found success with her
novel Daddy Was a Number Runner, Which quotation from the
which featured elements of her life newspaper article about
as she wrote about Depression-era Meriwether best supports the
Black life in Harlem. She was a journalist’s claim?
dedicated proponent of the peace
movement throughout her life, A “More than 50 years later,
MATH
If you weren’t sure while also becoming the first Black the themes Meriwether
what “proponent” story analyst in Hollywood. In an explored in her bracing
means, be sure to article, a journalist asserts that coming-of-age novel have
study the Vocabulary Meriwether dedicated both her never been more relevant or
Hit Parade. professional and personal efforts to radical.”
staying involved with the current
events of her day.
B “For Meriwether, joining the
fight for Black liberation
was not a matter of if, but
when.”

C “In 1961, she became a
reporter for The Los Angeles
Sentinel...She was also
socially engaged, joining
the Congress of Racial
Equality.”

D “Her circle of friends
encompassed still more
writers, including Maya
Angelou and Sonia
Sanchez.”

READING
Try It Out: Strengthen, Weaken, or Irrelevant
Wrong answers on questions that ask you to support a claim don’t necessarily need
to weaken that claim. They can also be irrelevant to the claim entirely.
For each of the following claims, determine whether each piece of evidence would
strengthen its corresponding claim, would weaken its claim, or is irrelevant to
its claim.
WRITING
Claim 1: Mel Brooks’s comedy films parody specific works rather than entire
genres.
a. His film Young Frankenstein presents the characters and story of Mary
Shelley’s Frankenstein novel in a humorous light.
MATH
___________________________
b. Writers of TV sitcoms of the late twentieth century modeled some of

their own humor after Brooks’s films.
___________________________
c. His film History of the World, Part 1 is more of a spoof of historical

films in general.
___________________________
Claim 2: The primary difference between the phoenix and the firebird is in their
origins—the phoenix is most commonly associated with Greek mythology while
the firebird comes from Slavic folklore.
a. The phoenix has become a popular fantasy animal thanks to its

presence in book series and video games.
___________________________
b. Though stories of both creatures originate from different parts of

Eurasia, the most notable differentiator between the two is that the
phoenix can be reborn after death, while the firebird cannot.
___________________________
c. The oldest known depictions of the phoenix were created by Greek

artists, while the earliest paintings of the firebird come from Russia, a
Slavic region.
___________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Claim 3: Thomas Edison invented the first incandescent light bulb, widely con-
sidered his most famous invention.
a. When Edison died, he possessed the record for number of US copy-

right patents, though this record has now been surpassed by several
others.
WRITING
___________________________
b. Among Edison’s other notable inventions were the phonograph and

the motion picture camera.
___________________________
MATH
c. Several inventors developed working incandescent light bulbs before

Edison, but none of these bulbs were as efficient or as commercially
viable as Edison’s.
___________________________

READING
Confidence with Contradictions
Occasionally, College Board will ask you for an answer that weakens a claim rather
than illustrates or supports it. Make sure to highlight words like weaken or
undermine in the question stem so you don’t forget and eliminate answers that do
the Opposite—in this case, that would be answers that strengthen or support the
claim.
WRITING
Astronomers have theorized that
8 Mark for Review
the Moon formed as a result of
a collision between Earth and Which finding, if true, would most
a Mars-size protoplanet named directly weaken the astronomers’
Theia (a scenario known as the theory?
Giant Impact Hypothesis), which
MATH

sent debris from the collision A Elements similar to those
into orbit around the Earth and found in Earth’s mantle
eventually formed what is now the have also been found in
Moon. Proponents of the theory meteorites.
cite research performed on lunar
samples collected during the Apollo
program that shows the presence B More meticulous studies
of similar elements in both the reveal that lower quantities
Moon’s and the Earth’s mantles. of certain elements are
found in the lunar samples
than were found in a recent
sampling of the Earth’s If you weren’t sure what
mantle. “meticulous” means, be
sure to study the
C Elements known to have a
low heat of vaporization are
found in larger quantities in
the Earth’s mantle than they
are in lunar rock samples.

D Celestial satellites such as
moons often form at the
same time as their planets
and thus consist of similar
elements.
_____________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
CLAIMS DRILL
Time: 10 Minutes

“A Reward of Merit” is a 1916 short story by Booth Members of a college choir group have been
WRITING
Tarkington. In the story, Penrod and Sam, a pair of rehearsing for an upcoming performance when they
boys, find a stray horse they name Whitey. While the decide to take a break and start harmonizing on a
boys believe the horse is simply hungry, the narrator popular song. One member suggests that they take
instead describes the horse as ill, as when Tarkington video of their harmonies to share on social media, but
writes of the horse, _________ the group’s advisor asserts that doing so would get
the post and the group blocked on social media due to
Which quotation from “A Reward of Merit” most copyright infringement.
effectively illustrates the claim?
MATH
Which statement, if true, would most directly support

A “Penrod laughed contemptuously. ‘Bony! All he the advisor’s assertion?
needs is a little food and he’ll fill right up and
look good as ever. You don’t know much about A Interviews with the band who wrote the
horses, Sam, I expect.’” popular song reveal that the song’s name had
changed several times during production.

B “They tried Whitey’s appetite first with an
autumnal branch which they wrenched from a B A member of the group mentions that he had
hardy maple in the yard.” seen a choir group from another college
perform the song at a local competition.

C “This head waggled slowly from side to side;
the nostrils vibrated; the mouth opened, and C The harmonies that the college choir created
the hollow cough sounded again.” are determined to be unique by a music
professor at the school, who states that this
distinguishes their work from the original
D “So forlorn was Whitey’s case, he was actually song.
an independent horse; he had not even an
owner.”
D A student council member mentions that
another club had shared copyrighted content
on social media and received an official
warning from that platform.

READING
Researchers Eti Ben Simon and Matthew Walker Castle Richmond is an 1861 novel by Anthony Trollope.
claim to have found that altruistic behaviors—the In the book, Trollope suggests that in times of great
desire and willingness for humans to help each tragedy, he does not believe that people should seek
other—occurred less frequently when there was divine intervention, or aid from a deity: _________
a decrease in the quantity and quality of sleep.
Ben Simon, Walker, and colleagues Raphael Vallat Which quotation from Castle Richmond most
and Aubrey Rossi assessed results from a study in effectively illustrates the claim?
WRITING
which participants were either allowed eight hours

(considered a sufficient amount) of uninterrupted A “We so beg, thinking that God’s anger is hot
sleep or six hours of interrupted sleep. The next day, also against us. But, lo! the famine passes by,
the researchers provided each participant with a and a land that had been brought to the dust
pamphlet asking for donations to a local charity. by man’s folly is once more prosperous and
happy.”
Which finding from the researchers’ study, if true,
would most strongly support their claim?
MATH
B “The fault had been the lowness of education
A Participants who slept sufficiently and had and consequent want of principle among the
uninterrupted sleep were as willing to hold an middle classes; and this fault had been found
elevator door open for a stranger as were as strongly marked among the Protestants as it
participants who slept less and had had been among the Roman Catholics.”
interrupted sleep.

C “But on no Christian basis can I understand
B Participants who had received a sufficient the justice or acknowledge the propriety of
amount of uninterrupted sleep were more asking our Lord to abate his wrath in detail, or
likely to make a charitable donation than were to alter his settled purpose.”
those who had received reduced and
interrupted sleep.
D “The destruction of the potato was the work of
God; and it was natural to attribute the
C Participants who made charitable donations at sufferings which at once overwhelmed the
the conclusion of the experiment reported unfortunate country to God’s anger—to his
longer bouts of uninterrupted sleep in a wrath for the misdeeds of which that country
follow-up survey than did those who did not had been guilty.”
make charitable donations.

D Participants who did not make charitable
donations were proportionally much more
likely to report feelings of loneliness in a
follow-up survey, regardless of how long and
how well they slept.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
“Cities” is a 1916 poem by Hilda Doolittle, who moved Using complex staging and an assortment of sounds
to London after growing up and attending college in and images to incorporate different storylines,
Pennsylvania. The poem reflects Doolittle’s positivity Canadian Métis playwright Marie Clements explores
towards the city of London through the description of the interconnectedness of diverse historical paths.
a fictitious creator of cities: _________ The nonlinear nature of her play Burning Visions,
for example, brings characters from different
Which quotation from “Cities” most effectively timeframes and locations into conversation. In a
WRITING
illustrates the claim? master’s thesis, one graduate student claims that
a particular strength of Burning Visions is the
A “ For alas, / he had crowded the city so full / connections woven among the diverse individuals
that men could not grasp beauty, / beauty was who populate Clements’s story.
over them.”
Which quotation from a scholarly review of Burning
Visions best supports the student’s claim?
B “So he built a new city, / ah can we believe, not
MATH
ironically / but for new splendour / constructed A “Although the play’s characters exist in
new people / to lift through slow growth.” different time periods and different parts of
the world, Clements creates relationships
among the characters that defy such temporal
C “And in these dark cells, / packed street after and geographic divisions.”
street, / souls live, hideous yet— / O disfigured,
defaced.”
B “By dividing the play into movements, rather
than acts, Clements de-emphasizes the human
D “Though we wander about, / find no honey of activity of the characters and instead focuses
flowers in this waste, / is our task the less the audience’s attention on the importance of
sweet— / who recall the old splendour.” place.”

C “Clements is truly an avant-garde playwright.
Her multimedia productions incorporate
elements of theater and film in new and
inventive ways.”

D “Unlike most Western apocalyptic tales, which
portray the end of the world as happening at
some unspecified time in the future, many
indigenous narratives depict the apocalypse as
having already occurred.”

READING
“The White Butterfly” is an 1850 short story by Tyrannosaurus rex lived between approximately 66
Jose Selgas. The focus of the story is a young and 90 million years ago. Dr. Stephan Lautenschlager
woman’s transition to adulthood after a prolonged analyzed the shape of the eye socket—or orbit—of
adolescence of frivolity and adventure. The young more than 400 species that lived between 66 and 252
woman’s disposition prior to that metamorphosis million years ago looking for a correlation between
is exemplified when Selgas describes her as having the shapes of their orbits and their diets and body
_________ sizes. Lautenschlager found that among carnivorous
WRITING
dinosaurs with large skulls, such as T. rex, the orbit
Which quotation from “The White Butterfly” most was keyhole-shaped. Lautenschlager claimed that
effectively illustrates the claim? the primary reason for the keyhole shape of the eye
socket was to reduce impact stress on the skull from

A “passed her life without thinking of anything high bite forces due to the species’ carnivorous diets.
more serious than the innocent pranks of
childhood; she was a child up to the age of Which finding, if true, would most directly
seventeen, but a boisterous, gay, restless, undermine Lautenschlager’s claim?
MATH
daring, mischievous child.”
A Of the species analyzed, eye sockets that were
keyhole-shaped were found largely in species
B “hair like gold and a complexion as fair as of varying sizes known to be carnivorous.
snow; ardent and impassioned in speech, and
with steadfast, searching, and melancholy
eyes, blue as the blue of deep waters.” B Fossil records of many of the species analyzed
are known to be incomplete, making it difficult
to determine the species’ actual sizes.
C “shone with a strange light, and in the fearless
expression of her countenance was to be
divined the strength of an unalterable C The fossilized skulls of herbivorous species
resolution.” analyzed in the study had a nearly equivalent
distribution of circular and keyhole-shaped
orbits, even though the size of the skulls was
D “seemed to have been seized by a sudden fit of smaller than those of carnivorous species.
restlessness that would not let her sit still for a
moment. She went to and fro, upstairs and
down, out and in, with the mechanical D Fossils of a large, carnivorous species similar
movement of an automaton.” to T. rex that Lautenschlager did not examine
revealed that keyhole-shaped orbits
principally developed to support large, wide-
set eyes that improved depth perception for
hunting.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
prevalent
proponent
meticulous
• The primary phrases that identify Claims question are __________________, __________________, and
_______________________________.
• Additionally, the question will also reference a _____________________, _____________________,
_____________________, or _______________________.
• Whether you are asked to illustrate, support, or weaken a claim, always start by _____________________
_______________________ in the text.
• Wrong answers on support or weaken questions don’t need to do the _________________ of the question
task—they can also be _____________________ to the claim.
• The other trap answers you will see most often on Claims questions are _______________________,
_______________________, and _________________________________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
CHARTS
135
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand how the Reading Basic Approach can be used on Charts

questions
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to Charts questions
• Familiarize yourself with the different types of Charts you’ll see on
WRITING
the Digital SAT

• Learn to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant data on Charts
questions
Charts Fast Facts

MATH
Charts questions can appear mixed in with ________________ questions, as the

two questions types test similar skills.
Like ________________________ questions, Charts questions are typically focused
on a ________________________ or ________________________ within the text.
Charts questions will ask you to _________________ or _________________ a
claim made in the text or ______________________ a statement or example of a
claim, all by using data from a figure.
The three types of figures you may see on Charts questions are
____________________, ____________________, and ____________________.

READING QUESTIONS: CHARTS
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—CHARTS
As with Dual Texts questions, it will be fairly obvious when you encounter a
Charts question, so we can modify the Basic Approach to suit the question type.
1. ___________________________________________________________.
Make sure you understand whether you are being asked to support
or weaken a claim or to complete a statement or example of a claim or
WRITING
conclusion.
2. ___________________________________________________________.
Familiarize yourself with the figure so you can more quickly access
the data needed to address the text and the question.
3. ___________________________________________________________.
MATH
Look for the claim made by the text regarding the data in the figure,
not the background information that gives the figure context.
4. ___________________________________________________________.
You won’t need to annotate on Charts questions often, but do so if
the claim and/or example are lengthy and a summary may be helpful
when using POE.
5. _______________________. On Charts questions, the most common
trap answers will be _____________________________________ and
_____________________________________.
The bottom line for Charts: not only does the correct answer
need to describe the data from the figure accurately, but it
must also address the claim included in the question.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Learn the Basics
Price and Sales of First-Generation 1 Mark for Review

Video Game Consoles
Which choice best describes data from the table that
Launch price Sales support the researchers’ claim?
Console
WRITING
(USD) (units)

Magnavox Odyssey 100 350,000 A The Magnavox Odyssey and Home Pong had
launch prices that were approximately the
TV Tennis Electrotennis 66 20,000 same, yet the Magnavox Odyssey sold more
Home Pong 98.95 150,000 than double the number of units of Home
Pong.
Coleco Telstar 50 1,000,000
Color TV-Game 36 3,000,000
MATH
B TV Tennis Electrotennis had a launch price of

$66 but sold the lowest number of units among
The series of video game consoles released between
all five consoles listed.
1972 and 1983 is considered the first generation
of video game consoles. As part of a study of these

initial commercial offerings, researchers determined C Among the five consoles in the table, the
the launch price in US dollars and overall sales (in console with the lowest launch price also had
units) of five of the most notable consoles from this the greatest number of units sold.
time. They claim that while consoles that sold at least
1,000,000 units had launch prices of significantly

less than $100, a low price did not guarantee that a D Of the five consoles in the table, Coleco Telstar
console would reach such a high number of sales. and Color TV-Game had the lowest launch
prices and the greatest number of units sold.
What are the headings of each column in the table?
________________________________________________________________________________________
What are the units in the table?
________________________________________________________________________________________

READING
You Complete Me
Instead of supporting a claim, you could also be asked to complete a statement or example based on a claim. You’ll still
highlight the claim in the text, but you’ll also want to stay consistent with the statement or example stated at the end of
the text.
Characteristics Relevant to Habitability 2 Mark for Review
WRITING
of Four Exoplanets
Which choice most effectively uses data from the
Exoplanet Mass Radius Average table to complete the example?
(ME) (RE) temperature
(K) A K2-384 e’s radius is 1.35 RE .
K2-384 e 2.34 1.35 370

Kepler-1704 b 1,319 11.94 254 B Kepler-1704 b’s average temperature is
MATH
TOI-2180 b 875.54 11.32 348 254 K.
Wolf 1069 b 1.26 1.08 250

C Wolf 1069 b’s radius is 1.08 RE .
Many astronomers, such as those in the team led by
scientist Diana Kossakowski, search for exoplanets
(planets outside the Solar System) that could D K2-384 e’s average temperature is 370 K.
potentially be habitable. To be considered viable for
human inhabitation, an exoplanet must have a mass
between 0.1 and 10 times the mass of the Earth (ME),
a radius between 0.5 and 2.5 times the radius of the
Earth (RE), and an average temperature between 182
and 285 Kelvin. However, Kossakowski and her team
noted that many discovered exoplanets fail to meet
all three criteria. For instance, although its mass is
within the habitable range,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Raising the Bar

You can be asked to complete both of the previous tasks using bar graphs instead of tables. Make sure you note how
each axis is labeled, and pay attention to any key or legend given, if there is one.
Average Number of Internal and 3 Mark for Review

WRITING
External Details Generated on

Which choice best describes data from the graph that
Autobiographical Interview
support the researchers’ conclusion?
220
200 A Consuming alcohol showed no effect on the
number of internal details generated when
180 compared with the placebo group.
Mean number of details
160

MATH
140
B The average number of internal details
120 generated was less for those who consumed
100 alcohol when compared to those who
80 consumed a placebo.
60

40 C The average number of internal details was
greater than the average number of external
20
details for both those who consumed alcohol
0 and those who consumed a placebo.
Past Future Past Future
Internal details External details
D The average number of internal details
alcohol
generated for the alcohol group was higher
placebo
when describing the future than when
describing the past.
An international team of researchers led by If you weren’t sure what “viable” means, be sure
psychopharmacologist Morgan Elliott investigated to study the Vocabulary Hit Parade.
the effects of alcohol on the ability for someone to
imagine him- or herself in the past or in the future.
Elliott and the team asked participants, some of
whom consumed alcohol while others consumed a
placebo, to describe events that happened in the past
or that may occur in the future. The participants
were additionally asked to give both internal details,
such as how they might feel emotionally during the
past or future event, as well as external details, such
as descriptions of their surroundings. According to
the researchers, the findings suggest that alcohol may
impair an individual’s ability to describe internal
details.

READING
Don’t Dive Deep Into the Data
The figures on Charts questions often include more data than is needed to answer the question. Before you spend
time analyzing every last facet of graph or table, use the highlighted claim or conclusion in the text to narrow down
the data to only what you actually need.
Percentage of Trials by Response 4 Mark for Review
WRITING
100 Which choice most effectively uses data from the
90 graph to complete the example?
80
Percentage of trials
70 A All groups produced fewer tail-embedded

60 sequences than crossed or center-embedded
ones.
50
40
MATH

30 B Tsimane’ adults, US adults, 3-to-4-year-old
20 children, and monkeys had similar
10 percentages of trials in which they produced
0 crossed sequences.
US Tsimane’ 3-to-4 monkeys crows
adults adults year olds
C Both US and Tsimane’ adults produced center-
center-embedded
embedded sequences in more than 50 percent
crossed
of their respective trials, whereas 3-to-4-year-
tail-embedded
old children did not.
Recursion—embedding structures within similar

structures—is a key feature of human language. D Crows had a higher percentage of trials in
To determine the cultural and evolutionary which they produced center-embedded
underpinnings of the understanding of recursion, sequences than did monkeys.
researchers have tested the capacities of US adults,
Tsimane’ (an Indigenous people of Bolivia) adults,
3-to-4-year-old children from a diverse range of
countries, monkeys, and crows. After receiving
training, subjects were asked to put a series of
brackets into sequences. It was determined that age
is a major factor in humans’ abilities to put these
brackets into center-embedded sequences that reflect
recursion; for example, ___________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Try It Out: Relevant and Irrelevant Data

For each of the below claims, circle the relevant data in the table before answering
the question.
Global Reproductive Rates (R) of Infectious Diseases
Disease Transmission R
WRITING
Diphtheria Saliva 6–7

Ebola Bodily fluids 1–2
Hepatitis C Bodily fluids 1–2
HIV/AIDS Bodily fluids 2–5
Influenza Airborne droplet 2–3
Measles Airborne 12–18
MATH
Mumps Airborne droplet 4–7

Polio Fecal-oral 5–7
Rubella Airborne droplet 5–7
Smallpox Airborne droplet 5–7
SARS Airborne droplet 2–5
i. In a paper for a college biology class, a student claims that infectious

diseases with the highest global reproductive rates are more likely to
be transmitted by saliva rather than through any bodily fluids. Which
pair of diseases best provides data to support this claim?
a. Influenza and Polio
b. Ebola and HIV/AIDS
c. Measles and Hepatitis-C
ii. A community outreach program is assembling a pamphlet to educate

community members on the transmission of the diseases HIV/AIDS
and SARS. The program leaders want the pamphlet to focus on the
similarities between the two diseases so that the pamphlet is easier to
follow. Which feature of the two diseases would be best to include in
the pamphlet?
a. Their transmission method of bodily fluids
b. Their global reproductive rate of 5–7
c. Their transmission method of saliva
iii. A research team at a local university wants to look for consistent

global reproductive rates among infectious diseases transmitted
through bodily fluids. Which pair of diseases best provides an
example of the team’s focus?
a. Ebola and Hepatitis C
b. Influenza and SARS
c. Rubella and Smallpox

READING
Holding the Line
The last type of figure you can see on Charts questions is a line graph, which is useful for tracking changes over time
but can be used for any type of numeric scale. As with bar graphs, you can be asked to both support or weaken a
claim or to complete a statement.
Observations of Play in Groups of 4 White 5 Mark for Review
WRITING
Leghorn Chicks over 30 Minutes by Age
120 graph to justify the underlined claim?
Number of observations
100
A The chicks were observed to play
80
approximately 90 times in 30 minutes at 28
60 days of age and 65 times in 30 minutes at 56
40
days of age.
MATH
20
0 B The greatest number of observations of play
4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 was approximately 10 in 30 minutes at 4 days
Age (days) of age.
Researchers from Linköping University in Sweden

C The chicks were observed to play
studied the play patterns of domesticated white
approximately 45 times in 30 minutes at 48
Leghorn chicks during the chicks’ development.
days of age and 60 times in 30 minutes at 52
Groups of four chicks were placed into an enclosure
days of age.
with various objects for them to play with. Video was
taken of the chicks, and the number of 15-second

periods in which each chick was deemed to have been D The least number of observations of play was
playing was counted. The researchers noted that, approximately 90 in 30 minutes at 36 days of
even though the amount of play varied significantly age.
after 28 days, the chicks showed an overall reduction
in the amount of play between 28 and 56 days of age.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Don’t Get Your Lines Crossed

Even with multiple lines on a line graph, keep your focus on the terms referenced in the claim and/or statement and
make use of the key or legend, if provided, to avoid any confusion.
Effects of Sound Levels on Well-being 6 Mark for Review

WRITING
0.2 Which choice most effectively uses data from the

Psysiological well-being
0.1 graph to complete the statement?

0
A the least physiological well-being of
–0.1
approximately –0.2 at 50 dB.
–0.2
–0.3
–0.4 B the greatest physiological well-being of
MATH
–0.5 approximately 0.1 at 50 dB.

40 50 60 70
Sound levels (dB)
C the greatest physiological well-being of
normal blood pressure
high blood pressure
computer use intensive work
not computer use intensive D the least physiological well-being of
A group of researchers led by business professor If you weren’t sure what “divergent” means, be
Karthik Srinivasan studied the effects of sound sure to study the Vocabulary Hit Parade.
levels on the physiological well-being (measured by
heart rate monitors and periodic surveys) of a group
of US federal employees. Srinivasan and his team
discovered that certain characteristics of individuals,
such as medical conditions, correlate with divergent
responses to sound levels. For instance, while most
employees had the greatest physiological well-being
at sound levels of 50 dB, those with high blood
pressure had ___________

READING
The Task Tells All
No matter what type of figure you are presented with, keep your question task in mind—should a question ask you
to weaken, rather than support, a claim, you need to find data that goes against the claim made in the text while still
referencing the same variables and units as the text.
Effects of Animals on Annual Cacao Crop Yield 7 Mark for Review
WRITING
300
weaken the student’s hypothesis?
250
A
Change in Yield (kh/ha)
Squirrels and ants had a negative effect on

200 crop yield.
150

B
MATH
Bats and birds had a much greater impact on
100
crop yield than did squirrels.
50
0 C Flying insects had the greatest effect on crop

yields.
–50
Squirrels Ants Bats and Flying
birds insects D The impact of ants on crop yield was smaller
than that of squirrels.
Researchers from the Universities of Wurzburg and
Gottingen in Germany worked with cacao farmers in
northwestern Peru to determine the impact of various
categories of animals and insects on crop yield. The
researchers examined both terrestrial (ground-
based) and aerial (flying) animal and insect species
to better understand the role these species play as
pollinators of Peruvian crops. In preparation for a
biology paper, a student hypothesized that each type
of animal and insect studied would have a positive
impact on annual cacao crop yields, regardless of
whether that species was terrestrial or aerial.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
POE = Efficiency
You will occasionally see some longer answers on Charts questions, depending on how much of the statement you are
asked to complete or how involved the claim in the text is. Stay consistent with the claim and eliminate answers as
soon as any portion of the answer contradicts the text or data.
Average Reduction in Systolic Blood Pressure 8 Mark for Review

WRITING
(mm Hg) by Dosage

Medication Half Standard Twice table to complete the assertion?
standard dose standard
dose dose A a twice-standard dose of angiotensin II
receptor antagonists resulted in an average
Thiazides 7.4 8.8 10.3
reduction in systolic blood pressure of 12.3
b-blockers 7.4 9.2 11.1 mm Hg, while a half-standard dose of the same
medication resulted in an average reduction of
MATH
ACE inhibitors 6.9 8.5 10.0

7.8 mm Hg.
Angiotensin II
receptor 7.8 10.3 12.3
antagonists B a half-standard dose of b-blockers resulted in
an average reduction in systolic blood
Calcium channel pressure of 7.4 mm Hg, which is the same
5.9 9.1 10.9
blockers reduction as a half-standard dose of thiazides.
University of London researchers M. R. Law, N. J.

Wald, J. K. Morris, and R. E. Jordan were interested C the standard dose of ACE inhibitors resulted in
in determining the effectiveness of various doses an average reduction in systolic blood
of five different blood pressure medications. They pressure of 8.5 mm Hg.
analyzed the results of 354 trials and determined the
average decrease in systolic blood pressure for each

medication at half the standard dose, at the standard D comparing a half-standard dose to twice-
dose, and at twice the standard dose. They asserted standard dose, calcium channel blockers
that, while all medications caused a greater decrease produced an average reduction in systolic
in systolic blood pressure as the dose increased, this blood pressure of 5.9 mm Hg and 10.9 mm Hg,
increase was not consistent among all medications. respectively, whereas thiazides had
For instance, ___________ corresponding reductions of 7.4 mm Hg and
10.3 mm Hg.
If you weren’t sure what “asserted” or “assertion”

means, be sure to study the Vocabulary Hit Parade.

READING
CHARTS DRILL
Time: 10 Minutes
Favorite Choice of Sports Among American Sports 1 Mark for Review

Fans by Age Group and Year
WRITING
Year table to complete the statement?
1955 1975 1995 2015
A 1955 with the choice percentages for 1975.
Football
22% 23% 25% 48%
(Ages 12 to 39)

Baseball B 1975 with the choice percentages for 1995.
36% 23% 21% 10%
(Ages 12 to 39)
MATH
Basketball C 1955 with the choice percentages for 1995.
10% 4% 10% 11%
(Ages 12 to 39)
Football
(Ages 40 and 31% 22% 37% 29% D 1955 with the choice percentages for 2015.
above)
Baseball
(Ages 40 and 36% 34% 33% 18%
above)
Basketball
(Ages 40 and 11% 5% 10% 15%
above)
Since the mid-twentieth century the popularity of

team spectator sports such as football, baseball,
and basketball has remained high among American
sports fans, with most identifying one of those three
games as their favorite sport. However, a researcher
reviewing sports preference data notes a time period
in which basketball and football rose in popularity
for both age groups while baseball declined in
popularity for both age groups. This can be seen most
clearly by comparing the percentages of favorite-
sport choices for the two age groups (younger versus
older fans) for ____________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
New Productions Opened on 2 Mark for Review

READING
Broadway in New York City 2007–2016

50 graph to justify the underlined claim?
45
Number of new productions
A Broadway had approximately 43 new

40
productions in 2008 and approximately 39 in
35 2015.
WRITING
30

25 B Broadway had approximately 35 new
20 productions in 2007 and approximately 45 in
2016.
15
10
C The lowest total number of new productions
5 on Broadway during the years shown was
MATH
0 approximately 45 in 2013.
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20

D The greatest total number of new productions
Total on Broadway during the years shown was
approximately 41 in 2012.
Broadway productions in New York City consist of
musicals, plays, and specials. The graph shows the
number of new productions of all types opened
on Broadway in New York City from 2007 to 2016.
According to a theater student, although the number
of new Broadway productions per year varied
significantly over the years shown, the overall
number of new productions increased over the given
time period.

Fracking Industry Donations to 3 Mark for Review
READING
Candidates for US Senate
1,250,000
support the students’ suggestion?
1,000,000
A The total amount of donations to senators in
US dollars
states that allow fracking increased over the

750,000 three years examined.
WRITING
500,000
B The total amount of donations to senators in
250,000 both states that allow and do not allow
fracking did not increase much from 2004 to
0 2006.
2004 2006 2008
Years
C The total amount of donations to senators in
MATH
states with fracking states that do not allow fracking was the
states without fracking highest in 2006.
Preparing a presentation for their economics class, a

D The total amount of donations to senators in
group of students examined the amounts of donations
to US senators for states that do and do not allow states that allow fracking was higher than the
fracking, a process by which water is injected at a total amount of donations to senators in states
high pressure into subterranean rocks to force the that do not allow fracking in each of the three
extraction of oil or gas from underground deposits. years examined.
According to the students, their examination suggests
that over the years analyzed, there was a growing
interest among members of the fracking industry to
increase donations to US senators in fracking-friendly
states in the hopes of securing better relationships
with those senators.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Reported Levels of Satisfaction with 3 4 Mark for Review

READING
Types of Psychotherapeutic Interventions

for Phobias by Year Which choice most effectively uses data from the
6 graph to illustrate the claim?
5
A reached their highest level in the same year
Satisfaction level
4 that satisfaction levels for both behavioral

therapy and cognitive therapy reached their
WRITING
3 lowest levels.
2
B aligned fairly closely with satisfaction levels
1 for behavioral therapy in 1960 but differed
from satisfaction levels for behavioral therapy
0
1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 by a large amount in 2020.
Year

MATH
C were substantially lower than satisfaction

psychodynamic
levels for cognitive therapy for each of the five
cognitive
years studied.
behavioral

The various schools of psychological thought D were substantially higher than satisfaction
have very different approaches to treating phobic levels for behavioral therapy in 1940 but
disorders, although comprehensive studies substantially lower than satisfaction levels for
evaluating client satisfaction with each type of behavioral therapy in 1980.
intervention are rare. To explore this issue, a
group of research psychologists collected both
recent and archival self-report data concerning
individuals suffering from phobias and their levels of
reported satisfaction subsequent to their respective
therapeutic interventions. One revelation of the
study was that types of therapy and their treatment
modalities tend to fall in and out of favor with the
client population, as is the case with psychodynamic
therapy, the satisfaction levels for which ____________

Unemployment Rates by County Type and 5 Mark for Review
READING
Poverty Status over a 22-Month Period
20 Which choice most effectively uses data from the
graph to complete the conclusion?

A the difference between the unemployment
rates of urban and rural counties with
Unemployment rate percent)
15
persistent poverty was greater than the
WRITING
difference between the unemployment rates in
urban and rural counties without persistent
poverty.
10

B the four types of counties studied differed
greatly in their unemployment rates at various
5 times throughout the given period but began
the period with similar unemployment rates.
MATH

C urban counties with persistent poverty
0 displayed a slight increase in unemployment
Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct
rates and then a sharp decrease early in the
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009
given period, whereas urban counties without
rural, persistent poverty persistent poverty displayed a sharp decrease
rural, without persistent poverty in unemployment rates followed by a slight
urban, persistent poverty
increase early in the given period.
urban, without persistent poverty

To determine the factors that can affect D rural counties with persistent poverty had
unemployment rates, researchers at the US lower unemployment rates at certain points
Department of Agriculture compiled data from over the given period than did rural counties
both rural and urban counties and determined without persistent poverty.
whether each county had persistent poverty or not.
Persistent poverty exists when twenty percent or
more of a county population has incomes below
the poverty level threshold for a period of forty or
more consecutive years. The researchers concluded
that whether a county was urban or rural affected
unemployment rates in counties with persistent
poverty more than it did in counties without
persistent poverty: ____________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Number of Animals Successfully Completing 6 Mark for Review

READING
Discrimination Tasks and Average Duration and

Frequency of Echolocation Signals (by Species) Which choice best describes data from the table that
support the researcher’s hypothesis?
Feature Bottle- Big brown

nosed bat A The big brown bats were better at
dolphin discriminating between the contents of the
Number of animals to cylinders than they were at discriminating
WRITING
successfully discriminate cylinder-wall thickness.

17 3
between cylinder contents
(alcohol vs. water)
B Most of the bottle-nosed dolphins
Average duration of signal discriminated between the contents of the
120 2,400
in microseconds (μs) cylinders and between the cylinder walls
Number of animals to based on thickness.
successfully discriminate

MATH
between cylinder 2 0
C Big brown bats were able to complete only the
wall thickness at
cylinder contents task, while dolphins were
0.1 millimeters (mm)
able to complete both the cylinder contents
Average frequency of and the cylinder wall thickness tasks.
180 110
signal in kilohertz (kHz)

Dolphins and bats use echolocation, a sonar-like D The vast majority of the animals in the study
method of detection. The animal emits a signal were unsuccessful at discriminating cylinder-
that bounces off an object, and the echo provides wall thickness at 0.1 millimeters.
information about that object’s size and distance.
However, the echolocation abilities of the two species
vary. A researcher conducted an experiment in which
17 dolphins and 15 bats had to discriminate between
two seemingly identical cylinders based on their
hidden contents, and then discriminate between two
additional seemingly identical cylinders based on
wall thickness. He hypothesized that the dolphins,
whose echolocation signals are penetrative, would
be able to perform both tasks, but the bats, whose
echolocation signals are indiscriminate, would have
difficulty with the cylinder wall thickness task.

Study Outcomes of Pre- and Post-Intervention 7 Mark for Review
READING
Weekend Admissions
Which choices best describes data from the graph
15
14 that weaken the board’s theory?
13
Percentage of occurrence

12 A Of the events that occurred post-intervention,
11
10 ten percent were patient mortalities and one
9 percent were CPR events.
WRITING
8
7
6
B A larger percentage of the events both pre- and
5
4 post-intervention were patient mortalities
3 than either ICU admissions or CPR events.
2
1
0
ICU CPR Patient C The percentage of events that were ICU
admission event mortality admissions was larger post-intervention than
MATH
Type of event it was pre-intervention.
pre-intervention post-intervention
D The percentage of CPR events pre-intervention
was roughly double the percentage of CPR
In Taiwan, administrators of hospitals frequently events post-intervention.
seek recommendations from medical advisors to
decrease the occurrence of negative outcomes for
patients admitted on the weekend, when hospitals
typically carry fewer staff and are less able to
respond to medical emergencies. A medical advisory
board theorized that hospitals are likely to see a
reduction in negative outcomes, such as patient
admission to the ICU (intensive care unit), the
need for CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), or
patient mortality (death), if the hospitals approve
intervention measures such as additional training
for weekend staff on medical procedures and
equipment. The board contacted several hospitals
throughout Taiwan, offering a training program for
the hospitals’ weekend staff and asking to collect data
from the hospitals on the percent occurrence of ICU
admissions, CPR events, and patient mortality both
before and after the training program.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Approximate Extinction Rates and Causes of Mass 8 Mark for Review

READING
Extinctions in Four Different Periods

Which choice best describes data from the table that
Period Million Approximate Cause
years extinction of supports the suggestion?
ago rate extinctions

Global warming and A The highest estimated extinction rate during
Ordovician 444 0.81–0.88 ocean chemistry the Ordovician period exceeds the highest
changes estimated extinction rate during the Triassic
WRITING
Devonian 360 0.72–0.76 Severe global cooling period.
Permian 250 0.93–0.97 Volcanic activity

Global warming and B The extinction rate during the Permian
Triassic 200 0.80–0.87 ocean chemistry period, caused by volcanic activity, was the
changes
highest at an approximate rate of 93 percent to
97 percent.
There have been a number of mass extinction events
on Earth. Such events have had different primary

MATH
causes and have led to the replacement of the types

C The extinction rate during the Devonian
of flora and fauna found both on land and in the
period, caused by global cooling, was the
oceans, including the annihilation of the dinosaurs. A
lowest, and the extinction rate during the
geologist suggests that while it is difficult to compare
Permian period, caused by volcanic activity,
the events because different forms of life existed
was the highest.
during each period, the approximate extinction rate
can be significantly influenced by the cause of the

extinction event. D The extinction rates during the Ordovician
and Triassic periods are similar while the
rates during the Devonian and Permian
periods each are significantly different from
any other event.

viable
divergent
assert
• Charts questions will ask you to ___________________ or ___________________ a claim or ___________
______________________ an example or statement.
• The types of figures you will see on Charts questions are ___________________, ____________________
_____________, and _________________________________.
• Always read the _______________, ________/___________, _________________________________, and
_______________ of each figure.
• Find and highlight the _______________________ or _______________________ in the text that uses the
same keywords as the figure.
• Wrong answers will either be ________________________________ with the figure or claim or
_______________________ to the claim.
• The trap answers you will see most often on Charts questions are
_________________________________________ and _________________________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
CONCLUSIONS
157
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand how the Reading Basic Approach can be used on Conclu-

sions questions
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to Conclusions questions
• Learn to identify which parts of the text help most with a conclusion
WRITING
Conclusions Fast Facts

For the Reading questions, Conclusions questions will usually appear
__________________ on any module in which they appear.

MATH
Like some __________________ questions, Conclusions questions will ask you to
_______________________________________________.
Conclusions questions can also ask you to _________________________________.
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—CONCLUSIONS

1. ____________________________. You won’t need to highlight any-
thing in the Conclusions question stems as each is usually written the
same way, unless you are asked to summarize a specific thing from
the text.

identify a Conclusions question:
• Which choice most logically completes the text

• as presented/described in the text
3. ___________________________________. As you read, focus on

identifying the main topic of the text. A good conclusion will refer-
ence the same person or idea that all of the other sentences reference.

READING QUESTIONS: CONCLUSIONS
READING
4. ____________________________________________________________.
• Highlight the ideas or sentence(s) most connected to the final,

incomplete sentence of the text.
• Many times, you’ll be able to go right to Step 5 once you’ve high-

lighted. Annotate a summary of the text if it’s difficult to follow,
WRITING
but keep your focus primarily on the highlighting when using
POE.
5. _______________________. On Conclusions questions, the most
common trap answers will be _________________________________,
MATH
___________________________, and ___________________________.
The big idea for Conclusions questions: choose the answer

that is as consistent with as many ideas from the text as
possible. The correct answer must be a conclusion that
the text can support, not a logical assumption or
an outside inference.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Learn the Basics
While left-handed individuals

1 Mark for Review
constitute an estimated 10–13% of
the global population, up to 30% Which choice most logically
of elite athletes in certain “high completes the text?
time-pressure” sports, such as
WRITING

baseball, table tennis, and cricket, A tend to have hand-eye
are left-handed. One explanation coordination that is no
for this phenomenon might be that better than that of their
left-handedness offers a particular left-handed opponents.
advantage in such sports, since
right-handed players ____________
B have less exposure to and
are therefore unfamiliar
MATH
with the movements of their

left-handed opponents.

C are naturally more inclined
to pursue individual sports
such as track and field or
swimming.

D would prefer to play against
left-handed competitors
when possible.
How can you identify that this is a Conclusions question?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
Follow the Argument
Many Conclusions questions will operate similarly to Charts questions that ask
you to complete a statement. The best conclusion to the text will often be related
to a claim or argument made in the same sentence as the blank or the sentence
before.
To improve the effectiveness of

2 Mark for Review
WRITING
health warnings on cigarette packs
and reduce the pervasiveness Which choice most logically
of smoking, several countries completes the text?
have introduced legislation
requiring that cigarettes be sold in A encourage consumers to
standard packaging free of logos disregard warnings about
and other brand images. Critics the health risks associated
argue that plain packaging is with smoking.
MATH
counterproductive. For example,
since the packages now look alike, If you weren’t sure what
smokers tend to buy the least B allow legislators to focus on “pervasiveness” means,
expensive cigarettes rather than more pressing societal be sure to study the
their preferred brands as they once concerns than cigarette Vocabulary Hit Parade.
did. Thus, critics contend, far from packaging.
reducing the overall number of
cigarettes that people smoke, plain
packaging laws ____________ C encourage the tobacco
industry to spend more
money on marketing
campaigns that target young
people.

D enable cigarette smokers to
support their habit at a
lower cost, potentially
increasing rates of smoking.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Conclusions and Careers

Conclusions questions may describe the career of an individual, much like you’ve
seen on other question types. The correct answer should be consistent with as
much of the description of that individual’s career as possible.
Rabindranath Tagore, the first

3 Mark for Review
non-European to receive a Nobel
WRITING
Prize in Literature, is known Which choice most logically

mostly for his poetry, but he also completes the text?
wrote several novels, short stories,
travelogues, plays, essays, and A do not necessarily capture
musical compositions. Later in the full scope of Tagore’s
his career, Tagore also took up contributions to the literary
painting and became the first and visual arts.
Indian artist to exhibit across
Europe, Russia, and the United
MATH

States. Those who regard Tagore B are overly critical of
only as a poet, therefore, ____________ Tagore’s later work and
unfairly dismiss his artistic
efforts.

C assume that his paintings
explore similar cross-
cultural themes as his
poems.

D value works that receive
global recognition over
those that only receive local
recognition.

READING
Try It Out: Conclusions from Evidence
For each of the sets of evidence below, choose the most logical conclusion. Then,
identify which sentence is most consistent with the answer you chose.
i. In crafting his parodies of popular music, comedy musician “Weird

Al” Yankovic juxtaposes a light-hearted topic against the more serious
nature of the song’s original lyrical content. For example, his song If you weren’t sure what
WRITING
“Ebay” discusses a series of whimsical and unnecessary purchases “juxtaposes” means,
from the popular auction website, while the original song “I Want It be sure to study the
That Way” by the Backstreet Boys discusses love and its impact on Vocabulary Hit Parade.
human relationships. Similarly, his song “Couch Potato” describes
a character who is obsessed with every show on television, while the
original song “Lose Yourself” by Eminem focuses on the hurdles
and obstacles one must overcome to pursue their passion. Therefore,
MATH
____________
a. it is likely that Weird Al received permission from the Backstreet

Boys and Eminem before recording his parody of each artist’s
songs.
b. a hallmark of Weird Al’s parodies is the contrast between the

humorous nature of the parody lyrics and the theme of the song’s
original lyrics.
c. online shopping and television watching may be just as valid

musical motifs as more serious themes such as love and adversity.
Highlight the sentence that is most consistent with the answer you chose.
What role do the other sentences of the text serve in relation to the sentence that
you highlighted?
_____________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
ii. According to interviews with former cruise ship crew members,

the cruise ship lifestyle has its fair share of drawbacks. Long hours,
limited or no days off, and cramped sleeping quarters are a few of the
most commonly offered complaints. However, there are several ways
to mitigate these downsides. Crew members can sometimes choose
shorter contracts to reduce the strain of the working conditions, and
those who endure said conditions for a period of time can see im-
WRITING
proved hours, vacation time, and room quality as they move up the
ranks of the cruise ship. Therefore, ____________
a. the drawbacks of cruise ship life make it unappealing for most

individuals.
b. immediate action must be taken to improve the quality of living

MATH
quarters for cruise ship crew members.
c. the negative aspects of cruise ship life need not be a permanent

fixture in a crew member’s career.
Highlight the sentence that is most consistent with the answer you chose.
Which word or phrase indicates that a shift occurs within the text?
_____________________________________________________________

READING
POE Parses the Pairs
Some Conclusions questions will feature two pairs of answers with similar ideas or
structures in them. If you can identify what is or is not the focus of the text, you
can eliminate half of the answer choices immediately.
Catechins, natural polyphenols

4 Mark for Review
found in green tea and other plant-
WRITING
based foods and beverages, offer Which choice most logically
a wide variety of health benefits completes the text?
because of their antioxidative
and anti-inflammatory effects. A A most people may be
great deal has been written about uncertain about how to
the benefits of drinking green tea introduce catechins to their
for balancing cholesterol levels diets.
and maintaining cardiovascular
MATH
health. A recent study also found
that the catechins in green tea can B most people drink large
help improve cognitive function quantities of green tea to
in the hippocampus, the part of improve cognitive function.
the brain vital to learning and
memory. These findings suggest
that ____________ C green tea consumption
might be even more
beneficial than was once
believed.

D green tea consumption
benefits cognitive function
more than it benefits
cardiovascular health.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Trends Trash Traps

When a text makes comparisons or establishes trends, the odds are those compari-
sons and trends will be part of the conclusion to that text. Highlighting compari-
sons and trends as you read and watching out for those items in the answers can
maximize your POE efficiency.
In a study of the neural circuitry

5 Mark for Review
WRITING
that underlies helping behavior—

voluntary actions intended to Which choices most logically
provide aid or benefit to another completes the text?
person—neuroscientists Joana
B. Vieira and Andreas Olsson A decrease the engagement of
performed fMRI scans on reactive fear circuits that
participants who, at the risk of also facilitate helping behavior.
being shocked themselves, decided
MATH
whether to help others avoid

electrical shocks. The researchers B decrease the reaction time
found a positive correlation of the amygdala in response
between the strength with which to a threat.
the “reactive” fear circuits in the
amygdala and insula, the brain’s
key defensive regions, registered C increase the likelihood that
a threat to self and the frequency the individual avoids
with which participants opted to prolonged exposure to
help. Therefore, an increase to the danger.
registered strength of a threat to an
individual should ____________
D increase the likelihood that
the individual offers aid to
others exposed to the same
threat.

READING
Using the Right Words the Right Way
All answers can use Recycled Language, but it’s particularly common on
Conclusions questions with science-based texts, in which technical language can
be widespread. Make sure the terms in each answer are being used exactly as they
were in the text.
The asteroid belt forms a dividing

6 Mark for Review
WRITING
line between the solar system’s
inner rocky planets and outer gas Which choice most logically
giants. Some astronomers theorize completes the text?
that the region was once heavily
populated with planetesimals, A support the conventional
rocky materials that formed view that the asteroid belt
there but were prevented from contains the remnants of a
coalescing into larger planets by region that was once heavily
MATH
Mars and Jupiter’s gravitational populated.
pulls. According to this theory,
roughly 99% of the material
originally present in the asteroid B prove that the asteroid belt
belt was pulled away from the once contained a much
belt over time. Researchers have larger planet that suffered
discovered, however, that the an internal explosion.
two largest objects remaining
in the asteroid belt—Ceres and
Vesta—have notably different C suggest that the asteroid belt
compositions from each other, was formed in part by the
suggesting that they originated accumulation of materials
in vastly different primordial from elsewhere in the solar
environments. These findings system.
____________

D contradict widely held
assumptions about the force
of Jupiter’s gravitational
pull.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Stay Within the Text

The nature of Conclusions questions makes it seem like you should go Beyond the
Text, but in fact, the conclusion will be a statement that is directly supported by
and consistent with what you’ve already seen, and not a new idea at all.
Postoperative debriefings provide

7 Mark for Review
an opportunity for surgical teams
WRITING
to identify clinical and operational Which choice most logically

errors in surgical care, thereby completes the text?
enhancing the safety and well-
being of future patients, while A contribute to improved
also improving interdisciplinary information-sharing and
communication and teamwork. collaboration among
“fostering” means, Although team leaders often members of the surgical
be sure to study the facilitate such debriefings, Dr. team.
Vocabulary Hit Parade. David Kessler notes that the role of
MATH
such perceived authority figures as

facilitators in medical debriefings B help patients better
could potentially limit or bias the understand their own roles
discussions. Utilizing an external in ensuring a successful
facilitator to lead these debriefings postoperative recovery.
could, therefore, ____________

C allow surgical training
programs to concentrate
solely on fostering technical
skills.

D eliminate the need for lead
surgeons and their teams to
attend postoperative
debriefings.

READING
In Summary
Occasionally, a Conclusions question can operate more like a Retrieval or Main
Idea question, looking for a summary of part or all of the text rather than a com-
pletion of the text. On these problems, highlight exactly what the question is ask-
ing for and don’t forget about the Annotation box if a summary will help make
your POE more efficient.
WRITING
Chicago-born artist Rashid Johnson
8 Mark for Review
employs a range of everyday
materials and objects, many with Which choice best describes
autobiographical significance, Johnson’s approach to art, as
in a body of work that includes presented in the text?
photographs, sculptures, paintings,
films, mosaics, and more. Several of A His early experiences as a
his installations include items from biographer helped to inform
MATH
the artist’s own life: houseplants, his visual art.
books, album covers, CB radios,
and—a familiar motif in much of
Johnson’s work—shea butter. By B His body of work offers
utilizing items associated with cultural commentary
his own childhood and placing through a diverse array of
them within the larger context of media.
African American history, Johnson
examines the complex intersection
of personal, racial, and cultural C He uses found objects in his
identity. art primarily to minimize
production costs.

D By focusing solely on his
personal past, he avoids the
complications of larger
social themes.
How can you identify that this is a Conclusions question?
_____________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
CONCLUSIONS DRILL
Time: 10 Minutes

One theory regarding the recurring bubonic plague Traditional slash-and-burn agriculture cleared an
WRITING
pandemic in Europe, which began with the Black area for cultivation and provided the newly cleared
Death of 1348 and lasted intermittently until the mid- land with a nutrient-rich layer to help fertilize the
19th century, involves the long-term presence of the soil. The benefits were only temporary, though, and
bacterium Yersinia pestis in wild rodents and their after several years the area would be left fallow.
fleas. Recent research has shown, however, that the Modern slash-and-burn tends to operate on a larger
environmental conditions within Europe itself at the scale and contributes significantly to soil degradation
time would have prevented the presence of persistent, and biodiversity loss. Alternatives such as alley-
long-term animal reservoirs of the bacterium. These cropping, therefore, _______________
MATH
findings might suggest that _______________

Which choice most logically completes the text?
A might offer a more sustainable and
A human transport could not have played a role ecologically friendly approach to agriculture.
in transmitting Yersinia pestis to Europe in
1348.
B would diminish both nitrogen availability and
long-term soil fertility.
B Yersinia pestis infiltrated Europe from outside
its borders frequently enough to sustain the
pandemic. C would rely almost entirely on chemical
fertilizers for success.

C short-term animal reservoirs were equally
unlikely, given the climatic conditions in D would be more expensive to implement but
medieval Europe. better for the environment.
D long-term animal reservoirs of the bacterium

are even less prevalent in present-day Europe.

READING
Ancient DNA extracted from an infant girl’s The Wari civilization flourished in the south-central
11,500-year-old remains discovered in Alaska Andes and the coastal area of modern-day Peru
supports the theory that the Americas were settled during the Middle Horizon period (c. 550–1000 CE).
in part by migrants from Siberia who crossed the The steep, rugged terrain of the mountains made
Bering land bridge beginning about 20,000 years farming difficult, so the Wari cut terraces into the
ago. A more recent finding revealed traces of Native hillsides. In addition to allowing people to grow
American ancestry in the DNA of ten people whose crops in vast, previously uncultivated areas, the
WRITING
remains were unearthed in Siberia, with the oldest terrace system prolonged the growing season and
sample dating back 7,500 years. Taken together, the provided an effective means of conserving scarce
two discoveries suggest that _______________ water. The practice was expanded by the Incas but
discontinued under Spanish conquest. Inspired by
Which choice most logically completes the text? recent archeological findings, however, some present-
day farmers in the region _______________

A once the Bering land bridge was submerged,
populations on both sides remained isolated Which choice most logically completes the text?
MATH
from one another for 20,000 years.
A endeavor to resurrect some of the traditional
practices.
B considerably more archeological discoveries
have been made in Siberia than in Alaska.
B recognize the futility of planting crops in such
a mountainous region.
C early migrations between Siberia and Alaska
may have occurred in both directions.
C advocate for shortening the growing season in
order to conserve water.
D the Bering land bridge theory was most likely
mistaken, as it is incompatible with the more
recent findings. D question the efficacy of traditional Wari
agricultural methods.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Archeologists who excavated the ancient city Many mammals, including macaque monkeys and
of Çatalhöyük (located in present-day Türkiye) various species of otters, interact with inanimate
uncovered a figurine of a seated woman. The objects as a form of play. Researchers at Queen Mary
research team surmised that the woman was sitting University of London tested whether such object play
on a throne and that the abstract shape between the could also be detected among organisms with less
woman’s ankles represented a newborn child. From complex brains, such as bumblebees. When given
this, they concluded that the people of Çatalhöyük the option to proceed through an unobstructed path
WRITING
worshipped a fertility goddess. Journalist Annalee to a feeding area or else deviate from the path to roll
Newitz points out, however, that such figurines wooden balls, the bees repeatedly went out of their
were hastily molded and typically found in trash way to roll the balls. The ball-rolling did not confer
piles rather than wall displays. This suggests that any survival benefits, suggesting that _______________
_______________

A the bees were tricked into believing they
MATH
A Çatalhöyük was most likely a matriarchal would gain more food as a reward for rolling
society. the balls than they would get from proceeding
directly to the feeding area.

B the figurine might not have been an object of
reverence. B bumblebees do not also engage in social play,
which can improve muscle coordination and
locomotor versatility while simultaneously
C figurines of newborn children were frequently strengthening social bonds.
included in Turkish wall displays.

C the tendency to engage in object play, which
D most artifacts at the Çatalhöyük site were seems to confer only intrinsic rewards, might
found in trash piles. not be limited to species with highly complex
brains.
D mammals derive more benefits from object

play than do bumblebees or other insects.

READING
In some of the early research designed to measure the The pathogenic fungus chestnut blight (Cryphonectria
effects of occupational noise on employee well-being parasitica) is native to East and Southeast Asia. It
and job performance, researchers failed to control was introduced to both Europe and North America
for other environmental stressors. Office spaces with in the early 1900s, where it has devastated the
superior air quality, comfortable temperatures, and ecologically, economically, and culturally important
efficient lighting, for example, were evaluated based chestnut trees, with profound effects on associated
only on their noise levels, as were office spaces with ecosystems. Because of the often severe impacts of
WRITING
poor air quality, inconsistent temperatures, and invasive species in new environs, tracing the route
inadequate lighting. One study investigating open- of transmission of such species around the globe
plan offices concluded that elevated noise levels were receives much attention. Often, agricultural trade
to blame for decreased well-being, which in turn is to blame. Given that chestnut blight was first
led to reduced motivation, focus, and productivity identified in a European country in 1938 but was
among at least some workers. The early research known to exist in North America as early as 1904, it
_______________ can be concluded that _______________
MATH
Which choice most logically completes the text? Which choice most logically completes the text?

A indicates that the findings regarding noise and A chestnut blight in Europe likely came from
job performance are equally applicable to North America rather than from Asia.
employees in more traditional office
environments.
B an agricultural source is likely responsible for
chestnut blight in North America, but not in
B rules out the possibility that occupational Europe.
noise can contribute to stress and a loss of
productivity among workers in open plan
offices. C a single country in Asia is likely the source of
chestnut blight in both North America and
Europe.
C proves that workers in open-plan offices are,
on average, less productive than their
counterparts in traditional office spaces due to D it is likely that the first transmission of
poor worker morale. chestnut blight to North America did not come
from Europe.

D could suggest that office acoustics have a
greater impact on employee well-being and job
performance than they do in reality.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
pervasive
juxtapose
foster
• The primary phrase that identifies a Conclusions question is
_______________________________________________________________________.
• Rarely, Conclusions questions can also ask for a _______________________________________.
• Find and highlight the ___________ or ____________________ that is most relevant to the incomplete
sentence in the text.
• When in doubt, choose the answer that is ____________________ with as much of the text as possible.
• If there are two pairs of answers, try to ____________________ one of the two pairs for being inconsis-
tent with the focus of the text.
• The trap answers you will see most often on Conclusions questions are ________________________,
____________________________, and ____________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
MASTER THE POE
175
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Remind yourself about the six main types of trap answers you will see
on the Digital SAT
• Understand the different ways each trap answer can appear
• Use Process of Elimination to effectively eliminate trap answers
WRITING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—RECAP

1.___________________________________________________________ .
MATH
2.___________________________________________________________ .
3.___________________________________________________________ .
4.___________________________________________________________ .
5.___________________________________________________________ .
Remember, above all else, that the absolute best reason to

eliminate an answer is because it’s not consistent with what
you highlighted in the text or entered into the Annotation box!

READING QUESTIONS: MASTER THE POE
READING
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS
The two best times to look for trap answers are the following situations:
1. You can’t find something to highlight in the text that would serve as
an answer to the question.
2. You have two or three answers remaining and can’t decide between
WRITING
them.
When either of these occurs, compare each answer back to the text and ask, “Is
this answer supported by the text? Why or why not?” If you can’t find support for
the answer, you’ve probably found a trap answer.
MATH
THE SIX MOST COMMON TRAP ANSWERS
Though there are numerous ways in which an answer could be

wrong on the Digital SAT, most wrong answers can be filtered into
six basic categories. Which ones do you remember from previous
chapters?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
POE ORIENTATION
Consider the following sentence and question:
This year, after hearing numerous pleas from the students, our high school admin-
istration finally created a volleyball team.
What is the main purpose of the text?

WRITING
a. To declare that the students at the high school have always wanted a
volleyball team
Is this answer consistent with the text? Yes No
Why or why not? __________________________________________

MATH
b. To reveal that the high school administration has created a volleyball

team and a basketball team this year
Why or why not? __________________________________________
c. To state that the high school finally disbanded the school’s volleyball
team
Why or why not? __________________________________________
d. To imply that some students may have opposed the creation of the
school’s volleyball team
Why or why not? __________________________________________

READING
e. To explain that the high school’s volleyball team pleaded with the
administration to be allowed to participate in the finals this year
Why or why not? __________________________________________
WRITING
f. To identify the sport that has been approved for a team by the high
school administration
Why or why not? __________________________________________
MATH
g. To indicate that a specific request regarding an athletic organization
has been granted
Why or why not? __________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
OPPOSITE
Opposite traps involve words or phrases that go against the text in some way.
Leonardo da Vinci, renowned as a skilled artistic innovator,

should also be ________________ for his scientific forays. For
example, he calculated a remarkably close approximation of
WRITING
the gravitational constant centuries before Sir Isaac Newton’s

groundbreaking work in the field.
Should the word to go in the blank be positive, negative, or neutral? _____________
i. Which of the following vocabulary words are the opposite tone of

MATH
what should go in the blank?
a. commended
b. rebuked
c. disregarded
ii. Which of the following choices represent the opposite attitude that
the author takes towards da Vinci’s approximation?
a. Da Vinci’s work, though admirable, pales in comparison to the

work of Sir Isaac Newton.
b. Da Vinci’s calculation was not precise enough to prove useful in
the field of astronomy.
c. Da Vinci’s estimation was fairly accurate for its time and predated
similar work by another individual.
iii. Which of the following choices contradict a statement made in the

text?
a. Da Vinci was viewed as an amateur artist but a highly regarded

scientist.
b. The work of Sir Isaac Newton predated the work of Leonardo
da Vinci.
c. Leonardo da Vinci may deserve to be celebrated for accomplish-
ments in more than one field.

READING
iv. Which of the following choices, if true, would weaken the author’s
claims regarding da Vinci instead of strengthening them?
a. A biography of Leonardo da Vinci is published that reveals that

his work done on the gravitational constant was the only notable
contribution he made to the sciences.
b. The memoir of Sir Isaac Newton explains numerous scientific con-
WRITING
clusions drawn by da Vinci that Newton’s own work confirmed.
c. An analysis published by an art historian states that da Vinci was
most certainly a skilled artist, but each of his techniques can be
traced back to an artistic predecessor.
v. Which of the following choices contain a word of negation that

disqualifies an otherwise perfectly acceptable conclusion based on the
MATH
text?
a. Leonardo da Vinci may not deserve to be celebrated for accom-

plishments in more than one field.
b. An individual predominantly known for his work in one area may
be worthy of praise in another.
c. Da Vinci’s approximation was fairly inaccurate, though it did
predate similar work by another individual.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
EXTREME LANGUAGE
Extreme Language traps involve words or phrases that go further in degree than
what the text can support.
Garret Hardin’s 1968 description of the “tragedy of the

commons” presumes that a hypothetical unregulated shared
WRITING
natural resource, such as common grazing land, will be depleted

by users acting in their own self-interest. However, academics
from various schools of thought have expressed ________________
regarding whether this assumption is actually applicable in
most real-world contexts.
MATH
i. Which of the following choices represent an exaggeration of what

can be supported by the text?
a. incredulity
b. skepticism
c. astonishment
ii. Which of the following choices take the opinion of the academics and
turn it into a judgment or recommendation?
a. The academics would claim that the premise of a theory may not
be true in reality.
b. The academics would criticize Hardin for not doing proper
research before publishing his work.
c. The academics believe that the tragedy of the commons must be
tested in a laboratory before it can be accepted as truth.
iii. Which of the following choices are excessive and cannot be

supported by a claim or statement from the text?
a. The tragedy of the commons states that the depletion of shared

natural resources is inevitable.
b. The fact that common grazing land is often depleted in many
communities proves the tragedy of the commons.
c. There is debate among some individuals as to whether the tragedy
of the commons operates in practice as it does in theory.

READING
iv. Which of the following choices contain an absolute word that invali-
dates them?
a. The tragedy of the commons seems to indicate that the regulation of

natural resources could prevent the depletion of those resources.
b. All shared natural resources will eventually be depleted due to
people acting in their own self-interest.
WRITING
c. For academics, the only concern regarding the tragedy of the com-
mons is its applicability to the real world.
v. Which of the following choices contain a superlative word that

invalidates them?
a. The tragedy of the commons is the most dangerous philosophical
MATH
idea to be presented since the 1960s.
b. The academics have less certainty regarding the validity of the
tragedy of the commons than Hardin did.
c. Academics consider the tragedy of the commons to be a worst-case
scenario when it comes to natural resources.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
RECYCLED LANGUAGE
Recycled Language traps take exact words or phrases from the text but use them
in a way that is different from how the author used those words or phrases.
The development of theme park attractions has a storied history,

WRITING
and one such attraction, The Great Movie Ride, is responsible

for the creation of an entire theme park. Historians who study
the Walt Disney World resort note that The Great Movie Ride,
an attraction planned for the existing Epcot theme park, was
deemed to represent such a unique and powerful connection to
Hollywood and American show business that then-CEO Michael
Eisner and President Marty Sklar decided to construct an entire
theme park around the ride. Several years later, The Great
Movie Ride was the centerpiece attraction of the park that would
MATH
eventually come to be known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
i. Which of the following choices contain a striking word or phrase

that only makes the choice appealing because of its memorability
from the text?
a. American show business has had a major impact on the develop-

ment of many theme parks.
b. Disney is often lauded for its ability to create unique and powerful
connections between characters.
c. The design of a theme park ride had implications beyond the ride’s
original intent.
ii. Which of the following choices contain words out of context that
have been taken from completely different parts of the passage?
a. The creation of an entire theme park is often the responsibility of

the CEO and president of the company building the park.
b. Two individuals saw an opportunity to expand the scope of an
upcoming project.
c. It can take several years to learn how to develop theme park attrac-
tions responsibly.
iii. Which of the following choices take two things that are discussed
together in the text and create an unsupported relationship between
those things?
a. The development of each theme park attraction has a storied his-

tory as interesting as that of The Great Movie Ride.
b. The planning for one theme park had a substantial impact on the
eventual existence of another.
c. Disney CEO Michael Eisner was more responsible than Disney
President Marty Sklar for the expansion of The Great Movie Ride
into what would become Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

READING
RIGHT ANSWER, WRONG QUESTION
Right Answer, Wrong Question traps will be accurate based on the text or figure
but will not address the question task in some way.
The following text is from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1878 short

story “A Lodging for the Night.”
WRITING
It was late in November, 1456. The snow fell over Paris with
rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a
sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a
lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air,
silent, circuitous, interminable. To poor people, looking up
under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came
from. Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative
MATH
that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter
plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels
moulting? He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and
as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not
venture to conclude.
i. Which of the following choices describe the function of the wrong

sentence from the text rather than the underlined one?
a. To describe the unfavorable weather conditions in the city of Paris

as seemingly unending
b. To characterize a particular group as being astonished regarding
the source of precipitation
c. To explain a character’s hesitancy at pondering subject matter
which he does not feel qualified to examine
ii. Which of the following choices only reference a detail from the text
rather than the main idea of the text?
a. The snowfall in Paris at the time of the story is mostly unceasing,

stopping only occasionally and then starting back up again.
b. A character is introduced through the description of a weather
phenomenon and an examination into what the source of that
phenomenon may be.
c. Master Francis Villon offers some alternative explanations for the
relentless snowfall that currently dominates the skies of Paris.
iii. Which of the following choices only reference a detail from the text
rather than the purpose of the text?
a. It characterizes Master Francis Villon through his internal reaction

to an ongoing snowfall.
b. It elaborates upon the sense of awe that a lower class feels when
confronted with snowfall.
c. It establishes the time and place of the story so the reader can
contextualize the events that occur later on.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
BEYOND THE TEXT

Beyond the Text traps are made to sound logical if you apply outside reasoning but
do not have support within the text.
The following text is from Thomas Babington Macaulay’s 1842

poem “Virginia.” The speaker is reciting a song about a military
WRITING
conquest at the request of his audience.

Ye good men of the Commons, with loving hearts and true,
Who stand by the bold Tribunes that still have stood by you,
Come, make a circle round me, and mark my tale with care,
A tale of what Rome once hath borne, of what Rome yet may bear.
This is no Grecian fable, of fountains running wine,
Of maids with snaky tresses, or sailors turned to swine.
Here, in this very Forum, under the noonday sun,
MATH
In sight of all the people, the bloody deed was done.

Old men still creep among us who saw that fearful day,
Just seventy years and seven ago, when the wicked Ten bare sway.
i. Which of the following choices are too broad to be supported by the

text?
a. The Romans often commemorated past tragedies through poem

and song.
b. Audiences listening to Roman poets would form a circle around
the speakers in order to better hear them.
c. Some individuals who witnessed the tragedy referenced in the
song were still alive to hear the song.
ii. Which of the following choices are too specific to be supported by

the text?
a. The men of the Commons were honest and genuine individuals

who would defend the land if it were attacked again.
b. The speaker wished to clarify the differences between his tale and
those of Grecian fables.
c. The noonday sun provided optimal lighting for the enemy forces
to attack the area.

READING
iii. Which of the following choices make use of outside knowledge to
make themselves more appealing?
a. Greek and Roman mythologies share many commonalities, so the

speaker provided clarity to avoid any potential confusion.
b. The good men of the Commons are praised by the speaker before
being cautioned to take the speaker’s story to heart.
WRITING
c. The speaker notes that survivors of wartime tragedies can com-
memorate those tragedies decades later thanks to a longer human
lifespan than in ages past.
iv. Which of the following choices make predictions of the future that
are not supported by the text?
MATH
a. The area is likely to be attacked again, as it has already proven a
vulnerable target.
b. The song is meant to serve as a warning of a fate that could befall
Rome again.
c. The bold Tribunes will continue to stand by the good men of the
Commons for many years to come.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
HALF-RIGHT
Half-Right traps are a special category of trap that can catch test-takers if they
don’t do two specific things: read every word of each answer choice and stay con-
sistent with the entire claim within a text.
WRITING
“The Banshee” is a traditional Irish short story attributed to an

unknown author. In the story, the author describes a farmer who
is one of the central characters in the story.
He was rather dark and reserved in his manner, and
oftentimes sullen and gloomy in his temper; and this, joined
with his well-known disregard of religion, served to render
him somewhat unpopular amongst his neighbours and
acquaintances. However, he was in general respected, and was
MATH
never insulted or annoyed. He was considered as an honest,

inoffensive man, and as he was well supplied with firearms
and ammunition—in the use of which he was well practised,
having, in his early days, served several years in a yeomanry
corps—few liked to disturb him, even had they been so
disposed.
i. Which of the following choices have only one half supported by the
text?
a. The farmer is described as having a grave and moody disposition,

which has led to a lack of respect for him among his neighbors.
b. The farmer is a firm believer in the virtues of religion, and he con-
ducts himself in an honest and inoffensive manner.
c. The farmer is not sought out by those around him but does not
conduct himself in an inappropriate or belligerent manner.

READING
“The Banshee” is a traditional Irish short story attributed to
an unknown author. In the short story, the author describes
the mythical banshee as being a herald of death whose
disturbed emotional state reflects the manner of death that
will be experienced by the individual she has chosen to haunt:
____________
WRITING
ii. Which of the following choices address only part of the claim refer-
enced in the text above?
a. “When the death of the person whom she mourns is contingent,

or to occur by unforeseen accident, she is particularly agitated and
troubled in her appearance, and unusually loud and mournful in
MATH
her lamentations.”
b. “Some would fain have it that this strange being is actuated by
a feeling quite inimical to the interests of the family which she
haunts, and that she comes with joy and triumph to announce
their misfortunes.”
c. “She always comes at night, a short time previous to the death
of the fated one, and takes her stand outside, convenient to the
house, and there utters the most plaintive cries and lamentations,
generally in some unknown language, and in a tone of voice re-
sembling a human female.”

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
MASTER THE POE DRILL

Time: 10 Minutes

Throughout the history of professional baseball, Artificial intelligence engineers believe that
WRITING
each successive generation of pitchers has thrown computer algorithms will eventually replace many
the ball faster than its predecessors. In 1995 in the aspects of legal practice currently performed by
United States, it was _____________ to see a pitcher hit human beings. When and whether lawyers can
the magical mark of one hundred miles per hour be entirely replaced by the automated reasoning
during a game. Just twenty short years later, it was capacities of electronic brains remains to be seen,
not uncommon for multiple pitchers to exceed one however, as no machine has yet demonstrated the
hundred miles per hour in the same game. ability to emulate the cognitive functions required
for complex legal analysis. Professor Michael
MATH
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Livermore, an expert in computational legal
and precise word or phrase? scholarship, observes that while computers can
perform functions like apply existing law to a set
A routine of facts, they cannot currently grasp the abstract
concepts necessary to assess an intricate legal issue.

B miraculous Which choice best describes the function of the
second sentence in the overall structure of the text?
C

remarkable A It discusses the possible replacement of
lawyers by the automated reasoning capacities
of electronic brains.
D exciting

B It explains how the observations of Livermore
were received by engineers in the field of
artificial intelligence.
C It disputes the observations made by

Livermore later in the text.
D It makes a claim that is further explained

through the observations of Livermore.
If you weren’t sure what “disputes” means, be

sure to study the Vocabulary Hit Parade.

READING
Text 1 Bees and other pollinators are critical components
Traditional methods of assessing the “viability” of a of ecological systems and modern agriculture.
species—the likelihood that the species would not go It is known that bees under stress during
extinct within a certain time frame—considered the early development exhibit deformities such as
overall population size across its habitat range, along asymmetrical wings. One such stressor for bees,
with average rates of reproduction and mortality. according to many biologists, is climate change. To
The effects of habitat loss from human projects were investigate this connection between climate change
WRITING
assessed based on the extent to which they reduced and bee deformity, entomologist Dr. Andres Arce
the overall area of habitat available. applied DNA analysis methods, previously used
only on ancient human remains, on insect samples.
Text 2 His work introduces the possibility of utilizing a
In 1986, ecologists David Soulé and Mike Gilpin vast trove of museum insect samples to develop a
asserted that the effects of a planned reservoir in greater understanding of the impacts of climate on
Central Texas on a local snake species could not be pollinating insects.
assessed simply by calculating the acreage of habitat
MATH
that would be flooded. The ecologists pointed out that According to the text, why is Arce and his team’s
the snake’s remaining habitat would be segmented research significant?
into three isolated populations. Prior surveys showed
that all previous populations of the snake that had A It expands the available data sources for
become thusly isolated had died out. investigating the impacts of climate on bees.
Based on the texts, how would Soulé and Gilpin

(Text 2) most likely respond to the use of the B It questions the validity of the relationship
“traditional methods” presented in Text 1? between climate change and developmental
changes in bees.

A By disputing that average rates of
reproduction and mortality are important
C It shows that bees and other pollinators are
factors in determining viability
more susceptible to climate change than most
other species.

B By conceding that habitat calculations are
important but asserting that reproduction and
D It introduces the methods by which climate
mortality are more significant factors
change impacts the development of pollinating
insects.

C By contesting reliance on basic range-wide
calculations of habitat loss in assessing
impacts of human activities on species
viability

D By accepting that reliance on overall habitat
loss calculations in assessing viability is
typically the best approach
If you weren’t sure what “conceding” means, be


DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The following text is adapted from Charles Dickens’s Certain birds are able to learn vocalizations by
1843 novel A Christmas Carol. Tut, one of the listening to them. Researchers have been able
characters in the novel, has returned home bearing to identify specific clusters of nerve cells in the
gifts on Christmas, and his children react to his area of the brain that controls the vocalization
arrival. learning abilities of bird species such as songbirds.
Then the shouting and the struggling, and the Biologist Matthew Fuxjager and colleagues
onslaught that was made on the defenceless investigated whether Dryobates pubescens—downy
WRITING
porter! The scaling him with chairs for ladders to woodpeckers—share these neural features. They
dive into his pockets, despoil him of brown-paper subjected D. pubescens to audio recordings of
parcels, hold on tight by his cravat, hug him round other downy woodpeckers drumming, or pecking
his neck, pommel his back, and kick his legs in their bills against an object, and monitored the
irrepressible affection! subjects’ neural activity during this process. The
downy woodpeckers in the study responded to the
recordings with their own aggressive territorial
Which choices best states the main idea of the text?
drumming, and their neural activity was similar
MATH
to that of songbirds during vocalization. The

A The children express a powerful emotional researchers hypothesized that this response suggests
reaction through their actions. that downy woodpeckers do possess similar clusters
of nerve cells to those of songbirds, even though the
woodpeckers do not vocalize.
B The children hug their father around his neck
in a display of affection. Which finding, if true, would most directly support
the researchers’ hypothesis?
C The children pommel and kick a defenseless

A D. pubescens also perform aggressive
porter during an onslaught.
territorial drumming when their nests are
under attack from predators.
D The children are much more affectionate with
their father than with their mother.
B A gene found in songbirds that affects the
ability to learn vocalizations is not found in D.
pubescens.

C Other species of birds without vocal learning
ability perform aggressive drumming during
territorial disputes.

D A genetic marker linked to vocal learning is
determined to exist within the nerve cells of
both D. pubescens and songbirds.

READING
Maximum Weight of Dogs When Fully Grown The Law of the River is the collective name for the
body of treaties, laws, and regulations governing the
Dog type Maximum weight Sheds allocation of the water of the Colorado River from
(pounds) its headwaters in the state of Colorado down to its
Standard Poodle 70 No delta in Mexico. The Law meticulously dictates the
allocation of all water that enters the Colorado River
Scottish Terrier 22 No system. However, unbeknownst to the politicians and
WRITING
Lhasa Apso 20 No organizations that developed the Law of the River,
the provisions made in the Law were developed
Pomeranian 7 Yes during a period of abnormally high rainfall. Thus,
Chihuahua 6 Yes some environmentalists in Mexico object that even
with strict compliance with the allocations, an
With the rise in popularity of animal adoption and unintentional result is that _____________
re-homing in the earliest twenty-first century, animal
adoption and rescue centers have had to become Which choice most logically completes the text?
MATH
increasingly selective as to which living situation to
place each of their animal wards into. Among other A Mexico’s allocated share of water is too low in
considerations, the size of the animal as well as comparison to Colorado’s share.
potential allergens from shedding species can affect
which homes popular pets such as dogs may adjust
to without the need for future re-homing. After an B during normal or low rainfall years, the river
interview with a prospective family, an advisor at may have less water than is accounted for by
a shelter needs to recommend a dog breed from the the Law.
breeds available at the shelter that won’t shed and
won’t grow heavier than 20 pounds. Upon comparing
the characteristics of five of the available dog breeds, C the state of Colorado is able to exercise
the advisor recommends a _____________ dictatorial control over the water allocation
system.
table to complete the text?
D Mexico will be subject to catastrophic flood
risks due to the uneven distribution of water
A Pomeranian.
resources.

B Scottish Terrier. If you weren’t sure what “meticulously” means, be
C Standard Poodle.
D Lhasa Apso.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
dispute
concede
meticulous
• The six most common Reading traps on the Digital SAT are
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

• You should look for traps when you
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
• When either of the above happens, the most important questions are
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

READING QUESTIONS:
POETRY
197
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Identify which question types are most likely to feature poetry texts
• Understand how to apply the Reading Basic Approach to questions
with poetry texts
• Learn the common poetic conventions and literary devices that will
WRITING
be used in poetry texts on the Digital SAT
Question Types to Know

Poetry texts most commonly appear on these question types:
MATH
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—RECAP

1.___________________________________________________________ .
2.___________________________________________________________ .
3.___________________________________________________________ .
4.___________________________________________________________ .
5.___________________________________________________________ .

READING QUESTIONS: POETRY
READING
Poetry Conventions 101
In order to keep their meter—or number of syllables per line—consistent, poets
use their own types of contractions and abbreviations. Below are some of the most
common abbreviations you will see on the Digital SAT.
Poetic Contraction or Abbreviation Modern English Word(s)

’tis
WRITING
’twas
o’er
ne’er
ere
MATH
e’en
o’
an’
Poetry and Purpose

If you’re asked for the function of a line or set of lines within a poem, treat the
lines as though they were sentences and pay particular attention to the lines that
come immediately before and after the underlined portion of the text.
The following is from Sir Walter Scott’s Mark for Review

1
1919 poem “Love of Country.”
Which choice best describes
Breathes there the man, with soul so the function of the underlined
dead, portion in the text as a whole?
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
A It lists the seemingly
Whose heart hath ne’er within him
desirable assets that
burn’d,
actually lead one to
As home his footsteps he hath turn’d,
self-destruction.
From wandering on a foreign strand!
If such there breathe, go, mark him

well; B It expresses the speaker’s
For him no Minstrel raptures swell; disdain for those who
High though his titles, proud his are rich and powerful.
name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can

claim; C It summarizes
Despite those titles, power, and pelf, circumstances that the
The wretch, concentred all in self, speaker believes are
Living, shall forfeit fair renown, unimportant in this
And, doubly dying, shall go down. context.

D It emphasizes the dignity
of those who love their
respective countries.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Don’t Wonder Why

Even if a Purpose question asks why an entire poem was written, the answers must
still be consistent with what you can read in the poem itself and any additional
information provided by College Board.
The following is from Robert Louis

2 Mark for Review
Stevenson’s 1880 poem “Requiem,”
WRITING
which he wrote as his own epitaph, or Which choice best states the main
statement about a deceased person. purpose of the text?
Under the wide and starry sky,

A To assert that having a
Dig the grave and let me lie.
positive attitude toward
Glad did I live and gladly die,
death can improve the
And I laid me down with a will.
quality of one’s life
This be the verse you grave for me:
MATH

Here he lies where he longed to be; B To convey the speaker’s
Home is the sailor, home from sea, view of death as an accepted
And the hunter home from the hill. and welcomed conclusion to
his life

C To lament the suffering that
human beings endure and
explain that death is
preferable to life

D To discredit the notion that
living a long life is a worthy
goal for a human being to
pursue

READING
Poetry and Retrieval
Just as with prose-based literature texts, anything you can conclude about a per-
son or idea from a poem needs to be supported by information you can physically
highlight in the text itself.
The following text is from Jean

3 Mark for Review
Ingelow’s 1896 poem “Song for
WRITING
Margaret.” The speaker, a man, is According to the text, what is true
describing a woman whom he has about the speaker?
just seen again after some time.
A He is speculating upon
Ay, I saw her, we have met,—
Margaret’s emotional state.
Married eyes how sweet they be,—
Are you happier, Margaret,

Than you might have been with B He often pleads with If you weren’t sure what
me? “speculating” means,
MATH
Margaret but is unable to
Silence! make no more ado! sway her from her be sure to study the
Did she think I should forget? commitments. Vocabulary Hit Parade.
Matters nothing, though I knew,
Margaret, Margaret.

C He can be overly emotional
when describing his past
relationships.
D He believes that Margaret

has long forgotten him.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Common Comparisons
You do not need to know and will not be asked to name the different ways poets
on the Digital SAT will draw comparisons, but having some familiarity with the
types of comparisons themselves may help you approach the texts with more con-
fidence.
Literary Definition Example

WRITING
Device
analogy a comparison between two Pain, our fire alarm.
things, typically for the purpose
of explanation or clarification The sharpness of our pain
Alerts us to an issue
And rings inside our brain.
MATH
simile a figure of speech involving the He’s got a heart as warm as solid ice,
comparison of one thing with
another thing of a different A smile as pleasing as spoiled milk,
kind, used to make a descrip- An embrace as comforting as a vice,
tion more emphatic or vivid –
typically uses “like” or “as” And bright eyes that shine like a
ruined silk.
metaphor a figure of speech in which a Our blue car sailed gracefully
word or phrase is directly
applied to an object or action Through the nasty traffic sea,
to which it is not literally We navigated waters rough
applicable – does not use “like”
or “as” With wisdom of a captain tough.

READING
Find! That! Comparison!
Poets often use analogies, similes, and metaphors to describe one person or idea in
terms of another. If a Retrieval question asks about a comparison, find and high-
light that comparison in the text.

4 Mark for Review
from the 1903 poem “The Boston
WRITING
Athenaeum” by Amy Lowell. Based on the text, in what way is a
book like a flower?
And as in some gay garden
stretched upon
A Its essence is used up in the
A genial southern slope, warmed
act of savoring it.
by the sun,
The flowers give their fragrance
“congenial” means,
joyously B It can only be truly be sure to study the
To the caressing touch of the hot
MATH
appreciated by good- Vocabulary Hit Parade.
noon; natured people.
So books give up the all of what
they mean

Only in a congenial atmosphere, C It is more pleasant to
Only when touched by reverent interact with during the
hands, and read daytime.
By those who love and feel as well
as think.
D Its fullest enjoyment
depends on proper
conditions.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Poetry and Main Idea

Compared to most other texts, poems are less likely to have single sentences you
can highlight as main ideas. Use the Annotation box to write a quick summary of
the text when needed and remember that the correct answer will address as much
of the poem as possible.

5 Mark for Review
WRITING
Amy Lowell’s 1914 poem “The Great

Adventure of Max Breuck.” What is the main idea of the text?
A yellow band of light upon the

A The narrator describes a
street
series of sights and sounds
Pours from an open door, and
and then introduces a
makes a wide
character.
Pathway of bright gold across a
sheet
MATH

Of calm and liquid moonshine. B The narrator discovers the
From inside source of the noises he is
Come shouts and streams of hearing and explains how
laughter, and a snatch he determined the source.
Of song, soon drowned and lost
again in mirth,

The clip of tankards on a table top, C The narrator details the
And stir of booted heels. Against visual aspects of an
the patch unfamiliar town during a
Of candle-light a shadow falls, its short visit.
girth
Proclaims the host himself, and
master of his shop. D The narrator remembers the
beautiful and joyous
atmosphere that
surrounded a shop he
recently visited.

READING
POEtry
Because poems often contain descriptive language and imagery, it can be tempt-
ing to choose answers that repeat some of the same language that the poem used.
However, be on the lookout for Recycled Language—words or ideas repeated
from the poem but used incorrectly by the answers.

6 Mark for Review
WRITING
Sir Henry John Newbolt’s 1897 poem
“The Fighting Téméraire.” The poem What is the main idea of the text?
describes a warship of the British
Royal Navy. A The ship is receiving
updated weaponry, which
It was noontide ringing,
has caused a celebration
When the ship her way was If you weren’t sure what
among its crew.
winging, “dormant” means,
And the gunner’s lads were singing be sure to study the
MATH

As they loaded every gun. B The ship is docked and Vocabulary Hit Parade.
There’ll be many grim and gory, being prepared to lie
Téméraire! Téméraire! dormant for a time.
There’ll be few to tell the story,
Téméraire! Téméraire!
C The ship is being prepared
There’ll be many grim and gory, for battle by a crew with
There’ll be few to tell the story, mixed emotions regarding
But we’ll all be one in glory that battle.
With the Fighting Téméraire.

D The ship is too battered to
continue its mission for the
remainder of the day.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Poetry and Claims

Unlike the first three question types in this chapter, Claims questions will feature
the poetry text in the answers rather than in the question itself. Highlight the
claim in the text and make sure that the poetry excerpt you choose addresses all
components of that claim.
“Idle Fame” is an 1820 poem by John

7 Mark for Review
WRITING
Clare. In the poem, which presents an

attitude towards a type of recognition, Which quotation from “Idle Fame”
Clare uses chaotic elements of nature most effectively illustrates the
to describe one way in which an claim?
individual could be acknowledged by
others: ________ A “I would not wish the
burning blaze / Of fame
around a restless world.”
MATH

B “The thunder and the storm
of praise / In crowded
tumults heard and hurled.”

C “I would not be a flower to
stand / The stare of every
passer-bye.”

D “But in some nook of
fairyland, / Seen in the
praise of beauty’s eye.”

READING
It Goes On, and On, and On
On Claims questions, excerpts from poems can be among the lengthier answers
you see on the Digital SAT. Keep your eyes reading to the very end of each answer
choice, but eliminate answers as soon as you are sure they do not contain at least
one component from the question’s claim.
“Endymion: A Poetic Romance” is

8 Mark for Review
WRITING
an 1818 poem by John Keats. The
narrator describes both the grandeur Which quotation from “Endymion:
and the vitality of the natural setting A Poetic Romance” most effectively
used for the events of the story: illustrates the claim?
_________
A “Some moulder’d steps lead
into this cool cell, / Far as
the slabbed margin of a
MATH
well, / Whose patient level
peeps its crystal eye / Right
upward, through the
bushes, to the sky.”

B “Thus ending, on the shrine
he heap’d a spire / Of
teeming sweets, enkindling
sacred fire; / Anon he stain’d
the thick and spongy sod /
With wine, in honour of the
shepherd-god.”

C “But in the self-same fixed
trance he kept, / Like one
who on the earth had never
slept. / Aye, even as dead-
still as a marble man, /
Frozen in that old tale
Arabian.”

D “Upon the sides of Latmos
was outspread / A mighty
forest; for the moist earth
fed / So plenteously all
weed-hidden roots / Into
o’er-hanging boughs, and
precious fruits.”

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
POETRY DRILL
Time: 10 Minutes

The following text is from Bliss Carman’s 1904 poem The following text is from Amy Lowell’s 1912 poem “A
WRITING
“One Hundred Lyrics.” Little Song.”
Sleep thou in the bosom And, Moon, slip past the ladders of air
Of the tender comrade, In a single flash, while your streaming hair
While the living water Catches the stars and pulls them down
Whispers in the well-run, To shine on some slumbering Chinese town.
And the oleanders O Kindly Sun! Understanding Moon!
Glimmer in the moonlight. Bring evening to crowd the footsteps of noon.
MATH
Soon, ah, soon the shy birds But when that long awaited day
Will be at their fluting, Hangs ripe in the heavens, your voyaging stay
And the morning planet Be morning, O Sun! with the lark in song,
Rise above the garden; Be afternoon for ages long.
For there is a measure And, Moon, let you and your lesser lights
Set to all things mortal. Watch over a century of nights.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the Which of the following best describes the function of
text? the underlined portion of the text in the poem?
A To contrast the mortality of human beings A It draws a contrast between the intensity of
with the immortality of rivers and waterways the sun and that of the moon.

B To emphasize a focus on rest and peacefulness B It describes the evening as coming on too
at night in anticipation of the coming dawn abruptly after a fruitful day.
C To describe the behavior of birds in the garden C It expresses a plea to have time pass more
during the early morning hours quickly.
D To rejoice in the infinite beauty and vitality D It demonstrates that the speaker is weary of
found in the natural world the crowds that surround him.

READING
The following text is from Walt Whitman’s 1867 poem The following text is excerpted from William
“Bathed in War’s Perfume.” Wordsworth’s 1798 poem “Lines Written in Early
Spring.”
Bathed in war’s perfume—delicate flag!
O to hear you call the sailors and the soldiers! flag The birds around me hopp’d and play’d:
like a beautiful woman! Their thoughts I cannot measure,
But the least motion which they made,
O to hear the tramp, tramp, of a million answering It seem’d a thrill of pleasure.
WRITING
men! O the ships they arm with joy!
O to see you leap and beckon from the tall masts of The budding twigs spread out their fan,
ships! To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
O to see you peering down on the sailors on the
That there was pleasure there.
decks!
Flag like the eyes of women. If I these thoughts may not prevent,
If such be of my creed the plan,
MATH
Based on the text, in what way is a flag like a Have I not reason to lament
beautiful woman? What man has made of man?
A It is a symbol of grace under immense Based on the text, how does the speaker respond to
pressure. the natural activity around him?

A He comments upon how nature seems joyful in
B It is associated with a medley of striking its vitality and offers a conflicting viewpoint
colors. regarding the state of humanity.

C It signals the departure of sailors as they go off B He laments the negative effect that nature has
to sea. had on humans, even though he sees the
beauty of the activity around him.
D It serves as a source of inspiration to others.

C He is mystified by the actions of the birds and
plants around him, even while admiring the
purposefulness of those actions.

D He states that he is revitalized by the
playfulness of the birds and the fresh air
provided by the flowering trees.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The following text is adapted from Jean Ingelow’s The following text is from Algernon Charles
1863 poem “A Dead Year.” The poem describes the Swinburne’s 1855 poem “A Channel Passage.” The
author’s attempt to repress the memories of a past poem describes the passage of a steamboat through a
year. channel, or narrow waterway connecting two larger
bodies of water.
I take the year back to my life and story,
The dead year, and say, “I will share in thy tomb. Forth from Calais, at dawn of night, when sunset
‘All the kings of the nations lie in glory;’ summer on autumn shone,
WRITING
Cased in cedar, and shut in a sacred gloom!

They reigned in their lifetime with sceptre and Fared the steamer alert and loud through seas
diadem, whence only the sun was gone:
But thou excellest them; Soft and sweet as the sky they smiled, and bade man
For life doth make thy grave her oratory.” welcome: a dim sweet hour

Gleamed and whispered in wind and sea, and
Which choice best states the main idea of the text? heaven was fair as a field in flower.
MATH
Stars fulfilled the desire of the darkling world as

A The speaker is accepting the events of the past with music: the starbright air
year as part of her life experience.
Made the face of the sea, if aught may make the face
of the sea, more fair.

B The speaker is reflecting upon her negative
experiences during the year in question. Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
A Each member of the ship’s crew admires a

C The speaker is remembering the deceased different aspect of the scene in front of them.
monarchs who are buried nearby.

B The ocean is calm and peaceful, but the peace
D The speaker is optimistic about her ability to is disrupted by the loud alarm of a passing
excel as a leader in the years to come. ship.
C The wind conditions are not as favorable to sea

travel as the water conditions are.

D A ship makes its way through calm ocean
waters, the appearance of which is enhanced
by the surrounding atmosphere.

READING
“Love” is an 1844 poem by James Russell Lowell. In “The Union” is a 1917 poem by Alfred Noyes. In the
the poem, Lowell admires the rare ability of a woman poem, the speaker speculates on the reaction of an
he knows to tend to the smallest cares of others, individual when a desire becomes a reality: _________
writing, _________
Which quotation from “The Union” most effectively
Which quotation from “Love” most effectively illustrates the claim?
illustrates the claim?

WRITING
A “You that have gathered together the sons of
A “Not as all other women are / Is she that to my all races, / And welded them into one, / Lifting
soul is dear.” the torch of your Freedom on hungering faces /
That sailed to the setting sun.”

B “She doeth little kindnesses / Which most leave
undone, or despise.” B “You that have made of mankind in your own
proud regions / The music of man to be, / How
MATH
should the old earth sing of you, now, as your
C “Great feelings hath she of her own / Which legions / Rise to set all men free?”
lesser souls may never know.”

C “How should the singer that knew the proud
D “She is most fair, and thereunto / Her life doth vision and loved it, / In the days when not all
rightly harmonize.” men knew, / Gaze through his tears, on the
light, now the world has approved it; / Or
dream, when the dream comes true?”

D “How should he sing when the Spirit of
Freedom in thunder / Speaks, and the wine-
press is red; / And the sea-winds are loud with
the chains that are broken asunder / And
nations that rise from the dead?”

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
speculate
congenial
dormant
• The main question types that feature poetry are _______________________, _____________________,
__________________________, and ___________________.
• If asked for the function of a set of lines on a Purpose question about poems, consider the lines immedi-
ately ___________ and ___________ the underlined portion of the text.
• Be on the lookout for comparisons such as ______________________, ______________________, and
______________________ as these will often guide you to the correct answer on Purpose, Retrieval, and
Main Idea questions about poems.
• On Claims questions about poems, make sure the correct answer addresses ________________________
of the claim.
• When it’s difficult to highlight an answer in the poem, ______________________ by comparing the
______________________ back to the ______________________.
• The trap answers you will see most often on Poetry questions are _____________________________,
___________________________, and ___________________________.

READING QUESTIONS:
ADVANCED SKILLS
213
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Utilize prefixes, context clues, and tone to define difficult words in

context and apply POE
• Understand which conclusions and predictions can be supported from
a text
WRITING
• Learn the different roles a sentence can serve within a text
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary is one of the most frequent of the eight question types to appear on
MATH
the test, which means that you’ll likely be able to notice the difficulty increase
(unlike with other question types that may have only 1 or 2 questions in an RW
module). Similarly, should you do well enough on RW Module 1 to get the harder
RW Module 2, you’ll notice more difficult vocabulary words on that module.
Additionally, difficult vocabulary words can show up in the texts and answers of
any of the other seven question types as well.
Prefixes
In a pinch, knowing some common English prefixes can help you use POE on
more difficult Vocabulary questions.
Prefix Meaning Example

ambi- both ambivalence
co/con- with / jointly consensus
de-/dis- away from / not degrade
equ- equal equity
ex- from / out exert
il-/im-/in- not inevitable
ob- in the way / against obstruct
pro- for / forward proponent
re- again / back reciprocate
sub- under / lower than subsume
un- not unobtrusive

READING QUESTIONS: ADVANCED SKILLS
READING
Context
When confronted with an unfamiliar word or phrase, check the surrounding sen-
tences to see if they offer a clue to help you define that word in context.
i. At first, no one could determine who was responsible for the budget
shortfall on the construction project. Only by a cross-examination of
material purchase orders and business expense reports did the senior
WRITING
staff determine that one of the team’s accountants had underestimat-
ed labor costs and therefore bore culpability for the shortfall.
Based on the context, what does culpability mean?
____________________________________________________________
MATH
ii. My mother is an avid reader, yet her books take up just a single wall
of our media room. My father, on the other hand, is a dedicated
musician, and the sheer volume of musical instruments that he has
collected over the years threatens to engulf the media room whole.
When my friends come over, they often laugh at the juxtaposition of
the components of these two hobbies.
Based on the context, what does juxtaposition mean?
____________________________________________________________
iii. The town council had staunchly opposed the construction of parking
structures for decades, claiming that the structures were an eyesore
and would ruin the aesthetic appeal of the council’s carefully crafted
suburban neighborhood. However, the appeal of said neighborhood
had an unintended consequence: residents from the city nearby began
moving to the town in record numbers, exceeding the limits of the
available street parking. This forced the town council to make a major
concession and announce that construction of a parking structure for
town residents would commence immediately.
Based on the context, what does concession mean?
____________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Tone
When all else fails, consider whether the tone of the word to go in the blank
should be positive, negative, or neutral, and eliminate answers that are inconsistent
with that tone.
i. While Kieran advocated for maintaining the composition as is, his

band mate Dorian felt there was substantial ___________________
WRITING
among the notes and that the song should be scrapped entirely.
A) cohesion
B) equilibrium
C) dissonance
D) ambiguity
MATH
Try It Out: Vocabulary Skills
Previous studies of neonicotinoids,

1 Mark for Review
a popular pesticide, revealed
damage to the reproduction and Which choice completes the text
development of bees. New studies with the most logical and precise
show that strawberries pollinated word or phrase?
by bees that ingested neonicotinoids
suffer significant shrinkage, A a supplement to
which represents _____________ the
results from the previous studies
regarding the negative impact of B a refutation of
neonicotinoids.
C a divergence from
D an undermining of

In 1952, US President Richard
READING
2 Mark for Review
Nixon was accused of an improper
use of funds and gifts from his Which choice completes the text
supporters. In his famous 1952 with the most logical and precise
“Checkers speech,” Nixon attacked word or phrase?
his political opponents and stated
that he would keep one single gift A consensus
from his supporters: a black-and-
WRITING
white cocker spaniel named Checkers
that his children had fallen in love B inequity
with. In the scope of American
political history, the speech
introduced a new rhetorical device of C bias
humanizing a candidate and turning
a possible _____________ into an asset.
The American public responded D impediment
MATH
positively to the speech, and Nixon’s
popularity was bolstered.
Hvar lace, named for the island

3 Mark for Review
where it is produced, is a variety of
Croatian lace produced by nuns at the Which choice completes the text
Benedictine Convent. The nuns must with the most logical and precise
be incredibly _____________ during word or phrase?
the lace-making process: they must
pick leaves from the agave plant at A deferential
a certain time of year, extract long,
thin white threads from the center
of the agave leaves, and process the B meticulous
threads several times before the
weaving process can begin.
C vexed
D apprehensive
Remember that spending 5–10 minutes a day on the Hit

Parade, located in the next chapter, is a great way to improve
your vocabulary and potentially boost your RW score!

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
SENTENCE FUNCTION
If you’re finding it difficult to navigate a text but can determine which function
each sentence is serving, this can help you zero in on the one or two sentences
you need in order to capture the main idea or understand the link between ideas.
Keep in mind that the below sentence functions are much more common in non-
literature texts (such as science) than in literature texts.
WRITING
The most common functions a sentence can perform on the Digital SAT are
as follows:
__________________________: This sentence provides context or information re-

garding a topic that the author feels is necessary for the reader to understand be-
fore any arguments are made. Background sentences are usually factual in nature
and often occur at the start of a text.
MATH
__________________________: This sentence contains the author’s, an individual’s,

or a group’s main argument, theory, or opinion. A critical feature of a claim is that
it is something that can be disagreed with and needs to be supported by evidence.
__________________________: This sentence is a special type of claim in which

someone in the text argues against a claim, theory, or opinion made by someone
else in the text. It often includes words such as but or however.
__________________________: This sentence usually contains details and is used

to support claims or objections. While most evidence occurs after a claim or ob-
jection, it can also come before if the author has chosen to build up to his or her
claim.

READING
Consider the following text:
With the initial growth of suburban communities in the mid-twentieth

century, residential pools went from the domain of only the wealthiest
individuals to attainable amenities for those with more modest incomes.
However, this boon came with predictably negative consequences for
local wildlife near these communities. Improper drainage of water
in pools and spas used for personal recreation has led to widespread
WRITING
contamination that can cause immense environmental damage and
even kill plant and animal life. A group of researchers has posited that
proper drainage of pool water can help to reverse the damage done to
suburban environments. In a survey conducted on soil surrounding
residential pools in various American suburbs, the researchers found the
toxicity of soil surrounding pools in which the owner had followed the
manufacturer’s drainage instructions to be 46% lower than the toxicity
levels of soil surrounding pools for which the instructions had been
MATH
followed improperly.
Now let’s examine the passage one sentence at a time to determine the function of
each one.
With the initial growth of suburban communities in the mid-twentieth

century, residential pools went from the domain of only the wealthiest
individuals to attainable amenities for those with more modest incomes.
Background, claim, objection, or evidence? ______________________________
However, this boon came with predictably negative consequences for

local wildlife near these communities.
Improper drainage of water in pools and spas used for personal

recreation has led to widespread contamination that can cause immense
environmental damage and even kill plant and animal life.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
A group of researchers has posited that proper drainage of pool water

READING
can help to reverse the damage done to suburban environments.

WRITING
In a survey conducted on soil surrounding residential pools in various

American suburbs, the researchers found the toxicity of soil surrounding
pools in which the owner had followed the manufacturer’s drainage
instructions to be 46% lower than the toxicity levels of soil surrounding
pools for which the instructions had been followed improperly.

MATH

READING
What Should Come Next?
For each of the below sentences, determine which answer would be the most ap-
propriate follow-up to go in place of the blank.
i. In the aftermath of World War II, the United States government

was faced with the challenge of providing housing for thousands of
returning soldiers. Additionally, __________________________
WRITING
What should most logically come next?
a. A piece of Background information detailing other information

related to the topic of the first sentence.
b. A Claim made by the author regarding his or her opinion on post-
war housing.
MATH
c. An Objection to the previous sentence indicating that there was
actually no challenge for the United State government.
d. A piece of Evidence that explains the argument made in the previ-
ous sentence.
ii. Many film experts categorize the original Star Wars as a science fic-
tion film. However, __________________________
a. A piece of Background information describing which criteria

constitute a science fiction film.
b. A Claim made by the author demonstrating his or her own rea-
soning for why Star Wars is a science fiction film.
c. An Objection to the idea that Star Wars is a science fiction film by
stating that the film is better placed within another genre.
ous sentence.
iii. The current proposal for improvements to the city’s light rail network
must be approved immediately. __________________________
a. A piece of Background information describing light rail systems.

b. A Claim made by the author regarding the opponents of the pro-
posal.
c. An Objection to the author’s own claim in the previous sentence
for dramatic effect.
ous sentence.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Conclusions from Evidence

Literature-based texts may not always follow a clear sentence structure, but they
often include descriptive language such as adverbs and adjectives that indicate
what can or cannot be supported by the text. For each of the following examples,
determine which one of the four answers can be concluded from the statement or
dialogue.
WRITING
i. Mr. Haverwell found the complexity of his employment contract to

be unexpectedly advanced.
a. Mr. Haverwell felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities of his new

position.
b. Mr. Haverwell had expected his employment contract to be com-
plex and was therefore unsurprised.
MATH
c. Mr. Haverwell had assumed that the employment contract would

be more straightforward than it actually was.
d. Mr. Haverwell’s new colleagues also believed that their contracts
were needlessly intricate.
ii. After a barrage of early morning inquires from her employees, Darla
finally had an opportunity to peruse her appointment list for the day.
a. Darla was delayed in pursuing a new job opportunity.

b. Darla is going to take a break from her appointments to speak
with her employees.
c. Darla consulted her appointment list first thing in the morning.
d. Darla had wanted to examine her appointment list earlier than she
was able to.
iii. “To meet someone of your esteem, your pedigree, your reputation as
an artist, is an honor of no small degree.”
a. The artist is hosting a viewing of her works.

b. The speaker has heard of the artist previously.
c. The speaker and the artist have met previously.
d. The artist believes that the speaker is not being sincere.

READING
iv. “To be frank, I’d rather have the information without the sarcasm.”
a. The speaker has been told news in what he believes to be a sarcas-

tic manner.
b. The speaker doesn’t like sarcasm in any form.
c. The speaker would prefer not to receive any more news today.
d. The speaker has been dealing with too much sarcasm recently.
WRITING
v. The other guests assumed that Ms. Stanhope was at the auction to
acquire new pieces for her personal collection, but actually, she was
observing the bidders themselves, not the pieces for which they bid.
a. The narrator is shocked that Ms. Stanhope is not at the auction to

bid for any items.
MATH
b. The narrator is aware of Ms. Stanhope’s true motivation for at-
tending the auction.
c. The narrator is seeking to educate the reader about how auctions
are conducted.
d. The narrator is disguising his relative lack of knowledge regarding
the auction process.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
ADVANCED SKILLS DRILL

Time: 10 Minutes

The Olympic Games have been undergoing Dolphin-assisted therapy helps people with
WRITING
fundamental changes since the middle of the neurological or psychological disorders by having a
twentieth century, and one such change has been patient swim with a dolphin under the supervision of
that potential host cities have expressed a desire to both a therapist and a dolphin trainer. Some animal
be more involved during the host selection process rights advocates maintain that the perceived benefits
than they were previously. Sports analysts ____________ are outweighed by the potential change in behavior
that the future process of selecting a host city will demonstrated by the dolphins involved, as the
no longer be the responsibility of a single entity but unfamiliar stimulation from the interactions with
will more likely be a collaborative effort between humans can cause the dolphins to become ____________
MATH
national governments and the International Olympic and potentially take their frustrations out on their
Committee. human companions.
and precise word or phrase? and precise word or phrase?
A assert A enervated

B dread B resilient
C doubt C vexed
D refute D meticulous

READING
Australian artist Ben Quilty has ____________ extensive While a century ago a large company might have
acclaim from fellow citizens in his native country for paid minimal attention to maintaining its workplace
his work in drawing attention to the achievements of culture, today’s corporations devote substantial
others, including a groundbreaking effort in which resources to establishing an appropriate environment
he embedded himself within an Australian army for employees. Constant training is ____________ in
unit on active duty in Afghanistan in 2011. In turn, order to eliminate any questions about the proper
to gain similar recognition for the efforts of fellow code of conduct for every employee, from the chief
WRITING
Australian artists, he established the first gallery in executive officer to a temporary hire.
the Southern Highlands in an old dairy farm.
A undermined
A disputed

MATH
B mandated
B garnered
C renounced
C precluded
D inevitable
D repressed

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Originally known only in the tropical regions from The following text is excerpted from William
which it is harvested, watermelon rose to worldwide Wordsworth’s 1798 poem “Lines Left Upon a Seat In a
prominence in the seventeenth century with the Yew-Tree Which Stands Near the Lake Of Esthwaite,
development of global shipping channels. Some of On a Desolate Part Of The Shore, Yet Commanding a
the initial evidence of watermelon in the human diet Beautiful Prospect.”
dates from the Neolithic era, where it was consumed If thou be one whose heart the holy forms
in what is now Libya. Archeological evidence Of young imagination have kept pure,
WRITING
indicates that watermelon pulp was eaten in ancient Stranger! henceforth be warned; and know, that
Egypt around 4300 BCE. Biologists from the National pride,
Engineering Researcher Center in Beijing, China, Howe’er disguised in its own majesty,
pondered whether the ancient Egyptians consumed Is littleness; that he, who feels contempt
the same sweet fruit that people do in modern times For any living thing, hath faculties
or a bitter version of the fruit commonly harvested Which he has never used; that thought with him
for its valuable seeds. Using genomic sequencing, Is in its infancy. The man, whose eye
these biologists determined that it’s improbable Is ever on himself, doth look on one,
MATH
that the “sweeter” watermelon we know today had The least of nature’s works, one who might move
developed by the time of the ancient Egyptians. The wise man to that scorn which wisdom holds
Unlawful, ever. O, be wiser thou!
underlined sentence as a whole?
A It offers contradictory evidence to a point

A The speaker cautions the reader against
made earlier in the text.
indulging in self-importance, as it limits
understanding.

B It introduces a detail about the Egyptian diet
that is refuted later in the text.
B The speaker is extolling the virtues of pride, as
a route to true wisdom.
C It expands upon a detail involving watermelon
pulp that is mentioned earlier in the text.
C The speaker advocates for the reader to stop
and daydream beneath the tree.

D It presents a finding about watermelon that is
discussed later in the text.
D The speaker discusses the dignity of the
solitude and introspection found in the tree’s
shade.

READING
Wolves are apex predators capable of preying The original articulation of evolution based
upon species domesticated or hunted by humans, on natural selection is generally recognized as
including livestock such as sheep and cattle. In exclusively the consequence of Charles Darwin’s
order to preclude the loss of livestock from wolf groundbreaking work based on his observations of
predation, some states have attempted to repress species of the Galapagos Islands. However, several
wolf populations through hunting activity. However, historians have repudiated this conclusion, claiming
ecologists have noted that livestock depredations that while Darwin spent years in London fastidiously
WRITING
often increase rather than decrease in the years formulating his theories, fellow English naturalist
following wolf hunts. The ecologists assert that Alfred Wallace was toiling in isolation in the Malay
hunting by humans is more likely than natural Archipelago, independently reaching convergent
mortality to kill high-ranking pack members, which conclusions. Thus, those who proclaim Darwin as the
in a stable pack exist only to breed. The ecologists solitary originator of the thesis of natural selection
hypothesize that breeding practices involving the ____________
surviving lower-ranking wolves after the demise of
those high-ranking members can bolster overall pack Which choice most logically completes the text?
MATH
size, as well as cause a less experienced but outsized
pack to rely more on easy prey, such as livestock, even A improperly attribute work done by Alfred
if such reliance risks interactions with humans that Wallace to Charles Darwin.
wolves typically avoid.

Which finding, if true, would most directly B do not adequately comprehend the theory of
undermine the ecologists’ hypothesis? evolution based on natural selection.

A In several packs not subject to human hunting,
the loss of high-ranking members to natural C discount the significant contributions of
mortality similarly resulted in an overall Wallace towards the field of evolution.
increased pack size.
D haphazardly accept Darwin’s potentially

B In some packs subject to human hunting, the inaccurate claims pertaining to evolution.
killing of low-ranking members had no effect
on livestock predation the following year.

C In some packs subject to human hunting, the
loss of low-ranking members to natural
mortality did not appear to affect pack size the
following year.

D In several packs not subject to human hunting,
the loss of high-ranking members to natural
mortality did not result in overall increased
pack size.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• Three tools that can help you on difficult Vocabulary questions are __________________,
__________________________, and __________________.
• Make sure to continue to study the Vocabulary Hit Parade for _________ minutes every ___________.
• The four main functions that a sentence can serve are
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
• Asking __________________________________________ is a great way to understand sentence function.
• On literature-based texts, pay attention to descriptive words such as ___________________ and
______________________ that can indicate what the author means to convey.

READING QUESTIONS:
VOCABULARY
HIT PARADE
229
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
THE HIT PARADE – ALPHABETIZED

Below, you’ll find a list of one hundred of the most common words you’ll see on
the Digital SAT. While these primarily show up on Vocabulary questions, they
can also appear in the texts and answer choices themselves—so studying the Hit
Parade is one of the most straightforward ways to boost your SAT score!
WRITING
Word Part of Definition

Speech
adhere to believe in and follow the practices of

verb
Example: It can be difficult to adhere to a workout regimen without coaching

and discipline.
MATH
advocate verb to publicly recommend or support
Example: Upon his appointment, the new vice president of the company prom-
ised to advocate for increased vacation time for all employees.
allude verb to suggest or call attention to indirectly;

to hint at
Example: I didn’t mean to allude to your past breakup when discussing celeb-
rity romances that ended badly.
ambivalence noun the state of having mixed feelings

or contradictory ideas about something
or someone
Example: Understandably, Jillian struggled with ambivalence regarding the

group project: she loved working with her friends but felt that the work was
never divided evenly.
analogous adjective comparable in certain respects, typically

in a way which makes clearer the nature
of the things compared
Example: The rocking of a ship against the waves has been described by some
as analogous to the ups and downs of a rollercoaster ride.
anecdote noun a short amusing or interesting story

about a real incident or person
Example: Our professor opened the semester with a number of humorous anec-
dotes about excuses he has heard from students who missed class.

READING QUESTIONS: VOCABULARY HIT PARADE
READING
Speech
apprehensive adjective anxious or fearful that something bad or

unpleasant will happen
Example: Lauren was apprehensive about her upcoming violin recital: she had
WRITING
practiced enough but had never performed in front of more than four or five
people.
arbitrary adjective based on random choice or personal

whim, rather than any reason or system
Example: The town’s enforcement of parking rules felt arbitrary, as some days
MATH
the rules would be strictly enforced and other days it seemed impossible to get
a ticket no matter how severe the infraction.
assert verb to state a fact or belief confidently
Example: After listening to the rest of the board members shout over each oth-
er, Dominic felt the need to assert that this time could have been better spent
offering practical solutions to the issue.
bias noun prejudice in favor of or against one

thing, person, or group compared with
another, usually in a way considered to
be unfair
Example: Though she promised to be free of bias, it became evident very quickly
that my mom preferred a dog over a cat as a potential pet.
bolster verb to support or strengthen; prop up
Example: To bolster the thesis of his history paper, Jeremy cited a series of works
by other authors who had argued against single-house legislatures.
brevity noun concise and exact use of words in

writing or speech
Example: Sabrina’s notes were known for their brevity, as entire concepts were
often summed up into a small series of words and phrases.
buttress verb to increase the strength of or justifica-

tion for; to reinforce
Example: The commissioner has promised to train 30 new recruits by the end
of the year in order to buttress the police force as the city’s borders expand.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Speech
capitalize verb to attempt to gain an advantage from an

opportunity or situation
Example: With many of her colleagues away on vacation, Linda hoped to capi-
WRITING
talize on the relative calm around the office in order to accelerate the comple-
tion of her project.
circumvent verb to find a way around
Example: Having forgotten the password to his email account, Aiden was able
to circumvent the login screen by having a code sent to his phone.
MATH
cohesion noun the action of forming a united whole
Example: Mr. Johnson hoped that the team-building exercises he had sched-
uled for his department’s work retreat would lead to a better sense of cohesion
around the office.
compelling adjective evoking interest, attention, or admiration
Example: Despite her awareness of the mountain of homework she had to do,
Lara found the current storyline of her favorite television show too compelling
to pass up starting another episode.
concede verb to admit that something is true or valid

after first denying or resisting it
Example: After an intense debate, I was forced to concede that my opponent

had a strong argument regarding the need for district-wide budget reallocation.
congenial adjective pleasant, friendly, or agreeable
Example: Known as quite the congenial host, Davante made sure the atmo-
sphere of his game nights was welcoming to friends both old and new.
consensus noun a general agreement
Example: After several hours of voting which had seemed fated to end the as-
sembly in a stalemate, a series of clever compromises helped the majority of
voters reach a consensus.
converge verb to come together to form a new whole
Example: In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers

converge to form the Ohio River.

READING
Speech
corroborate verb to confirm or give support to a state-

ment, theory, or finding
Example: The thief claimed to have an alibi at the time of the crime but could
WRITING
not produce any friend or family to corroborate his story.
culpable adjective guilty or worthy of blame
Example: Though he insisted upon his innocence, it was clear from video evi-
dence and eyewitness testimony that the bank thief was indeed culpable for the
robbery.
MATH
curtail verb to reduce in extent or quantity
The new office timecard system was designed to curtail unauthorized exten-
sions of lunch and break times.
decisive adjective settling an issue; producing a definite

result
Example: Megan’s four first-half goals helped to score a decisive victory for her
field hockey team, which won the game in a shutout.
deduce verb to arrive at a conclusion through

reasoning
Example: Based on the hastily made bed and poorly folded clothes, Carla was
able to deduce that her son had rushed the task of cleaning his room in order to
get the chore over with.
deference noun humble submission and respect
Example: The student spoke with deference to his instructor when discussing
the proper application of a mixed martial arts technique.
degrade verb to treat or regard someone with

contempt or disrespect
Example: The harsh note taped to the bulletin board in the employee break
room was clearly meant to degrade those who were not clocking in on time.
denounce verb to publicly declare to be wrong or evil
Example: The principal was expected to denounce graphic t-shirts as unaccept-

able school attire, but she surprised everyone when she stated that she considered
them to be an important part of self-expression.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Speech
derive verb to obtain from a specific source
Example: The Hawaiian Islands derive their name from Hawai’iloa, the leg-
endary Polynesian navigator who is said to have discovered the islands.
WRITING
disconcerting adjective causing one to feel unsettled or worried
Example: With their car’s tank running on low, the friends found the contin-
ual lack of a gas station anywhere along their route increasingly disconcerting.
dispute verb to engage in an argument or cast doubt

MATH
upon
Example: The employee went to dispute his first paycheck when he found it to
be substantially lower than what was promised in his offer letter.
divergent adjective tending to be different or develop in

different directions
Example: Due to the unclear instructions, students took divergent paths in

their papers, with some arguing multiple perspectives and some switching top-
ics altogether.
dormant adjective having normal physical functions sus-

pended or slowed down for a period of
time; in or as if in a deep sleep
Example: Though the volcano once erupted randomly and violently for
decades, it now lies dormant and is a popular tourist attraction.
elicit verb to draw out a response or fact from

someone
Example: Through a series of carefully crafted questions, the professor hoped

to elicit the answer to the geography question from her students, which would
prove that they already knew the correct information.
eloquent adjective fluent or persuasive in speaking or

writing
Example: Shakespeare’s sonnets are considered some of the most eloquent

poems in British literature.

READING
Speech
epitome noun to be a perfect example of
Example: The three sisters were the epitome of the spirit of entrepreneurship:
through their hard work, their baking business had begun as a roadside stand
WRITING
and blossomed into a multi-million-dollar brand.
equity noun the quality of being fair or impartial
Example: Among Judge Robertson’s best qualities is his sense of equity: he

never lets his personal feelings toward a crime or criminal affect the length and
severity of the judgments that he imposes.
MATH
erratic adjective irregular in pattern or movement
Example: After being dropped into the pool, the cell phone displayed increas-
ingly erratic behavior: it would work perfectly one minute then freeze entirely
the next.
evince verb to reveal the presence of a quality or

feeling
Example: Benjamin’s numerous social media posts within just one day of re-
turning from his vacation were clearly meant to evince the enjoyment he had
felt during his trip.
evoke verb to bring or recall to the conscious mind
Example: A country’s national anthem is meant to evoke feelings of pride in its

citizens.
exert verb to make a physical or mental effort
Example: Math Olympiad competitors exert a tremendous amount of mental

energy solving calculations while under a time limit.
explicit adjective stated clearly and in detail, leaving no

room for confusion or doubt
Example: The teacher’s classroom rules were explicit; they were written on a
poster right above her desk.
foster verb to encourage or promote the develop-

ment of
Example: The student council opened up the vote on the new school lunch
policy to the entire student body in order to foster a greater sense of school
community participation.
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Speech
imminent adjective about to happen
Example: The decreasing temperatures and darkening skies mean that a rain-
storm is imminent.
WRITING
impede verb to delay or prevent someone or some-

thing by obstructing; to hinder
Example: The city council attempted to impede the fast-food restaurant’s efforts
to install a drive-thru window.
MATH
implicit adjective implied but not plainly expressed
Example: The teacher’s classroom rules were implicit; although the rules were
not openly stated anywhere, all of the students knew what they should and
should not do.
impose verb to force a rule or punishment to be

accepted or obeyed
Example: The mayor has decided to impose a curfew upon residents of his town.
indecipherable adjective not able to be read or understood
Example: Braden was in such a rush to complete his English essay that the
entire conclusion was deemed indecipherable by his professor.
indifference noun lack of interest, concern, or sympathy
Example: Sam responded to the discussion of a road trip with indifference, as

he would have been equally happy staying home.
induce verb to succeed at influencing or persuading

someone to do something
Example: The solid wall of disgruntled supermarket workers in the parking lot
was meant to induce potential customers to shop for their groceries elsewhere.
inevitable adjective certain to happen; unavoidable
Example: Once the school mandated a dress code, it was inevitable that the
students would test the limits of what they could get away with.

READING
Speech
invoke verb to cite or appeal to someone or some-

thing as an authority for an action or in
support of an argument
WRITING
Example: The police captain’s son would often invoke his father’s name to get
himself out of trouble.
ironic adjective happening in the opposite way from

what is expected, and typically caus-
ing amusement because of this
MATH
Example: It is ironic that the tech support company’s website was listed as
down for maintenance.
jarring adjective inconsistent in a striking or shocking

way
Example: The difficulty of the final statistics exam was such a jarring departure
from the normal simplicity of the professor’s tests that the students felt com-
pelled to ask her if there was an error.
juxtapose verb to place close together for contrasting

effect
Example: Video production teams working on horror movies will often jux-
tapose darker scenes with livelier music to create a deeper sense of tension and
discomfort within the viewer.
latent adjective existing but not yet developed or manifest
Example: From the moment his fingers began dancing over the keys as if he’d
been playing his whole life, it was obvious that Nikolai had a latent talent for
the piano that had hitherto gone unnoticed.
mandate verb to order something be done or someone

behave in a certain way
Example: The new law would mandate that employers offer tuition reimburse-
ment for continuing education courses.
meticulous adjective showing great attention to detail; very

careful and precise
Example: Ruchi was incredibly meticulous in the production of her photos on

her social media page: the lighting, filter, and exposure were each precisely ad-
justed to enhance the visual quality of her subjects.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Speech
mitigate verb to make less serious, severe, or painful
Example: Knowing that he had written the entire paper in thirty minutes, Stan
was prepared to offer any explanation or excuse necessary to mitigate the very
WRITING
low grade he was likely to receive.
novel adjective new or unusual in an interesting way
Example: Novel ideas, such as Galileo’s model for the Earth revolving around
the Sun, usually take time to be accepted by those comfortable with traditional
views.
MATH
nuanced adjective characterized by slight degrees of mean-

ing or expression
Example: Though her initial approach to Brazilian jiu-jitsu was to overwhelm

opponents through sheer strength, Jessica became more nuanced in her tech-
nique as she learned more advanced principles of the sport.
obscure adjective not discovered or known about; uncertain
Example: John’s pop culture references were so remarkably obscure that his
friends could go for hours without knowing a single actor or movie he men-
tioned.
obsolete adjective no longer produced or used; out of date
Example: Zara was dismayed to learn her phone was considered obsolete just
one year after she purchased it.
obstruct verb to block or deliberately make something

difficult
Example: The extra forms that need to be filled out just to speak to a supervisor
needlessly obstruct what used to be a relatively streamlined process.
oppressive adjective unjustly inflicting hardship and

constraint; weighing heavily on the
mind or spirits
Example: The heat of the jungle was so oppressive that the expedition team took
breaks twice as often as planned.

READING
Speech
outsized adjective exceptionally large
Example: Sports commentators enjoy discussing the boxer Floyd Mayweather

Jr. due to his outsized persona: for them, his larger-than-life attitude serves as a
WRITING
reminder of sports’ past glories.
palpable adjective easily noticeable
Example: The excitement in the air prior to the start of the concert was pal-
pable: you could practically see the energy emanating from the crowd before
the band even stepped on stage.
MATH
pervasive adjective spreading widely throughout an area
or a group of people, especially in an
unpleasant way
Example: The aging boat had holes in its hull and a pervasive smell of rotting
wood.
pragmatic adjective dealing with things in a sensible or real-

istic manner; practical
Example: The new governor’s pragmatic approach to tackling the state’s budget
deficit one step at a time was considered a welcomed departure from the radical
ideas of her predecessor.
preclude verb to make impossible
Example: The legal concept of double jeopardy was established to preclude the
possibility of an individual being wrongly tried twice for the same criminal
offense.
prevalence noun the fact or condition of being prevalent;

commonness
Example: The prevalence of transfer students on college football teams has

made roster adjustments a year-round endeavor.
profound adjective having or showing great knowledge or

insight
Example: Marie Curie’s understanding of chemistry and radioactivity was pro-

found: she discovered the elements radium and polonium, and her work in ra-
diation therapy would save millions of lives.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Speech
prominent adjective important; famous
Example: One of the most prominent American presidents, George Washing-

ton is often noted as having set numerous presidential precedents that continue
WRITING
to this day.
proponent noun a person who argues for a theory, pro-

posal, or concept
Example: Dr. Kerrigan was a huge proponent of proper intestinal health, as she
believed all disease could be traced back to the digestive system.
MATH
provoke verb to stimulate or give rise to a reaction or

emotion, typically a strong or unwel-
come one, in someone
Example: I knew I couldn’t let Anthony provoke me into an argument again, as

he often did.
reciprocate verb to respond to a gesture or action by

making a corresponding one
Example: Jennifer was so touched by the Christmas gift she received from
Isabelle that she made plans to reciprocate as soon as she could get to the mall.
reconcile verb to restore friendly relations between
Example: William texted Caleb an apology as a means to reconcile following

their recent disagreement.
refute verb to prove a statement or theory to be

wrong or false; disprove
Example: Scientists often publish papers meant to refute theories that they have
disproven through experimentation.
renounce verb to formally declare one’s abandon-

ment of a claim, right, or possession
Example: In a shocking move, the king has decided to renounce his right to the
throne, sending the country into a panic.
repression noun the restraint, prevention, or inhibition of

a feeling, quality, etc.
Example: When citizens of a nation endure long periods of political repression,

it can lead to verbal or physical altercations throughout that country.
READING
Speech
repudiate verb to refuse to accept or be associated with
Example: Any time one of her friends advised her to try online dating, Becky
would repudiate the suggestion completely, as she had been deceived by
WRITING
inaccurate photos or descriptions too many times.
resilient adjective able to withstand or recover quickly

from difficult conditions
Example: Others may have crumpled under the sheer number of last-minute
reservations, but Hector was resilient, handling each frantic request with calm
MATH
professionalism.
retain verb to continue to have something; keep

possession of
Example: In an effort to retain her position as class president, Cynthia put up

flyers asking for students’ votes in the upcoming election.
skeptical adjective not easily convinced; having doubts or

reservations
Example: Bryce was skeptical of his order’s estimated arrival date: past orders
from the same company had taken a week longer than advertised.
speculate verb to form a theory or conjecture about a

subject without firm evidence
Example: The lawyer refused to speculate on the outcome of the trial, but she
was hopeful that her client would be found innocent.
strenuous adjective requiring or expending great effort
Example: The groundskeepers began the strenuous task of preparing the foot-
ball field and all of its associated facilities for the upcoming season.
substantiate verb to provide evidence to support or prove

the truth of
Example: The researcher ran a series of experiments hoping to substantiate her

theory of engine mechanics before presenting it to her supervisor for review.
subsumed adjective included or absorbed into something else
Example: Literature texts can be subsumed under two general categories: poetry
and prose.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Speech
subtle adjective so delicate or precise as to be difficult to

analyze or describe
Example: A slight cough from a friend can be a subtle indication that the friend
WRITING
wishes to depart from a social situation that is uncomfortable.
supplement noun something that completes or enhances

something else when added to it
Example: Milk is often considered the perfect supplement to cereal, though

other liquids have become popular choices in recent years.
MATH
tenuous adjective very weak or slight
Example: With just seconds to go in the game, the team clung to a tenuous
one-point lead.
undermine verb to lessen the effectiveness, power, or

ability of a person or idea
Example: Michael practically ran on his way to school, worried that a mark of
tardy would undermine his perfect attendance record.
underscore verb to emphasize or draw attention to
Example: Margaux came to her presentation with a series of handouts for her
colleagues, hoping this would underscore the amount of work she had put into
her project.
unobtrusive adjective not conspicuous or attracting attention
Example: Garbage cans at the theme park are painted to be as unobtrusive as

possible, often blending into their surroundings.
validate verb to check or prove the validity or accu-

racy of something
Example: The clerk refused to validate my license, noting that it expired one
month ago.
verisimilitude noun the appearance of being true or real
Example: Despite being a work of fiction, the movie possessed such authentic
characters and believable dialogue that critics praised it for its verisimilitude.

READING
Speech
vexation noun the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or

worried
Example: Carla could not hide her vexation at her son for arriving home two
WRITING
hours past curfew without telling her ahead of time.
viable adjective capable of working successfully; feasible
Example: The hiring supervisor was pleased to find that so many viable candi-
dates had applied for the position.
MATH
vindicate verb to clear someone of blame or suspicion
Example: Upset that he had been accused of staying home sick to avoid an
exam, Xander hoped that a formal doctor’s note would vindicate him in his
teacher’s eyes.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
THE HIT PARADE – THEMED SETS

We’ve taken those same hundred words and grouped them based on similar
themes, uses, or definitions. You can use these sets to break the words down into
more manageable bite-sized pieces. Your instructor may also assign them, but no
matter the circumstance, be sure to keep up with your daily vocab study!
WRITING
Set 1 – Arguments
Speech
advocate verb to publicly recommend or support
MATH
Example: Upon his appointment, the new vice president of the company prom-
ised to advocate for increased vacation time for all employees.
assert verb to state a fact or belief confidently
Example: After listening to the rest of the board members shout over each
other, Dominic felt the need to assert that this time could have been better
spent offering practical solutions to the issue.
bolster verb to support or strengthen; prop up
Example: To bolster the thesis of his history paper, Jeremy cited a series of works
by other authors who had argued against single-house legislatures.
concede verb to admit that something is true or valid

after first denying or resisting it
Example: After an intense debate, I was forced to concede that my opponent

had a strong argument regarding the need for district-wide budget reallocation.
dispute verb to engage in an argument or cast doubt

upon
Example: The employee went to dispute his first paycheck when he found it to
be substantially lower than what was promised in his offer letter.
proponent noun a person who argues for a theory, pro-

posal, or concept
Example: Dr. Kerrigan was a huge proponent of proper intestinal health, as she
believed all disease could be traced back to the digestive system.

READING
refute verb to prove a statement or theory to be
wrong or false; disprove
Example: Scientists often publish papers meant to refute theories that they have
disproven through experimentation.
repudiate verb to refuse to accept or be associated with
WRITING
Example: Any time one of her friends advised her to try online dating, Becky
would repudiate the suggestion completely, as she had been deceived by
inaccurate photos or descriptions too many times.
skeptical adjective not easily convinced; having doubts or

reservations
MATH
Example: Bryce was skeptical of his order’s estimated arrival date: past orders
from the same company had taken a week longer than advertised.
undermine verb to lessen the effectiveness, power, or

ability of a person or idea
Example: Michael practically ran on his way to school, worried that a mark of
tardy would undermine his perfect attendance record.
Set 2 – Agreements and Support

Speech
adhere verb to believe in and follow the practices of
Example: It can be difficult to adhere to a workout regimen without coaching

and discipline.
buttress verb to increase the strength of or justifica-

tion for; to reinforce
Example: The commissioner has promised to train 30 new recruits by the end
of the year in order to buttress the police force as the city’s borders expand.
cohesion noun the action of forming a united whole
Example: Mr. Johnson hoped that the team-building exercises he had sched-
uled for his department’s work retreat would lead to a better sense of cohesion
around the office.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
consensus noun a general agreement
Example: After several hours of voting which had seemed fated to end the
assembly in a stalemate, a series of clever compromises helped the majority of
voters reach a consensus.
converge verb to come together to form a new whole

WRITING
Example: In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers

converge to form the Ohio River.
corroborate verb to confirm or give support to a state-

ment, theory, or finding
MATH
Example: The thief claimed to have an alibi at the time of the crime but could
not produce any friend or family to corroborate his story.
foster verb to encourage or promote the develop-

ment of
Example: The student council opened up the vote on the new school lunch
policy to the entire student body in order to foster a greater sense of school
community participation.
reconcile verb to restore friendly relations between
Example: William texted Caleb an apology as a means to reconcile following

their recent disagreement.
substantiate verb to provide evidence to support or prove

the truth of
Example: The researcher ran a series of experiments hoping to substantiate her

theory of engine mechanics before presenting it to her supervisor for review.
supplement noun something that completes or enhances

something else when added to it
Example: Milk is often considered the perfect supplement to cereal, though

other liquids have become popular choices in recent years.

READING
Set 3 – Rejections and Restrictions
Speech
curtail verb to reduce in extent or quantity
WRITING
Example: The new office timecard system was designed to curtail unauthorized
extensions of lunch and break times.
degrade verb to treat or regard someone with con-

tempt or disrespect
Example: The harsh note taped to the bulletin board in the employee break
MATH
room was clearly meant to degrade those who were not clocking in on time.
denounce verb to publicly declare to be wrong or evil
Example: The principal was expected to denounce graphic t-shirts as unaccept-

able school attire, but she surprised everyone when she stated that she considered
them to be an important part of self-expression.
impede verb to delay or prevent someone or some-

thing by obstructing; to hinder
Example: The city council attempted to impede the fast-food restaurant’s efforts
to install a drive-thru window.
impose verb to force a rule or punishment to be

accepted or obeyed
Example: The mayor has decided to impose a curfew upon residents of his town.
mandate verb to order something be done or someone

behave in a certain way
Example: The new law would mandate that employers offer tuition reimburse-
ment for continuing education courses.
obstruct verb to block or deliberately make something

difficult
Example: The extra forms that need to be filled out just to speak to a supervisor
needlessly obstruct what used to be a relatively streamlined process.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
oppressive adjective unjustly inflicting hardship and

constraint; weighing heavily on the
mind or spirits
Example: The heat of the jungle was so oppressive that the expedition team took
breaks twice as often as planned.
WRITING
preclude verb to make impossible
Example: The legal concept of double jeopardy was established to preclude the
possibility of an individual being wrongly tried twice for the same criminal
offense.
repression noun the restraint, prevention, or inhibition of

MATH
a feeling, quality, etc.
Example: When citizens of a nation endure long periods of political repression,

it can lead to verbal or physical altercations throughout that country.
Set 4 – Conclusions and Judgments

Speech
bias noun prejudice in favor of or against one
thing, person, or group compared with
another, usually in a way considered to
be unfair
Example: Though she promised to be free of bias, it became evident very quick-
ly that my mom preferred a dog over a cat as a potential pet.
culpable adjective guilty or worthy of blame
Example: Though he insisted upon his innocence, it was clear from video evi-
dence and eyewitness testimony that the bank thief was indeed culpable for the
robbery.
decisive adjective settling an issue; producing a definite

result
Example: Megan’s four first-half goals helped to score a decisive victory for her
field hockey team, which won the game in a shutout.

READING
deduce verb to arrive at a conclusion through
reasoning
Example: Based on the hastily made bed and poorly folded clothes, Carla was
able to deduce that her son had rushed the task of cleaning his room in order to
get the chore over with.
WRITING
equity noun the quality of being fair or impartial
Example: Among Judge Robertson’s best qualities is his sense of equity: he

never lets his personal feelings toward a crime or criminal affect the length and
severity of the judgments that he imposes.
pragmatic adjective dealing with things in a sensible or real-
MATH
istic manner; practical
Example: The new governor’s pragmatic approach to tackling the state’s budget
deficit one step at a time was considered a welcomed departure from the radical
ideas of her predecessor.
renounce verb to formally declare one’s abandon-

ment of a claim, right, or possession
Example: In a shocking move, the king has decided to renounce his right to the
throne, sending the country into a panic.
speculate verb to form a theory or conjecture about a

subject without firm evidence
Example: The lawyer refused to speculate on the outcome of the trial, but she
was hopeful that her client would be found innocent.
validate verb to check or prove the validity or accu-

racy of something
Example: The clerk refused to validate my license, noting that it expired one
month ago.
vindicate verb to clear someone of blame or suspicion
Example: Upset that he had been accused of staying home sick to avoid an
exam, Xander hoped that a formal doctor’s note would vindicate him in his
teacher’s eyes.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Set 5 – Writing Styles

Speech
allude verb to suggest or call attention to indirectly;
to hint at
WRITING
Example: I didn’t mean to allude to your past breakup when discussing celeb-
rity romances that ended badly.
anecdote noun a short amusing or interesting story

about a real incident or person
MATH
Example: Our professor opened the semester with a number of humorous anec-
dotes about excuses he has heard from students who missed class.
analogous adjective comparable in certain respects, typically

in a way which makes clearer the nature
of the things compared
Example: The rocking of a ship against the waves has been described by some
as analogous to the ups and downs of a rollercoaster ride.
brevity noun concise and exact use of words in

writing or speech
Example: Sabrina’s notes were known for their brevity, as entire concepts were
often summed up into a small series of words and phrases.
eloquent adjective fluent or persuasive in speaking or

writing
Example: Shakespeare’s sonnets are considered some of the most eloquent

poems in British literature.
explicit adjective stated clearly and in detail, leaving no

room for confusion or doubt
Example: The teacher’s classroom rules were explicit; they were written on a
poster right above her desk.
implicit adjective implied but not plainly expressed
Example: The teacher’s classroom rules were implicit; although the rules were
not openly stated anywhere, all of the students knew what they should and
should not do.

READING
ironic adjective happening in the opposite way from
what is expected, and typically caus-
ing amusement because of this
Example: It is ironic that the tech support company’s website was listed as
down for maintenance.
WRITING
juxtapose verb to place close together for contrasting
effect
Example: Video production teams working on horror movies will often jux-
tapose darker scenes with livelier music to create a deeper sense of tension and
discomfort within the viewer.
MATH
underscore verb to emphasize or draw attention to
Example: Margaux came to her presentation with a series of handouts for her
colleagues, hoping this would underscore the amount of work she had put into
her project.
Set 6 – Influence and Effort

Speech
elicit verb to draw out a response or fact from
someone
Example: Through a series of carefully crafted questions, the professor hoped

to elicit the answer to the geography question from her students, which would
prove that they already knew the correct information.
evince verb to reveal the presence of a quality or

feeling
Example: Benjamin’s numerous social media posts within just one day of re-
turning from his vacation were clearly meant to evince the enjoyment he had
felt during his trip.
evoke verb to bring or recall to the conscious mind
Example: A country’s national anthem is meant to evoke feelings of pride in its

citizens.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
exert verb to make a physical or mental effort
Example: Math Olympiad competitors exert a tremendous amount of mental

energy solving calculations while under a time limit.
induce verb to succeed at influencing or persuading

someone to do something
WRITING
Example: The solid wall of disgruntled supermarket workers in the parking lot
was meant to induce potential customers to shop for their groceries elsewhere.
invoke verb to cite or appeal to someone or some-

thing as an authority for an action or in
support of an argument
MATH
Example: The police captain’s son would often invoke his father’s name to get
himself out of trouble.
provoke verb to stimulate or give rise to a reaction or

emotion, typically a strong or unwel-
come one, in someone
Example: I knew I couldn’t let Anthony provoke me into an argument again, as

he often did.
reciprocate verb to respond to a gesture or action by

making a corresponding one
Example: Jennifer was so touched by the Christmas gift she received from
Isabelle that she made plans to reciprocate as soon as she could get to the mall.
resilient adjective able to withstand or recover quickly

from difficult conditions
Example: Others may have crumpled under the sheer number of last-minute
reservations, but Hector was resilient, handling each frantic request with calm
professionalism.
strenuous adjective requiring or expending great effort
Example: The groundskeepers began the strenuous task of preparing the foot-
ball field and all of its associated facilities for the upcoming season.

READING
Set 7 – Inconsistency and Uncertainty
Speech
ambivalence noun the state of having mixed feelings
or contradictory ideas about something
WRITING
or someone
Example: Understandably, Jillian struggled with ambivalence regarding the

group project: she loved working with her friends but felt that the work was
never divided evenly.
apprehensive adjective anxious or fearful that something bad or
MATH
unpleasant will happen
Example: Lauren was apprehensive about her upcoming violin recital: she had
practiced enough but had never performed in front of more than four or five
people.
arbitrary adjective based on random choice or personal

whim, rather than any reason or system
Example: The town’s enforcement of parking rules felt arbitrary, as some days
the rules would be strictly enforced and other days it seemed impossible to get
a ticket no matter how severe the infraction.
disconcerting adjective causing one to feel unsettled or worried
Example: With their car’s tank running on low, the friends found the contin-
ual lack of a gas station anywhere along their route increasingly disconcerting.
erratic adjective irregular in pattern or movement
Example: After being dropped into the pool, the cell phone displayed increas-
ingly erratic behavior: it would work perfectly one minute then freeze entirely
the next.
indecipherable adjective not able to be read or understood
Example: Braden was in such a rush to complete his English essay that the
entire conclusion was deemed indecipherable by his professor.
jarring adjective inconsistent in a striking or shocking

way
Example: The difficulty of the final statistics exam was such a jarring departure
from the normal simplicity of the professor’s tests that the students felt com-
pelled to ask her if there was an error.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
obscure adjective not discovered or known about; uncertain
Example: John’s pop culture references were so remarkably obscure that his
friends could go for hours without knowing a single actor or movie he men-
tioned.
tenuous adjective very weak or slight

WRITING
Example: With just seconds to go in the game, the team clung to a tenuous
one-point lead.
vexation noun the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or

worried
MATH
Example: Carla could not hide her vexation at her son for arriving home two
hours past curfew without telling her ahead of time.
Set 8 – Praise and Positivity

Speech
compelling adjective evoking interest, attention, or admiration
Example: Despite her awareness of the mountain of homework she had to do,
Lara found the current storyline of her favorite television show too compelling
to pass up starting another episode.
congenial adjective pleasant, friendly, or agreeable
Example: Known as quite the congenial host, Davante made sure the atmo-
sphere of his game nights was welcoming to friends both old and new.
deference noun humble submission and respect
Example: The student spoke with deference to his instructor when discussing
the proper application of a mixed martial arts technique.
meticulous adjective showing great attention to detail; very

careful and precise
Example: Ruchi was incredibly meticulous in the production of her photos on

her social media page: the lighting, filter, and exposure were each precisely
adjusted to enhance the visual quality of her subjects.

READING
novel adjective new or unusual in an interesting way
Example: Novel ideas, such as Galileo’s model for the Earth revolving around
the Sun, usually take time to be accepted by those comfortable with traditional
views.
profound adjective having or showing great knowledge or
WRITING
insight
Example: Marie Curie’s understanding of chemistry and radioactivity was

profound: she discovered the elements radium and polonium, and her work in
radiation therapy would save millions of lives.
prominent adjective important; famous
MATH
Example: One of the most prominent American presidents, George Washing-
ton is often noted as having set numerous presidential precedents that continue
to this day.
unobtrusive adjective not conspicuous or attracting attention
Example: Garbage cans at the theme park are painted to be as unobtrusive as

possible, often blending into their surroundings.
verisimilitude noun the appearance of being true or real
Example: Despite being a work of fiction, the movie possessed such authentic
characters and believable dialogue that critics praised it for its verisimilitude.
viable adjective capable of working successfully; feasible
Example: The hiring supervisor was pleased to find that so many viable candi-
dates had applied for the position.
Set 9 – Descriptions and Degrees

Speech
capitalize verb to attempt to gain an advantage from an
opportunity or situation
Example: With many of her colleagues away on vacation, Linda hoped to capi-
talize on the relative calm around the office in order to accelerate the comple-
tion of her project.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
circumvent verb to find a way around
Example: Having forgotten the password to his email account, Aiden was able
to circumvent the login screen by having a code sent to his phone.
derive verb to obtain from a specific source

WRITING
Example: The Hawaiian Islands derive their name from Hawai’iloa, the leg-
endary Polynesian navigator who is said to have discovered the islands.
divergent adjective tending to be different or develop in

different directions
Example: Due to the unclear instructions, students took divergent paths in

MATH
their papers, with some arguing multiple perspectives and some switching top-
ics altogether.
epitome noun to be a perfect example of
Example: The three sisters were the epitome of the spirit of entrepreneurship:
through their hard work, their baking business had begun as a roadside stand
and blossomed into a multi-million-dollar brand.
indifference noun lack of interest, concern, or sympathy
Example: Sam responded to the discussion of a road trip with indifference, as

he would have been equally happy staying home.
mitigate verb to make less serious, severe, or painful
Example: Knowing that he had written the entire paper in thirty minutes, Stan
was prepared to offer any explanation or excuse necessary to mitigate the very
low grade he was likely to receive.
nuanced adjective characterized by slight degrees of mean-

ing or expression
Example: Though her initial approach to Brazilian jiu-jitsu was to overwhelm

opponents through sheer strength, Jessica became more nuanced in her tech-
nique as she learned more advanced principles of the sport.
subsumed adjective included or absorbed into something

else
Example: Literature texts can be subsumed under two general categories: poetry
and prose.

READING
subtle adjective so delicate or precise as to be difficult to
analyze or describe
Example: A slight cough from a friend can be a subtle indication that the friend
wishes to depart from a social situation that is uncomfortable.
WRITING
Set 10 – Presence and Occurrence
Speech
dormant adjective having normal physical functions sus-
MATH
pended or slowed down for a period of
time; in or as if in a deep sleep
Example: Though the volcano once erupted randomly and violently for
decades, it now lies dormant and is a popular tourist attraction.
imminent adjective about to happen
Example: The decreasing temperatures and darkening skies mean that a rain-
storm is imminent.
inevitable adjective certain to happen; unavoidable
Example: Once the school mandated a dress code, it was inevitable that the
students would test the limits of what they could get away with.
latent adjective existing but not yet developed or manifest
Example: From the moment his fingers began dancing over the keys as if he’d
been playing his whole life, it was obvious that Nikolai had a latent talent for
the piano that had hitherto gone unnoticed.
obsolete adjective no longer produced or used; out of date
Example: Zara was dismayed to learn her phone was considered obsolete just
one year after she purchased it.
outsized adjective exceptionally large
Example: Sports commentators enjoy discussing the boxer Floyd Mayweather

Jr. due to his outsized persona: for them, his larger-than-life attitude serves as a
reminder of sports’ past glories.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
palpable adjective easily noticeable
Example: The excitement in the air prior to the start of the concert was pal-
pable: you could practically see the energy emanating from the crowd before
the band even stepped on stage.
pervasive adjective spreading widely throughout an area

WRITING
or a group of people, especially in an

unpleasant way
Example: The aging boat had holes in its hull and a pervasive smell of rotting
wood.
prevalence noun the fact or condition of being prevalent;

MATH
commonness
Example: The prevalence of transfer students on college football teams has

made roster adjustments a year-round endeavor.
retain verb to continue to have something; keep

possession of
Example: In an effort to retain her position as class president, Cynthia put up

flyers asking for students’ votes in the upcoming election.

READING DRILLS
259
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
READING DRILL 1
Time: 10 Minutes

In a 2021 exhibit in a New York gallery, Caddo Nation The following text is adapted from a Vladimir
artist Raven Halfmoon purposefully chose the title Korolenko’s 1892 short story “The Shades, A Fantasy.”
WRITING
of her work to __________ both her roots in Oklahoma The text describes one of the students of the Ancient
and the gallery’s location in Manhattan. Some critics Greek philosopher Socrates, Ctesippus, who was once
noted how the title “Okla Homma to Manahatta” a student of another philosopher named Clinias.
seemed to bridge the two contrasting cultures. There was one other disciple of Socrates. Not long
before, the impetuous Ctesippus had been one of the
Which choice completes the text with the most logical most frivolous and pleasure-seeking of the Athenian
and precise word or phrase? youths. He had set up beauty as his sole god, and
had bowed before Clinias as its highest exemplar.
MATH
A verify But since he had become acquainted with Socrates,

all desire for pleasure and all light-mindedness
had gone from him. He looked on indifferently
B question while others took his place with Clinias. The grace
of thought and harmony of spirit that he found in
Socrates seemed a hundred times more attractive
C critique than the graceful form and the harmonious features
of Clinias.
D incorporate
text?
A To explain why Socrates was not looked upon

favorably by the gods

B To describe how Ctesippus appeared to change
his perspective
C To demonstrate the strong impression that

Clinias held over Athenian youth
D To reveal why Clinias was more appealing to

Ctesippus than Socrates was

READING DRILLS
READING
Text 1 The following text is from Bliss Carman’s 1904 work
Artificial intelligence, or AI, may be artificial, in that One Hundred Lyrics, in which Carman constructs an
it was created by scientists and computer engineers, approximation of the lost texts of the famous Greek
but it is not necessarily intelligent. When a computer poet Sappho.
produces an essay or a painting by using AI, it is not Over the roofs the honey-coloured moon,
thinking on its own, but merely following algorithms With purple shadows on the silver grass,
that are essentially advanced versions of earlier
WRITING
computer languages. And the warm south-wind on the curving sea,
While we two, lovers past all turmoil now,
Text 2
Watch from the window the white sails come in,
While understanding and improving upon the Bearing what unknown ventures safe to port!
processes of how the human mind thinks has
been a goal of computer scientists since the first So falls the hour of twilight and of love
microprocessors were built, most experts agree With wizardry to loose the hearts of men,
that this endeavor—widely accepted now as
MATH
And there is nothing more in this great world
Artificial Intelligence—took a leap forward with the
Than thou and I, and the blue dome of dusk.
introduction of the neural network. Unlike before,
computers now learn how to teach themselves
and reach far beyond the ability and scope of any What is true about the hour of twilight, according to
programmer. With this major innovation, the age of the text?
true artificial intelligence is emerging.
A It brings an enchantment that inspires
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 romance.
most likely respond to the claims of the author of
Text 1?
B It brings a rising wind from the sea.

A By asserting that using algorithms represents
a fundamental change in how computers are
C It is the only time that the lovers can be alone.
now programmed

D It is full of eerie shadows cast by moonlight.
B By arguing that even if a computer isn’t
actually thinking, it is processing information
at incredible speed
C By conceding that AI was never intended to

replicate human intelligence

D By pointing out that technological
breakthroughs in AI go beyond the creation of
more advanced algorithms

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The Marciana Library was founded in 1468 when The Seagull is an 1895 play by Anton Chekhov. As
a humanist scholar donated his collection of rare an actor with years of experience behind her, Irina
manuscripts to the Republic of Venice on the Arkadina, one of the play’s main characters, is unable
condition that it be used to establish a public library. to withhold her criticisms of her son’s writing. When
Though political actors of the time desired that the questioned, she attempts to clarify her emotional
building be utilized solely as a center of learning for state, as is apparent when she remarks to a colleague,
historians and academics, the library was opened to __________
WRITING
the public, as originally intended, almost a century

after the donation. Which quotation from a translation of The Seagull
most effectively illustrates the claim?
A “And I am not angry, I am only sorry to see a
A The Marciana Library established Venice as a young man foolishly wasting his time.”
prestigious center of learning.

B
MATH
“Let him write as he feels and can, but let him

B The Marciana Library eventually served its spare me his nonsense.”
intended purpose.
C “He is a simple, good-natured soul, even if he is

C The best academic libraries are generally not a celebrity. See, he is embarrassed himself.”
open to the public.
D “He always begins to flounder when people say

D Many humanist scholars are opposed to nice things to him.”
opening academic libraries to the public.

READING DRILLS
7 Mark for Review
READING
Insect Species Found Within and Outside the 5-Mile Radius of a Military Facility
Species Approximate Approximate Total population Percent of total

population population (in thousands) found within a
(in thousands) within (in thousands) outside found 5-mile radius
a 5-mile radius the 5-mile radius
E. pimeleoides 24 27 51 47.1
WRITING
S. gregaria 67 80 147 45.6
S. gracilipes 43 54 97 44.3
L. magister 56 67 123 45.5
C. bicolor 61 70 131 46.6
MATH
A decade after a military facility was constructed in Which choice best describes data from the table that
a remote desert location in New Mexico, researchers support the researchers’ claim?
wondered whether the site was having an effect on

the population distribution of insects living within A For S. gregaria and C. bicolor, the percents of
a 15-mile radius of the facility. They posited that the populations found within the 5-mile radius
the light and energy emanating from the building were approximately equal.
might attract insects and cause their populations
to cluster. Using available data from before the
facility’s construction, the researchers noted that B For all five species, the percent of insects
approximately 35% of the total populations of found within the 5-mile radius was less than
five different insect species living within the 15- 50%.
mile radius of the facility were clustered within
just a 5-mile radius of where the facility was to be
constructed. The researchers then conducted a new C For each insect species studied, the percent of
population count following the same parameters. insects within the 5-mile radius was greater
Based on the results, they confirmed their hypothesis: than the percent of insects within the 5-mile
there was a significant increase in the population radius prior to construction.
cluster of these five species near the facility.

D The species with the least percent of its
population within the 5-mile radius was S.
gracilipes.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
8 Mark for Review

READING
A properly functioning digestive system requires

a diverse microbiome of fungi, bacteria, and even
viruses in the stomach and intestinal tract, so a
burgeoning industry of probiotic supplements has
flourished. Such supplements typically contain
a few common strains of gut bacteria, including
lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, generally
WRITING
believed to provide various health benefits for people

suffering from digestive disfunctions. However, in a
recent study of healthy individuals whose gut biomes
were intentionally depleted by the administration of
antibiotics, participants given probiotic supplements
had less diverse gut microbiomes after five months
than did the control group, whose gut microbiomes
had all returned to normal without a probiotic
MATH
supplement, suggesting that __________.

A lactobacillus and bifidobacterium are not
beneficial components of a properly
functioning digestive system microbiome.

B people suffering from serious digestive health
problems will not benefit from the
administration of probiotic supplements.

C restoration of a healthy and diverse gut
microbiome in otherwise healthy individuals
does not require probiotic supplementation.

D the participants receiving the supplements
would have fared better if the dosage of the
probiotic organisms had been higher.

READING DRILLS
READING
READING DRILL 2
Time: 10 Minutes

Zoologists and camping experts alike advise those The collages, drawings, and paintings of Brazilian
who camp in the woods that dangerous encounters artist Beatriz Milhazes are born from a symbiosis
WRITING
with bears are __________. For example, meticulously of artistic, cultural, and political motifs. Milhazes
washing, drying, and storing all cookware and dishes utilizes her formal training in modernist art to
will remove any scent of food that might attract both celebrate her Brazilian heritage and reflect
hungry bears. the governmental turbulence she experienced in
her childhood. Her large-scale installation Gamboa
Which choice completes the text with the most logical II abstracts the celebrations surrounding the
and precise word or phrase? annual Carnival of Brazil festival, allowing viewers
to experience the bright colors associated with
MATH
A avoidable the festival while reminding those viewers that
unrestrained artistic expression was not always
welcomed by Brazilian authorities.
B alarming
underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
C inevitable

A It reveals that certain groups within the
country of Brazil have placed restrictions on
D prevalent Milhazes and her artistry.

B It offers an extended biography of Milhazes in
an effort to describe which childhood
influences shaped her career as an artist.

C It elaborates upon the characteristics that
define Milhazes’s work by providing a specific
example.

D It emphasizes the uniqueness of Milhazes’s
creativity compared to the creative output of
other artists.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Text 1 The following text is adapted from H. Rider Haggard’s

The traditional view of dolphin dietary habits is that 1892 novel Montezuma’s Daughter. The daughter
all species feed on fish and squid, although there in the story is discussing her interactions with her
are variations based on species size and habitat. mother and father.
For example, the orca additionally feeds on seals [Mother] never learned to speak English very well,
and even other dolphin and whale species, whereas but he would suffer her to talk in no other tongue
porpoises have been known to add crustaceans and before him. Still, when he was not there she spoke
WRITING
even algae to their diets. These differences aside, the in Spanish, of which language, however, I alone
diets of each dolphin species are thought at this point of the family became a master—and that more
to be well-documented. because of certain volumes of old Spanish romances
which she had by her, than for any other reason.
Text 2 From my earliest childhood I was fond of such tales,
In 2022, marine biologist Sam Ridgway documented and it was by bribing me with the promise that I
something that had never previously been observed. should read them that she persuaded me to learn
Utilizing tracking and advanced underwater camera Spanish.
MATH
technology, he recorded a common bottlenose dolphin

pursuing and consuming eight yellow-bellied sea According to the text, what is true about the daughter
snakes, which are highly venomous. According to who narrates the passage?
Ridgway, this serves as evidence that it was incorrect
to assume the adaptability of dolphins, which A She preferred Spanish to English.
had long been demonstrated in both hunting and
socializing, would not extend to food sources as well.
He concluded that the dolphin diet may become fluid B Romances were her favorite stories.
when typical prey become scarce.
Based on the text, how would Ridgway (Text 2) most C She wanted to become a writer.
likely respond to the “traditional view” presented in
Text 1?
D She learned to read Spanish.

A By admitting that his findings were likely an
aberration but claiming that situations such as
the one he observed could soon become
commonplace

B By noting that the understanding of dolphin
dietary habits should be adjusted to account
for fluctuations and aberrations based on
scarcity

C By rejecting the traditional understanding of
dolphin dietary habits and proposing that
dolphins make consistent dietary
modifications

D By accepting the traditional understanding of
dolphin dietary habits but claiming that they
are influenced by species size more than they
are by habitat

READING DRILLS
READING
The following text is adapted from James Fenimore “The Willows” is a 1907 short story by Algernon
Cooper’s 1821 novel The Spy. Blackwood. In the story, the narrator and a friend
It was near the close of the year 1780 that a solitary embark on a canoe trip on the Danube River. The
traveler was seen pursuing his way through one author uses a series of details to animate the river
of the numerous little valleys of Westchester. . . and make it a principal character in the story:
.The passage of a stranger, with an appearance of __________
somewhat doubtful character, and mounted on an
WRITING
animal which, although unfurnished with any of Which quotation from “The Willows” most effectively
the ordinary trappings of war, partook largely of illustrates the claim?
the bold and upright carriage that distinguished
his rider, gave rise to many surmises among the A “A rising river, perhaps, always suggests
gazing inmates of the different habitations; and in something of the ominous: many of the little
some instances, where conscience was more than islands I saw before me would probably have
ordinarily awake, to no little alarm. been swept away by the morning; this
resistless, thundering flood of water touched
MATH
Which choice best states the main idea of the text? the sense of awe.”
A The appearance of the stranger and his horse

was unsettling to some local residents. B “Great revelations of nature, of course, never
fail to impress in one way or another, and I
was no stranger to moods of the kind.
B The valleys of Westchester were an unlikely Mountains overawe and oceans terrify, while
place for strangers to ride through. the mystery of great forests exercises a spell
peculiarly its own.”
C The stranger was likely a soldier who had lost

his way in the fog of war. C “I stood there for several minutes, watching
the impetuous crimson flood bearing down
with a shouting roar, dashing in waves against
D Alarm had been raised by the escape of a the bank as though to sweep it bodily away,
prisoner from the local jail. and then swirling by in two foaming streams
on either side. “

D “The Danube, more than any other river I
knew, impressed us from the very beginning
with its aliveness. From its tiny bubbling entry
into the world among the pinewood gardens of
Donaueschingen, until this moment when it
began to play the great river-game of losing
itself among the deserted swamps,
unobserved, unrestrained, it had seemed to us
like following the growth of some living
creature.”

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
A recent study explored the challenges faced by older

Percentage of Rare Bees Observed at 3 SItes
people who have developed trouble hearing language
100 spoken at lower volumes. Often, these people also
non-elderly males
struggle to follow rapid changes in the rate of speech,
90 non-elderly females
such as when listening to an excited storyteller.
elderly individuals
80 In the study, exercises that trained the listeners to
Percentage of rare bees
70 concentrate on a series of intermittent beeps were so

WRITING
successful that some of the older listeners actually

60
began to hear as well as their younger counterparts.
50 Overall, the study showed that training the ear can
40 __________.
30
20
10 A substantively reverse all hearing loss brought
MATH
0
on by aging.
Site 1 Site 2 Site 3

Agroecologist Theresa Ong surveyed urban gardens B markedly alleviate some of the effects of
at three sites in Northern California to study the hearing loss.
relationship between the types of plants and the
types of bees found. She discovered that gardens
C increase the ability to hear both lower
with high percentages of rare plant species would
attract correspondingly higher percentages of rare volumes and faster rates of speech.
bee species than would gardens without rare plant
species. Additionally, she noted that gardens tended
D physically change the ability of the ear to
by non-elderly females and elderly individuals
process sounds at different volumes.
regardless of gender were more likely to contain rare
plants and thus to sustain rarer species of bees than
those tend by non-elderly males. For example, while
the percentage of rare bees at the garden tended by
non-elderly males in Site 1 failed to surpass forty
percent, __________

graph to complete the statement?

A the percentage of rare bees in gardens
cultivated by non-elderly females is the
highest recorded for Sites 2 and 3.

B the percentage of rare bees in gardens
cultivated by non-elderly females in Site 2
surpassed fifty percent.

C the percentage of rare bees in gardens
cultivated by non-elderly females and elderly
individuals in Site 1 surpassed sixty percent.
D the percentage of rare bees is greatest in Site 1

for all three groups of individuals.

READING DRILLS
READING
READING DRILL 3
Time: 10 Minutes

It would not be __________ to label the palace at In 1960, primatologist and anthropologist Jane
Versailles “rococo” in terms of its flamboyant Goodall was sent to Gombe Stream National Park
WRITING
architecture and décor; indeed, certain areas have for what would become the first of many direct
been deemed a near-perfect representation of this observations of chimpanzees. Prior to Goodall’s
delicately ornate and whimsical pastel-based artistic observations, it was assumed that chimpanzees
movement. However, the darker and more dramatic would not tolerate the presence of humans, nor could
baroque style actually dominates Versailles. chimpanzees craft and use tools as humans could.
Contrary to this assumption, Goodall was able to
Which choice completes the text with the most logical observe the Gombe chimpanzees from a remarkably
and precise word or phrase? close distance once the chimpanzees realized she
MATH
presented no danger to them. Goodall also noted
A fitting that the chimpanzees would use twigs to “fish” for
termites and would even strip the leaves off of the
twigs to make the twigs more effective fishing tools.
B common Goodall’s research provided valuable insight into
primate behavior that would alter how subsequent
studies on chimpanzees were conducted.
C persuasive
text?
D incorrect
A To emphasize how prominent Goodall has
become

B To describe Goodall’s contributions to
primatology research
C To clarify how chimpanzees “fish” for termites
D To cite Goodall’s numerous professional

credentials

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Text 1 The fictionalized autobiographical road trip in Robert

Nanocrystals, material particles smaller than 100 Pirsig’s 1974 novel Zen and the Art of Motorcycle
nanometers, are a special class of solids. In their Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values is recounted by
natural state, nanocrystals are dot-shaped, making the author as a first-person narrative. According to
them essentially one-dimensional solids. For many at least one literary critic, the storyline is so often
years, chemists believed that nanocrystals could exist disrupted by philosophical discussions occurring
only in these one-dimensional formations, and their within the narrator’s own mind that the reader,
WRITING
efforts to manipulate nanocrystals into more useful much like the narrator himself, has a hard time
structural arrangements yielded little in the way of keeping track of what’s real. Proponents of the work,
positive results. such as critic Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, instead
count this among the novel’s strengths: in Lehmann-
Text 2 Haupt’s opinion, the novel offers an extraordinarily
Seeking to explore practical applications of sophisticated level of intellectual entertainment.
nanocrystals, researcher Paul Alivisatos’s pioneering
work in the field of nanotechnology expanded the What does the text most strongly suggest about Zen
and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?
MATH
understanding of physical relationships on the

nano level. Utilizing DNA engineering technology,
Alivisatos demonstrated that nanocrystals can be A It developed over time from a first-person
manipulated into different shapes during their narrative focused on motorcycles to an
initial growth phase and then can be stacked to autobiographical work focused on the author’s
create shapes such as rods, tubes, wires, belts, rings, legacy.
and fibers. These two-dimensional structures each
have useful applications in the fields of chemistry
and electronics, such as for biomedical devices, B It spawned a generation of similar works
photovoltaic cells, and LED materials. which have improved upon and now outshine
the intellectual entertainment of the original
Based on the texts, both the chemists from Text 1 and novel.
Alivisatos from Text 2 would most likely agree with
which statements?
C It has been unfairly rejected by most critics
despite the relevance of the discussions within
A Interest in the potential applications of
the novel to the field of philosophy.
nanocrystals has contributed to
experimentation involving the particles.

D It has been criticized by some for a
characteristic in its framework that is
B Controlling the nanocrystal growth process is
appreciated by others.
the central component to manipulating
nanocrystal structure.

C Chemists are more focused on developing uses
for one-dimensional nanocrystals than they
are for two-dimensional nanocrystals.

D The rising interest in nanocrystal research has
also created a similarly rising interest in
biomedical research.

READING DRILLS
READING
Though perhaps best known for his symphonic “The Funeral” is an early 1900s poem by Walter de la
compositions and musical genius, Wolfgang Amadeus Mare. The poem explores a contrast between activity
Mozart remains an interesting subject of study for and exhaustion: __________
some academics for quite a different reason: his
coarse sense of humor. Academic commentators Which quotation from “The Funeral” most effectively
attribute Mozart’s indelicate comedic style as a illustrates the claim?
consequence of his father’s arbitrary rules and

WRITING
expectations. Mozart’s father, Leopold, while entirely A “We stood and watched; and the wind / Came
supportive of Mozart’s musical experimentation, softly out of the sky / And blew in Susan’s hair,
tried to maintain control over most other aspects of / As I stood close by.”
his son’s life even into adulthood, and it is believed
that the harshness of Mozart’s humor developed as a
sort of rebellion to Leopold’s attempted restraints. B “They took us to the graves, / Susan and Tom
and me, / Where the long grasses grow / And
Which choice best states the main idea of the text? the funeral tree.”
MATH

A While not as well-known as his music,
Mozart’s humor may have been affected by the C “And, looking out of the window, / I heard the
circumstances of his upbringing. thrushes sing; / But Tom fell asleep in his
chair, / He was so tired, poor thing.”

B Despite the controlling and domineering
nature of a father who was overly strict, D “With branches high in the air / And daisy and
Mozart established himself as a genius. buttercup, / We heard the lark in the clouds— /
In black dressed up.”

C Developing a coarse sense of humor as a
coping mechanism is the most effective way to
deal with the expectations laid out by one’s
parents.

D As a father, Leopold was a staunch supporter
of the musical experimentations conducted by
Mozart.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Researchers were surprised to find hazardous levels

Six Largest Global Exporters, 2020 of mercury at sites from southern Mexico down
16 into Honduras and El Salvador that they could not
Percentage of global exports
14 trace to modern sources. However, they identified a

12
correlation between sites with detectable mercury
contamination and locations of archeological sites
10 at the center of ancient Mayan civilization, such as
WRITING
8 Chunchucmil in Mexico and Cerén in El Salvador.

6 Since some further distant Maya settlements are
known to have used mercury-laced paints made from
4
the mineral cinnabar, researchers believed such
2 paints to be the source of the mercury contamination.
However, mercury is rare in minerals found in those
central areas of the former Mayan world, so the
a
es
s
y
an
g
nd
in
n
an
researchers concluded that __________

at
Ko
p
Ch
a
m
St
Ja
rl
MATH
er
g
he
d
on
te
et
ni
H
N
U
Country

A the levels of mercury detected in central Maya
While at the tail end of the 20th century the
settlements could not have reached levels
United States and Germany were the world’s two
hazardous to human health.
largest exporters, by 2020, China had overtaken
those countries as the leader in global exports. An

economist claims that the United States and Germany B ancient civilizations in what is now southern
remained productive countries, for while China Mexico, pre-dating the Maya, were already
maintained the highest recorded percentage of global using the mineral cinnabar to make paints.
export shares, __________

Which choice most effectively uses data from the C mercury-laced cinnabar was mined outside of
graph to complete the text? the Mayan world and imported to its central
settlements for use in paints.
A the United States exported a higher percentage
of goods than Japan or Hong Kong did.
D modern sources of the mercury contamination
are more likely the culprit and need to be
B Germany and the United States still exported a identified through further investigation of the
higher percentage of goods than did any other contaminated sites.
country besides China.

C the Netherlands exported a significantly
smaller percentage of goods than China
exported.
D the United States exported a slightly higher

percentage of goods than Germany did.

READING DRILLS
READING
READING DRILL 4
Time: 10 Minutes

In 2017, sculptor Adrián Villar Rojas was Characterized by intricate designs of native animals
commissioned by a Greek non-profit organization to in bright colors, mola is a type of textile art that is
WRITING
transform the grounds of the National Observatory of part of the cultural heritage of the Guna people of
Athens. The work epitomized his __________, fantastical Panama. The molas of today derive from ancestral
style: the entire Hill of the Nymphs on which the patterns, which themselves originated in the body
observatory stands was meticulously reimagined painting customs of centuries past. The word
architecturally, ecologically, and emotionally into mola comes from the word for “shirt” in the Guna
disparate zones through the use of 46,000 different language, and accordingly, molas typically adorn
plants accenting eleven sculptural installations. women’s blouses.
MATH
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Which choice best describes the overall structure of
and precise word or phrase? the text?

A confounding A The text explains the features that are
common to a particular art style and then
gives an example of a specific piece of art
B subtle dominated by those features.

C elaborate B The text summarizes an argument about how
a traditional art form should be executed and
then offers a modern view on the subject.
D disorganized

C The text details a debate between two
potential origins of an art form and then
examines how that debate affected the modern
presentation of the art form.

D The text presents a description of a style of art
associated with a region and then describes an
item of clothing upon which the art style is
featured.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Text 1 In 1970, Italy’s National Research Council

The black drop effect is an astronomical phenomenon commissioned proposals for a barrier that would
that occurs when either Venus or Mercury passes protect Venice from rising sea levels while still
directly between the Earth and the Sun. During allowing for ship traffic and ecological connectivity
the event, also known as a transit, a small black of the lagoon and the sea. The inflatable “sea wall”
“teardrop” can be seen on the Sun through the aid system subsequently developed by civil engineers
of telescopes. In an observation of an 1832 transit of has proven effective at protecting the city from
WRITING
Mercury, German astronomers Friedrich Bessel and even extreme high tides over six feet above the
Friedrich Argelander concluded that the black drop city’s elevation. However, even the sea wall has its
effect was caused by disruption from Mercury’s thin limitations. If the sea wall remains in place too long
but observable atmosphere. due to prolonged high tides, then the lagoon will lose
its normal connection to the sea and become choked
Text 2 with algae and pollutants.
Believing that the relative thinness of Mercury’s
orbit was unlikely to be the cause of the black drop According to the text, under what circumstances
would the sea wall produce negative consequences
MATH
effect, researchers at Cornell University observed

the 1999 and 2003 transits of Mercury through the for the waters of Venice?
use of optical imaging. They hypothesized that a
combination of the extreme darkening of the Sun’s A If the difference between average high and
disk near its edge and slight imperfections inherent low tides becomes more extreme
to any viewing device, such as a telescope, was the
true cause of the anomaly.
B If an extended period of high tides forces the
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 sea wall to stay up longer than is
respond to the underlined conclusion in Text 1? environmentally safe

A By noting that while the black drop effect is
C If commercial shipping lanes are re-routed in
indeed a disruption, the findings of the Cornell
response to global economic trends
researchers provide a more plausible
explanation for the phenomenon than do those

of Bessel and Argelander.
D If the people of Venice decide that commercial
concerns are more important than ecological
concerns
B By generally agreeing with the conclusion but
objecting that the connection it assumes
conflicts with the data gathered by Bessel and
Argelander.

C By criticizing the conclusion for implying that
only Venus and Mercury can produce the black
drop effect due to their position within the
solar system.

D By faulting the conclusion for being based on
the presumption that the black drop effect
could not be observed before the invention of
the telescope.

READING DRILLS
READING
The following text is adapted from Alan Dale’s 1904 “The Foreigner” is a 1914 poem by Amy Lowell. In
short story “Wanted – A Cook.” The narrator, Archie, the poem, the speaker describes being mocked and
has posted an ad looking for a cook to work in his attacked for his appearance as an outsider: __________
household.
There was a ring at the front door-bell. Letitia, Which quotation from “The Foreigner” most
wrought-up, nervously clutched my arm. For a effectively illustrates the claim?
moment a sort of paralysis seized me. Then, alertly
WRITING
as a young calf, I bounded toward the door, hope A “I make for your courteous / Reception of me, /
aroused, and expectation keen. It was rather dark in A foreigner, landed / From over the sea. / Your
the outside hall, and I could not quite perceive the welcome was fervent / I think you’ll agree.”
nature of our visitor. But I soon gladly realized that
it was something feminine, and as I held the door
open, a thin, small, soiled wisp of a woman glided in B “You said so, and laughed / At my old-fashioned
and smiled at me. hose, / At the cut of my hair, / At the length of
my nose. / To carve it to pattern / I think you
MATH
Which choices best states the main idea of the text? propose.”
A Archie becomes optimistic regarding the

visitor at his door. C “My shoes are not buckled / With gold, nor my
hair / Oiled and scented, my jacket’s / Not satin,
I wear / Corded breeches, wide hats, / And I
B Archie has recently become more aware of make people stare!”
Letitia’s nervousness.

D “I have business more strange / Than the shape
C Archie is troubled by the arrival of an of my boots, And my interests range / From the
unknown person at a late hour. sky, to the roots / Of this dung-hill you live in, /
You half-rotted shoots.”
D Archie is a colleague of Letitia’s, and the two

have started conducting interviews together.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The Daredevils of Sassoun is an epic poem that

Visitors to America’s National Parks, 2001–2010 recounts how generations of Armenian warriors
defended their land against opposing forces. The
300
poem was unearthed in the late nineteenth century,
and scholars initially placed its origin somewhere
Approximate visitors, in millions
295
in the eighth to tenth centuries. But in 1981, another
290 scholar noted that certain matriarchal themes in the
WRITING
tales appear to predate this placement in history, and

285
he argued that instead the roots of the epic __________.
280
275
270 A are more likely to be in the nineteenth century

than in any other era.
265
MATH

260 B are difficult to determine with any scholarly
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10 legitimacy.
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
Year
C reach further back in time than was

The US National Recreation and Park Association
previously assumed.
(NRPA) employs data analysts to measure yearly
attendance at American national parks. The graph
shows the approximate total number of visitors to
D most likely place the epic within the eighth to
American national parks, in millions, from 2001 to
tenth centuries.
2010. According to one of the analysts, although the
total number of visitors to American national parks
fluctuated over the decade surveyed, the approximate
total number of visitors rose overall during the
period.

graph to justify the underlined claim?

A The parks had approximately 280 million
visitors in 2001 and approximately 275 million
visitors in 2008.

B The greatest number of annual visitors to the
parks during the decade surveyed was
approximately 290 million in 2010.

C The lowest number of annual visitors to the
parks during the decade surveyed was
approximately 268 million in 2003.

D The parks had approximately 280 million
visitors in 2001 and approximately 290 million
visitors in 2010.

RULES QUESTIONS:
INTRODUCTION
277
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Recognize Rules questions

• Apply the Basic Approach to Rules questions
• Effectively use on-screen tools for Rules questions
WRITING
RULES WERE MEANT TO BE… FOLLOWED

“Rules” is The Princeton Review’s name for what College Board calls “Standard
English Conventions.” Rules questions can be some of the fastest ones on the RW
section, as they don’t require as much reading and test a relatively small number
MATH
of rules. These questions can become quick and easy once you have learned and
practiced the rules that College Board likes to test over and over.
There are ______ to ______ Rules questions between the two Reading and Writing
modules.
Rules questions always ask the same question:

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
Unlike Reading or Rhetoric questions, Rules questions are not organized by topic;
rather, all the Rules questions are in order of difficulty.
What are some of the topics tested on Rules questions? ___________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

RULES QUESTIONS: INTRODUCTION
READING
Regardless of the category, always use the same Basic Approach:
Rules Questions Basic Approach

1. Look at the answers to see what’s changing and deter-
WRITING
mine the topic.
2. Apply the rules associated with that topic.
3. Use Process of Elimination.
MATH
TOOLS FOR RULES
Many of the on-screen tools will be very useful for Rules questions.
1. ____________________: Since the Rules questions aren’t organized by

topic, you may prefer to skip around and do the topics you find easier
first. You can also use this tool if you are stuck between two options
or if you think you’d benefit from looking at the question a second
time after a few minutes. Sometimes, an answer choice might sound
perfectly fine, but when you read it again a little later you instantly
spot an error.
2. ____________________: Consistency is key on grammar questions.

Highlighting the words that the blank needs to be consistent with
will help you to avoid making mistakes. There are also punctuation
questions where the highlighter can be helpful, and you’ll want to
highlight the goals in Rhetorical Synthesis questions, as you’ll learn
much more about later.
3. ____________________: Sometimes you’ll need to determine some-

thing about the blank, such as whether it must be singular or plural
or what tense it must be in. Make an annotation so you know what
you’re looking for.
4. ____________________: You won’t always know what you’re looking

for, however. In fact, sometimes looking for a particular punctua-
tion mark can lead you down the wrong path, as College Board may
choose to use a different one that can also work. Process of Elimina-
tion will allow you to find the one answer that is correct, whether it’s
what you were expecting or not.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
In the following chapters, you’ll learn all of the punctuation and grammar rules that
could be tested within this section of the RW module. In the next exercise, practice
identifying the topic of the question based on what’s changing in the answers.
WRITING
WHAT’S CHANGING IN THE ANSWERS DRILL
1 Mark for Review

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of
Standard English?
MATH
A could there be another explanation.

B could there be another explanation?
C whether there could be another explanation.
D whether there could be another explanation?
What’s changing in the answer choices? ______________________________
What is this question testing? ______________________________________

2 Mark for Review
READING
Standard English?
A have discharged

B discharges
WRITING
C discharge
D were discharging
MATH
3 Mark for Review

Standard English?
A them

B them,
C them:
D them—

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
4 Mark for Review

READING

Standard English?
A Handbook, written in 2014;

B Handbook, written in 2014,
WRITING
C Handbook; written in 2014;
D Handbook; written in 2014,

MATH
5 Mark for Review

Standard English?
A wasting

B having wasted
C wastes
D to waste

• Where in the RW modules do Rules questions appear? ______________________________
• All Rules questions do / do not have the same question.
• Rules questions cover topics on ______________________ and ______________________.
• How are Rules questions ordered? ______________________
• Once you have established that a question falls into the Rules category, always _____________________
__________________.
• Which on-screen tools are helpful for Rules questions? ________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

RULES QUESTIONS:
COMPLETE SENTENCES
285
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Name the basic requirements for a complete sentence

• Understand when a sentence is a question and when it is a statement
• Recognize the verb forms that do not qualify as a main verb in a
sentence
WRITING
• Use other verbs in a sentence to determine the correct form of a verb
RULES QUESTIONS BASIC APPROACH

MATH
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
ASSEMBLING THE PARTS

There are many parts of speech, but you only need to know the names of two of
them for this lesson.
Noun:________________________________________________________
Examples: _____________________________________________________
Verb: _________________________________________________________
Examples: _____________________________________________________

RULES QUESTIONS: COMPLETE SENTENCES
READING
BECOMING COMPLETE
The Digital SAT tests your ability to properly construct sentences. But what do we
mean by a sentence?
Circle the subject and underline the verb.
i. They swam.
WRITING
ii. Sara rode her bike.
iii. The cat purred, stretching its legs.
MATH
A complete sentence needs two things:
1. ___________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________
MAY I ASK A QUESTION?

On the SAT, complete sentences can end with either a period or a question mark.
Of course, these two are not interchangeable, and the SAT will sometimes ask you
to choose.
Previous research had shown that

1 Mark for Review
different forms of exercise affect
physical fitness in different ways. Which choice completes the text so
Scientists Jeremy R. Manning, Gina that it conforms to the conventions
M. Notaro, Esme Chen, and Paxton of Standard English?
C. Fitzpatrick asked a related
question: _______ A Do different forms of
exercise affect memory and
mental health?
Highlight the part of
the text that indicates
B Do different forms of whether the blank is a
exercise affect memory and question or a statement.
mental health.

C Different forms of exercise
do affect memory and
mental health.

D Different forms of exercise
do affect memory and
mental health?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
QUESTION OR STATEMENT?
Identify whether the following phrases indicate that the blank is a question or a
statement.
Question Statement
i. ________ Gunning was determined

WRITING
to find out.  
ii. Fatima’s work asks a central

question: ________  
iii. Many philosophers have explored ________  

MATH
iv. It has become necessary to determine ________  
Some extinct species, such as

2 Mark for Review
the Pyrenean ibex, have been
temporarily revived via the Which choice completes the text so
cloning of cells found in preserved that it conforms to the conventions
samples. Since numerous entire of Standard English?
woolly mammoths preserved in ice
have been discovered, scientists A could woolly mammoths be
have wondered _______ revived the same way?

B whether woolly mammoths
could be revived the same
way.
C could woolly mammoths be

revived the same way.

D whether woolly mammoths
could be revived the same
way?

READING
FORM AND FUNCTION
As previously stated, each sentence needs a verb. More specifically, each sentence
needs a main verb. Problems arise with different verb forms.
Built during the Great Depression,

3 Mark for Review
the Hoover Dam is a concrete,
arched dam that lies on the border Which choice completes the text so
WRITING
of Arizona and Nevada. The dam that it conforms to the conventions
_______ back the water contained of Standard English?
If there are -ing or “to”
in Lake Mead, which carries the
verbs in the answers,
largest enclosed volume of water in A having held look for and highlight
the United States when full.
the main verb in the

B holds
sentence with the blank.
If you cannot find a main
MATH
verb, the blank will
C holding provide the main verb.
D to hold
Is it a complete sentence?
Yes No
i. Singing along with the radio  
ii. They wanted to be on vacation  
iii. Classes at night to learn together  
iv. The scientists discussing the data  
An -ing or “to” verb cannot be the main verb in a sentence.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Misophonia is a disorder associated

READING
4 Mark for Review

with a distaste for specific sounds,
especially those associated with the Which choice completes the text so
mouth. People with this disorder that it conforms to the conventions
_______ a strong desire to leave the of Standard English?
situation when they experience
these sounds. A feel
WRITING

B having felt
C to feel
D feeling
MATH
Indigenous Australian artist

The “to” or -ing verb form 5 Mark for Review
Dorothy Napangardi was educated
can only be correct if the in Jukurrpa, which is the history Which choice completes the text so
sentence already has a of the sacred places and ancestral that it conforms to the conventions
main verb. beings of the land. After moving to of Standard English?
the city of Alice Springs, Australia,
Napangardi began _______ with the A to paint
intention of showing her works in
galleries.
B paints
C is painting
D painted

READING
MULTIPLE VERBS
There is another way verb form can be tested. When a sentence contains multiple
verbs that apply to the same subject, they must be in the same form.
Tribal leaders often strive to

6 Mark for Review
support their communities in
different ways. Joan Tavares Which choice completes the text so
WRITING
Avant is a leader of the Mashpee that it conforms to the conventions
Wampanoag tribe. Within this role, of Standard English? If it seems that mul-
Avant builds cultural awareness tiple verb forms can be
among citizens and _______ day care A provides correct, look for and
and tutoring services for Native highlight other verbs in
youth. the sentence or passage.
B providing
MATH
C provided
D provide
Researchers were interested in

7 Mark for Review
how pet parenting style affects
dog behavior. They recruited 48 Which choice completes the text so
dog owners and divided them that it conforms to the conventions
into three groups based on their of Standard English?
parenting style: authoritative,
authoritarian, and permissive. A having displayed
The research showed that dogs
with authoritative owners
_______ more social behaviors B display
and persisted longer in solving
a puzzle compared to dogs with
authoritarian and permissive C displayed
owners.
D were displaying

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
COMPLETE SENTENCES DRILL

Time: 5 minutes

People’s brains activate and respond in similar In 1867, a very strong earthquake struck Kansas
WRITING
ways to each other when interacting in face-to-face near the town of Manhattan. While Kansas typically
social situations. When people interact virtually in doesn’t experience a high level of seismic activity,
an online gaming or social media context, ________ local meteorologists have wondered ________
Scientists at the University of Helsinki are working on
a study to discover the answer. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? A whether future earthquakes could cause
MATH
devastating damage to the area.

A would their brains react the same way?

B whether future earthquakes could cause
B their brains would react the same way. devastating damage to the area?
C would their brains react the same way. C could future earthquakes cause devastating
damage to the area.
D their brains would react the same way?

D could future earthquakes cause devastating
damage to the area?
3 Mark for Review

Concerned that the legacy of the Oregon Trail
was being forgotten, American pioneer Ezra
Meeker ________ his steps and built monuments to
commemorate key landmarks along the way.

A having retraced

B retracing
C retraced
D to retrace

READING
One of the driest places on Earth can be found in Despite the fact that proper nutrition helps prevent
a surprising place: Antarctica. Nearby mountains numerous diseases, education in this area is often
surround the valleys and ________ ice from flowing into inconsistent and inadequate in medical school
the area, and the low humidity levels keep moisture programs. One obstacle ________ this field is the
down. amount of content medical students already need
to learn: adding anything would require important
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to content to be deleted from the curriculum.
WRITING
A to prevent the conventions of Standard English?
A to improve
B having prevented

B to improving
MATH
C preventing
C improve
D prevent
D improving

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• Every sentence needs a ___________ and a ________.
• A _________________ asks for information, while a _________________ gives information.
• Which two verb forms can never be the main verb in a sentence? ______________ and ______________
• When multiple verb forms seem like they could work, what should you do?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

RULES QUESTIONS:
CONNECTING CLAUSES
295
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Recognize independent clauses

• Understand the types of punctuation that can and cannot connect
two independent clauses
• Recognize dependent clauses
WRITING
• Understand the types of punctuation that can and cannot connect an

independent clause and a dependent clause

MATH
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
You’ve learned how to construct a basic sentence, but sometimes writers like
to make things a little more complex. In order to understand how this works,
we need to introduce a new term: independent clause. Luckily, you’ve already
learned about independent clauses, even if you haven’t realized it.
The term independent clause is another way of saying _______________________

______________________.
Marian Anderson was an African

1 Mark for Review
American singer and contralto,
a vocalist with the lowest vocal Which choice completes the text so
range for female singers. In 1939, that it conforms to the conventions
the organization Daughters of the of Standard English?
American Revolution prohibited
Anderson from singing to an A Hall with
integrated audience at Constitution
_______ the help of First Lady
Eleanor Roosevelt and President B Hall. With
Franklin D. Roosevelt, she
performed a concert in front of the
Lincoln Memorial to an audience of C Hall, with
over 75,000 people.

D Hall and with

RULES QUESTIONS: CONNECTING CLAUSES
READING
Start at the beginning of the sentence. Where does the independent clause end?
_____________________________________________________________
Which answers don’t correctly end the independent clause?
_____________________________________________________________
WRITING
WE’RE BOTH INDEPENDENT
Instead of ending an independent clause with a period, it’s also possible to connect
it to another clause or phrase using punctuation. Let’s start with how to connect
two independent clauses.
MATH
FANBOYS stands for
Two independent clauses can be Two independent clauses can
For
joined with… NEVER be joined with…
And
• A semicolon, anytime ; • A comma without a coordinating Nor
• A comma plus an appropriate conjunction But
coordinating conjunction • A coordinating conjunction Or
(FANBOYS) without a comma Yet
• A colon, if the second part of • No punctuation to separate the So
the sentence explains the first in independent clauses
some way :
Ganymede is the largest of Jupiter’s

2 Mark for Review
moons. It is one of the largest
objects in the solar _______ in fact, it Which choice completes the text so
is larger than Mercury and Pluto. that it conforms to the conventions
of Standard English?
A semicolon can be used
A system; and as an alternative to a
period.

B system
C system,
D system;
Where does the independent clause end?______________________________
What comes after the first independent clause?
_____________________________________________________________
Which answers cannot connect these?________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Sometimes, College Board will take semicolons a step further. The writers will
READING
add a transition word in between the two independent clauses, and you’ll need to
determine whether it belongs with the first clause or the second clause.
A Doyle spiral is a pattern formed

3 Mark for Review
when each circle in the pattern is
surrounded by a ring of six tangent Which choice completes the text so
circles. Doyle spirals were named that it conforms to the conventions
WRITING
after mathematician Peter G. of Standard English?

Doyle in the late twentieth _______
the spirals have been studied in A century however,
phyllotaxis, the arrangement of
leaves on a stem, since the early
twentieth century. B century, however,
MATH
C century; however,
D century, however;
Where does the independent clause end? ______________________________
Does the first part of the sentence contrast with the previous sentence?
_____________________________________________________________
Does the second part of the sentence contrast with the first part of the sentence?
_____________________________________________________________
Which part does however belong with?________________________________
Which answers must be eliminated? _________________________________
Although some modern towers

4 Mark for Review
have been intentionally designed to
display a more significant lean, the Which choice completes the text so
Leaning Tower of Suurhusen holds that it conforms to the conventions
the record as the tower with the of Standard English?
steepest unintentional lean. The
tower was initially built on solid A trunks
oak tree _______ the wood rotted
after the land was drained.
B trunks but
C trunks, but

D trunks,

READING
You must put a comma before a coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS) if there are independent clauses both before and
after the conjunction.
WRITING
COLONS
Ghanaian-American novelist Yaa
5 Mark for Review
Gyasi’s first novel, Homegoing,
was inspired by a trip she took Which choice completes the text so
to Ghana. The novel follows the that it conforms to the conventions
MATH
lives of two half-sisters and their of Standard English?
descendants. Gyasi has cited
multiple authors as her _______ Toni A inspirations:
Morrison, Gabriel García Márquez,
James Baldwin, Edward P. Jones,
and Jhumpa Lahiri. B inspirations
C inspirations.
D inspirations;
You may be very comfortable with the use of a colon when it is followed by a list.
However, colons aren’t only used for lists. A colon tells you that what comes after
is going to elaborate on or explain what came before. It could be a list, but it could
also be an explanation or a definition. In terms of structure, the part after the colon
is allowed to be an independent clause, as long as it is directly related to what comes
before the colon.
A brain feature that exists in

6 Mark for Review
all vertebrates, the cerebellum
performs many _______ it regulates Which choice completes the text so
motor control, enhances attention that it conforms to the conventions
and language abilities, and of Standard English?
normalizes emotions.
A functions

B functions:
C functions and

D functions,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
It’s important to note that a colon can only come after an independent clause. On
the Digital SAT, it’s never correct to use a colon if what comes before it is not an
independent clause.
A colon can only come after an independent clause.

WRITING
DEPENDENT CLAUSES
Now that you are familiar with independent clauses, you may not be surprised to
MATH
find out about dependent clauses.
Unlike independent clauses, dependent clauses _____________________________
___________________________________.
A dependent clause isn’t just a random assortment of words, however. To form a

dependent clause, you can simply add a subordinating word (or phrase) to the
beginning of an independent clause.
How does the prefix

sub- help explain what
Common Subordinating Words
subordinating words do? since because while when
though even if that in order to
if unless as although
Make the independent clauses dependent using two different subordinating words.
Independent: they wanted to watch a movie
Dependent: ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Independent: it was hot out
Dependent: ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

READING
YOU CAN DEPEND ON ME
There are two ways to connect an independent clause and a dependent clause:
Independent + Dependent or Dependent + Independent. In either case, the only
punctuation that is allowed is a comma. Sometimes a comma is used and some-
times no punctuation is used, but College Board won’t test you on this distinction
unless it is clear-cut.
WRITING
Generally, a comma is used when the dependent clause comes first and when there
is a contrast. If the dependent clause comes second and doesn’t contrast (such as
clauses that begin with because or if ), there usually isn’t a comma.
An independent clause and a depen- An independent clause and a

dent clause (in either order) can be dependent clause (in either order)
MATH
joined with… can NEVER be joined with…
• A comma , • A period .
• No punctuation at all • A semicolon ;
• A colon :
• A coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS)
Though forensic evidence for

7 Mark for Review
crimes can be inexact and difficult
to _______ general public has come Which choice completes the text so
to expect and highly value such that it conforms to the conventions
evidence due to the influence of of Standard English?
popular crime procedural shows,
which experts say are unrealistic A acquire, the
in their treatment of forensics.

B acquire the
C acquire; the
D acquire. The

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Researchers were able to use

READING
8 Mark for Review

historical imagery to reconstruct
the loss of glacial ice in Switzerland Which choice completes the text so
during the 20th century. While that it conforms to the conventions
there were short periods of growth of Standard English?
during the 1920s and _______ the
periods of loss were greater; the A 1980s, but
researchers concluded that the
WRITING
glaciers in Switzerland lost half

their volume from 1931 to 2016. B 1980s,
C 1980s
D 1980s but
MATH

READING
OK DRILL
Decide whether the punctuation—or lack thereof—for each question is okay, and
mark the appropriate choice to the right of each question.
OK NOT
1. Independent Clause. Independent Clause. ��
WRITING
2. Independent Clause; Independent Clause. ��
3. Independent Clause, Independent Clause. ��
4. Independent Clause; Dependent Clause. ��
MATH
5. Independent Clause (nothing) Independent Clause. ��
6. Independent Clause (nothing) Dependent Clause. ��
7. Independent Clause, FANBOYS Independent Clause. ��
8. Dependent Clause, Independent Clause. ��
9. Dependent Clause, Dependent Clause. ��
10. Independent Clause FANBOYS Independent Clause. ��
11. Independent Clause: List. ��
12. Dependent Clause: Independent Clause. ��
13. Independent Clause: Independent Clause. ��
14. Independent Clause, FANBOYS Dependent Clause. ��
15. Dependent Clause: List. ��

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
CONNECTING CLAUSES DRILL

Time: 8 minutes

When Swiss American psychiatrist Elisabeth While Neptune’s five rings were not definitively
WRITING
Kübler-Ross was in training, she began conducting confirmed until _______ first mention of them dates
interviews with terminally ill patients. She continued back to 1846—English astronomer William Lassell,
these interviews after completing her training and who discovered Neptune’s largest moon, believed he
decided to focus her career on terminally ill patients had seen a ring around the planet.
and their families. She eventually wrote a book based
on her extensive work called On Death and Dying, Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
in which she proposed five stages of _______ anger, the conventions of Standard English?
bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
MATH
A 1989 the
B 1989, the
A grief, denial,
C 1989. The
B grief; denial,
D 1989; the
C grief: denial,
D grief. Denial,
4 Mark for Review
Crash test dummies are widely used by car companies
to identify which safety features are the most
efficient and effective when it comes to protecting
2 Mark for Review
passengers. Samuel W. Alderson, the inventor of
Film can be used to analyze and portray social topics the crash test dummy, initially intended to use the
in order to spur thought and discussions among the invention to improve aircraft ejection _______ prior
public. John Akomfrah, a filmmaker from Ghana, to his invention, car companies were using human
grapples with some of these topics, such as race and volunteers or cadavers to test safety modifications.
_______ works focus on contrasting pieces from past
centuries against modern conditions. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? A seats,
A identity and his

B seats

B identity, his
C seats and
C identity his
D seats;
D identity. His

READING
Studies of decision-making have revealed that people Citizen-led expeditions can support scientific
tend to favor options for which the probability of research and foster better relationships between
a favorable outcome is known, rather than one the public and the scientific community. These
whose probability is unknown. This cognitive bias expeditions that explore hard-to-access natural
is known as the ambiguity _______ within the world environments can gather people with unique skill
of finance it explains why people may avoid higher- sets that may not be readily available in the scientific
risk investments even if such investments have been community. While many citizen-led research
WRITING
shown to provide significantly higher returns over expeditions have focused on the marine _______ others
time. have gone to remote areas on land, such as the polar
regions and the canopy of tropical forests.
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
A effect and
A environment and
MATH

B effect, and
B environment, and
C effect,
C environment,
D effect
D environment
6 Mark for Review

8 Mark for Review
Storytelling plays an important role in many
Indigenous _______ it allows relationships to be built Rococo style and Baroque style share many
between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people similarities, including luxurious fabrics, nature
and provides insight into how different groups motifs, and elaborate decorations. Rococo differs
live and share a history. One author who has relied from Baroque in many _______ Rococo, but not
on storytelling is Cherie Dimaline, an Indigenous Baroque, uses asymmetrical curves, lots of flowers
Canadian author who spent her summers with her in ornamentation, Chinese and Japanese motifs, and
native Métis community. While there, she learned warm pastel colors.
stories from community members that she was able
to pass on to other people. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? A ways though
A communities:
B ways. Though

B communities and
C ways, though,
C communities,
D ways, though:
D communities

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• A complete sentence is also known as _____________________________________________________ .
• When two independent clauses are joined in the same sentence, it’s possible to use __________________,
__________________, or __________________ .
• Two independent clauses can NEVER be joined with __________________, __________________, or
__________________ .
• A colon can only be used if it follows _________________________________________________________.
• A dependent clause does / does not contain a subject and a verb. It begins with __________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________.
• An independent clause and a dependent clause, in either order, can only be connected with
__________________ or __________________ .

RULES QUESTIONS:
PUNCTUATION WITH
DESCRIBING PHRASES
307
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Recognize when a question is testing describing phrases

• Understand the difference between Specifying Information and Extra
Information
• Use matching punctuation around Extra Information
WRITING
• Properly construct describing phrases

1. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
You’ve learned about complete sentences and what they must include. Writers of-
ten want to make sentences more detailed by adding additional information about
their subjects, which we call describing phrases. Sometimes this additional infor-
mation must use punctuation, and sometimes it should not.
A founding member of Boomali

1 Mark for Review
Aboriginal Artists Co-operative,
Australian _________ is also known Which choice completes the text so
for her activism in raising that it conforms to the conventions
awareness of HIV/AIDS. of Standard English?
A artist, Bronwyn Bancroft

B artist Bronwyn Bancroft,

C artist, Bronwyn Bancroft,
D artist Bronwyn Bancroft
What is the function of the phrase Australian artist? _____________________
Labels that precede a person’s name, a book title, or any other

potentially unfamiliar noun are never followed by a comma.

RULES QUESTIONS: PUNCTUATION WITH DESCRIBING PHRASES
While working at IBM Research,
READING
2 Mark for Review
Indian _________ discovered that a
particular type of ultraviolet laser Which choice completes the text so
could etch or drill into organic that it conforms to the conventions
tissue with no thermal damage of Standard English?
to the surrounding area. He
called this phenomenon ablative A chemist, and inventor
photodecomposition, or APD. The Rangaswamy Srinivasan
WRITING
application of APD to etch corneas
in eyes led to the corrective vision
surgery known as LASIK. B chemist and inventor
Rangaswamy Srinivasan

C chemist and inventor,
Rangaswamy Srinivasan,
MATH
D chemist, and inventor
Rangaswamy Srinivasan,
The Indigenous Storyteller in

3 Mark for Review
Residence at Vancouver Public
Library in 2019, poet, playwright, Which choice completes the text so
and archaeologist Joseph A. that it conforms to the conventions
Dandurand has used various of Standard English?
genres to tell stories. A _________ What happens when
Dandurand studied at Algonquin A member, of Kwantlen First each phrase is removed
College and the University of Nation, from the sentence?
Ottawa.

B member of Kwantlen First
Nation
C member, of Kwantlen First

Nation
D member of Kwantlen First

Nation,
Is there a reason to put a comma after member?_________________________
Is there a reason to put a comma after Nation?__________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
We call the phrase of Kwantlen First Nation in the previous question Specify-
ing Information. That’s because it’s needed for the idea before it to make sense.
Without the phrase, Dandurand is simply described as A member, which leaves
you wondering, “A member of what?” The Specifying Information specifies what
group he is a member of.
On the other hand, A member of Kwantlen First Nation is what we call Extra
WRITING
Information. It can be removed from the sentence without leaving the reader with
any questions or uncertainty.
Specifying Information should not be separated from the

rest of the sentence with any punctuation.
MATH
Extra Information must be separated from the rest of the

sentence with matching punctuation before and after—either
two commas, two dashes, or two parentheses—unless it
comes at the beginning or end of the sentence, in which case
it will only have one punctuation mark.
People all over the world have

4 Mark for Review
used gardening as a political act
by planting in _________ that they do Which choice completes the text so
not have a legal right to cultivate. that it conforms to the conventions
Known as guerilla gardening, this of Standard English?
movement dates back hundreds
of years and includes in its A places
practitioners the man called Johnny
Appleseed, who traveled North
America planting apple trees in the B places;
early 1800s.
C places,
D places—
Is the phrase after the blank Specifying or Extra? _______________________
Should punctuation be used? _______________________________________

READING
Specifying Information Rules
1. Phrases that begin with “that” are always Specifying
and never get commas around them.
2. Prepositional phrases are usually Specifying and don’t
get commas unless they appear at the beginning of the
WRITING
sentence.
Let’s take a closer look at prepositional phrases, which always begin with a
preposition. Here are some common examples of prepositions:
MATH
Common Prepositions
of to for by with from on
in of at above among before under
toward into near within around about as
A prepositional phrase is a phrase beginning with a preposition, such as in the

book, with my friends, or to them.
Write three more prepositional phrases:
______________________ ______________________ ______________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
You will not always have to determine whether a phrase is Specifying or Extra.
That’s because the sentence may already include punctuation, or no punctuation,
before or after the phrase. It’s important to read the full sentence in order to spot
this.
Gwendolyn Wilson _________

5 Mark for Review
WRITING
licensed as a pharmacist in Iowa,

was one of a small number of Which choice completes the text so
women to work in the US Foreign that it conforms to the conventions
Service in the 1950s. She was of Standard English?
posted in both Vietnam and Korea.
These were not Fowler’s first A Fowler, the first Black
overseas experiences, however, woman
as she had once been employed
MATH
by a wealthy woman whom she

accompanied on a world tour to B Fowler the first Black
purchase artwork. woman
C Fowler—the first Black

woman
D Fowler, the first Black

woman,
Is there already punctuation before or after the phrase?___________________

READING
If only commas, dashes, and/or parentheses are changing
in the answer choices and they seem to be placed around
a certain phrase, that’s a good sign the question is testing
describing phrases.
WRITING
The double-crostic—a type of word
6 Mark for Review
puzzle similar to a crossword
_________ was invented by Elizabeth Which choice completes the text so
Kingsley, a teacher who sold that it conforms to the conventions
puzzles to Saturday Review and The of Standard English?
MATH
New York Times.
A puzzle—

B puzzle,
C puzzle;
D puzzle
Scientists at the Royal Melbourne

7 Mark for Review
Institute of Technology in Australia
have identified a strategy to use Which choice completes the text so
disposable personal protective that it conforms to the conventions
equipment, such as masks and of Standard English?
gloves, to reinforce _________
generating a unique way to reduce A concrete
waste produced by the medical
field.
B concrete;
C concrete:
D concrete,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
A leading researcher into

READING
8 Mark for Review

X-chromosome _________ British-
French epigeneticist Edith Heard Which choice completes the text so
also helped establish a program that it conforms to the conventions
by the French government to of Standard English?
support scientists affected by war
or conflict. A inactivation,
WRITING

B inactivation:
C inactivation;
D inactivation
MATH
Korean official Bu Choe is known

9 Mark for Review
for his diaries of his travels
through China after he was Which choice completes the text so
shipwrecked there in 1488. Choe that it conforms to the conventions
believed that _________ made of Standard English?
Chinese and Korean cultures
compatible, despite their lack of A Confucianism, a system of
shared language. thought and behavior that
emphasizes humaneness,
loyalty, and filial piety

B Confucianism—a system of
thought and behavior—that
loyalty, and filial piety,

C Confucianism—a system of
thought and behavior that
loyalty, and filial piety—

D Confucianism, a system of
thought and behavior that
emphasizes: humaneness,
loyalty, and filial piety,

READING
Extra Information Rules
1. Extra Information can come before or after the noun or
pronoun it’s describing.
2. Extra Information can be removed to leave behind a
sentence with the same meaning, just a little less detail.
WRITING
It’s not needed for specifying which person or thing
you’re talking about.
3. Extra Information must always have commas, dashes, or
parentheses both before and after the phrase.
4. If you’re not sure whether the information is Extra or
Specifying, try removing it from the sentence. If it is
MATH
Extra, its removal will not affect your understanding of
who or what the sentence is about.
SPECIFYING OR EXTRA?
Determine whether each bolded phrase is Specifying or Extra Information and add
punctuation if needed.
1. The family offered a reward to anyone who could locate the missing
dog.
2. The painting on the left is mine; the one on the right is hers.
3. In the greenhouse plants grow up the walls and to the ceiling.
4. American author Judy Blume wrote some of the most well-known

children’s and young adult novels.
5. An American author Judy Blume wrote some of the most well-

known children’s and young adult novels.
6. Art deco a style of visual arts that was popular in the 1920s and
1930s is associated with luxury, expensive materials, and exquisite
artisanship.
7. Eight hours of sleep according to researchers is not necessarily the

right amount for every person.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
8. The book that I wanted was not available.
9. After years of abandonment, the house was no longer habitable its

roof long since collapsed.
10. Clapping and cheering with enthusiasm the audience demanded an

encore from the singer.
WRITING
If you see a word that begins a describing phrase, such as that, which, or who, in
some but not all answers, it’s a good sign that the question is testing you on how to
construct a describing phrase.
Black Birders Week, created in

10 Mark for Review
response to the confrontation of an
MATH
African American birdwatcher in Which choice completes the text so

New York City’s Central Park, was that it conforms to the conventions
announced on May 29, 2020. Black of Standard English?
Birders Week is an annual series
of online _________ promote Black A events
nature enthusiasts and encourage
inclusivity in the birding
community. B events, that
C events,
D events that

READING
PUNCTUATION WITH DESCRIBING PHRASES DRILL
Time: 10 minutes

The Antikythera mechanism is believed to be the In 1887, Gerard Smets found fossilized fragments that
WRITING
oldest example of an analog computer. For over a he thought were remnants of a duck-billed dinosaur
century, researchers puzzled over this artifact until known as a hadrosaur. To his _________ the fragments
_________ used sophisticated scanning technology to ended up being petrified wood, and he was driven out
read faint writing that revealed the Antikythera of the scientific community as a result of his error.
mechanism’s purpose: to predict the movement of
celestial objects and the occurrence of eclipses. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
MATH
the conventions of Standard English? A embarrassment
A astronomer Mike Edmunds and

mathematician Tony Freeth B embarrassment;

B astronomer, Mike Edmunds and C embarrassment,
mathematician, Tony Freeth
D embarrassment:
C astronomer, Mike Edmunds and
mathematician Tony Freeth,

D astronomer Mike Edmunds and 3 Mark for Review
mathematician Tony Freeth,
Despite the fact that every human is genetically
unique with different life experiences, it is still
possible for a person to come across one’s _________
unrelated twin.

A doppelganger, or a biologically

B doppelganger or, a biologically
C doppelganger or a biologically,
D doppelganger, or a biologically,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
In 1957, a stray dog named Laika was one of the first A challenge in using mathematical models to make
animals to go to space and the first to orbit the Earth. predictions in complex fields such as biology is the
Laika flew aboard Sputnik 2, a cone-shaped Soviet inability to collect all relevant data. To address this
_________ that contained a separate sealed cabin with issue, the Messi System, developed by _________ uses
enough space for the 11-pound terrier to stand or algebraic geometry and combinatorial mathematics
lie down. The experiment demonstrated that living to validate models of biological systems.
organisms could survive spaceflight, but it was
WRITING
controversial at the time and is viewed critically Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
today, as the technology to de-orbit had not yet been the conventions of Standard English?
developed and Laika would not be returning to Earth.
A mathematician Alicia Dickenstein
B mathematician Alicia Dickenstein,
A spacecraft, and
MATH
C mathematician, Alicia Dickenstein

B spacecraft—
D mathematician, Alicia Dickenstein,

C spacecraft,
D spacecraft
7 Mark for Review
El Tatio is an example of a geothermic field—an
area in which water can seep deep within the
earth’s crust, become heated, and return to the
5 Mark for Review
_________ that is home to microorganisms known as
Most modern violins are made of wood or other hyperthermophiles, which can live in extremely hot
natural materials and based on the design of the environments.
violins made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari
in the 17th and 18th centuries. Blackbird, a violin Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
made by Swedish artist Lars Widenfalk, is also based the conventions of Standard English?
on Stradivari’s design; however, instead of wood,
Widenfalk used the black igneous _________ for its A surface
construction.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to B surface—
A rock, diabase, C surface,

B rock diabase, D surface;
C rock diabase
D rock, diabase

READING
Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights is widely The international standard for brewing tea,
recognized as a part of the English literary canon published by the International Standards _________ is
today. However, at the time of its publication, many not intended to dictate how consumers prepare tea;
critics panned the novel. For instance, writing in rather, the goal is to provide a standard method that
the North British Review, James Lorimer predicted allows consistent comparisons to be made among
that “it will never be generally _________ anticipating different teas and different laboratories.
Wuthering Heights’s continued impact on the culture.
WRITING
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A Organization (ISO),
A read.” Not

B Organization (ISO)
B read”; not
MATH
C Organization, (ISO),
C read,” not
D Organization, (ISO)
D read”: not
9 Mark for Review

After using pigeons to deliver medications to patients,
Julius Neubronner suggested using pigeons to
perform aerial photography. To test this method, a
miniature _________ was time-delayed was attached to
a breast harness and placed on a pigeon that was later
sent into flight.

A camera that

B camera, that
C camera
D camera,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• ___________________________ should never be separated from the rest of the sentence using punctuation.
• ___________________________ must be separated from the rest of the sentence using punctuation.
• What three types of punctuation can be used to separate Extra Information?
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
• What should you do if the sentence already has punctuation before or after the describing phrase?
_____________________
• Labels that come before names and titles should / should not have commas.
• What can you do to determine whether information is Specifying or Extra?
___________________________________________________________________________

RULES QUESTIONS:
LISTS
321
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Recognize when a question is testing lists

• Understand how to punctuate a basic list with commas
• Understand how to punctuate a complicated list with semicolons and
commas
WRITING

1. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
PUT IT ON YOUR LIST

Sometimes, a list can be relatively straightforward, with only one or two words for
each item in the list.
Underline each item in the lists below. Circle the conjunction.
i. At lunch, I had pizza, salad, and water.
ii. Some of her favorite activities are swimming, biking, and climbing.
iii. Bring a notebook, paper, or a computer to take notes.
Sometimes, each item in a list can be longer.
iv. The dog’s favorite toys were the red blanket, the green ball, and the
brown teddy bear.
v. They needed to clean their bedroom, sweep the kitchen, and mow the
lawn before leaving.
College Board will put
punctuation before the
“and” or “or” in a list,
but because this is a
disputed rule, that punc- Items in a list of three or more things need to be separated by
tuation will never be the punctuation, typically commas.
only reason the correct
answer is right.

RULES QUESTIONS: LISTS
One notable work by Pakistani
READING
1 Mark for Review
contemporary artist Naiza Khan
is a sculptural installation titled Which choice completes the text so
Hundreds of Birds Killed, which that it conforms to the conventions
consists of maps of the eleven of Standard English?
coastal cities discussed in a 1939 Highlight the other items
archival document summarizing A software, in the list.
the year’s weather calamities.
WRITING
The maps were graphed by Khan
using imaging _______ laser-cut into B software;
plexiglass in London, and then
hand-cast in brass by artisans in
Pakistan. C software:
D software
MATH
WHEN THE LISTS GET TOUGH…
Sometimes, items in lists use commas within them, so semicolons must be used to
separate the items in the list. Here’s an example to illustrate why:
The people attending the party are Kavya, my sister, Olivia, my cousin, How many people are
and Ellie. attending the party?
vi. Some of the best-known opera houses in the world are the Metropoli-
tan Opera House in New York, US; the Teatro alla Scala in Milan,
Italy; and the Palais Garnier in Paris, France.
vii. When going to school, be sure to bring your calculator, pencils, and
protractor for math class; your shoes, your racket, and a change of
clothes for gym class; and your safety goggles, long pants, and lab
coat for chemistry class.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
A twenty-year collaboration
READING
2 Mark for Review

occurred among Paulo Branco, a
Make the blank consis- film producer from _______ a film Which choice completes the text so
tent with the rest of the writer from Chile; and Manoel that it conforms to the conventions
items in the list. de Oliveira, a screenwriter from of Standard English?
Portugal. The trio developed low-
budget films released in Europe A Portugal, Raúl Ruiz;
that became known for their
WRITING
satirical and complex structures

and plots. B Portugal, Raúl Ruiz,
C Portugal; Raúl Ruiz
D Portugal; Raúl Ruiz,

MATH
What is the order of words and punctuation in the last item in the list?
_____________________________________________________________
Highlight a complete item from the list and make an

annotation of the words and punctuation in that item.

Initially employed as a detective
READING
3 Mark for Review
in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lester Wire
desired a better way to control Which choice completes the text so
traffic that wouldn’t require that it conforms to the conventions
people to stand outside for hours of Standard English?
on end. Wire developed multiple
prototypes of a stop light, including A smokestack, and a final
a wooden box, which had red and version;
WRITING
green lights on all four sides; a
metal pole, which was fashioned
from a train’s _______ which added B smokestack; and a final
yellow caution lights to the other version,
designs.
C smokestack, and a final

version,
MATH

D smokestack and a final
version
What is the order of words and punctuation in the first item in the list?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
When you see the word “and” or “or” after a comma or

semicolon, check whether the sentence contains a list of three
or more things.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
LISTS DRILL
Time: 4 minutes

South African multimedia artist Dineo Seshee Bopape When a picture repeatedly appears within itself,
WRITING
uses highly symbolic organic materials, such as soil, this phenomenon is known as the Droste effect.
in her works. One installation included footage shot The Droste effect has been used in many contexts:
on 8mm ________ drawings of cresting and falling in mathematics, it appears as fractals; in medieval
waves, and audio recordings of wind. ________ and in advertising, it appears within many
food logos.
MATH
A film
A art; it appears as images of books,

B film;
B art, it appears as images of books;
C film,
C art, it appears as images of books,
D film:
D art; it appears as images of books;

READING
One of the largest volcanic eruptions in history Oral poetry is often passed down through generations
occurred in 1257 in Indonesia. It started a chain and interpreted in different ways over time.
reaction of many large-scale phenomena: land Uvavnuk, an Inuk woman from the 1800s, created
alterations, such as the formation of a caldera hollow in this manner a transformation story that was
left behind when the magma was ________ such as the interpreted differently by different people, such as
volcanic winter that occurred due to the amount of Rudy Wiebe, an author who focused on the themes
dust that was kicked up into the atmosphere; and of appreciation for the Canadian ________ a critic
WRITING
atmospheric changes, such as a spike in sulfate who focused on the themes emphasizing the grand
concentrations in ice cores. experience of being Canadian; and Bernard Saladin
D’Anglure, an ethnographer who focused on the
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to themes of the Inuit third gender and shamanism.
A emptied; weather shifts, the conventions of Standard English?
MATH
A Arctic; Robert Kroetsch,
B emptied; weather shifts

B Arctic, Robert Kroetsch;
C emptied, weather shifts;
C Arctic; Robert Kroetsch;

D emptied, weather shifts,
D Arctic, Robert Kroetsch,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• What clue tells you to look for a list in the sentence? __________________________________
• Items in a list are generally separated with _____________.
• If one or more items within a list contains a comma, the list should be separated with _________________.
• For simple lists, _____________ each item in the list.
• For questions with complicated lists, ____________ a complete item and ___________________________
__________________.

RULES QUESTIONS:
NO PUNCTUATION
329
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Recognize situations in which punctuation is not needed

• Understand that punctuation should only be used when there is a
reason to do so
WRITING

1. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
YOU, DON’T, ALWAYS, NEED, PUNCTUATION!

At this point, you have learned how to correctly use many different punctuation
marks. However, it’s just as important to understand where they should not be
used. It’s important to note that you should never use punctuation without a rea-
son to do so, but beyond that, there are some specific situations that never warrant
punctuation.
If you don’t have a reason to use punctuation, don’t use it!

RULES QUESTIONS: NO PUNCTUATION
In a recent study, researchers
READING
1 Mark for Review
attempted to improve short- and
long-term memory through brain Which choice completes the text so
stimulation techniques, which that it conforms to the conventions
involved using an oscillating of Standard English?
electrical _______ to mimic the Is there a reason to use
natural activity in the brain. A current, punctuation here?
WRITING

B current
C current:
D current;
MATH
There are a few specific rules to keep in mind that can help you identify when the
sentence definitely doesn’t need punctuation.
“No Punctuation” Rules

1. Don’t put punctuation where there is Specifying
Information.
2. Never put a single punctuation mark between a subject
and a verb.
3. Don’t put punctuation after a preposition.
Above all else, don’t use punctuation unless you have a reason
to do so.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Add commas if they are needed. Otherwise, put a checkmark next to the sentence.
i. The person___ who gave me a compliment made my day.
ii. Leonard Woolf___ an author and publisher___ was Virginia Woolf’s

husband.
WRITING
iii. Composer Jessica Curry___ led the British video game studio The
Chinese Room until 2015.
iv. British artist Mark Leckey uses themes of___ nostalgia in his works.
v. Nigerian-Canadian poet Tolu Oloruntoba’s book The Junta of

Happenstance___ won the Griffin Poetry Prize.
MATH
In high school, Linda Goss was

2 Mark for Review
assigned to interview the oldest
person she knew. The stories Goss’s Which choice completes the text so
grandfather shared with _______ that it conforms to the conventions
made her realize the importance of Standard English?
of passing on and collecting
personal histories. Goss went on to A her
make a career of storytelling and
later helped to found the National
Association of Black Storytellers. B her,
C her:
D her—
After researching eclipses and

3 Mark for Review
other astronomical objects, Anders
Celsius proposed a form of the Which choice completes the text so
Celsius temperature scale in 1742. that it conforms to the conventions
He initially suggested using 0 and of Standard English?
100 as the _______ and melting points
of water, respectively, but his scale A boiling,
was reversed about a year after his
death.
B boiling
C boiling;
D boiling—

READING
NO PUNCTUATION DRILL
Time: 5 minutes

New research from Bournemouth University Chemist Jennifer Garden’s Ph.D. research investigated
WRITING
professor Timothy Darvill suggests that a possible the use of bimetallic reagents for metalation
explanation for the construction of Stonehenge is reactions. These reagents, according to _______
that the monument and burial _______ was used as an are promising because they “can overcome many
ancient solar calendar consisting of 30 uniformly limitations of lithium reagents” that have previously
sized stones positioned in a circle. been used in metalation reactions.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? the conventions of Standard English?
MATH
A site; A Garden

B site, B Garden—
C site C Garden,
D site: D Garden:

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The resplendent quetzal, the national animal of Abdoulaye Konaté is an artist from Mali who started
Guatemala, is a species of _______ with a colorful out as a graphic designer. His works comment
plumage of iridescent green feathers. on social affairs, such as the effects of AIDS on
individuals who suffer from the _______ and the
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to encroachment of the Sahel, a North African region
the conventions of Standard English? that has experienced overpopulation and attacks
from insurgent groups.
WRITING
A bird:
B bird
A disease
C bird,
B disease,
MATH
D bird—
C disease;
D disease:
4 Mark for Review
The New York City-based organization _______ was
established to teach children how to advocate for
themselves through arts-based education focused on
hip hop. When the program resulted in unexpected
benefits, such as enhanced speech development,
for participants, the organization’s founders began
partnering with clinical researchers to evaluate the
positive consequences of hip hop education.

A BEAT,

B BEAT;
C BEAT—
D BEAT

• Don’t put punctuation where there is ______________________________ Information.
• What can never come between a subject and a verb? ____________________________________________
• Don’t put punctuation after a ______________________________.
• Above all, if you can’t find a reason to use a punctuation mark, __________________________________.

RULES QUESTIONS:
PUNCTUATION REVIEW
337
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Review the rules of punctuation and sentence structure

• Practice the punctuation rules with a comprehensive drill
WRITING

1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
3. ____________________________________________________________
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER!

You’ve now learned all of the different ways College Board can test punctuation
and sentence structure. Before we go on to the handful of grammar topics that are
tested, let’s review what you’ve learned so far.
4 A complete sentence, also known as an __________________________,
must contain ________________________________________________.
4 What two verb forms cannot function as the main verb in a sentence?
______________________________________________________
4 A _______________________________________ asks for information,
while a _________________________ gives information.
4 Two commas, two dashes, or two parentheses can be used to separate
_________________________ from the rest of the sentence.
4 __________________________________________________ can never
come between a subject and a verb.

RULES QUESTIONS: PUNCTUATION REVIEW
READING
4 No punctuation should be used to separate _______________________,
as it is essential to the sentence’s meaning.
4 When a subordinating word or phrase is added to an independent
clause, it becomes a __________________________________________.
WRITING
4 A semicolon can only connect _________________________________.
4 What does FANBOYS stand for?
______________________________________________________
MATH
4 How does FANBOYS relate to connecting independent clauses?
______________________________________________________
4 Can a comma by itself connect two independent clauses? __________
4 Can a FANBOYS word by itself connect two independent
clauses? __________
4 Can two independent clauses have no punctuation at all between
them? __________
4 How can an independent clause and a dependent clause, in either
order, be connected?______________________________________
4 When a colon is used, the second part of the sentence must
____________________________________________________________________________.
4 On the SAT, a colon can only be used after ______________________.
4 In a list of three or more things, the items are normally separated by
_________________________. If one or more items in the list contains
a comma, then the list is separated by ___________________________.
4 If there isn’t a reason to use punctuation, ________________________!

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
WHAT’S BEING TESTED? DRILL

Use the answer choices to determine which punctuation topic is likely being tested. Write it on the blank below each
question.
The Options
WRITING
Describing Phrases
Connecting Clauses
Lists
Unclear
MATH
i Mark for Review iii Mark for Review
A significance A author Meg Cabot
B significance, B author, Meg Cabot
C significance but C author Meg Cabot,
D significance, but D author, Meg Cabot,
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
ii Mark for Review Mark for Review

iv
A efforts researchers A Folklore, in 2020
B efforts. Researchers B Folklore; in 2020,
C efforts and researchers C Folklore, in 2020;
D efforts, researchers D Folklore, in 2020,
__________________________________________ __________________________________________

READING
Describing Phrases
Connecting Clauses
Lists
Unclear
WRITING
v Mark for Review vii Mark for Review
A astronaut: A alone, however,
B astronaut B alone, however;
MATH
C astronaut, C alone however
D astronaut; D alone; however,
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
vi Mark for Review viii Mark for Review
A computer, a precursor to A nation are
B computer—a precursor to B nation, are
C computer a precursor to C nation; are
D computer, a precursor to, D nation—are
__________________________________________ __________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Describing Phrases
Connecting Clauses
Lists
Unclear
WRITING
ix Mark for Review x Mark for Review
A policies: ethical A century, while
B policies ethical B century: while

MATH
C policies. Ethical C century; while
D policies; ethical D century. While
__________________________________________ __________________________________________

READING
COMPLETE SENTENCES DRILL
For the following sentences and fragments, put a check mark if it is a complete
sentence. If not, correct it to make it complete by adding or removing punctua-
tion, removing a subordinating word, or changing the verb.
______ 1. In 2018, writer and professor Carol Anderson, published her
fourth book.
WRITING
______ 2. Starting in childhood, the siblings, born in the city of Toronto,
who studied the art of origami.
______ 3. Not knowing which aisle contained beans, Cade wandered

around the store.
MATH
______ 4. Since the books are due on the tenth, two weeks from today.
______ 5. With a bang, the bright fireworks, launched from the pier, and
exploded colorfully in the dark sky.
______ 6. My ankle starting to hurt after I twisted it during volleyball

practice.
______ 7. According to the guidebook, grizzly bears, when they are

identified, are best left alone.
______ 8. As Jaylee’s phone beeped over and over, so she had to set it to
silent.
______ 9. Learning a foreign language requires practice in that language:

immersion in a group speaking the language, when possible, is
the best method.
______ 10. Singing for a large audience, scared Jackson.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
COMMAS DRILL
Circle the option that uses commas correctly.
1. A. After the storm however, it was a lot cooler.
B. After the storm, however, it was a lot cooler.

WRITING
2. A. A racquetball player, with a new racquet, has an advantage.
B. A racquetball player with a new racquet has an advantage.
3. A. He walked, rather than sprinted to the doorbuster sale.
B. He walked, rather than sprinted, to the doorbuster sale.

MATH
4. A. All things considered, therefore, you should probably stay away

from that place.
B. All things considered therefore you should probably stay away

from that place.
5. A. Singer Taylor Swift has broken many chart, streaming, and

ticket sales records.
B. Singer, Taylor Swift, has broken many chart, streaming, and

ticket sales records.
6. A. A class, on literary theory, can be really interesting for

non-English majors.
B. A class on literary theory can be really interesting for

non-English majors.
7. A. There are three ways to tell time in my room: my wristwatch,

my pocketwatch, and my old grandfather clock.
B. There are three ways to tell time in my room: my wristwatch my

pocketwatch, and my old grandfather clock.
8. A. Head to the nearest exit if you hear the fire alarm go off.
B. Head to the nearest exit, if you hear the fire alarm go off.
9. A. Every time, I go to the store, I have to buy a candy bar.
B. Every time I go to the store, I have to buy a candy bar.

READING
10. A. The best time to see a hockey game is Saturday afternoon.
B. The best time to see a hockey game, is Saturday afternoon.
11. A. Originally opened in 1871 Grand Central Station is one of the

most impressive train stations in the world.
WRITING
B. Originally opened in 1871, Grand Central Station is one of the
most impressive train stations in the world.
12. A. Named for the shape of its wings, the comma butterfly is found
mainly in the temperate areas in Europe and Asia.
B. Named for the shape of its wings the comma butterfly is found
MATH
mainly in the temperate areas in Europe and Asia.
13. A. The south, of France, is beautiful this time of year.
B. The south of France is beautiful this time of year.
14. A. I got an A in math, English, and physics.
B. I got an A in math English and physics.
15. A. A filmmaker, particularly one who has gone to film school,

should be well-versed in the editing process.
B. A filmmaker particularly one who has gone to film school

should be well-versed in the editing process.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
PUNCTUATION DRILL
Circle the option that uses punctuation correctly.
1. A. I know I will be a successful warrior for I will never back down.
B. I know I will be a successful warrior, for I will never back down.

WRITING
2. A. This is a brand new suit, so you should wear it for a job interview
or something.
B. This is a brand new suit so you should wear it for a job interview
or something.
3. A. He just goes to the mall and walks around.

MATH
B. He just goes to the mall, and walks around.
4. A. Kenzie said she would come to my party but in the end said she
couldn’t.
B. Kenzie said she would come to my party, but in the end said she
couldn’t.
5. A. Your love letter contains too many grammatical mistakes, so I

think we should break up.
B. Your love letter contains too many grammatical mistakes; so I

think we should break up.
6. A. Please don’t look at my playlist. It’s so embarrassing.
B. Please don’t look at my playlist, it’s so embarrassing.
7. A. Although it’s a huge honor to get an academic book published,

the books often sell only 200 or 300 copies.
B. Although it’s a huge honor to get an academic book published.

The books often sell only 200 or 300 copies.
8. A. Humanities departments all over the country changed in the

1970s; when French literary theory became popular.
B. Humanities departments all over the country changed in the

1970s when French literary theory became popular.

READING
9. A. Every time I go to a squash match, I make sure to take my lucky
bandana and an extra racquet.
B. Every time I go to a squash match, I make sure to take: my

lucky bandana and an extra racquet.
10. A. This picture is my favorite: it looks the best out of all of them.
WRITING
B. This picture is my favorite, it looks the best out of all of them.
11. A. First, she published a poem in The Atlantic. Then, she published
a whole book of poems.
B. First, she published a poem in The Atlantic, then, she published a
MATH
whole book of poems.
12. A. The senator from Pennsylvania, took the whole legislature by

storm.
B. The senator from Pennsylvania took the whole legislature by

storm.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
PUNCTUATION REVIEW DRILL

Time: 10 minutes

The Synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph was Nurcan Tunçbağ teaches chemistry at Koç University
WRITING
invented by Granville Tailer Woods, a self-taught in Turkey and uses computational models to analyze
African American engineer who ________ on trains and biological topics. She helped develop the PRISM
streetcars. This telegraph method utilized induction (protein interactions by structural matching)
of static electricity to relay messages between trains algorithm to analyze how proteins will bond together
in motion. and assemble into larger ________ research that could
help target specific bonding sites for medications.
MATH

A to focus
A structures;

B focusing
B structures, and
C focused
C structures,
D focus
D structures
2 Mark for Review

Despite the fact that wheels and other circular 4 Mark for Review
devices are prominent in modern technology, they The Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association
do not play a significant role in the way living things initiated the Women’s Batik Group in 1977. Gloria
move. Scientists are determined to find out ________ . Petyarre was one of the artists who found success
while working within the group and became
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to famous after displaying works in the art ________ the
the conventions of Standard English? association launched in 1988.
A why can’t life evolve wheels? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to

B why life can’t evolve wheels. A exhibit,

C why can’t life evolve wheels. B exhibit which,
D why life can’t evolve wheels? C exhibit, that
D exhibit that

READING
Social psychologist Walter Truett Anderson Julie Mehretu bases her artistic pieces on technical
hypothesizes that intelligent life required two images of ________ her pieces don’t contain any formal
significant ________ symbolic communication and points of view or perspectives and use complex
taking responsibility for one’s actions. layers to create abstract versions of the architectural
images.
WRITING
A shifts:
A architecture; despite this,

B shifts such as
B architecture, despite this;
C shifts, such as
MATH
C architecture despite this,
D shifts;
D architecture, despite this,
6 Mark for Review

American author Eddie Chuculate has won numerous 8 Mark for Review
awards for his ________ his story Galveston Bay won Despite the environmental and health benefits of
a prominent award in 2007, and his novel Cheyenne riding bicycles, many people still choose to use
Madonna led to his selection as an Emerging Author other modes of transportation. Scientists analyzed
for World Literature Today. numerous studies to determine the reasons why
people avoid choosing bikes. The primary barriers
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to were related to fear of biking near moving ________ a
the conventions of Standard English? lack of physical fitness.
A pieces Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to


B pieces, A cars and

C pieces and B cars, and
D pieces: C cars. And
D cars

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Research shows that laws protecting paid sick leave Ithkuil is an experimental language constructed by
for employees are correlated with lower rates of John Quijada. The ________ strives to express subtle
suicide, alcohol-related accidents, and homicide. Some connections within human cognition, has extremely
developed countries that don’t have a national paid complex grammar rules and a robust library of
sick leave ________ have seen reduced mortality rates sounds.
among working adults when the amount of paid sick
leave increased. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
WRITING

the conventions of Standard English? A language,
A law;
B language

B law
C language which
MATH
C law,
D language, which
D law)

• Punctuation on the SAT is / is not based on how the punctuation makes you feel or whether the sentence
“looks right.”
• Master the punctuation rules on the SAT, and you will get the questions right ______________________!
• Your best tool for punctuation questions is ________________________________. Remember, there

are often many possible ways to write and punctuate a sentence. However, only one answer will do it
correctly.

RULES QUESTIONS:
VERBS
353
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Identify the subject of a verb and whether it is singular or plural

• Eliminate verbs that are not consistent in number with the subject
• Find clues in a sentence or text to determine what verb tense is needed
• Eliminate verbs that are not consistent in tense with those clues
WRITING
• Understand the differences among commonly tested tenses

MATH
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
FORM, NUMBER, AND TENSE, OH MY!

You’ve already learned that when verb form is changing in the answers, you need
to make sure that the sentence is complete, as only certain verb forms produce a
complete sentence. There are two other major verb topics that are tested on the
SAT: number and tense. In both cases, consistency is key!
Verbs must be consistent with the rest

of the sentence and text.

RULES QUESTIONS: VERBS
READING
VERB NUMBER AND SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Previously, you learned that every sentence must have a subject and a verb. To take
things a step further, the subject and the verb must be consistent in number—that
is, whether they are singular or plural. If the subject is singular, the verb must also
be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Terra nullius, which means
WRITING
1 Mark for Review
“nobody’s land” in Latin, is used
in international law to describe a Which choice completes the text so
territory that doesn’t belong to any that it conforms to the conventions
state. One of the three global terra of Standard English?
nullius territories ________ Bir Tawil,
an area of land located between A is
Egypt and Sudan. Neither country
has claimed the area, which has no
MATH

settled population. B were
C are
D have been
What is the subject of the verb? _____________________________________
Is the subject singular or plural?_____________________________________
What answers must be eliminated?__________________________________
When verb number is changing in the answer choices, high-

light the subject. Determine whether it’s singular or plural, and
make an annotation indicating that. Eliminate answers that
aren’t consistent in number with the subject.
The subject almost always comes before the verb, but it may not be right before the
verb. College Board’s favorite way to trick you on verb questions is to put words
between the subject and the verb so that you get mixed up about which word is
the subject. Often, the words that come in between are prepositional phrases.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Other kinds of phrases (like the ones we’d call Specifying or Extra Information)
can appear in between the subject and the verb, but prepositional phrases are the
most common.
WRITING
SUBJECTS AND VERBS DRILL

Highlight the subject for each underlined verb and strike out anything in between
(such as prepositional phrases).
i. The car that my parents drove while on vacation for three weeks was
ill-suited for our trip.
MATH
ii. Rachel Carson, an American marine biologist, writer, and conserva-

tionist, is known as a great contributor to the American environmental
movement.
iii. The children of Charles Seeger and Ruth Crawford Seeger include
folk musicians Peggy Seeger and Mike Seeger.
iv. The major periods of the common practice period of Western classical
music (also known as Western art music) are Baroque, Classical, and
Romantic.
v. The North Saint Georges Historic District in the village of North St.
Georges, Delaware, has nearly 70 buildings, including the Methodist
Church, Gam’s Store, and the Nuttall House.

READING
Although you won’t be explicitly asked to identify a subject or a verb on the
Digital SAT, being able to do so is key in correctly answering questions on subject-
verb agreement.
Ewine van Dishoeck, a Dutch

2 Mark for Review
scientist, is a pioneer in the field
of astrochemistry. Her studies Which choice completes the text so
WRITING
on molecules in space ________ that it conforms to the conventions
important for understanding the of Standard English?
transformation of interstellar gas
and dust into living organisms. A has been

B was
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C is
D have been
When in doubt, use the following approach:
If you’re not sure whether the subject of a sentence is

singular or plural, try putting “is” and “are” after the word.
If it matches with “is,” it’s singular.
If it matches with “are,” it’s plural.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
SINGULAR OR PLURAL?
Select whether each subject is singular or plural.
Singular Plural
Machine _______ _______
Erasers _______ _______
WRITING
People _______ _______

Dancing _______ _______
Children _______ _______
Team _______ _______
Bravery _______ _______
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These _______ _______

My brother and I _______ _______
Everybody _______ _______
Sometimes, you may know whether the subject is singular or plural but may not
be sure whether the verbs in the answers are singular or plural. Here’s a trick you
can use:
If you’re not sure whether a verb is singular or plural, try

putting “it” and “they” before the verb.
If it matches with “it,” it’s singular.
If it matches with “they,” it’s plural.
One way bees can differentiate

3 Mark for Review
flowers is by the electrical fields
that plants produce. However, Which choice completes the text so
the application of synthetic that it conforms to the conventions
fertilizers and herbicides _______ of Standard English?
the electrical fields. In a laboratory
test, researchers found that the A are changing
alterations in electrical fields
lasted upwards of twenty-five
minutes, significantly longer than B changes
natural fluctuations. This finding is
consistent with field observations
that bees tend not to land on C change
flowers treated with fertilizer
for about twenty minutes after
application. D have changed

READING
VERB TENSE
Sometimes, verbs changing in the answers means that the question is testing verb
tense.
Verbs must be consistent in tense with the rest of the text.
WRITING
Scientists have found a way to
4 Mark for Review
suspend nanoparticles, or tiny
glass spheres, in a vacuum and Which choice completes the text so
MATH
analyze how they interact with that it conforms to the conventions
each other. Researchers hope of Standard English?
that these trials _______ ways to
learn more about subatomic A provided
relationships and yield insight into
how to manipulate nanoparticles to
generate sensitive measuring tools B provide
or nanocomputers in the future.
C have provided
D will provide
What’s the subject? ______________________________________________
Are there any answers that don’t agree with the subject?___________________
What clues in the text give insight into what tense is needed? ______________
What tense is needed? ____________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
When multiple answers agree with the subject, check tense.

Highlight verbs and clues that indicate verb tense, and write
an annotation for the tense that the blank should be in.
WRITING
You already know that past tense refers to things that have already happened, pres-
ent tense refers to what’s happening now, and future tense refers to what is going
to happen. There are a few tenses that may be a bit trickier to understand. It’s
important to note that you don’t need to remember the names of these tenses, but
you will need to understand how they should be used.
Present perfect always includes the helping verb has (singular) or have (plural). It’s
MATH
used to express an action that started in the past and continues to today or hap-
pened in the past at an indefinite time and could occur again.
Example: I have been working on this assignment for hours.
Example: They have seen the movie three times.
Past perfect always includes the helping verb had. It’s used when an event from
the past happened before another past event or to express something that started
in the past and has stopped.
Example: Since I had already seen the movie, I wasn’t surprised by the ending.
Example: Prior to the big race, they had been running at the track every day.

READING
PAST VS. PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST PERFECT
Mark on the timeline when the event or events occurred.
Past Now
WRITING
Past: She went to the library last week.
Past Now
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Present perfect: She has gone to the library before.
Past Now
Present perfect: She has been at the library since this morning.
Past Now
Past perfect: She had gone to the library before the renovations.
In 1983, Sally Ride became the first

5 Mark for Review
American woman in space. At the
time, she also _______ the youngest Which choice completes the text so
American astronaut in space. She that it conforms to the conventions
participated in a second shuttle of Standard English?
mission in 1984.
A had been

B was
C is
D will be

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
VERB TENSE DRILL

Highlight the clue and circle the correct verb to match the clue.
i. I eat / ate / have eaten breakfast every day this week.
ii. Next month, we play / played / will play games with our friends.
WRITING
iii. She is / was / will be prepared for her presentation today.
iv. Until the movie theater closed, we went / go / had gone there every
Friday.
v. Someone else reads / has read / will read this book before; there are
highlights everywhere.
MATH
Indigenous poet Tommy Pico

6 Mark for Review
published his first book, IRL, in
2016. The book is one long poem Which choice completes the text so
written as a text message by a that it conforms to the conventions
fictional character named Teebs. of Standard English?
By 2019, Pico _______ four books,
which he refers to as the “Teebs A will publish
tetralogy.”

B publishes
C published
D had published
When verbs are changing in the answer choices…

1. If there is a “to” form and/or an -ing form, check for a
complete sentence.
2. Otherwise, find and highlight the subject, make an anno-
tation regarding number (singular/plural), and eliminate
any answers that aren’t consistent.
3. If needed, check tense. Look for and highlight other
verbs in the sentence or surrounding sentences, as well
as time-change clues. Annotate what tense is needed.

READING
VERBS DRILL
Time: 6 minutes

Artsvashen is a village in Armenia located near The Mohave Nation and the United States experienced
WRITING
Azerbaijan. Many women in the village practice the conflict over land disputes in the 1850s, but leaders
art of carpet weaving, and they often _______ the skill such as Irataba helped build stronger relationships
to younger generations. between the two groups to navigate diplomatic
situations. After Irataba escorted a large group of
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Europeans across the Colorado River, other explorers
the conventions of Standard English? _______ out his guidance for other expeditions.
A teach Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
MATH

B teaches A have sought

C has taught B will seek
D is teaching C sought
D seek
2 Mark for Review

Pascale Marthine Tayou is a Cameroonian artist
whose work is inspired by his international travels.
He collects various objects, such as ticket stubs and
receipts, which _______ incorporated into his artwork.

A would have been

B are
C would be
D had been

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The electroencephalophone, an experimental musical Chinese American writer Bei Dao was exiled from
instrument that uses brain waves to manipulate China because his poetry and activism helped inspire
sounds, _______ invented by mathematical physicist Dr. the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Since 2006,
R. Furth and physiologist Dr. E. A. Bevers in the early however, he _______ allowed to return to China.
1940s.
WRITING

A was
A was

B is
B were
C has been
C have been
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D will be
D are
5 Mark for Review

Roughly five billion years ago, the rate of expansion
of the universe began to accelerate. This fact has led
to two main theoretical possibilities: either Dark
Energy, a mostly unknown force, is causing this
acceleration or the force of gravity may have changed
over time. Recently, members of the international
Dark Energy Survey Collaboration _______ that gravity
has remained the same since the Big Bang.

A determines

B is determining
C has determined
D have determined

• Every verb must agree in number with its _____________.
• Number means ________________ or ______________.
• What can often come in between a subject and a verb? ________________________________________
• When number is being tested, find and ________________ the subject. Then, __________________________
__________________________.
• When number is being tested, it’s likely that only one / more than one answer will be consistent in number
with the subject.
• If verbs are changing in the answers but the question isn’t testing form or number, it’s probably testing
__________.
• For verb tense questions, highlight ________________________ and annotate __________________________
_________.

RULES QUESTIONS:
PRONOUNS
367
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Identify singular and plural pronouns

• Understand the difference between possessive pronouns and
contractions
WRITING

1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
3. ____________________________________________________________
THEY, IT, AND ALL THEIR FRIENDS

What is a pronoun? A pronoun stands in for a noun and makes writing more con-
cise and less repetitive. Instead of writing Amy showed Amy’s book to Amy’s daugh-
ter, you can use pronouns and say Amy showed her book to her daughter.
Like verbs, pronouns are all about consistency. Since a pronoun stands in for a
noun, it must be consistent in number (remember: singular or plural) with the
noun it refers back to.
A few miles off the coast of

1 Mark for Review
Takehara, Japan, is Ōkunoshima.
It is more commonly known as Which choice completes the text so
Rabbit Island, though, for the that it conforms to the conventions
large population of wild rabbits of Standard English?
that inhabit the island. With no
predators or threats, the rabbits A these.
are thriving. A tourist can take a
ferry ride from Tadanômi Port to
see and feed _______ B them.
C it.
D those.
What word does the pronoun refer back to? ___________________________
Is the word singular or plural? ______________________________________

RULES QUESTIONS: PRONOUNS
READING
When pronouns are changing in the answer choices, highlight
the antecedent (what the pronoun is referring to). Make an
annotation stating whether it is singular or plural.
WRITING
Personal Pronouns
In real life, some
Singular Plural individuals prefer to use
First person I We “they” as a personal pro-
Second person noun. When it comes to
You You
the Digital SAT, however,
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Third person He/she/it They “they” is always plural.
It’s important to note that you will never be asked to fill in a pronoun for a specific
person unless pronouns for that person have already been used in the text. Most
of the time, pronoun questions are really testing you on it versus they or them. To
round out the four answers, College Board will often give you pronouns such as
we, you, these, and one, but these options are almost always going to be incorrect.
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna

2 Mark for Review
established borders between
countries after the Napoleonic Which choice completes the text so
Wars. In between Prussia and the that it conforms to the conventions
Netherlands, a valuable zinc mine of Standard English?
prevented the two countries from
agreeing on a border. Instead, a A this
small, mutually administered
territory known as Neutral
Moresnet was created. Neutral B these
Moresnet was not an independent
nation; rather, _______ relied on the
currency and judiciary of Prussia C they
and the Netherlands.
D it

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
PRONOUNS AND APOSTROPHES

Another way pronouns are tested is with apostrophes. There are only two simple
rules to know:
Apostrophes on pronouns represent contractions.

WRITING
Possessive pronouns don’t get apostrophes.

MATH
Scientists sought to investigate the

3 Mark for Review
relationship between depression
and appetite changes with a focus Which choice completes the text so
on the brain’s reward system that it conforms to the conventions
activity. When patients with of Standard English?
depression experienced a decrease
in _______ appetites, the connection A their
between the brain’s reward system
and other areas of the brain was

also altered. B they’re
C it’s
D its
WHICH PRONOUN?
Highlight the antecedent and circle the correct answer.
i. She was worried about completing her / their / they’re homework.
ii. The team of chemists and physicists measured its / it’s / their success
by the number of articles written.
iii. People who study effectively for the SAT see its / their / they’re scores
increase.
iv. I invited my parents to visit, so their / they’re / he’s coming for dinner.
v. Each of my pencils has its / their / they’re own separate case.

READING
A contraction is a shorter way of saying two words. The apostrophe stands in for
the letter or letters that have been removed. Here are some common contractions
and their meanings:
Contractions aren’t likely
It’s It is / It has to be correct answers
They’re They are on the SAT, as they are
generally considered
You’re You are
WRITING
inappropriate in formal
Who’s Who is / Who has writing.
If you see an apostrophe with a pronoun, expand it out. For example, do you want
to say “it is” or “they are” in the sentence? If not, eliminate the pronouns with
apostrophes.
MATH
Here are some common possessive pronouns and their meanings:
Its Belonging to it
Their Belonging to them
Your Belonging to you
Whose Belonging to whom
College Board loves to test its/it’s and their/they’re, as in Question 3. In fact, those
are the only pronouns you’re likely to see tested with apostrophes. As long as you
remember these simple rules, you’ll get those questions right every time.
A digital sundial, similar to a

4 Mark for Review
classical sundial, displays the time
of day based on the sunlight hitting Which choice completes the text so
it. What primarily distinguishes that it conforms to the conventions
the digital sundial from a classical of Standard English?
sundial is _______ use of a digital
display to indicate the current time A they’re
instead of relying on a shadow.

B it’s
C its
D their

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
When pronouns are changing in the answer choices…

1. Look for and highlight the noun or pronoun that the blank
refers back to.
2. Annotate whether the word is singular or plural and
eliminate any answers that are not consistent with the
WRITING
antecedent in terms of number.

3. If apostrophes are changing, determine whether a con-
traction or a possessive pronoun is needed and use POE
accordingly.
MATH

READING
PRONOUNS DRILL
Time: 6 minutes

As one of the female inventors with the most The expression of gratitude can have positive impacts
WRITING
inventions to her name, Beulah Louise Henry was on social relationships. Researchers found that
known as “Lady Edison.” One of her more well-known when a team was working on a stressful task, an
inventions was a “snap-on” parasol, which allowed expression of gratitude from one teammate enhanced
women to change ________ parasols’ coloring to match the cardiovascular efficiency of the other teammates;
different outfits. ________ bodies reacted to the task as a challenge
instead of a threat.
MATH
A they’re
A its

B their
B it’s
C it’s
C their
D its
D they’re
2 Mark for Review

4 Mark for Review
Arabinogalactan, a polysaccharide, is a natural
biopolymer found in some plants and microbes. People have theorized about perpetual motion
William Conan Davis was the first person to identify machines since the Middle Ages, but modern
the polymer, and he used ________ to invent instant thermodynamics laws have deemed them impossible.
mashed potatoes. Despite this, modern inventors continue to attempt
to design and construct these machines, and ________
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to incorporated vacuums and magnets into their
the conventions of Standard English? designs.
A it Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to


B one A they have

C such B it has
D them C one has
D you have

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Modern driving simulators have some flaws, Dates, the edible sweet fruits, grow on the tree
including the lack of realistic background objects, Phoenix dactylifera, more commonly known as the
such as road markings and bushes. In a study, date palm. Date palms are cultivated across northern
scientists focused on improving a simulation by Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. The date
making ________ have fewer repetitive patterns palm has been cultivated for such a long time that
by blending background objects differently from ________ place of origin is uncertain.
foreground objects.
WRITING

A their
A them

B they’re
B themselves
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C it’s
C it
D its
D itself

• When pronouns are changing in the answer choices, find _____________________________ and
_____________ it. Then, _________________________________ and _________________.
• A pronoun must be _____________________________ in number with the noun or other pronoun it

refers back to.
• Apostrophes on pronouns represent _____________________________. Possessive pronouns do / do not

get apostrophes.

RULES QUESTIONS:
NOUNS
377
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Know when a noun needs an apostrophe

• Know how to make singular and plural nouns possessive
WRITING

1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
3. ____________________________________________________________
DON’T BE SO POSSESSIVE!
You have already learned how to use apostrophes with pronouns. Another way
apostrophes are tested is on nouns. A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. With
nouns, apostrophes are only used one way: to show possession. However, it’s easy
to mix up plural and possessive nouns because they both usually involve the letter
s. Apostrophe questions can be quick and easy, as they don’t require much reading.
All you need to do is learn a few basic rules.
Nouns with apostrophes are possessive.

RULES QUESTIONS: NOUNS
The Greece runestones are a group
READING
1 Mark for Review
of about 30 inscribed, raised stones
that describe voyages made by Which choice completes the text so
Norsemen. The stones, engraved that it conforms to the conventions
in the Old Norse language, were of Standard English?
Only nouns can be
made during the Viking Age. The
_______ include multiple mentions of
possessed. If the next
A runestones’ contents
“Greece” and “Greeks,” hence their word isn’t a noun, then
the word in question
WRITING
name.
B runestones’ contents’ shouldn’t be possessive.
C runestones contents
D runestones contents’
MATH
Does the first word possess anything? ________________________________
Does the second word possess anything? ______________________________
CONSTRUCTING POSSESSIVE NOUNS

Rewrite the following using apostrophes.
i. The book of my uncle ® my _______________ book
ii. The rules of the class ® the _______________ rules
iii. The rules of the classes ® the _______________ rules
iv. The backpack of my friend ® my _______________ backpack
v. The backpacks of my friends ® my _______________ backpacks
vi. The will of the people ® the _______________ will

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
How to Form Possessive Nouns

• For singular nouns, add an apostrophe + s.
• For plural nouns that end in -s or -es, keep them plural
and add an apostrophe after.
WRITING
• For irregular plural nouns that don’t end in -s, add an

apostrophe + s.
South African singer Brenda

2 Mark for Review
MATH
Fassie was known for several

hits, including a song written as Which choice completes the text so
a tribute to Nelson Mandela. She that it conforms to the conventions
sang in multiple languages, such of Standard English?
as Xhosa, Zulu, and English, and
gained international popularity A Peoples nickname’s
over the course of her career.
_______ for Fassie included “MaBrrr”
and “The Black Madonna.” B People’s nicknames
C People’s nickname’s
D Peoples nicknames
It’s rare but possible to have two possessive nouns in a row.
vii. The decisions of the guides of the group ® the ______________
______________ decisions

Vernalization, or the acceleration
READING
3 Mark for Review
of plants flowering in response
to extended exposure to cold Which choice completes the text so
temperatures, is controlled by that it conforms to the conventions
a complex set of molecules that of Standard English?
uses weather and environmental
conditions to trigger flowering A Dean’s research proves that
during the most opportune time plants’
WRITING
for the plant. Dame Caroline Dean
is a plant scientist from Britain
who strives to understand these B Dean’s research proves that
controls. _______ levels of gene plants
regulation are far beyond what was
initially thought.
C Deans research proves that
plants’
MATH
D Deans research proves that
plants
When apostrophes on nouns are changing in the answer

choices…
1. Determine whether the first word is possessing anything.
If not, eliminate options with apostrophes on that word.
2. Determine whether any additional words are possessing
anything. Remember that a possessive noun must be fol-
lowed by something that can be possessed (i.e., another
noun).
3. Use POE.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
NOUNS DRILL
Time: 5 minutes

Scientists are researching a drug called rapamycin, In the Faiyum Oasis west of the Nile River are the
WRITING
which may extend the lifespan of certain organisms, remnants of two colossal statues that were once
but long-term treatment has shown some adverse located on the shore of Lake Moeris. The statues were
effects. To combat this, scientists provided mice erected by ancient Egyptian pharaoh Amenemhat III
with a single, stronger dose at birth, and the ________ and described by the Greek historian Herodotus. The
increased with fewer negative side effects seen later ________ now known as the Pedestals of Biahmu, are
in life. the only parts that have survived.
MATH
A mouse’s lifespans A statues bases,

B mice’s lifespans B statues bases’,
C mouse’s lifespan’s C statues’ bases,
D mice’s lifespan’s D statues’ bases’,

READING
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is an American writer, On September 15, 1896, two locomotives crashed into
historian, and activist. She is known for her book An each other near the town of West, Texas. This event
Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States. Each was not an accident, however; instead, the Missouri,
of the ________ analyzes different time periods within Kansas, and Texas Railway planned the collision as
the four-hundred-year history of the colonization a publicity stunt. Tragically, the ________ exploded,
of the Americas from the perspective of Indigenous killing two people and injuring at least six others.
peoples.
WRITING
A locomotives boilers
A books chapters

B locomotives’ boilers
B book’s chapters’
MATH
C locomotives boilers’
C book’s chapters
D locomotives’ boilers’
D books’ chapters’
4 Mark for Review

Cuban artist Kcho is known for creating sculptures
with plastic. In 1986, he presented his first exhibition,
“Kcho Expone Favelas,” at the Centre of Plastic Arts in
Nueva Gerona, Cuba. Since 1990, Kcho has presented
his ________ around the world.

A works in exhibitions’

B works’ in exhibitions
C works’ in exhibitions’
D works in exhibitions

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• Only __________________ nouns need apostrophes.
• To make a singular noun possessive, add ______________.
• To make a plural noun that ends with -s or -es possessive, add __________________.
• To make an irregular plural noun possessive, add _____________.
• If the word that comes after a noun is not another noun, then the first noun cannot be
____________________.

RULES QUESTIONS:
MODIFIERS
385
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Recognize when a question is testing modifiers

• Understand the misplaced modifier error
WRITING

1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
3. ____________________________________________________________
WHEN DESCRIBING PHRASES GO WRONG…

Earlier, you learned about the describing phrases that we call Specifying or Ex-
tra Information. Sometimes, these describing phrases, also known as modifiers,
are not correctly written. That is, they don’t describe the person or thing they’re
intended to describe. Misplaced modifier errors can be very easy to miss because
they’re extremely common in everyday life. Once you have seen some examples,
though, you may find that you start to notice this error everywhere.

RULES QUESTIONS: MODIFIERS
One of the earliest surviving public
READING
1 Mark for Review
libraries in Italy is the Marciana
Library. Founded by Cardinal Which choice completes the text so
Bessarion in 1468, _______ The that it conforms to the conventions
library now consists of over 13,000 of Standard English?
manuscripts and functions as both
library and museum. A the original collection of the
library contained over 500
WRITING
Greek and Latin
manuscripts.

B the library’s collection
originally contained over
500 Greek and Latin
manuscripts.
MATH

C over 500 Greek and Latin
manuscripts made up the
library’s original collection.

D the library originally
contained a collection of
over 500 Greek and Latin
manuscripts.
Is there a modifying phrase before or after the blank? ____________________
Which answers start with someone or something that shouldn’t be described by
the modifier?___________________________________________________
When the subject changes in the answer choices, highlight

the modifier just before or after the blank.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
MISPLACED MODIFIERS
Highlight the misplaced modifier. Draw an arrow to what it’s currently modifying.
Circle the noun that the modifier should be modifying.
i. Outside without a leash, my friend chased after her dog.
ii. Built on an overlook, Mark enjoyed the view from his home.
WRITING
iii. Lily wore shoes on her feet that were too small.
iv. My parents bought a cat for my brother named Mittens.
v. As a child, my grandmother told me stories.

MATH
A sentence with a misplaced modifier error may still “make sense.” You may un-
derstand perfectly well what the author meant to say, but that isn’t good enough.
In order for the sentence to be correct, the modifier must always come as close as
possible to the person or thing it is describing.
Reaching from Springer Mountain

2 Mark for Review
in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in
Maine, _______ While more than Which choice completes the text so
three million people hike parts of that it conforms to the conventions
the trail during the year, hiking of Standard English?
You usually only need the entire trail in one season is
to read the first few
challenging. It’s estimated that only A the United States has a
words of each answer 25% of attempts are successful. hiking trail called the
in order to find the Appalachian Trail that
subject. extends almost 2,200 miles.

B the Appalachian Trail’s
hiking length extends
almost 2,200 miles in the
United States.

C the Appalachian Trail is a
hiking trail in the United
States that extends almost
2,200 miles.

D there are 2,200 miles of
hiking on the Appalachian
Trail in the United States.

Modifiers can be made tricky by the use of possessive nouns. Determine whether
READING
the following are OK or not.
OK NOT
i. Made in small batches by hand, Laura’s chocolate chip ��

cookies were delicious.
WRITING
ii. Frightened by the main character, Paul’s book was too ��
scary to read right before bed.
iii. Questioning everything, Descartes’s best-known axiom is ��

“I think, therefore I am.”
iv. Running for over an hour, the teacher’s lesson left every- ��
MATH
one exhausted.
v. Rowing down the stream, Leslie’s canoe started taking ��
on water.
Andrea Dutton, an American

3 Mark for Review
geochemist and paleoclimatologist,
studies historical sea level rise by Which choice completes the text so
examining the geological record. that it conforms to the conventions
Using Dutton’s research, _______ of Standard English?

A better predictions of future
sea level rise will be made
by scientists.

B scientists’ predictions of sea
level rise in the future will
be better.
C scientists can better predict

sea level rise in the future.

D sea level rise in the future
can be better predicted by
scientists.
When subjects are changing in the answer choices…

1. Highlight the modifier in the sentence.
2. Use POE to eliminate answers that begin with some-
one or something that shouldn’t be described with that
modifier.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
MODIFIERS DRILL
Time: 6 minutes

American engineer, physician, and astronaut Mae Mary J. Pritchard was a textile artist from the island
WRITING
Jemison was the first Black woman to travel into of American Samoa who is credited with the revival
space. She worked as a doctor for several years before of the art of siapo, a cloth handmade from plants.
joining NASA in 1987. Serving as a mission specialist, Used for clothing as well as bedding and ceremonies,
________ ________ begins with the bark of paper mulberry trees.
MATH
A Jemison orbited the Earth on the space shuttle A there are few people today who can produce
Endeavour in September 1992. this cloth, which

B the space shuttle Endeavour orbited the Earth B siapo is one of the oldest cultural art forms in
in September 1992 with Jemison on board. American Samoa and
C the Earth was orbited by Jemison and the C Pritchard grew up around siapo and mastered
space shuttle Endeavour in September 1992. the process for making it, which

D Jemison’s mission on the space shuttle D siapo’s color comes from natural dyes, and the
Endeavour involved orbiting the Earth in process for creating siapo
September 1992.

READING
A chapbook is a small collection of short pieces of Aboriginal Australian artist Rover Thomas was one of
writing. The winner of numerous chapbook awards, the pioneers of the East Kimberley School. Comparing
________ and he has also managed virtual health himself to American artist Mark Rothko, ________
projects.
WRITING
A Thomas’s art incorporates elements of both
A some collections of medical poems have been modern and Indigenous art.
written by Tolu Oloruntoba,

B Thomas noted that his art incorporates
B this type of writing has been exemplified by elements of both modern and Indigenous art.
Tolu Oloruntoba, who has written many
medical poems in this format,
MATH
C elements of Indigenous and modern art were
incorporated by Thomas.
C Tolu Oloruntoba’s poems have a medical theme
and have appeared in this format,
D elements of modern art were incorporated
with Indigenous art in Thomas’s art.
D Tolu Oloruntoba has written many of these
collections of poems with a medical theme,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• A modifier must always come __________________________________________ to the person or thing

it’s describing.
• Look for a modifier if you see __________________ changing in the answer choices.
• When modifiers are being tested, highlight __________________ and _____________.

RHETORIC QUESTIONS:
TRANSITIONS
393
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Recognize Rhetoric questions

• Apply the Basic Approach for transition questions
• Understand the meaning and usage of common transitions
WRITING
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?

The last two question types appearing on each Reading and Writing module are
what we refer to as Rhetoric questions:
MATH
• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________
These questions are different from the preceding Rules questions. Instead of deal-
ing with ___________, Rhetoric questions are about ____________.
TRANSITIONS
You’ll be able to spot transition questions easily. They always appear after the
Rules questions, so once you notice that you aren’t being asked the standard Rules
question anymore, you’ll know you’ve moved on to Rhetoric. Furthermore, tran-
sition questions have their own standard question that will easily clue you in to
their topic.
Transition questions always ask the following:

transition?

RHETORIC QUESTIONS: TRANSITIONS
Instructional videos are becoming
READING
1 Mark for Review
more common in education, and
many video platforms allow Which choice completes the text
viewers to play videos at a faster with the most logical transition?
rate. Researchers looked into the
effect of watching sped-up videos A Along those lines,
on learning, perceived workload,
and viewing preferences. Watching
B
WRITING
videos sped up to double the rate Likewise,
had minimal effects on learning.
________ watching videos sped up
1.5x did lead to negative effects, C However,
specifically increased perceived
workload and reduced preference.
D Regardless,
MATH
What ideas before and after the blank either support or contradict each other? Highlight the content that
supports or contradicts.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Do the ideas agree or disagree? Agree Disagree Annotate with “Agree” or

“Disagree.”
What can you eliminate?__________________________________________
How does (C) relate the two ideas?___________________________________
Should you keep (C)? Yes No
How does (D) relate the two ideas?__________________________________
Should you keep (D)? Yes No
Transition Questions Basic Approach

1. Read the text and highlight any ideas that support or
contradict each other.
2. Make an annotation indicating whether the ideas sur-
rounding the blank agree or disagree.
3. Eliminate any answers that go the wrong direction. Then,
use POE on any remaining options.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Sign languages, as with spoken

READING
2 Mark for Review

languages, have dialects that
develop among different Which choice completes the text
populations. ________ Black with the most logical transition?
American Sign Language
developed as a variation of A For example,
American Sign Language and
includes borrowings from African
B
WRITING
American English. However,
C In addition,
D Therefore,
MATH
What ideas before and after the blank either support or contradict each other?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Do the ideas agree or disagree? Agree Disagree
What can you eliminate?__________________________________________
How does (A) relate the two ideas?___________________________________
Should you keep (A)? Yes No
How does (C) relate the two ideas?___________________________________
Should you keep (C)? Yes No
How does (D) relate the two ideas?__________________________________
Should you keep (D)? Yes No

READING
COMMON TRANSITIONS
For the most part, College Board uses the same transitions over and over. Here are
the test-writers’ favorites:
Transition Direction Notes
For example Agree Disagree ___________________________
WRITING
For instance Agree Disagree ___________________________
Furthermore Agree Disagree ___________________________
However Agree Disagree ___________________________
MATH
In addition Agree Disagree ___________________________
In fact Agree Disagree ___________________________
Likewise Agree Disagree ___________________________
Moreover Agree Disagree ___________________________
Nevertheless Agree Disagree ___________________________
Similarly Agree Disagree ___________________________
Specifically Agree Disagree ___________________________
Still Agree Disagree ___________________________
Therefore Agree Disagree ___________________________
Thus Agree Disagree ___________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Architect Ludwig Mies van der

READING
3 Mark for Review

Rohe designed many buildings
with a clean, industrial style. For Which choice completes the text
example, 330 North Wabash in with the most logical transition?
Chicago, Illinois, is a simple black
rectangular prism with a visible A On the other hand,
steel frame surrounding large
windows. ________ the Farnsworth
B
WRITING
House in Plano, Illinois, features Therefore,

large windows with white steel
structural elements above and
below. C Similarly,
D Nevertheless,
MATH
Not every question uses the most common transitions, however.
Humans, unlike other primates,

4 Mark for Review
do not have vocal membranes,
small pieces of tissue located above Which choice completes the text
the vocal cords. ________ humans with the most logical transition?
are able to make more stable
and complex noises, which are A Consequently,
necessary for speech.

B Rather,
C After all,
D By the same token,

READING
TRICKY TRANSITIONS
Here are some of the trickier transitions that College Board occasionally uses:
Transition Direction Notes
Accordingly Agree Disagree ___________________________
WRITING
Actually Agree Disagree ___________________________
Besides Agree Disagree ___________________________
Consequently Agree Disagree ___________________________
Hence Agree Disagree ___________________________
MATH
In any case Agree Disagree ___________________________
In broad terms Agree Disagree ___________________________
In effect Agree Disagree ___________________________
Regardless Agree Disagree ___________________________
Subsequently Agree Disagree ___________________________
To that end Agree Disagree ___________________________
In a recent study, researchers

5 Mark for Review
estimated that there are 20
quadrillion ants on Earth. ________ Which choice completes the text
there are 2.5 million ants for every with the most logical transition?
single human.
A In addition,

B Meanwhile,
C In other words,
D Overall,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Geologist Ho-Kwang Mao wished

READING
6 Mark for Review

to discover the properties of solid
hydrogen. ________ Mao used the Which choice completes the text
diamond anvil cell to subject with the most logical transition?
hydrogen to 32,000,000 pounds per
square inch of pressure, turning A To this end,
normally gaseous hydrogen into a
solid.
B
WRITING
In other words,
C Despite this,
D Moreover,
MATH

READING
TRANSITIONS DRILL
Time: 12 minutes

While there is no cure for canine cognitive Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim studied
WRITING
dysfunction, a recent study found that there may be with several teachers before starting his career on
some ways to reduce the risk. ________ older dogs who Broadway. First, he worked with Oscar Hammerstein
engaged in more physical activity were less likely to II, who co-wrote musicals such as Oklahoma!, South
have the disease. Pacific, and The Sound of Music. ________ Sondheim was
taught by Robert Barrow and Milton Babbitt while
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Sondheim was a student at Williams College.
transition?
MATH
A Also, transition?
A Therefore,
B Furthermore,

B In fact,
C Instead,
C Nevertheless,
D For example,
D Next,
2 Mark for Review

Growing up, poet Sharon Olds was not allowed to go
to the movies or watch television. ________ she was 4 Mark for Review
able to read whatever she liked, including poet Allen Most languages evolve naturally through human
Ginsberg’s Howl and Other Poems and Life magazine. interactions, without a single inventor. Esperanto,
________ is a constructed language, created by
Which choice completes the text with the most logical ophthalmologist L. L. Zamenhof in 1887.
transition?
A However, transition?
A for example,
B Similarly,

B however,
C Thus,
C in addition,
D Therefore,
D therefore,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Researchers studied dogs and tear production to see Scientists are having difficulty identifying the species
whether emotional arousal in dogs can lead to tears. of one particular whale. While the frequency of blue
To find out, the researchers measured dogs’ tears whale calls is between 10 and 39 hertz (Hz), and
when dogs reunited with their owners and with the frequency of fin whales is around 20 Hz, this
familiar non-owners. When dogs reunited with their individual whale calls at around 52 Hz. This species
owners, their tear volume increased. ________ when the of whale, nicknamed the 52-hertz whale, cannot be
dogs reunited with familiar non-owners, there was determined by its call. ________ no one has made visual
WRITING
not a significant increase in tear volume. contact with the whale.
transition? transition?
A Likewise, A Moreover,

B B
MATH
On the other hand, Thus,
C Moreover, C Despite this,
D Afterward, D Nevertheless,

Nordmarka is a forest of one thousand trees outside Consumer advocate Ralph Nader’s 1965 book Unsafe
of Oslo, Norway. The trees are part of a special art at Any Speed advocated for increased safety laws for
project called Future Library and will be preserved automobiles and was a best-seller the following year.
for one hundred years. For each of the hundred years, ________ within five years, 49 states passed seat belt
a different author submits a piece of writing to the laws and the US government created the National
Future Library. ________ the trees will be used to make Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
paper to publish the writing submissions.
transition?
A However,
A Therefore,

B Likewise,
B Similarly,
C As a result,
C Ultimately,
D Furthermore,
D Thus,

READING
Reggae is a music genre known for its distinctive Genevieve Caulfield lost her sight due to an accident
rhythms. ________ staccato chords are played on the at two months old. However, this challenge did not
offbeats by a guitar or piano. prevent her from succeeding; ________ Caulfield was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963
Which choice completes the text with the most logical for her work for the blind in Asia.
transition?
WRITING
A Specifically, transition?
A therefore,
B Indubitably,

B indeed,
C Finally,
MATH
C furthermore,
D Fortunately,
D similarly,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• Where do transition questions appear in the RW section? _______________________________________
__________________________
• For transition questions, _______________ ideas in the sentence(s) that ____________ or _______________.
Then, ___________________ and _______________.

RHETORIC QUESTIONS:
RHETORICAL SYNTHESIS
405
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Apply the Basic Approach for Rhetorical Synthesis questions

• Recognize when answers do not fulfill the goal or goals stated in the
question
WRITING
LET’S GET RHETORICAL

The final question type to appear in an RW module is called Rhetorical Synthe-
sis. Like the other Writing questions, they’re easy to identify by their common
question.
MATH
Rhetorical Synthesis questions always ask:

Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from
the notes to accomplish this goal?
Rhetorical Synthesis questions have two other features that help you identify
them:
________________________: Instead of the text being in the form of a paragraph,

these texts will have 4–6 “notes.”
________________________: You’ll be asked to choose a sentence that fulfills the

stated purpose(s). All of the sentences will be grammatically correct, and it’s likely
that all of them will accurately express the information from the notes.

RHETORIC QUESTIONS: RHETORICAL SYNTHESIS
While researching a topic, a
READING
1 Mark for Review
student has taken the following
notes: The student wants to emphasize a
similarity between Eris and Pluto.
• E
ris is a dwarf planet
Which choice most effectively uses
discovered in 2005 by a team
relevant information from the
at the Palomar Observatory.
notes to accomplish this goal?
• I nitially, scientists thought that
Eris was larger than Pluto and
WRITING
A Pluto was the ninth planet
thus described it as the tenth
and Eris was described as
planet of the Solar System.
the tenth planet of the Solar
• N
ot everyone agreed that System.
it should be classified as a
planet.
B The International
• I n 2006, the International
Astronomical Union created
Astronomical Union created
MATH
the definition of “planet,”
the official definition of
which Eris did not meet.
“planet.”
• E
ris did not meet the
definition and was classified C Eris and Pluto were both
as a dwarf planet. considered planets by some
• P
luto, originally the ninth before they were classified
planet, was also classified as as dwarf planets.
a dwarf planet based on the
new definition.
D Pluto was classified as a
dwarf planet based on the
official definition of
“planet.”
What is the student’s goal?_________________________________________ Highlight the goal or

goals.
Does (A) fulfill the goal? Yes No
Go right to the answers!
Does (B) fulfill the goal? Yes No Only one answer will
correctly address all of
Does (C) fulfill the goal? Yes No the goals.
Does (D) fulfill the goal? Yes No
Rhetorical Synthesis Basic Approach

1. Read the question and highlight each goal that is
mentioned.
2. Eliminate any answer choice that does not completely
fulfill the goal or goals.
3. Read the bullet points to confirm the answer if needed.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Often, Rhetorical Synthesis questions have more than one goal.

READING

2 Mark for Review
notes: The student wants to present the
study and its findings. Which choice
• A
nimals that do not get
most effectively uses relevant
enough sodium from their diet
information from the notes to
seek out salt licks, naturally
accomplish this goal?
WRITING
occurring deposits of salt.

• S
cientists Joel Berger and
A In a study of mountain goats
Forest Hayes noticed bighorn
and bighorn sheep, Joel
sheep and mountain goats
Berger and Forest Hayes
looking for salt licks in Glacier
found that when goats and
National Park.
sheep competed for access to
• T
hey thought that if the sheep salt licks, the goats
and goats competed for access outcompeted the sheep the
MATH
to the same salt lick, the sheep majority of the time.

would win about half the time.
• T
he researchers observed
B In a study of mountain goats
over 100 interactions between
and bighorn sheep, Joel
sheep and goats at salt licks.
Berger and Forest Hayes
• T
he goats outcompeted the observed over 100
sheep in all but 2 of the interactions between the
interactions. goats and sheep.
• A
possible explanation is that
goats act more aggressively.
C Animals such as bighorn
sheep and mountain goats
seek out salt licks for the
sodium.

D When studying mountain
goats and bighorn sheep at
salt licks in Glacier National
Park, Joel Berger and Forest
Hayes thought that sheep
would win access to the licks
half the time.
What are the student’s goals? ____________________ and _____________________
Does (A) fulfill the first goal? Yes No

The second goal? Yes No
Does (B) fulfill the first goal? Yes No

Does (C) fulfill the first goal? Yes No

Does (D) fulfill the first goal? Yes No

READING
Correct answers to Rhetorical Synthesis questions must fulfill
all of the goals in the question!
WRITING
GET A CLUE
Transition words can often help identify whether a goal is being fulfilled. In each
of the following, highlight the goal, then eliminate transition words that do not
address the goal.
i. The student wants to emphasize a similarity…

A) … however…
MATH
B) … both …
C) … therefore …
D) … yet …
ii. The student wants to provide a reason…

A) … because …
B) … conversely …
C) … for example …
D) … since …
iii. The student wants to emphasize a difference…

A) … while …
B) … and …
C) … however …
D) … similarly …

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
3 Mark for Review

notes: The student wants to contrast the
scopes of two events. Which choice
• I n 1874, up to 12.5 trillion
most effectively uses relevant
locusts attacked the Great
information from the notes to
Plains of the US and Canada.
accomplish this goal?
• T
his event is known as the
Locust Plague of 1874.
Transitions can help with
WRITING
A The Locust Plague of 1874

POE, but the ideas must • T
he locusts covered had up to 12.5 trillion
also accomplish the goal! approximately 2 million locusts; however, these
square miles. locusts covered
• A
locust infestation in 1875 approximately 2 million
covered 198,000 square miles. square miles.

B In 1874, up to 12.5 trillion
MATH

Plains of the US and Canada,
covering approximately 2
million square miles.

C The Locust Plague of 1874
covered approximately 2
million square miles, while
a locust infestation the next
year covered only 198,000
square miles.

D During the Locust Plague of
1874, up to 12.5 trillion
Plains of the US and Canada.
What is the student’s goal?_________________________________________
Does (A) fulfill the goal? Yes No
Does (B) fulfill the goal? Yes No
Does (C) fulfill the goal? Yes No
Does (D) fulfill the goal? Yes No

READING
MAKING GENERALIZATIONS
Sometimes, the goal will ask for a generalization. The correct answers to these
questions often include little or no detail.

4 Mark for Review
notes: The student wants to generalize the
WRITING
use of Agloe as a fictitious entry.
• C
artographers Otto G.
Lindberg and Ernest Alpers
included Agloe in their maps
of the Catskill Mountains, NY,
in the 1930s.
A Cartographers Otto G.
• Agloe was not a real town.
Lindberg and Ernest Alpers
• A
gloe was a fictitious entry included Agloe, which was
MATH
included in the map to catch not a real town but rather a
plagiarizers. fictitious entry, in their
• A
gloe General Store was built maps of the Catskill Does the answer need to
at the location on the maps in Mountains, NY, in the 1930s. include Agloe in order to
the 1950s. be a generalization?

• A
gloe, NY, became a real place B In the 1950s, Agloe General
because of this store. Store was built at the
location of the fictitious
entry for Agloe, NY.

C Some maps include locations
that are not real, known as
fictitious entries, in order to
catch plagiarizers.

D Initially a fictitious entry
included in maps to catch
plagiarizers, Agloe, NY,
became a real place when
Agloe General Store was
built at the location on the
maps in the 1950s.
THIS SEEMS FAMILIAR

Another common goal relates to whether the audience is familiar or unfamiliar
with a particular subject. The audience’s familiarity will determine whether de-
tails, such as definitions, explanations, or other background information, should
be included.
Audience is familiar: More detail Less detail
Audience is unfamiliar: More detail Less detail

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
5 Mark for Review

notes: The student wants to introduce
the Apgar score to an audience
• T
he Apgar score is used by
unfamiliar with Virginia Apgar.
medical professionals to assess
the health of a newborn.
• T
o obtain the Apgar score, notes to accomplish this goal?
medical professionals assess a
WRITING
newborn one minute and five

A The Apgar score is named
minutes after birth.
for Virginia Apgar, and
• V
irginia Apgar, an American Apgar is also an acronym.
physician, invented the Apgar
score in 1952 to prevent infant
mortality. B Virginia Apgar was an
American physician who
• W
hile the Apgar score is
wanted to prevent infant
MATH
named after its inventor,

mortality.
the name also serves as an
acronym for the conditions
assessed: Appearance, Pulse,
C The Apgar score is based on
Grimace, Activity, Respiration.
a test given to newborns one
minute and five minutes
after birth.

D Wanting to prevent infant
mortality, American
physician Virginia Apgar
invented the Apgar score to
assess the health of a
newborn.
What are the student’s goals? ____________________ and _____________________
Does (A) fulfill the first goal? Yes No

What in the answer choice, Does (B) fulfill the first goal? Yes No
if anything, would help an The second goal? Yes No
audience unfamiliar with
Virginia Apgar?
Does (C) fulfill the first goal? Yes No
Does (D) fulfill the first goal? Yes No


READING
Identify whether the following would be more appropriate to an audience familiar or
unfamiliar with the bolded portion.
Familiar Unfamiliar
i. Vonnegut’s novel Cat’s Cradle… _______ _______
WRITING
ii. 20th century Irish novelist James Joyce
is regarded as… _______ _______
iii. Insulin, a hormone that controls blood

sugar, is produced… _______ _______
iv. The unpredictable nature of analog
MATH
video is a feature of van Koolwijk’s work. _______ _______
v. Sister Cities Ann Arbor, Michigan,

and Peterborough, Ontario, held the
Arborough Games in the 1980s
and 1990s. _______ _______

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
6 Mark for Review

notes: The student wants to introduce
the novel Zenzele: A Letter for My
• J . Nozipo Maraire is a
Daughter to an audience already
neurosurgeon and author.
familiar with J. Nozipo Maraire.
• S
he was born in Mangula, Which choice most effectively uses
Zimbabwe. relevant information from the
WRITING
• Z
enzele: A Letter for My
Daughter, Maraire’s novel, was
a New York Times “Notable A J. Nozipo Maraire’s novel
Book of the Year” in 1996. Zenzele: A Letter for My
• T
he novel is written as a letter Daughter, published in 1996,
from mother to daughter is written as a letter from
about their family and their mother to daughter about
country, Zimbabwe. their family and their
country, Zimbabwe.
MATH

B J. Nozipo Maraire wrote a
novel about a mother and
daughter that was a New
York Times “Notable Book of
the Year.”

C J. Nozipo Maraire is a
Zimbabwean neurosurgeon
and author who was born in
Mangula.

D Zimbabwean neurosurgeon
and author J. Nozipo
Maraire wrote Zenzele: A
Letter for My Daughter,
which was a New York Times
“Notable Book of the Year”
in 1996.

READING
RHETORICAL SYNTHESIS DRILL
Time: 12 minutes

While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
WRITING
following notes: following notes:
• Zydeco is a genre of music from Louisiana. • S
huntarō Tanikawa is a respected and well-
• I t is generally played with a strong rhythmic known Japanese poet.
core in a syncopated and uptempo manner. • H
e has translated famous poetry and cartoons
• T
here are two instruments that feature in from other languages into Japanese, including
zydeco music. Mother Goose rhymes and the comic Peanuts.
• H
e has written poems for children’s books and
MATH
• An accordion leads the band.
theme song lyrics, such as for the film Howl’s
• A
vest frottoir, a specialized washboard, is the Moving Castle.
main percussive instrument.
• T
anikawa is often considered a strong candidate
• O
ther instruments used in zydeco are keyboard, for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
bass, electric guitar, and drum set.
• M
any of Tanikawa’s poems have been translated
The student wants to emphasize the main into other languages.
instruments used in zydeco. Which choice most
effectively uses relevant information from the notes The student wants to emphasize the variety of media
to accomplish this goal? that Tanikawa has worked in. Which choice most
effectively uses relevant information from the notes
to accomplish this goal?
A Zydeco uses different instruments, such as
accordions and electric guitars.
A The poems of Shuntarō Tanikawa, a respected
and well-known Japanese poet, have been

B Zydeco is a type of music from Louisiana that translated into many different languages.
has a syncopated and uptempo style.

B Japanese poet Shuntarō Tanikawa has written

C A specialized washboard, called a vest frottoir, poems for children’s books; some of his poems
is played as a percussive instrument, although have been translated into other languages.
zydeco can also include a drum set.

C Shuntarō Tanikawa, who is often considered a
D An accordion leads a zydeco band, and a vest strong candidate for the Nobel Prize in
frottoir is the main percussive instrument. Literature, is a respected and well-known
Japanese poet.

D Tanikawa’s work is varied: it includes
translations of famous poetry and cartoons
from other languages into Japanese, poems for
children’s books, and theme song lyrics.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
• T
he Gourd Dance originated with the Kiowa • T
he amygdala is a region in the brain involved
tribe and is performed by men. in stress processing.
• T
hey form a circle and dance in place to a • P
revious research has suggested that people
relatively slow beat. who live in rural areas have amygdalas that are
less activated during stress compared to people
WRITING
• T
he men drape red or blue blankets over their
shoulders during the dance. who live in urban areas.
• T
he Grass Dance is fast-paced and includes a • S
cientists were unsure whether the nature in
variety of movements. rural areas led to less-activated amygdalas or
whether people with less-activated amygdalas
• M
en from the Northern Plains perform this choose to live in areas with more nature.
dance wearing regalia that includes brightly
colored fringe and rarely includes feathers. • A
recent study had volunteers walk for one
hour either in Grunewald forest or in an urban
MATH
The student wants to explain a difference between shopping street in Berlin.

the two dances. Which choice most effectively uses • V
olunteers who walked in the forest had
relevant information from the notes to accomplish decreased activity in their amygdalas.
this goal? • T
his suggests that nature has a beneficial impact
on stress processing.
A The Grass Dance is performed at a faster pace
than the Gourd Dance is. The student wants to present the study and its
findings. Which choice most effectively uses relevant
information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
B Performers of the Gourd Dance wear blankets,
and the Grass Dance includes a variety of
A People who live in rural areas have less
movements.
activated amygdalas, but it was unclear from
previous studies whether that was a result of
C The Gourd Dance, which is performed in a living in areas with more nature.
circle, originated with the Kiowa tribe.

B In a recent study, researchers found that
D The Gourd Dance and the Grass Dance are both people who walked for one hour in a forest had
performed by men. decreased activity in their amygdalas, a brain
region involved in stress processing, compared
to people who walked in an urban setting,
suggesting that nature is beneficial for stress.

C In a recent study, researchers separated
volunteers into two groups and had one group
walk through a forest and one group walk
along a street.
D The benefits of nature on stress processing

were studied recently.

READING
• T
he angklung is an instrument that originated • Gaet’ale Pond is a hypersaline lake.
in Indonesia and is played by the Sundanese • I t is located in the Afar Depression in Ethiopia,
people. which is one of the most tectonically active areas
• T
he instrument is made of carved bamboo tubes, in the world.
which produce particular pitches when struck.
WRITING
• It is the saltiest body of water in the world.
• The tubes are attached to a bamboo frame. • It has a salinity of 43%.
• I n an angklung ensemble, each person can • T
he world’s oceans have an average salinity of
create one pitch. 3.5%.
• A
ngklung players work together to create • T
he Dead Sea in the Jordan Rift Valley has a
complete melodies. salinity of 33.7%.
MATH
The student wants to introduce the angklung to an The student wants to highlight how the salinity of
audience unfamiliar with its appearance. Which Gaet’ale Pond compares to that of other bodies of
choice most effectively uses relevant information water. Which choice most effectively uses relevant
from the notes to accomplish this goal? information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A The angklung, a Sundanese musical A Gaet’ale Pond has a salinity of 43%, while the
instrument, consists of carved bamboo tubes Dead Sea has a salinity of 33.7% and the
attached to a bamboo frame. world’s oceans have an average salinity of only
3.5%.

B The bamboo tubes of the angklung produce

particular pitches when struck. B Gaet’ale Pond, the Dead Sea, and the world’s
oceans all have different salinities.
C Angklung players in an ensemble work
together to create a complete melody. C Gaet’ale Pond is in the Afar Depression, and
the Dead Sea is in the Jordan Rift Valley.
D The angklung originated in Indonesia and
consists of carved bamboo tubes. D Gaet’ale Pond is the saltiest body of water in
the world with a salinity of 43%.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
• G
raphic novelist and illustrator Thi Bui was • W
alnuts, a type of tree nut, are a good source
born in Vietnam in 1975. of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid, which may
• S
he and her family fled Vietnam during the promote heart and brain health.
Vietnam War as refugees. • R
esearchers were interested in the possible
health benefits of walnut consumption over
WRITING
• S
he and her family arrived in the United States
in 1978. time.
• H
er first graphic novel, The Best We Could • T
hey conducted an observational, longitudinal
Do, told her family’s story from before fleeing study of around 3,000 people.
Vietnam to their migration to the United States. • T
he study included self-reported diet history
• H
er second published book, A Different Pond, over 20 years and physical and clinical
with text written by Bao Phi, tells the story of a measurements over 30 years.
Vietnamese father and son who immigrated to • P
articipants were divided into three groups:
MATH
the United States after the Vietnam War. “walnut consumers,” “other nut consumers,”
and “no nut consumers.”
The student wants to highlight a similarity between • “ Walnut consumers” had better health
two works. Which choice most effectively uses indicators, such as lower blood pressure, higher
relevant information from the notes to accomplish self-reported physical activity, and lower fasting
this goal? blood glucose concentrations, compared to the
other groups.
A Two of Thi Bui’s works tell stories of
Vietnamese immigrants to the United States: The student wants to present the study and its
The Best We Could Do tells the story of her methodology. Which choice most effectively uses
family, and A Different Pond tells the story of a relevant information from the notes to accomplish
father and son. this goal?

A Researchers found that walnut consumers had
B Graphic novelist and illustrator Thi Bui was
better health indicators over the course of a
born in Vietnam in 1975 and fled with her
years-long study.
family during the Vietnam War.

B Researchers studied the potential health
C Thi Bui and her family fled Vietnam during
benefits of consuming walnuts, a good source
the Vietnam War and arrived in the United
of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid.
States in 1978; this story is told in her first
graphic novel, The Best We Could Do.

C Interested in the effects of walnut
consumption, researchers conducted an
D Thi Bui’s first graphic novel, The Best We Could
observational, longitudinal study of 3,000
Do, tells the story of her family; however, her
participants that included self-reported diet
second book, A Different Pond, tells the story of
history and physical measurements to study
a father and son.
the possible health benefits of walnuts.

D A study revealed that walnut consumers have
lower blood pressure, higher self-reported
physical activity, and lower fasting blood
glucose concentrations.

READING
• A
tkinson Hyperlegible is a freely available • S
atire is a genre of literature that uses humor to
typeface. make social criticism.
• A
typeface is a set of designed letters and • M
ark Twain wrote the satire Huckleberry Finn
characters. in 1884.
WRITING
• A
tkinson Hyperlegible is intended to be • In Huckleberry Finn, Huck fights to help Jim,
optimally legible for readers who are partially a fugitive slave, despite the guilt he feels that
visually impaired. results from the social norms of the broader
• I t was designed by Applied Design Works under society.
the direction of the Braille Institute. • Joseph Heller wrote the satire Catch-22 in 1961.
• M
ost students at the Braille Institute are not • In Catch-22, Captain John Yossarian fights to
fully blind. survive despite the impossible requirements of
MATH
• A
tkinson Hyperlegible includes many circles as the broader US military bureaucracy.
a reference to braille and the Braille Institute.
The student wants to emphasize the similarities in
The student wants to introduce Atkinson two books to an audience familiar with satire. Which
Hyperlegible to an audience unfamiliar with the choice most effectively uses relevant information
term “typeface.” Which choice most effectively uses from the notes to accomplish this goal?
relevant information from the notes to accomplish
this goal? A In Huckleberry Finn, Huck helps a fugitive
slave, whereas in Catch-22, Captain John

A Most students at the Braille Institute are not Yossarian attempts to meet the requirements
fully blind; therefore, the Braille Institute of a military bureaucracy.
directed Applied Design Works in designing
Atkinson Typeface.
B Huckleberry Finn was written as a satire in
1884; Catch-22 was written as a satire in 1961.

B Atkinson Hyperlegible, a freely available
typeface, includes many circles as a reference
C Both Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and
to braille and the Braille Institute.
Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 are examples of satire,
a genre of literature that uses humor to make

C Atkinson Hyperlegible is a freely available social criticism.
typeface (a set of designed letters and
characters) intended to be optimally legible for
D In two examples of satire, Mark Twain’s
readers who are partially visually impaired.
Huckleberry Finn and Joseph Heller’s Catch-22,
the main characters find themselves fighting

D Atkinson Hyperlegible includes many circles against broader forces beyond them.
as a reference to braille and the Braille
Institute, where most students are not fully
blind.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• Rhetorical Synthesis questions appear _____________ in the RW section.
• For these questions, always _______________________________________ and then _________________
_______________. Only _________________________ if needed.
• If the audience is _________________ with a person or thing, then the person or thing should be
explained. If the audience is _________________, then the person or thing should not be explained.
• For these questions, all of the answers will / will not be grammatically correct, and it’s likely / unlikely
that they will all accurately represent the bullet points.
• Eliminate any answer that _________________________________________________________________.

WRITING DRILLS
421
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
WRITING DRILL 1

While teaching at Arizona State University, Elizabeth Sylvia Earle, an American marine biologist and
Trembath-Reichert has worked to collect and analyze oceanographer, is known for her research on algae
WRITING
underwater microbes. What are the key players and her work to raise awareness about the problems
involved in biogeochemical cycles, and ________ facing the world’s oceans. She was one of the pioneers
Trembath-Reichert hopes to discover the answers to in the use of scuba gear. In 1990, Earle was appointed
these questions. the Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, ________ her the first
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to woman to hold that position.
MATH
A how have their roles shifted throughout the conventions of Standard English?
history.
A makes

B how have their roles shifted throughout
history? B making
C their roles have shifted throughout history. C made
D their roles have shifted throughout history? D to make

Julio Montaner is an Argentine-Canadian doctor who Using the influence of her Nigerian background and
made great contributions to HIV/AIDS research. He life in the UK, Kalabarian artist Sokari Douglas Camp
started his career researching treatments for HIV used steel to sculpt the majority of her pieces. One of
infections and created new standards for HIV/AIDS her most significant sculptures, All the World is Now
drug therapies. Today, Montaner ________ as director of Richer, ________ a memorial in honor of the effects of
an immunodeficiency clinic at a hospital. slavery.
A will serve A are

B has served B have been
C served C is
D serves D were

WRITING DRILLS
READING
Amphibian eating habits have long fascinated Australian Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira
scientists. Rachel Keeffe and her colleagues wanted to painted richly detailed watercolors of the outback,
know what happens after a toad catches its prey. They where he lived. During his life, many Australians
used the cane toad in their study because ________ one ________ reproductions of his watercolors in their
of the largest toad species, so the researchers could homes.
more easily observe the swallowing mechanism. By
using metallic beads attached to the toads’ mouths Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
WRITING
and X-ray videography, the researchers found that the the conventions of Standard English?
toads briefly swallowed their tongues after catching
prey. A hung

the conventions of Standard English? B hang
A they are
MATH
C will hang

B one is
D will have hung
C these are
D it is 23 Mark for Review

The Azerbaijani people participate in carpet weaving,
and the practice has become a cultural tradition
passed down orally through generations, particularly
by female family members. The carpets ________ by
21 Mark for Review
their dense texture and may or may not have piles.
Declared the fastest woman in the world, American
sprinter Wilma Rudolph was a sports icon and Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
Olympic champion. Her performance in the 1956 the conventions of Standard English?
Olympics led to a bronze medal for the 4 × 100-meter
relay, while her performance in the 1960 ________ A are characterized
led to three gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter
individual events and the 4 × 100-meter relay.
B was characterized
C is characterized
A Olympics—
D has been characterized

B Olympics,
C Olympics
D Olympics:

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Many schools in the UK are located close to busy Eija-Liisa Ahtila is a filmmaker and artist from
roads, which exposes students to high levels of Finland who creates multi-panel cinematic pieces.
pollution from vehicles. Scientists hope to evaluate ________ she focused on themes of family relationships
different existing strategies to reduce the exposure, and mental health crises. Now, she focuses on more
such as green screens and air purifiers. ________ abstract concepts, such as faith and perception of the
scientists aim to develop new strategies that might meaning of life.
target vehicle exhaust specifically.
WRITING

transition?
A Also,
A On the other hand,

B Afterward,
B As a result,
MATH
C By contrast,
C Additionally,
D Previously,
D Still,
25 Mark for Review

A study was performed to determine how beliefs are
affected by the results of an event. When subjects
were presented with 10 objects in two rows on a
screen, they would select one of the objects in the top
row, and then one of the objects in the bottom row
would light up. When exposed to consistent patterns
of which object lit up, participants tended to believe
a claim predicting the results of a future test. ________
when exposed to random results, participants tended
to reject the same claim about the results.

transition?
A In conclusion,

B However,
C For instance,
D As a result,

WRITING DRILLS
27 Mark for Review
READING
While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes:
• Mohamed Ben Soltane is a Tunisian visual artist.

• H
is work has been exhibited in many countries,
including Tunisia, Germany, Spain, Italy, and
Algeria.
WRITING
• H
e is inspired by themes of freedom and
resistance along with Tunisia’s history as a
French colony.
• His work Contre l’Oubli (Hommage à El Mekki)
(2019) uses mosaics to depict the pixelated
signatures of famous Tunisian artists.
• His work Colonial discourse (2020) uses marble
MATH
mosaics to depict the words of the former
French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
The student wants to emphasize a similarity between

two works. Which choice most effectively uses
this goal?

A Mohamed Ben Soltane is a Tunisian visual
artist whose works have been presented in
Tunisia, Germany, Spain, and Algeria.

B Soltane is a Tunisian visual artist who is
inspired by themes of freedom and resistance.

C Soltane completed Contre l’Oubli (Hommage à
El Mekki) in 2019 and Colonial discourse in
2020.

D Soltane utilized mosaics to create both Contre
l’Oubli (Hommage à El Mekki) (2019) and
Colonial discourse (2020).

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
WRITING DRILL 2

Mojave American poet Natalie Diaz has published two The House of Awakened Culture, opened in 2009, was
books of poetry. Her first book, When My Brother Was built by the Suquamish tribe in Washington State as a
WRITING
an ________ portrayed Native American experiences. community ________ by the Old Man House, one of the
Her second book, Postcolonial Love Poem, explored largest communal longhouses built on the Northwest
love in an America rife with conflict. Coast, the House of Awakened Culture provides a
place for gatherings, ceremonies, and traditional
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to storytelling, dancing, and singing.
A Aztec, published in 2012, the conventions of Standard English?
MATH
A house and inspired

B Aztec published in 2012,

B house. Inspired
C Aztec, published in 2012
C house inspired
D Aztec published in 2012
D house, inspired
17 Mark for Review

Dating back to the 18th century, mariachi is a
19 Mark for Review
genre of regional Mexican music that became more
popular nationally in the early 20th century. Today, a Hawaiian musician Ledward Kaapana, once a
mariachi ________ typically include violins, trumpets, member of the musical group Hui ‘Ohana, is well
and guitars; lead and backup vocals are shared by the known for his use of the slack key guitar ________
group members. fingerstyle genre of guitar music, it originated when
Spanish guitars were introduced in Hawaii in the late
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to 19th century.
A group’s instruments’ the conventions of Standard English?
A style. A
B group’s instruments

B style and a
C groups’ instruments
C style a
D groups’ instruments’
D style, a

WRITING DRILLS
READING
Palestinian American writer Susan Muaddi Darraj’s Architects sometimes propose abstract “concept”
novel The Inheritance of Exile is a series ________ designs that may be used in the future. A giant
intertwined stories narrated by Palestinian American skyscraper that could hold up to 1,000,000
women living in a working-class neighborhood of inhabitants, ________ to combine modern technology
South Philadelphia. with nature.
WRITING

A of: A the X-Seed 4000’s location of Tokyo, Japan, was
destined to house the building designed by the
Taisei Corporation
B of—

B Tokyo, Japan, would be the home of the X-Seed
MATH
C of, 4000, designed by the Taisei Corporation
D of C the X-Seed 4000 was designed for Tokyo, Japan,

by the Taisei Corporation
D the Taisei Corporation designed the X-Seed

21 Mark for Review 4000 for Tokyo, Japan,
Though American quilter Carolyn Mazloomi is well-

known for her own quilts that tell complex stories
about the heritage and contemporary experiences of
African ________ she also advocates for the recognition
23 Mark for Review
of other African American quilt artists through her
organizations the African American Quilt Guild With little education in the field, American toy
of Los Angeles and the Women of Color Quilters designer Randi Altschul successfully developed
Network. many board games and toys. After designing a
board game based on the 1980s television show
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Miami Vice, she became a millionaire in her mid-20s.
the conventions of Standard English? ________ she developed the first disposable cell phone,
inspiring other developers to create a wide variety of
A Americans disposable electronics.

B Americans, transition?
A Subsequently,
C Americans, but

B Conversely,
D Americans;
C By the same token,
D Despite this,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Scientists have designed a wearable sensor that While researching a topic, a student has taken the
functions as electronic “skin.” The new design is following notes:
much more sensitive than other wireless sensors
are. ________ it can detect subtle changes in a person’s • A
team led by Zhen Xu at the University of
heartbeat or sweat composition. Michigan investigated the effects of histotripsy
on the progression of liver cancer.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical • H
istotripsy is a noninvasive technique that uses
WRITING
transition? sound waves as a treatment for cancer.

• T
he prognosis for liver cancer patients is poor,
A Finally, with many experiencing a recurrence of cancer
even after treatment.

B Specifically, • W
hen treated with histotripsy, mice with
liver cancer saw a 50–75% reduction in tumor
volume along with more than 80% of the mice
C Furthermore, experiencing no recurrence of cancer.
MATH
The student wants to emphasize the aim of the

D Next, research study. Which choice most effectively uses
this goal?

A A team led by Zhen Xu at the University of
Michigan found that histotripsy can remove
50–75% of liver tumor volume in mice and
prevent the recurrence of cancer in more than
80% of the mice.

B As the prognosis for liver cancer patients is
poor and recurrence of cancer is common
after treatment, researchers wanted to
investigate whether histotripsy could be an
effective treatment for liver cancer.

C Histotripsy is a noninvasive technique that
uses sound waves to treat liver cancer and is
effective at removing 50–75% of liver tumor
volume in mice with liver cancer.
D Researchers in Xu’s lab have discovered how

to use sound waves to treat cancer.

WRITING DRILLS
READING
• C
hinese paper cutting is one of the oldest folk • I n a study, a team led by Llewelyn Mills from
arts in China, with origins dating back to the the University of Sydney investigated factors
second century. influencing caffeine withdrawal.
• C
hinese paper cuttings are often used as • P
articipants of the study were all heavy coffee
WRITING
decorations for windows and are sometimes drinkers, drinking at least three cups of coffee a
referred to as window flowers. day.
• B
efore paper was invented, cuttings were made • A
fter 24 hours without coffee, some participants
using leaves, silk, or leather. were randomly given either decaffeinated coffee
• C
hinese paper cutting is more popular in or water.
northwest China due to the drier climate, in • P
articipants’ symptoms decreased after
contrast to southeast China’s more humid and consuming decaffeinated coffee.
rainier climate.
MATH
• T
he researchers concluded that consuming
• C
hinese paper cuttings have been used to decaffeinated coffee can help reduce the
celebrate the coming of spring since the Song symptoms of caffeine withdrawal.
and Yuan dynasties.
The student wants to present the caffeine withdrawal
The student wants to emphasize one of the uses of study and its conclusions. Which choice most
Chinese paper cuttings and their longevity. Which effectively uses relevant information from the notes
choice most effectively uses relevant information to accomplish this goal?
from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A Researchers at the University of Sydney
A Chinese paper cuttings are also known as wanted to investigate what factors influence
window flowers and are used as decorations caffeine withdrawal and found that the
for windows during the coming of spring. symptoms of caffeine withdrawal can be
reduced through consumption of
decaffeinated coffee.
B Chinese paper cuttings originated in the
second century and were originally made with
leaves, silk, and leather. B In a study of caffeine withdrawal, researchers
studied whether decaffeinated coffee could
reduce caffeine withdrawal symptoms in
C The drier climate of northwest China made heavy coffee drinkers who drank at least three
paper cuttings more popular there compared cups of coffee a day.
to in southeast China.

C Heavy coffee drinkers, who drank at least
D Chinese paper cuttings are thought to have three cups of coffee a day, were recruited to
been developed in the second century and are participate in a study on the factors
used to celebrate the coming of spring. influencing the symptoms of caffeine
withdrawal.

D Llewelyn Mills led a group of researchers at
the University of Sydney to investigate the
factors that can influence the symptoms of
caffeine withdrawal.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
WRITING DRILL 3

Aboriginal Australian artist Richard Bell uses his art American poet and novelist Naomi Shihab Nye’s
to raise awareness of Indigenous issues. For instance, collection of work includes Different Ways to Pray,
WRITING
his installation Bulldozer Scene No Tin Shack (2022) her first poetry collection that explores similarities
features a video that—in a scene reminiscent of and differences between ________ an autobiographical
Tiananmen Square in ________ a young teenage boy young adult novel; and Lullaby Raft, a picture book.
attempting to stop a bulldozer about to destroy his
home. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? A cultures; Habibi
MATH
A 1989 shows
B cultures, Habibi:

B 1989—shows
C cultures; Habibi,
C 1989, shows
D cultures, Habibi,
D 1989; shows
19 Mark for Review

In the small town of Whittier, Alaska, is the Begich
17 Mark for Review
Towers Condominium, a building that houses nearly
The Graetzel cell is a thin-film solar cell that operates the entire population of the town as well as several
on the same principles as photosynthesis and has a public ________ it has a school, hospital, post office, and
relatively high efficiency level. The solar cell is not a notary, earning it the nickname “town under one
without its ________ it only operates within a specific roof.”
range of temperatures, and the materials required to
make it are costly to obtain. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? A facilities, while
A disadvantages though
B facilities while

B disadvantages, though;
C facilities:
C disadvantages; though,
D facilities,
D disadvantages. Though

WRITING DRILLS
READING
Noted for his use of a variety of forms, American American pianist and composer Eubie Blake joined
________ Srikanth Reddy has published three poetry his longtime collaborator Noble Sissle, a lyricist and
collections and has contributed to many periodicals, playwright, to create a musical. Credited as the show
including Harper’s and The New York Times. that brought jazz to Broadway, ________
WRITING
A poet A Blake and Sissle premiered Shuffle Along in
1921.

B poet;
B in 1921 Blake and Sissle premiered Shuffle
Along.
C poet:
MATH
C Blake and Sissle’s Shuffle Along premiered in
D poet, 1921.
D Shuffle Along’s Blake and Sissle premiered the

show in 1921.
21 Mark for Review
Archaeoindris fontoynontii was the largest primate
to evolve in Madagascar; ________ the size of a male
gorilla and belonged to the family of sloth lemurs.
23 Mark for Review
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Located in Toronto, Sick Kids Lab was founded by
the conventions of Standard English? developmental biologist Janet Rossant. The lab first
focused on stem cell and embryonic experiments
A they were in mouse embryos to determine how these cells are
differentiated into different types of cells. ________ the
lab focused on manipulating the mouse stem cells to
B these were become other types of cells in the hopes of learning
more about how human stem cells also differentiate.
C it was Which choice completes the text with the most logical
transition?
D this was A Consequently,

B In the end,
C In comparison,
D Then,

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Uturuncu is a volcano in Bolivia with two summits While researching a topic, a student has taken the
reaching an altitude of over 6,000 meters. The last following notes:
eruption was 250,000 years ago, but recent seismic
activity indicates that it may become active again. • I n 1953, the deadliest tornado in Texas history
________ the volcano has drawn an increase in media struck Waco, Texas.
attention and was even featured in a film in 2016. • M
ost of the buildings in downtown Waco were
made of brick.
WRITING

• T
he tornado caused significant damage to
transition?
downtown Waco, destroying 196 businesses and
factories and 150 homes.
A Consequently,
• D
uring the tornado, Waco’s older, brick
buildings collapsed, while the newer, steel-

B For example, reinforced buildings withstood the storm.
• A
fterwards, the state of Texas created the Texas
MATH
Radar Tornado Warning Network to improve

C Despite this, communications among storm spotters, local
officials, and weather officials.
D Furthermore, • T
he tragedy of the tornado led to a nationwide
effort to improve tornado radar detection
software to more accurately predict tornadoes.
The student wants to emphasize the building damage

caused by the tornado and specify why this damage
25 Mark for Review
occurred. Which choice most effectively uses relevant
The largest religious building in the world, Angkor information from the notes to accomplish these goals?
Wat, is a temple located in Cambodia. It was
originally built to serve as a Hindu temple dedicated A The 1953 Waco tornado outbreak was the
to Vishnu, a Hindu god, during the 12th century. It deadliest tornado in Texas history, destroying
was eventually converted into a Buddhist temple. 150 homes and 196 factories in downtown
________ it is often defined as a Hindu-Buddhist temple. Waco.

transition? B During the 1953 Waco tornado outbreak, most
of the buildings in downtown Waco were
A For example, made of brick and therefore collapsed when
the tornado hit, leading to the destruction of
196 factories and businesses along with 150
B As such, homes.

C In addition, C After the 1953 Waco tornado outbreak, Texas
created a network called the Texas Radar
Tornado Warning Network to improve
D In other words, communications among storm spotters,
weather officials, and local officials.

D In 1953, one of the deadliest tornadoes in Texas
hit downtown Waco, resulting in nationwide
efforts to improve tornado radar detection
software.

WRITING DRILLS
27 Mark for Review
READING
following notes:
• The namsadang is a Korean troupe originally

consisting of male performers.
• I t is said to have been formed during the Joseon
Dynasty prior to the 1900s.
WRITING
• T
he members often wandered marketplaces and
villages putting on circus-like performances.
• T
he troupe later invited a few women to join the
namsadang.
• O
ne of the most well-known members of the
namsadang was a woman known as Baudeogi
who was chosen to be the leader of the troupe.
MATH
The student wants to introduce Baudeogi to an
audience unfamiliar with the namsadang. Which
choice most effectively uses relevant information

A Baudeogi was one of the most-well known
members of the namsadang and served as the
leader of the group.

B Though it originally consisted of male
performers, the namsadang later invited a few
women, such as Baudeogi, to join the group.

C The namsadang is a Korean troupe which is
thought to have been formed before the 1900s
during the Joseon Dynasty.

D Baudeogi was a female performer who was the
leader of the namsadang, a Korean troupe that
often put on circus-like performances in
marketplaces and villages.

READING AND
WRITING MODULE
435
Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing
Reading and Writing

Module 1
DIRECTIONS
The questions in this section address a number of important reading and writing skills. Each question
includes one or more passages, which may include a table or graph. Read each passage and question
carefully, and then choose the best answer to the question based on the passage(s).
All questions in the section are multiple-choice with four answer choices. Each question has a single
best answer.
While Nowruz may also be known as Iranian New Year, Bronislaw Malinowski’s book Argonauts of the Western
the holiday is celebrated by many nationalities. Different Pacific challenged theories in classical economics through
customs and traditions are followed by ________ ethnic its explanation of the Kula ring system, an exchange
groups around the world on March 21st, the spring ceremony in the Trobriand Islands. Earlier outsiders
equinox, to welcome in the new year. writing about isolated groups erroneously suggested
that the locals had no cultural context for the value and
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and ownership of goods; however, Malinowski’s ethnography
precise word or phrase? ________ this idea and stressed how important the
exchange and acquisition of Kula valuables was to the
A numerous Trobriand Islanders.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and

B passionate precise word or phrase?
A demonstrated
C opposing

B contested
D mindful
C preserved
D achieved


Researchers from three French universities set out to The following text is adapted from Amelia E. Barr’s 1900
study the movement of sheep within a flock in order to novel The Maid of Maiden Lane. The speaker, Lieutenant
determine how individual sheep make decisions and the George Hyde, is discussing the American minister to
impact of those decisions on the collective movement of France, who has not left his position despite the political
the entire group. Through observations of the sheep at turmoil of the French Revolution.
various points in time, the team was able to ________ that
the flock contained a hierarchy and created an organized, “Because he will not abandon his duty in the hour of
ranked system among themselves that influenced how peril and difficulty. Neither has the President given him
information was spread throughout the flock. permission to do so. How could he desert American
citizens unlawfully imprisoned, American vessels
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and unlawfully seized by French privateers, and American
precise word or phrase? captains detained in French ports on all kinds of
pretences? I think Minister Morris is precisely where he
should be, saving the lives of American citizens; many
A deliberate
of whom are trembling to-day in the shadow of the
guillotine.”

B superintend
As used in the text, what does the word “desert” most
nearly mean?
C deduce
A Cherish
D coordinate

B Devastate
C Evacuate
4 Mark for Review
The short-lived City Hall station was opened as one of the D Forsake
original 28 stations in the New York City subway system.
Constructed beneath City Hall Park, the stop had a tightly
curved platform which made it difficult to elongate when
the number of riders grew and additional subway cars
were added to trains. This, along with other issues such
as limited entrances and low traffic, ________ the station’s
closure in 1945.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and
precise word or phrase?
A prevented

B excluded
C precipitated
D deterred


The following text is adapted from Helen Hunt Jackson’s While birds are widely considered the only living direct
1884 novel Ramona. The narrator is describing Señora descendants of dinosaurs, not all dinosaurs are related
Moreno’s home. to birds. Non-bird dinosaurs, also known as non-avian
dinosaurs, were a diverse group of sauropods and
The house was of adobe, low, with a wide veranda on ornithischians that roamed the earth during the Mesozoic
the three sides of the inner court and a still broader one Era. These creatures were significantly different from
across the entire front, which looked to the south. These their avian counterparts in size, body shape, posture, and
verandas, especially those on the inner court, were locomotion. The Age of Dinosaurs ended 66 million years
supplementary rooms to the house. The greater part of ago with the catastrophic Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction
the family life went on in them. Nobody stayed inside wiping out 50% of prehistoric plants and animals.
the walls, except when it was necessary. All the kitchen But unlike the unlucky non-avians that perished,
work, except the actual cooking, was done here, in front some maniraptoran therapods escaped extinction.
of the kitchen doors and windows. Babies slept, were Paleontologists believe that the smaller structure of these
washed, sat in the dirt, and played, on the veranda. The maniraptoran theropods supported their adaptability
women said their prayers, took their naps, and wove to a wider variety of habitats and changing conditions,
their lace there. allowing these avian dinosaurs to outlive their behemoth
brethren and evolve into modern-day birds.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
What choice best describes the function of the third

A To contrast the high usage of the verandas on the sentence in the overall structure of the text?
inner court to the lower usage of the broader
veranda A It presents a generalization that is exemplified by
the structural advantages of maniraptoran
theropods.
B To demonstrate the importance of supplementing
outdoor verandas with indispensable indoor
rooms B It provides context that clarifies why almost all
dinosaur species perished in the Cretaceous-
Tertiary Extinction.
C To illustrate the paramount importance of the
outdoor verandas in the daily lives of Señora
Moreno’s family C It suggests an interpretation of the findings of
paleontologists that is supported by the
evolutionary success of avian dinosaurs.
D To describe the location of the wide veranda in
relationship to the narrower veranda
D It demonstrates the anatomical superiority of
larger sauropod species over smaller theropods.


Text 1 In 1961, King Mohammed Zahir Shah spotted the ruins
of an ancient city while on a hunting trip in the Takhar
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is an eye province of Afghanistan. While it is not known what
condition that causes blurriness when one looks at an the original name of the city was, the site was named
object in the distance. Variations in the size and shape of Ai-Khanoum. After its discovery, French archaeologists
eye structures, such as the eyeball growing too long from were called in to help excavate; they were able to uncover
front to back, cause myopia. These physical variations are a large theater, a massive palace, a gymnasium, and an
hereditary; if one or both parents have myopia, a person arsenal, along with pottery, coins, and other remnants
has a much greater chance of developing the condition. of the extensive city. Archaeologists expanded their
Furthermore, scientists have identified over 200 genes investigation of the site and planned to survey nearby
that relate to myopia. areas as well; however, the excavation came to a halt in
Text 2 1978 due to the start of the Saur Revolution, which led to
the beginning of the Soviet-Afghan war and ultimately
It has been observed that myopia often develops when progressed into the continuous turmoil the country
children are school-age and is more common in countries has been in ever since. As a result of this, the site was
with the most intensive educational systems, as spending ransacked, many artifacts were stolen, and structures
excessive time reading and studying can damage the were damaged in the process.
eyes. With this in mind, Rosie Clark, Alfred Pozarickij,
and colleagues examined the occurrence of myopia in According to the text, what challenge prevented the
conjunction with certain genetic variants and the amount preservation of Ai-Khanoum?
of schooling one had. They identified five genetic variants
that increase one’s risk of developing myopia the longer a A The site was targeted by looters.
person stays in school.

Based on the texts, how would Clark, Pozarickij, and B Soviet forces invaded the site.
colleagues (Text 2) most likely respond to the claims of
the author of Text 1?
C Archaeologists were unable to guard the site.
A By arguing that time spent reading is a greater
predictor that one will develop myopia than are
one’s inherited genes D The king wanted to hunt in the area of the site.

B By questioning whether the shape of eye
structures is affected by the length of time a
person stays in school

C By agreeing that genetics plays a role in the
development of myopia but noting that some genes
are linked to lifestyle factors

D By acknowledging that genes passed down from
parents affect the development of myopia but
suggesting that further research into poor study
habits is needed


Dr. Eugenie Clark was a groundbreaking scientist who Traditionally, killer whales have been classified into
studied marine life in its natural habitat, an uncommon two types. Type 1 killer whales have been described as
practice in marine biology in the 1950s. Her 72 deep having a main diet of fish and, rarely, marine mammals
submersible oceanic dives brought a new understanding as evidenced by the increased levels of tooth wear
of sharks and earned her the nickname “Shark Lady.” that is commonly attributed to a consumption of fish.
Clark’s 1953 autobiography Lady with a Spear was a Type 2 killer whales have been described as having
culmination of her experience as a researcher, science a main diet of marine mammals due to the decreased
writer, and pioneer. Her book caught the interest of the levels of tooth wear. A team of researchers decided to
Vanderbilt family, who funded Clark to establish the Mote investigate whether dietary preferences contributed to
Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. The Mote remains the classification of these two types of killer whales. To
a renowned center for shark research and may be do so, researchers tagged a group of Type 1 and Type 2
considered Clark’s greatest legacy to the study of marine killer whales and tracked their predation environments.
biology. They hypothesized that Type 1 and Type 2 killer whales
hunted in similar environments but actively sought their
Which choice best describes the main idea of the text? preferred prey.
A Dr. Clark’s research innovations and leadership Which finding, if true, would most directly support the
significantly furthered our knowledge of sharks. researchers’ hypothesis?

A Type 1 killer whales hunted in environments
B Dr. Clark’s attention-getting nickname was pivotal containing marine mammals, while Type 2 killer
in her ability to achieve her research goals. whales hunted in environments containing only
fish.

C Dr. Clark’s unique contributions to marine
research have been less heralded since she B Type 1 killer whales hunted fish, while Type 2
established the Mote in the 1950s. killer whales hunted marine mammals when both
killer whale types were found in the same
environment.
D Dr. Clark radically changed marine biology by
inspiring later scientists to make hundreds of their
own oceanic dives. C Type 1 killer whales hunted in environments
containing only fish, while Type 2 killer whales
hunted in environments containing marine
mammals.

D Type 1 and Type 2 killer whales hunted in
environments containing both fish and marine
mammals but ate only fish.


“The Exile’s Sunset Song” is an 1851 poem by J. R. Risk of Tinnitus After Exposure to Transportation Noise
Thompson. In the poem, the narrator describes a sense
of longing and hope that a connection remains between Hazard Hazard
himself and his beloved despite the distance: ________ ratio, ratio, fully
basic model adjusted
model
Which quotation from “The Exile’s Sunset Song” most
effectively illustrates the claim? One year of exposure to road traffic 1.02 1.01
Five years of exposure to road traffic 1.03 1.02

A “All humbled in pride, love, / I thought in my doom,
Ten years of exposure to road traffic 1.03 1.02
/ That Hope had departed / For ever and aye!”
One year of exposure to railway 1.08 1.02

B “And I think with emotion, / That sometimes at Five years of exposure to railway 1.06 1.00
night, / We watch the same beaming / And
Ten years of exposure to railway 1.05 0.99
tremulous star.”
Transportation noise is believed to be destructive to
human health via stress and sleep disturbances, and it
C “My spirit is weary— / An exile I grieve, / When is a risk factor for tinnitus, an auditory condition that
morn’s early voices / A glad song proclaim.” can be bothersome and interfere with normal hearing.
Researchers Manuella Lech Cantuaria, Ellen Raben
Pedersen, and colleagues hypothesized that increased
D “Yet Hope, reappearing, / A vision unfolds, / Of
exposure to transportation noise would be positively
rapture together / In joy’s happy reign.”
correlated with increased risk of tinnitus. Thus, they
conducted a nationwide cohort study in Denmark to
investigate the association between residential road
traffic and railway noise exposure and the risk of incident
tinnitus. The subjects of the study were adjusted for age
to determine a basic model of a hazard ratio (to measure
the risk of tinnitus) and adjusted for many other factors
including age, calendar year, occupation, education, and
socioeconomic bracket to determine a fully-adjusted
model of a hazard ratio. The researchers were surprised
to find that ________
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to

complete the statement?
A as exposure to road traffic increased, the risk of

tinnitus increased.

B when adjusted for more factors beyond age, the
hazard ratios measured were decreased for all
exposure levels.

C there were higher hazard ratios correlated with
exposure to railway than with exposure to road
traffic.
D as exposure to railway noise increased, there was

little change in the risk of tinnitus.


Children learn about their surroundings via exploration The transition between Early Minoan III civilization
and what they are told from others. As a result, when and Middle Minoan IA civilization on the island of Crete
children are told something surprising, they ask in the Eastern Mediterranean is not well understood,
questions or test the claim. A team of researchers was though some scholars believe it involved population
interested in learning more about how children of decline and abandoned settlements that later resulted
different ages respond to surprising claims. To do so, in the first palaces being built. Recent archaeogenetic
researchers presented children with various scenarios of evidence recovered from human remains in the Hagios
known objects, such as a rock or a sponge. The children Charalambos cave located on the isolated Lasithi plateau
were then told a surprising claim about the object, such in Crete showed the presence of two pathogens, Y. pestis
as that the rock was soft or that the sponge was harder and S. enterica. Y. pestis is known for its role in major
than the rock, and asked how they would test the claim. pandemics such as the Justinianic plague and the Black
The results showed that older children suggested a Death, while S. enterica is known to cause enteric or
method specific to the claim more often than did younger typhoid fever. Though found in regions throughout
children and indicate that ________ Central Europe from Middle Neolithic to the Bronze Age,
Y. pestis had not been previously found in the Eastern
Which choice most logically completes the text? Mediterranean during this time period due to a lack of
archeological evidence. Therefore, the findings from this
A younger children believe what they are told and cave ________
react to a surprising claim as fact.

B children seek to verify surprising claims A indicate that a plague similar to the Black Death
regardless of age by suggesting an investigatory most likely caused the population decline and
method. abandoned settlements of the Early Minoan III
period.
C older children are more deliberate when

investigating and testing surprising claims. B suggest that infectious disease may have
contributed to the other factors involved in the
transition period from Early Minoan III to Middle
D young children suggested a method to test whether Minoan IA.
the rock was soft, but not whether the sponge was
hard.
C prove that Y. pestis and S. enterica arrived on the
isolated Lasithi plateau via migration and trade
routes.

D provide insufficient evidence that infectious
disease was present in Crete during the Bronze
Age.


American trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard The largest volcanic eruption ever recorded in South
has performed as a member of the Lionel Hampton America occurred on February 19, 1600. Located in
Orchestra and the Jazz Messengers. He has composed southern Peru, Huaynaputina erupted that ________ main
multiple film scores, frequently ________ with director eruption lasting up to 19 hours and earthquakes and ash
Spike Lee. Blanchard’s opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones was falls lasting for two weeks.
the first opera by an African American composer to be
staged by the Metropolitan Opera. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English? A day, the
A to collaborate
B day; the

B collaborated
C day. The
C collaborating
D day, and the
D collaborates
19 Mark for Review

Hydrothermal vents, fissures in the ocean floor
17 Mark for Review
where heated water is released, are an example of a
Confirmation bias, a type of cognitive bias that occurs chemosynthetic-based ________ since sunlight cannot reach
when people seek out, interpret, prefer, and remember the ocean floor where the hydrothermal vents are located,
information in a way that confirms their prior values the local ecosystem of clams, limpets, worms, and other
and beliefs, can lead to other psychological ________ organisms is supported by the chemicals in the heated
polarization, in which different parties in a disagreement water.
escalate the argument when exposed to the same
evidence, and belief perseverance, in which people hold Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
on to beliefs after being presented with evidence that the conventions of Standard English?
beliefs are false.
A ecosystem
B ecosystem and
A effects attitude
C ecosystem,
B effects. Attitude
D ecosystem;
C effects, attitude
D effects: attitude


French astrophysicist Jean-Pierre Luminet created the Archeologists have long believed that the Vascones were
first image of a black hole in 1979. He is also a poet, an illiterate tribe of pre-Roman people on the Iberian
visual artist, and musician: in 1991, Luminet worked Peninsula due to a lack of literary archeological findings.
with composer Gérard Grisey on a musical work based However, since discovering a bronze fragment containing
on signals coming from pulsars. Le Noir de l’Étoile (The engraved text in Spain, ________ that previous conceptions
Black of the Star), for six percussionists, ________ regularly about the Vascones may be incorrect.
performed around the world.
A professor Joaquin Gorrochategui’s suggestion is
A have been

B it has been suggested by professor Joaquin
B are Gorrochategui
C is C professor Joaquin Gorrochategui has suggested
D was D the suggestion professor Joaquin Gorrochategui

has made is
21 Mark for Review

23 Mark for Review
Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to serve as a
justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. Prior Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have found links
to joining the Supreme Court, O’Connor ________ the first between genetics and food preferences. Genes associated
female majority leader of a state senate as the Republican with higher levels of physical exertion were linked with
leader in the Arizona Senate. a preference for fruits and vegetables. ________ there was
not a strong genetic correlation for subcategories within
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the one particular type of food. For example, there was not
conventions of Standard English? a strong relationship between the genetics of those who
like cooked vegetables compared with the genetics of
A will be those who like strong-tasting vegetables.

B is transition?
A Overall,
C has been

B In conclusion,
D had been
C However,
D Specifically,


Living root bridges are suspension bridges made out While researching a topic, a student has taken the
of rubber fig trees. They are most common in elevated, following notes:
tropical regions and are used by people living in the
mountains. The bridges can be made through a variety of • J eannette Armstrong is a Syilx Okanagan and
methods. ________ people can manipulate the roots entirely Canadian educator, author, and activist.
by hand, use wood or bamboo scaffolds, or guide the • S
he grew up on the Penticton Native Reserve in the
roots through existing structures. Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.
• M
any consider her 1985 novel Slash to be the first
novel written by a First Nations woman.
transition?
• Slash is a historical novel about the North American
Indigenous protest movement.
A Subsequently,
• T
he main character, Tommy Kelasket, is a member
of the Okanagan Nation and becomes an activist.
B Additionally,
The student wants to introduce Slash to an audience
unfamiliar with the novel and its author. Which choice
C For example, most effectively uses relevant information from the notes
to accomplish this goal?
D Therefore,
A Slash is a historical novel about the North
American Indigenous protest movement and
character Tommy Kelasket becoming an activist.

25 Mark for Review B Slash (1985), written by Jeannette Armstrong, a
Mary-Claire King is a renowned American geneticist. Syilx Okanagan and Canadian author, is a
For over a decade, she studied the connection between historical novel about the North American
genetics and breast cancer. ________ she identified that Indigenous protest movement.
breast cancer can be inherited due to mutations in a
particular gene, which she named BRCA1.
C Many people consider Jeannette Armstrong’s 1985
novel Slash, a historical novel about the North
American Indigenous protest movement, to be the
transition?
first novel written by a First Nations woman.
A Eventually,

D Syilx Okanagan and Canadian author of Slash,
Jeannette Armstrong grew up on the Penticton
B At the same time, Native Reserve in the Okanagan Valley in British
Columbia.
C Nonetheless,
D Not surprisingly,

27 Mark for Review

following notes:
• B
urnout is caused by chronic workplace stress and
can lead to fatigue, negative feelings about work,
and reduced job performance.
• M
icro-breaks, short breaks of about 10 minutes, may
reduce burnout.
• R
esearchers conducted a meta-analysis of twenty-
two studies on micro-breaks.
• The micro-break studies spanned three decades.
• T
he researchers found that micro-breaks did have
benefits for well-being, but longer breaks may be
needed for better job performance.
The student wants to emphasize the study’s methodology.

Which choice most effectively uses relevant information
A Researchers wanted to find out the benefits of

micro-breaks.

B The analysis showed that micro-breaks did have
benefits for well-being, but longer breaks may be
needed for better job performance.

C To discover the benefits of micro-breaks,
researchers analyzed twenty-two studies
spanning three decades.
D The twenty-two micro-break studies used in the

analysis spanned three decades.

SAT MANUAL
MATH INTRODUCTION
447
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Describe the structure of the Math section and the math content it
tests
• Use POOD, Pacing, and Guessing to maximize your score
• Methodically work through word problems using the Word Problem
WRITING
Basic Approach
• Know the basics of using the built-in calculator
• Know how to enter answers for fill-in questions
MATH

MATH INTRODUCTION
READING
STRUCTURE
First Module Second Module

(35 minutes) (35 minutes)
WRITING
Easier Harder
1 1 1
2 2 2
Easy 3 3 3
4 4 4
MATH
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
One of two second modules based
9 9 9
on the results of the first module.
10 10 10
11 11 11
12 12 12
Medium
13 13 13
14 14 14
15 15 15
16 16 16
17 17 17
18 18 18
19 19 19
20 20 20
Hard
21 21 21
22 22 22
Two questions on each module are experimental and do not

impact your score. They are not marked and do not necessarily
follow the order of difficulty, so don’t be concerned about a
question that’s easier or harder than you expect.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
MATH CONTENT
Which of the following math topics did you notice on your first practice test?
_____ Elementary school math _____ Trigonometry
_____ Algebra I _____ Pre-Calculus

WRITING
_____ Algebra II _____ Statistics
_____ Geometry _____ Calculus

MATH
Here’s the official breakdown:
By Content
_____ Algebra _____ questions per module
_____ Advanced Math _____ questions per module
_____ Problem-Solving & Data Analysis _____ questions per module
_____ Geometry and Trigonometry _____ questions per module
By Question Type
_____ Problem-Solving _____ questions per module
_____ Word Problems _____ questions per module
By Question Format
_____ Multiple-Choice _____ questions per module
_____ Fill-in _____ questions per module
Knowing the structure and content helps you take the easy test first. The official
order of difficulty can guide you, but what really matters is your Personal Order of
Difficulty.

MATH INTRODUCTION
READING
POOD
So how do you know which questions to do and which ones to skip? Make sure to
follow your POOD and focus on these two ideas.
WRITING
Do questions that can be answered quickly and accurately.
Do questions that can be made easier using TPR strategies.
MATH
GUESSING AND PACING
For each question, quickly decide whether you want to Answer and Advance, skip
it for now, or Guess and Go based on your POOD. If you get stuck on a question,
Mark and Move. If you have time for a second pass, go back to the questions you
marked for review, and then try some of the questions you skipped the first time.
Make sure to leave 1–2 minutes at the end to fill in an answer for any questions
you haven’t done yet. Use the review page to see what’s left.
As you practice, you’ll get a better sense of your own POOD (it is personal, after
all), and you might decide to return to a question you skipped or marked before
you reach the end of the module, or you might sense that the difficulty is increas-
ing rapidly and Guess and Go more often towards the end of a module. No matter
what, the goal is to make quick decisions and keep moving.
Multiple-Choice vs. Fill-in

If you have two questions left, one multiple-choice and one fill-in, that seem of
equal difficulty to you, which one should you do? What is the smart choice to im-
prove your chances of getting one more question right?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
WRITE STUFF DOWN

Whether using the calculator or doing the work by hand, never do math in your
head. Use the scratch paper to stay organized and perform calculations. Here’s
what your scratch paper might look like:
WRITING
10. Target = 2
A) g(–3) = 2(–(–3) – 1) – 2 =
2(3 – 1) – 2 =
2(2) – 2 =
4 – 2 = 2 4
MATH
B)
Start C) g (1) = 2(–1 – 1) – 2 =

2(–2) – 2 =
–4 – 2 = –6
D) g (3) = 2(–3 – 1) – 2 =
2(–4) – 2 =
–8 – 2 = –10
11.
similar triangles


12 13 5
A = =
24 AC BC
AC = 26 and BC = 10

12 13 Perimeter ABC = 24 + 10 + 26 = 60
5

24 D E 26

12
B 10 C

MATH INTRODUCTION
READING
RTFQ
To avoid doing unnecessary work or falling for a trap answer, read the final
question. Write down key words from the question on the scratch paper to stay
organized and focused.
What would you expect to be asked if you saw these questions in math class?
WRITING
If 5a – 4 = 2a + 11, _____________________?
3
If a = 35 and a = b , _____________________?
7
Now look at these Digital SAT questions.
MATH
1 Mark for Review
If 5a – 4 = 2a + 11, what is the value of a – 5?
A –2
B 0
C 3
D 5
Always make sure to

2 Mark for Review
3 b +1 R___________________
If a = 35 and a = b , what is the value of ?
7 4
T___________________
A 4
F___________________
B 5 Q___________________
C 9
D 15

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
BITE-SIZED PIECES
Deal with one small piece of information at a time, eliminating answers as you go.
When there is something to figure out, STOP!

Figure it out and try to use POE before you move on.
WRITING
3 Mark for Review Scratch Paper

2(4n3 – 2n2 + n + 8) – 3(–7n3 + 2n2 – 5n + 9)
MATH
Which of the following is equivalent to the expression

given?
A –13n3 + 10n2 – 17n + 11
B –13n3 – 10n2 + 17n – 11
C 29n3 + 10n2 – 17n + 11
D 29n3 – 10n2 + 17n – 11
What’s 8n3 + 21n 3? How does knowing

the answer help with POE?
4 Mark for Review

Which of the following ordered pairs (x, y) satisfies
the inequality 2x + 7y > –1?
I. (1, –2)
II. (–3, 1)
III. (4, –1)
A I only
B III only
C I and II only
D II and III only
What should you do after testing one

of the points?

MATH INTRODUCTION
READING
WORD PROBLEMS
Approximately 30% of the math questions on the Digital SAT are word problems. Use a consistent approach on
these questions. Start with RTFQ to avoid getting lost in the text.
WRITING
At a fruit stand, Anatavia bought apples, oranges,
pears, and strawberries for her restaurant. Of the
1 1
pieces of fruit she purchased, were apples and
5 3
were oranges. If a quarter of her remaining pieces
of fruit were pears, and she purchased 360 pieces of
fruit from the fruit stand, how many strawberries did
MATH
she purchase?
A 90
B 126
C 168
D 225
WORD PROBLEM BASIC APPROACH

1. Read the Final Question (RTFQ)—Understand the actual
question being asked. Write down key words.
2. Let the Answers Point the Way—Use the answer type to
help determine how to start working on the question.
3. Work in Bite-Sized Pieces—Find one piece to start with,
then work piece-by-piece until the final question has been
answered.
4. Use POE—Check to see whether any answers can be
eliminated after each bite-sized piece.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
A distance runner is partway through a 10-kilometer

(km) race. After 32.5 minutes (min), the runner is
3.5 km from the finish line. What is the runner’s
average rate at this point in the race, in km/min?
A 0.11
WRITING
B 0.2
C 3.25
D 6.5
MATH
What calculations lead to each wrong answer in the previous question?
A) __________________________________________________
B) __________________________________________________
C) __________________________________________________
D)__________________________________________________
7 Mark for Review

Natalia is joining an online music service that
charges a monthly membership fee of $5.95. A tax of
9% is applied to the monthly membership fee, and an
additional one-time initiation fee of $15 is charged
at the beginning of the membership. Which of the
following represents Natalia’s total charge, in dollars,
for a membership lasting m months?
A 1.09(5.95m + 15)
B 1.09(5.95m) + 15
C 1.09m (5.95 + 15)
D 0.09m (5.95) + 15
On the Digital SAT, there are more wrong answers

than right ones. When you find a wrong answer,
cross it off with the Answer Eliminator tool!

MATH INTRODUCTION
READING
POE POINT—When attacking the problem in Bite-Sized Pieces,
don’t forget to pause after each piece to see which answers can
be eliminated.
WRITING
BALLPARKING AND ESTIMATING
MATH
Try to eliminate answer choices that can’t possibly be correct
before calculating anything.

On a certain standardized test, 75% of students go
too fast and make mistakes. If 120,000 students took
the test, how many of them went too fast and made
mistakes?
A 30,000
B 45,000
C 60,000
D 90,000

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Remember to let the answers point the way. Sometimes it’s clear that ballparking is the best place to start. If the
READING
numbers in the answers are spaced far apart, for example, rounding or estimating often gets you close enough to the
correct answer.

A volume of 8,000 milliliters is equivalent to a volume
of how many liters?
WRITING
(1 liter = 1,000 milliliters)
A 0.08
B 8
MATH
C 800
D 8,000,000
FILL-INS
Approximately 25% of the Math questions are called Student-Produced Response questions, or fill-ins. Questions
with this format will be scattered throughout each Math module. Instead of clicking on an answer letter, you will
click in a box and enter the numerical answer. The box looks like this:
Fill-in questions are in a different format from multiple-choice

questions, but they test the same math topics in the same ways.

MATH INTRODUCTION
READING
The Fill-in Instructions
Instructions appear on the left side of the screen for every fill-in question. Save
time by knowing the rules and practicing with them before test day.
The Math Vocabulary 101 chapter includes the full instructions and examples as
they appear in the testing app. Here are some of the key things to know:
WRITING
Follow these rules when entering an answer in the fill-in box:
• Enter up to 5 characters for a positive answer.
• Enter up to 6 characters for a negative answer.
MATH
• Don’t enter extra zeros if the answer is short.
• Do enter as much of a long decimal as will fit.
• Don’t enter a fraction that doesn’t fit.
• Do enter reduced or unreduced fractions that fit.
CALCULATOR USE
The Digital SAT has a built-in calculator. You can also bring your own if it’s from
the approved list. Before you use the calculator, do two things:
1. Read the Final Question.
2. Set up the math on the scratch paper.
Using the Built-in Calculator

To open the calculator that’s built into the testing app, click the Calculator icon in
the upper right corner of the testing screen.
2
Calculator Reference More

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Calculator Expand
Move the calculator by
clicking and dragging the 5
dots in the black bar.

Expand it by clicking the
Expand button. Close it by
clicking the × in the black -10 -5 0 5 10
bar.
WRITING
Look in the graphing area

for the graphs of equations 5
or expressions.
1
Use the entry fields to enter y = 2x + 3
-10
equations or calculations.
MATH
2
When you see the The calculator adds more
calculator image in this fields as you fill them. x y a2 ab 7 8 9 ¸ funcs
book, look for a hint
about how to use the Enter equations or ( ) < > 4 5 6 ´
calculator. The Digital calculations using the
SAT Calculator Guide has on-screen keypad or your |a| , £ ³ 1 2 3 -
even more information. computer keyboard. π 0 . = +
ABC Ö`
Calculator Collapse
10
-10 -5 0 5 10
-5 If the keypad
disappears, click
the icon in the
-10 lower left.
As you prep for the Digital SAT, practice using the built-in calculator. To do so
without having to take a full practice test, open the testing app, select the “Test
Preview” option, navigate to a math question, and open the calculator. You can
also practice with a very similar calculator at Desmos.com.

MATH INTRODUCTION
READING
REFERENCE SHEET
The testing app has another button next to the Calculator in the upper right
corner.
2
WRITING
This opens a Reference Sheet with information that will help with geometry
questions.
MATH
…AND MORE
Finally, there is the More button, which appears in the upper right corner of both
sections of the test. Clicking on it opens the following menu:
? Help Access information on how to use the testing app.
Shortcuts Find a complete list of keyboard shortcuts

you can use.
Unscheduled Break If you take a break, the test timer will keep
running.
! Exit the Exam This will end your test, so only use it if you are
completely finished or if there is an emergency of
some sort.
You are unlikely to need the More menu options unless you need an unscheduled
break. You will know the information in the help menu before you take the official
test, and you should learn any keyboard shortcuts you plan to use before then. You
will also likely not want to end your test early if you are using your time wisely.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• By slowing down, I can ________________________________________.
• Which questions should you focus on in the Math section?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• What should you do when you want to come back to a question later?
_________________________________________________
• When should you guess on a Math question?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What does RTFQ stand for?
_________________________________________________
 What does that mean?
_______________________________________________________________________
• What does it mean to solve a question in Bite-Sized Pieces?
___________________________________________________________________________
• When do you use Bite-Sized Pieces?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What is the Word Problem Basic Approach?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

MATH INTRODUCTION
• What are two reasons to use POE?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
• What is Ballparking?
___________________________________________________________________________
• Fill-ins are located at the beginning of / throughout / at the end of the Math modules. Compared to
multiple-choice questions, the format of fill-ins is the same / different but the content they test is
the same / different.
• What is important to keep in mind about calculator use?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• I should use the scratch paper as much as possible / sometimes / never.

PLUGGING IN THE
ANSWERS
465
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Explain why Plugging In the Answers is such a powerful technique

• Identify when PITA is possible
• Follow the steps of PITA to accurately and efficiently solve problems
WRITING
N
MATH
W E X
S
X
X
X

PLUGGING IN THE ANSWERS
READING
PLUGGING IN THE ANSWERS (PITA)
When the question asks for a specific amount and the answer choices are numbers in order, use PITA.

Which of the following is a possible solution to the
WRITING
20 18
equation - = 2?
=
a -1 a +1
A 4
B 5
MATH
C 6
D 7
PITA BASIC APPROACH

1. Rewrite the answer choices and label them—what do the
answers represent?
2. If the question asks for the greatest or least value, start there.
Otherwise, start with one of the answers in the middle.
3. Use Bite-Sized Pieces to work the steps of the problem.
4. Eliminate answers that are too big or too small.
5. When one of the answers works, STOP.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
By plugging in the answers, you can avoid doing time-consuming algebra and falling for trap answers.
READING

2
− y = 1+ x
3
WRITING
y+4=x
LANGUAGE
WRITING
Which of the following ordered pairs (x, y) is the

AND
solution to the given system of equations?
A (1, –3)
B (2, –6)
MATH
C (5, 1)
D (13, –21)
Plug the points into the simpler equation first.
3 Mark for Review
Which of the following lists all of the solutions to the
equation a − 5 = − 7 + 3a + 10 ?
A –3, –1, 2
B –3, 2
C –3
D 2
When the answers contain several values or pairs of

values, plug them in one at a time and use POE.

READING
Which of the following tables contains corresponding
values of x and y that are all solutions to the
inequality 3x – 3 < y?
A x y
AND
0 –1
LANGUAGE
WRITING
WRITING
2 5
4 12
B x y
0 –3
MATH
2 3
4 9
C x y
0 –5
2 1
4 9
D x y
0 –1
2 5
4 9
CLUES THAT YOU CAN USE PITA

• The question asks for a specific amount—“how much,” “how
many,” or “what is the value of…?”
• All the answer choices are numbers.
• You get the urge to write your own equation.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
PITA works for word problems, too!

READING

The combined total height of the original Ferris
Wheel and the Eiffel Tower is 1,248 feet. If the Eiffel
Tower is 720 feet taller than the Ferris Wheel was,
WRITING
how tall was the Ferris Wheel, in feet?
A 264
B 528
MATH
C 678
D 980
What are clues to use PITA for this question?

READING
PLUGGING IN THE ANSWERS DRILL
Time: 8 minutes
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
WRITING
An artist created 12 identical stained-glass windows
for local businesses and used 51 pieces of glass for
each window. The artist could not use 15% of the
pieces of glass she started with because they were
damaged. Which of the following is closest to the
number of pieces of glass that the artist started with?
MATH
A 92

B 520
C 720
D 4,080
2 Mark for Review
y = 3x + 5
y = (x – 1)(x + 9)
Which of the following ordered pairs (x, y) is a
solution to the given system of equations?
A (–7, –16)

B (–16, –7 )
C (1, –9)
D (–9, 1)

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
A dessert order of 68 items is divided into two

portions for packaging and transport. One portion
contains c items, the other portion contains d items,
and the value of c is 10 less than 2 times the value of d .
What is the value of c?
A 26
WRITING

B 39
C 42
D 44
MATH
4 Mark for Review

The circumference of a circle is 24 inches and is made
up of 2 arcs. What is the length of the smaller arc, in
inches, if the length of the smaller arc is one-third the
length of the larger arc?
A 3

B 6
C 8
D 18

READING
A crafter creates orders of 20 bracelets that come in
two sizes. The crafter uses 5 beads to make each small
bracelet and 8 beads to make each large bracelet. How
many bracelets are large bracelets if the crafter uses
133 beads for a particular order?
A 7
WRITING

B 9
C 10
MATH
11

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• What are the advantages of Plugging In the Answers (PITA)?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
• What are some clues that you can use PITA?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
• What are the steps for PITA?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

MATH
VOCABULARY 101
A good foundation in math terminology and

definitions is key to improving your Math score. In
this chapter, you’ll review the terms and rules you will
need to know for the Digital SAT.
475
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
MATH OPERATIONS
Start with the basics. Match the math terms on the left with the definitions on the
right. Put the letter for the correct definition next to the term.
_____ Sum A. the result of multiplication
_____ Difference B. the result of subtraction
WRITING
_____ Product C. the result of division

_____ Quotient D. the result of addition
What is the order of operations?

MATH
_____________________________________________________________
What’s one famous saying to help you remember the order of operations?
_____________________________________________________________
Translating English to Math

Many Digital SAT questions require you to turn words into math. In the list
below, match the English word or phrase on the left with its math equivalent on
the right. Some terms or symbols might have more than one match.
_____ is, are, were, did, does +

_____ greater than –
_____ less than ×
_____ at least /
_____ no more than =
_____ how much greater than ≠
_____ what >
_____ equals, is equal to <
_____ is not equal to ≥
_____ of ≤
_____ out of x (or any variable)
_____ times
_____ per

MATH VOCABULARY 101
READING
Percentages
Questions involving percents are common on the Digital SAT, so let’s go into
detail.
Percent comes from “hundred.” Think of words like century or centimeter. To trans-
late percent into math, divide by 100.
WRITING
25 250 2.5
25% = 250% = 2.5% =
100 100 100
It is possible to convert a percent into a decimal by moving the decimal point two
spaces to the left. However, when the value is not a whole number from 1 to 100,
it’s easy to get confused about where to put the decimal point. Dividing by 100 is
MATH
clear and consistent.
Since of means multiplication, find the percent of an amount by multiplying the

percent by the amount.
25
=
25% of 60 = (60) 15
100
Sometimes you will be asked about increasing or decreasing an amount by a per-

cent. Find the percent first, then add it to or subtract it from the original amount.
English term Operation

increase by a percent
decrease by a percent
College Board can assume that you know a lot about how money works in the real
world. Think about what these terms mean in terms of percents—do you multiply
and then add or multiply and then subtract?
Real Life Percent Operation

Discounts
Sales taxes
Income taxes
Interest

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Algebra Vocabulary
Later chapters will go into detail about working algebra questions on the Digital
SAT. Here are some terms to be sure you’re familiar with from the beginning.
A variable is a single, unknown value. The value might be fixed or might vary
based on other parts of the equation. It is represented by an italicized letter, often
x or y, but sometimes other letters such as a, b, or n.
WRITING
A constant always has a single, specific value. It can just be a number in an

equation or, if the value is unknown, it can also be represented by an italicized
letter, frequently c or k. The question will usually state when a letter represents a
constant.
A term is a part of an equation like a word is part of a sentence. It can be a

MATH
number, a variable, or a number multiplied by a variable.
An expression is a combination of terms and mathematical operations that is not

set equal to anything. It is one side of an equation.
An equation consists of two terms or expressions that are set equal to each other.
Label each piece of math on the left with the letter of the correct algebra term on
the right. Some terms may be used more than once and others not at all.
_____ 5x A. variable
_____ 5+x B. constant
_____ x C. term
_____ k D. expression
_____ 5 + x = 12 E. equation
12
_____ kx
5

MATH VOCABULARY 101
READING
GLOSSARY
The following list contains useful math terms for the Digital SAT. The ones cov-
ered earlier in this chapter are some of the most important, but the others are
good to know as well. A few topics, such as absolute value and exponents, will be
explored more in later chapters.
Absolute Value: The distance a number is from zero on the number line.
WRITING
Indicated by two vertical lines around a term or expression ( x − 5 ).
Consecutive: Equally-spaced numbers that follow one another from least

to greatest or greatest to least. (The numbers 2, 3, and 4 are consecutive
integers. The numbers 2, 4, and 6 are consecutive even integers.)
Constant: A value in an expression or an equation that does not change.
MATH
Represented by a letter in italics, often c or k.
Decimal: A way of expressing a fraction in which numbers are divided by ten,

one hundred, one thousand, and other powers of ten.
Denominator: The bottom number in a fraction.
Difference: The result of subtraction.
Digit: A whole number 0 through 9 that is part of a larger number. (The

number 12 is made up of the digits 1 and 2.)
Distinct: Not the same value.
Divisible: When an integer can be divided by another integer evenly, with no

fraction or decimal left over. (The number 12 is divisible by 3.)
Equation: Two terms or expressions that are equal to each other. Must have the
= sign (x2 – 5 = 20).
Even: An integer that is divisible by 2. (Zero is even, and all even numbers end
with 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.)
Exponent/Power: A number that indicates how many times to multiply a base

number or variable by itself. (The number 24, where 2 is the base and 4 is
the exponent, becomes 2 × 2 × 2 × 2.)
Expression: A combination of terms and mathematical operations not equal to

something else. Does not have the = sign (x – 5).
Factors: Numbers that a given number is divisible by. (The number 3 is a factor
of 12.)
Fraction: A way of expressing division of numbers by stacking one over the

other.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Integer: A real number that is not a decimal or a fraction. Integers are commonly
READING
known as whole numbers. (The numbers 0, 10, and –1,000 are integers.)
Irrational Number: A number that can be expressed as a decimal but cannot be

expressed as a fraction. ( 2 and p are irrational numbers.)
Multiples: Numbers that are divisible by a given number. (The number 12 is a

WRITING
multiple of 3.)
Negative: All real values less than zero. (Zero is not negative.)
Numerator: The top number in a fraction.
Odd: An integer that is NOT divisible by 2. (Zero is not odd, and all odd num-
bers end with 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9.)
MATH
Order of Operations: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division

from left to right, Addition and Subtraction from left to right (PEMDAS).
Positive: All real values greater than zero. (Zero is not positive.)
Prime: A number that has only two factors, 1 and itself. (Some examples of
prime numbers are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 79. The number 1 is not a prime
number.)
Product: The result of multiplication.
Quotient: The result of division.
Real: All positive and negative numbers, zero, fractions, decimals, and irrational
numbers.
Radical: A term to express the sign.
Rational: A number that can be expressed as a fraction.
Reciprocal: The inverse of a fraction—flip the numerator and denominator.

2 5 1
(The reciprocal of is , and the reciprocal of 5 is ).
5 2 5
Sum: The result of addition.
Variable: A single, unknown value that might be fixed or might vary depend-
ing on other parts of the equation. Represented by an italicized letter,
frequently x or y.
Zero: An even integer that is neither positive nor negative.

MATH VOCABULARY 101
READING
HOW TO ENTER FILL-IN ANSWERS
In addition to knowing basic math vocabulary, you also want to go into the test
already knowing the instructions. There’s nothing complicated about answering a
multiple-choice question in the testing app, but the fill-in questions can get tricky.
Let’s review those instructions.
The following information appears on the left side of the screen of the testing app
WRITING
for every fill-in question. Read through the directions and examples, then take the
short quiz at the end.
Student-produced response directions
• If you find more than one correct answer, enter only one answer.
• You can enter up to 5 characters for a positive answer and up to 6
MATH
characters (including the negative sign) for a negative answer.
• If your answer is a fraction that doesn’t fit in the provided space,
enter the decimal equivalent.
• If your answer is a decimal that doesn’t fit in the provided space,
enter it by truncating or rounding at the fourth digit.
• If your answer is a mixed number (such as 3 12 ), enter it as an
improper fraction (7/2) or its decimal equivalent (3.5).
• Don’t enter symbols such as a percent sign, comma, or dollar sign.
Examples
Answer Acceptable ways to Unacceptable: will
enter answer NOT receive credit
3.5
31/2
3.5 3.50
3 1/2
7/2
2/3
0.66
.6666
2 .66
3 .6667
0.67
0.666
.67
0.667
–1/3
1 –.33
−
3 –.3333
–0.33
–0.333

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
For each answer on the left, circle each form of the answer that can be entered in
the fill-in box and will be accepted as correct.
5
.5 0.5 1/2 5/10
10
WRITING
2π 6.2 6.283 6.2832 2π
2.5 5/2 2.5 21/2 2.50 2 1/2
2,500 2,500 2500 25000
80
− –8/12 –.6666 –80/120 –0.666 –.6667 –2/3
MATH
120

SAT MANUAL
PLUGGING IN
483
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
MATH VOCABULARY 101 REVIEW DRILL

Time: 5 minutes

If 24 is x percent of 15, what is the value of x ?
WRITING
A 1.6

B 9
C 62.5
MATH
D 160
2 Mark for Review

The number 27 is 5 less than 4 times the number n .
Which of the following equations represents this
situation?
A 27 = (–1)n

B 27 = 4n – 5
C 27 – 5 = 4n
D 27 = 5n – 4

PLUGGING IN
READING
A student has $60 and must purchase textbooks
costing a total of $42. What percent of the $60 does
the student spend on textbooks?
A 42%
WRITING
B 51%
C 60%
D 70%
MATH
4 Mark for Review
Danielle’s bank pays 6.5% interest annually on
Certificates of Deposit (CDs). If she purchases a
$25,000 CD from her bank, how much will she have
after one year?
A $1,625.00

B $16,250.00
C $25,006.50
D $26,625.00
5 Mark for Review

Madiha is selling her homemade candles through
an online store for $25 each. She charges 9% of the
sales price for shipping and handling, but she does
not charge any tax. If Madiha wants to make at
least $2,000 total from candle sales and shipping
and handling fees, what is the minimum number of
candles that she must sell?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Identify when Plugging In is possible

• Use Plugging In to solve problems
• Understand why Plugging In is such a powerful technique
WRITING
MATH

PLUGGING IN
READING
MATHWRITING
Which question would be easier to do?

A customer in a candy store buys 3 pieces of candy A customer in a candy store buys x pieces of
that cost 25 cents each and hands the cashier 5 candy that cost y cents each and hands the
dollars. How much change should the customer cashier z dollars. How much change should the
receive, in dollars? customer receive, in dollars?
A 0.75 A z – xy

B 2.00 B xy – z
OR
z − xy
C 4.25 C
100
xy
D 4.75 D z−
100

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
PLUGGING IN
If a question on the Digital SAT has variables in the answers, turn the algebra problem into an arithmetic problem
by plugging in numbers. In most cases, Plugging In will be faster, easier, and safer than doing algebra. Learn the
technique now, and we’ll show you how it applies to a variety of questions in later chapters.
Scratch Paper
WRITING
1 Mark for Review

x 2 – 4 x + 11?
2
A (x + 2) – 7
2
B (x + 2) + 7
MATH
2
C (x – 2) + 7
2
D (x – 2) – 7
PLUGGING IN BASIC APPROACH

1. Identify the variable(s).
2. Plug in a number for the variable(s).
3. Work the steps of the problem.
4. Circle the Target Value.
5. Plug in to all four answers, eliminating any that do not
match the Target Value.

PLUGGING IN
READING
WHAT TO PLUG IN
Why would it be a bad idea to plug in x = 37 or x = –0.8 on the previous question? Choose numbers that make the
arithmetic as straightforward as possible. Avoid 0, 1, and numbers that are in the question because they are likely to
make more than one answer work.
WRITING
2
v m − 6m + 9
− =0
(m − 3) (m − 3)
3
If the given equation is true, and the variable

m ≠ 3, then what is the value of constant v?
MATH
What’s a good number to plug in for m?
CLUES THAT YOU CAN PLUG IN

If one or more of the following is true, plug in!
• The question asks about a relationship between variables
or numbers.
• There are variables in the answer choices.
• The question asks for an “equivalent expression.”
• The question includes the phrase “in terms of.”

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
−3 2
+
3y + 2 2y − 6
Which of the following expressions is equivalent to

the given expression?
22
A
WRITING
(3 y + 2)(2 y − 6)
14
B −
(3 y + 2)(2 y − 6)
1
C −
5y − 4
1
MATH
D −
(3 y + 2)(2 y − 6)
Plugging In can be a great tool for word problems, too.
4 Mark for Review

A certain vehicle can cover a distance of 32 miles per
gallon of gasoline. Which of the following equations
represents the total amount of gasoline, G, in gallons,
needed to drive that vehicle to a location m miles
away and return by the same route?
64
A G=
m
m
B G=
32
m
C G=
16
D G = 64m
Are there variables? Plug in!

PLUGGING IN
READING
HIDDEN PLUG-INS
Plugging In is not just for questions with variables in the answer choices—be on the lookout for questions that ask
about changes to values but don’t provide the actual values. Instead of trying to imagine how the numbers behave,
plug in numbers and see what happens.
WRITING
A person’s height, H, in centimeters, can be estimated
based on the length of the femur bone, f, in centimeters,
using the formula H = 2.71f + 45.86. According to
the model, for every increase of 5 centimeters in the
length of the femur, by how many centimeters will
the person’s estimated height increase?
MATH
6 Mark for Review
The ratio of a given triangle’s base to its height is
12:17. If the base were to decrease by 3 units, how
would the height have to change to maintain the same
ratio?
A It would have to decrease by 3 units.
B It would have to increase by 3 units.
C It would have to decrease by 4.25 units.
D It would have to increase by 4.25 units.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
PLUGGING IN DRILL
Time: 8 minutes

WRITING
Given the equation x = 7 − 18 , where y ≠ 0, which of

y
the following correctly expresses y in terms of x ?
18
A y=−
x −7

y = − 18 − 7
MATH
B
x
C y = − 18 + 7
x
x −7
D y=
18
2 Mark for Review

The equation A = 20c + 15 gives the amount, A , in
dollars needed to purchase c cartons of bottled water.
How would the cost change if the number of cartons
increased by 3?
A The cost would decrease by $15.

B The cost would increase by $3.
C The cost would increase by $45.
D The cost would increase by $60.

PLUGGING IN
READING
p q
–2 0
–1 –3
0 –6
1 –9
WRITING
Four values of p, each with a corresponding value
of q, are shown in the table. Which of the following
equations represents the linear relationship between
p and q?
A q = –3p – 6
MATH

B q = –3p – 2
C q = –6p – 6
D q = –6p – 12
4 Mark for Review
11x + 5 = 9x + p
11y + 5 = 9y + q
In the given system of equations, p and q are
constants. If p = q + 4, which of the following is
true?
A x=y–2

B x=y+2
C x=y+4
D x=y+8

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The n th term of a sequence is represented by p, and

the first term of the sequence is 16. If each term after
the first is half the preceding term, which of the
following gives p in terms of n?
n −1
A p = 1 (16)
2
WRITING

B p = 1 (16)n
2
 
n −1
C p =16  1 
2
 
n
D p =16  1 
MATH
2

PLUGGING IN
• What are the advantages of Plugging In?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
• What are some clues that you can Plug In?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
• What are the steps for Plugging In?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
• What are some good numbers to use when Plugging In to make the math more convenient?
______________________________________________________________

LINEAR SOLVING 101
Keep looking for opportunities to use PITA

or Plugging In, but also know the rules for
solving questions algebraically. This chapter
will help you review the basics.
497
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
ALGEBRA VOCABULARY
The Math Vocabulary 101 chapter included several algebra terms. Those are
included below, along with some others that you will need to know.
A variable is a single, unknown value. The value might be fixed or might vary
based on other parts of the equation. It is represented by an italicized letter, often
x or y, but sometimes other letters such as a, b, or n.
WRITING
A constant always has a single, specific value. It can just be a number in an

equation or, if the value is unknown, it can also be represented by an italicized
letter, frequently c or k. The question will usually state when a letter represents a
constant.
A term is a part of an equation like a word is part of a sentence. It can be a

MATH
number, a variable, or a number multiplied by a variable.
A coefficient is the number or constant multiplied by a variable. In the term

5x, the coefficient is 5 and the variable is x. A variable by itself has an invisible
coefficient of 1.
An expression is a combination of terms and mathematical operations that is not

set equal to anything. It is one side of an equation.
An equation consists of two terms or expressions that are set equal to each other.
A linear equation contains at least one variable, but no variable is raised to a

power greater than 1. It forms a straight line when graphed.
A nonlinear (or exponential) equation contains at least one variable with an

exponent of 2 or higher. It forms a parabola or other curve when graphed.
A solution is a value for a variable that makes an equation or inequality true.

An inequality has a range of solutions.
A system consists of two or more equations or inequalities. The solution to a

system must make all of the equations and/or inequalities true.
“Equivalent To” ≠ “Equals”

Some math questions on the Digital SAT will ask for an expression that is equivalent
to another expression. This means that the two expressions have the same value
10
but look different. For example, 5x is equal to 5x, but 5x is equivalent to x.
2

LINEAR SOLVING 101
READING
MANIPULATING EQUATIONS
Solving for a variable is a key skill you can expect to use on the Digital SAT. The
question might tell you directly to solve for a variable, but solving for an unknown
value (i.e., a variable) is at the heart of many word problems, too.
When you are solving, the first step is often to combine like terms. The like terms
in an equation or expression are the ones that have the same variable raised to
WRITING
the same power. Numbers without variables are also considered like terms. In the
equation 4x 2 + 2x + 5 = x 2 + 5x – 4, for example, 4x 2 and x 2 are like terms, 2x and
5x are like terms, and 5 and –4 are like terms.
Linear Equations
MATH
SOLVING AN EQUATION
Isolate the variable.
• Get the variable on one side of the equals sign and the
numbers on the other.
• Add, subtract, divide, or multiply both sides of the
equation to gather like terms.
Treat both sides equally.
• Perform the same operations on both sides of the equation.
Solve for x in each of these equations.
1. 6 x + 3 = 15 5. 2( x − 7 ) = 6 x + 10
3x 2x
2. + 9 = 33 6. −5=9
4 4
3. 3( x + 5) = 23 7. 4( x − 5) + x = 25
4. 12( x − 4 ) = 36

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Inequalities
An inequality is similar to an equation except that the two sides are compared to
each other instead of equal to each other. One side can be less than (<), greater than
(>), less than or equal to (≤), or greater than or equal to (≥) the other side. Solving an
inequality is just like solving an equation. There’s just one more rule to follow.
WRITING
If you multiply or divide both sides by a negative

number, flip the inequality sign.
MATH
Solve for x in each of these inequalities.
1. 3 x − 8 < 12 + 5 x
2. 7 x − 5 < 13 + 4 x
7 − 2x
3. < −5
3
Absolute Value
Here’s one more term to know:
Absolute Value is the distance from zero on the number line. The result is that a
negative value becomes positive, and a nonnegative value stays the same.
In the number line below, 3 and –3 are both 3 units away from zero. The absolute
value of 3 is 3, and the absolute value of –3 is 3.
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5

LINEAR SOLVING 101
READING
Try some examples:
1. −3 + −5 = _______________________________________________________
2. 4 7 ________________________________________________________
3. If − −2 + x = −1 , x = ___________________________________________
WRITING
4. If −8 + x = 3, x = ________________________________________________
NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS
MATH
When a question asks for the number of solutions to a linear equation, follow the
rules below.
A linear equation with one variable has 0 real solutions when the variable term
is the same but the constant is different. There are no values for the variable that
make the equation true. (The equation 4x + 4 = 4x – 4 has no real solutions.)
A linear equation with one variable has 1 real solution when the variable terms are
different. There is exactly one value for the variable that makes the equation true.
(The equation 7x + 6 = 3x + 10 has exactly one real solution.)
A linear equation with one variable has infinitely many solutions when the
variable terms are the same and the constants are the same. There are an infinite
number of values for the variable that make the equation true. (The equation
8x + 1 = 8x + 1 has infinitely many solutions.)
A linear equation with one variable will never have 2 solutions. The exception is
when there is an absolute value, as described above.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Write in the number of real solutions for each equation below. For practice with
the built-in calculator, enter each side of the equation in its own entry field and see
what the graph shows.
1. 2x + 5 = 5x + 2________________________________________
2. 2x + 5 = 2x + 5________________________________________
WRITING
3. 2x + 5 = 2x – 4 ________________________________________
4. 2 + 5x = 5x + 2________________________________________
5. 5x + 2 = 2x – 5________________________________________
MATH
6. 5x + 2 = 2x + 2________________________________________
7. 5x + 2 = 5x – 5________________________________________

LINEAR SOLVING
503
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
LINEAR SOLVING 101 REVIEW DRILL

Time: 5 minutes

How many solutions does the equation 2a + 17 =
2a + 17 have?
WRITING
A Exactly one

B Exactly two
C Infinitely many
MATH
D Zero
2 Mark for Review

What is the value of 5y if 6y = 42?
A 35

B 37
C 210
D 222
3 Mark for Review

If 2 ≥ 5p + 7, what is the greatest possible value of 5p?
A –12

B –7
C –5
D –1

LINEAR SOLVING
READING
7 = n−2
What is the negative solution to the given equation?
WRITING
5 Mark for Review
Which of the following tables shows solutions to the
MATH
inequality y > 4 x – 3 for the given values of x and
their corresponding values of y?
A x y
5 16
8 28
11 40
B x y
5 17
8 29
11 41
C x y
5 23
8 28
11 47
D x y
5 23
8 35
11 47
Does the built-in graphing calculator give you another option?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Know when to solve for a variable or variables

• Be able to solve for a variable or variables in equations and
inequalities
• Determine the number of solutions to an equation, or find the value
WRITING
of a constant given the number of solutions to an equation

• Solve equations involving rational expressions and absolute value
• Solve systems of equations and inequalities
MATH
BEYOND PLUGGING IN
Plugging In and Plugging In the Answers are great tools for a wide variety of ques-
tions. But what do you do when Plugging In isn’t an option or PITA seems too
complicated or time-consuming?
Finding the Solution

If you can’t use Plugging In or PITA and need to solve for a variable, you need to
isolate that variable. We covered the basics in Linear Solving 101, so this chap-
ter will focus on some of the strange ways College Board might present solving
questions.
Isolate the variable. Perform the same operations

on both sides of the equation.

LINEAR SOLVING
READING
v = 13.5 + 1.25t
A particle travels in a straight line at a constant speed
of 13.5 meters per second. When the particle begins
a constant acceleration of 1.25 meters per second, the
particle travels at a velocity of v meters per second at
time t seconds as shown in the given equation. What
WRITING
is t when v is 58.3?
A 13.50
B 35.84
MATH
C 57.44
D 86.38
Which do you prefer: PITA or solving?
2 Mark for Review

The numbers a , b, and c are related by the equation
a = 12b – 7c. Which of the following expresses b in
terms of a and c?
A
a − 7c
b=
12
B
a + 7c
b=
12
C b = 12a + 7c
1
D b= a + 7c
12
Which do you prefer: Plugging In or solving?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
What is the value of 4a + 20 if a + 5 = 12?

WRITING
You don’t always need to completely isolate the

variable to answer the question. RTFQ!
MATH
Inequalities
Working with inequalities is a lot like working with equations, in that you must perform the same operations on
both sides of the inequality. However, there is one important difference. Do you remember the difference from your
Linear Solving 101 homework?
4 Mark for Review
–10x + 4y > 40
Which of the following inequalities is equivalent to
the given inequality?
A x – y > –4
B x – y > –10
C 5x – 2y < –20
D –5x + 2y < 20

LINEAR SOLVING
READING
Rational Equations
College Board also likes to test rational equations, which are equations made up of fractions. Rational equations can
often be solved by PITA or Plugging In. However, when this is too complicated, cross-multiplying is a good alternative.
WRITING
−5 2
=
3x + 2 4 − 5x
In the given equation, what is the value of x ?
24
A –
19
MATH
16
B –
19
16
C
31
24
D
19
Which is faster here—PITA or cross-multiplying and solving?
Solving with pencil and paper can sometimes be faster

and more accurate than using a calculator.
Another way College Board may present solving with fractions looks like the question below. When you need to find
a common denominator, try a useful shortcut called the Bowtie Method.
6 Mark for Review
7 1 1
If − = y + 3 y , what is the value of y?
9 6 8 8
Calculators can help with fractions, but be sure to enter

everything correctly!

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
BOWTIE METHOD
1. Multiply diagonally up (opposing denominators and
numerators).
42 9
7 1
−
9 6
WRITING
2. Carry up the addition or subtraction sign.

42 − 9
7 1
−
9 6
MATH
3. Add or subtract across the top.

42 − 9
7 1 33
− =
9 6
4. Multiply across the bottom.

42 − 9
7 1 33
− =
9 6 54
5. Reduce, if necessary.
42 − 9
7 1 33 11
− = =
9 6 54 18
11
Now set equal to the other side of the equation and solve for y!
18

LINEAR SOLVING
READING
5
3 5
For what value of y does the expression y − have
4 8
no solutions?
MATHWRITING
Rational expressions are undefined when the
denominator is equal to 0.
Number of Solutions
Sometimes, a Digital SAT question won’t ask you for the solution to a given equation at all but will ask how many
solutions the equation has. In other cases, you will be told how many solutions there are and asked to solve for a vari-
able or constant using that information.
8 Mark for Review
–16(3 + 6x) = 4(–24 x + 13)

How many solutions does the given equation have?
A Zero
B Exactly one
C Exactly two
D Infinitely many
Be sure to memorize the rules for the number of

solutions to a linear equation, found in the
Linear Solving 101 chapter, before test day.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
9z − c
3z − 2 =
3
What is the value of constant c in the given equation

if the equation has infinitely many solutions?
A 2
WRITING
B 3
C 6
D 9
MATH
Which do you prefer? Plugging In or solving?
Absolute Value
On some questions with an absolute value, you may need to treat the absolute value symbols like parentheses to
combine like terms and solve.
10 Mark for Review

What is the positive solution to the equation
9 1 − x − 3 1 − x = 42?
The built-in calculator is a solid option. Just be sure

to enter everything carefully.
If |x| = c, then x = c or x = –c.

LINEAR SOLVING
READING
Systems of Equations
When given two equations with two variables, there are a number of approaches for solving them. The way the equa-
tions are written and what the question is asking will determine whether you use elimination or substitution to solve.
WRITING
2y + 9x = 8
–3x + y = –11
What is the solution (x, y) to the given system of
equations?
A (–3, 7 )
MATH
B (–2, 13)
C (2, –5)
D (3, 8)
Stack the equations up, then add or subtract. If you

need to solve for one variable, try to make the other
one disappear! Sometimes, you may need to
manipulate one of the equations first.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
2x + 4y = 12
–2y = –14
What is the value of x in the given system of equations

with solution (x, y)?
WRITING
A –8

B –2
C 7
MATH
D 20
13 Mark for Review
y = 9(x – 2)
y
15 =
x
If (x, y) is a solution to the given system of equations,
what is the value of x ?
A –45
B –15
C –9
D –3
What strategy can you use when asked for a specific value?
Why is that not the best approach on this question?
Call on the Calculator

The built-in graphing calculator is a great option for questions about systems! You will learn more about how to use
it later.

LINEAR SOLVING
READING
LINEAR SOLVING DRILL
Time: 8 minutes
WRITING
If 7(x – y) = 2, what is the value of x – y?
2
A
7

B 2
MATH
7
C
2
D 7
2 Mark for Review
3 x + 3 = 126
For the given equation, what is the negative value of

x + 1?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
x 1
If − 4 = 2 + , which of the following is equivalent
y y
to x in terms of y?
A x=y+6

WRITING
6
B x=
y
C x = 6y + 1
1
D x=y–
6
MATH
4 Mark for Review
x + 8y > 24
x > 30
Which of the following could be the value of y if the
point (39, y) is a solution to the system of inequalities
in the xy -plane?
A –7

B –4
C –2
D –1
5 Mark for Review
51 39
In the equation x + = − 3(cx + p) , c and p are
10 14
constants and p > 0. If the equation has no solution,
what is the value of c?

LINEAR SOLVING
• What is one essential math strategy you can use when Plugging In and PITA are not effective options?
_______________________________________________
• What is the ultimate goal when you are solving for a variable?
_______________________________________________
• What should you do when asked for the value of an expression?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
• When solving an inequality, when do you need to flip the inequality sign?
______________________________________________________________
• When do you use the Bowtie Method?
______________________________________________________________
• How many solutions are possible for a linear equation with one variable and no absolute value bars?
_______________________________________________
• What is important to remember when you are solving an equation with an absolute value?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
• What are two ways to solve systems of equations without using a calculator?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

NONLINEAR
SOLVING 101
The Linear Solving 101 chapter provided you with

a foundation in the fundamentals of linear solving
that are key to improving your Math score. In this
chapter, you’ll review the terms and rules related
to nonlinear solving concepts that you will need for
the Digital SAT.
519
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
QUADRATICS
Consider the following equation.
x + 12 = 7x
You may be able to solve this fairly easily, but what if the question were a bit
harder?
WRITING
x 2 + 12 = 7x
This is an example of a quadratic equation. Quadratic equations are equations

that can be put into the following form:
ax 2 + bx + c = 0
MATH
This form is known as the standard form, and this type of equation appears
frequently in the Digital SAT Math section. Fortunately, it is one that you can
learn to solve.
FACTORING
The first thing to do is move everything to one side of the equation so that 0 is on
the other side. In this equation, subtract 7x from both sides to get
x 2 – 7x + 12 = 0
Now, factor the left side. The three terms do not have any common factors, but
that’s not a problem. First, write down the following:
(x )(x )=0
The next thing to notice is the sign of the c term. If the c is positive, the signs in
the factors match each other and the sign of the b term. If, instead, the c term is
negative, the signs in the factors will be different. In this case, c is positive and b is
negative, so you can add the minus signs to each factor.
(x − )(x − )=0
Now, find two factors of 12 (the c term) that have a sum of 7 (the b term). The fac-
tors of 12 are 1 and 12, 2 and 6, and 3 and 4. Of these three pairs, only 3 and 4
have a sum of 7. Therefore, the factored equation is
(x – 3)(x – 4) = 0

NONLINEAR SOLVING 101
READING
So how do you solve this equation? Remember that if a product equals 0, at least
one of the two factors must be 0. Set each factor equal to 0 and solve.
(x – 3) = 0 or (x – 4) = 0
WRITING
x=3 or x=4
3 and 4 are the solutions, or roots, of the equation. With quadratic equations,
there may be (and often will be) two distinct solutions. Let’s look at another
example.
x2 + x – 6 = 0
MATH
This time, the sign of the c term is negative. Remember, when this happens, the
signs of the factors should be different, so write
(x + )(x − )=0
Because the signs are different, you also need two factors of 6 that have a differ-
ence of the b term, which in this case is 1. The factors of 6 are 1 and 6 or 2 and 3.
Because 2 and 3 have a difference of 1, these must be the factors. The larger
factor always gets the sign of the b term. Since b is positive, factor this as
(x + 3)(x – 2) = 0
Now just set each factor equal to 0 and solve. What are the solutions to this
equation?
FOIL
Sometimes, the Digital SAT will give the factored form and ask for the expanded
form. In this case, use the FOIL method. FOIL stands for
First
Outer
Inner
Last

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
If you’re given the expression
(x + 5)(x – 2)
First, multiply the first terms
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 …
WRITING
Then, multiply the outer terms
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 – 2x …
Then, multiply the inner terms

MATH
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 – 2x + 5x …
Then, multiply the last terms
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 – 2x + 5x – 10
Finally, combine like terms to get
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 + 3x – 10

READING
QUADRATICS PRACTICE
Solve the following quadratic equations.
1. x 2 + 3x + 2 = 0 6. x 2 + 10x = 24
WRITING
2. x 2 – 6x + 5 = 0 7. 5x = 14 – x 2
MATH
3. x 2 + 2x – 8 = 0 8. x(x + 6) = −9
4. x 2 – 3x – 10 = 0 9. x 2 – 4 = 0
x −8 4
5. x 2 = 5x + 6 10. =−
4 x

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
EXPONENTS
Exponents are a shorthand way of indicating that a number (known as the base) is
multiplied by itself: the exponent tells you how many times. 73 = 7 × 7 × 7.
Put these exponent

rules all together Whenever the bases are the same
WRITING
and the acronym is

MADSPM. • to multiply the quantities, keep the base and add the
exponents.
M ______________ • to divide the quantities, keep the base and subtract the
A ______________
exponents.
• to raise the quantity to another power, multiply the
D ______________ exponents.
MATH
S ______________ If quantities with the same base and exponent are added or sub-
tracted, just add or subtract the coefficients and do nothing to the
P ______________ base or exponent.
M ______________
Basic Rules
1. ( x 2 )( x 3 ) = 5. (2 x ) 2 3
=
x6 8x 3
2. = 6. =
x2 4x 2
3. (x ) 4 2
= 7. 3 x 2 + 5x 2 =
4. 2x 2 × 6 y3 = 8. 2x 2 + 4 y3 =
There are also some special exponent rules that work in combination with the
basic MADPSM rules.
• Any number to the exponent 0 is 1.
• Any number to the exponent 1 is itself.
• 1 to any exponent is 1.
• 0 to any exponent (besides 0) is 0.

READING
• A negative number raised to an even exponent is positive.
• A negative number raised to an odd exponent is negative.
• A fraction between 0 and 1 raised to a positive exponent gets smaller.
WRITING
Special Rules
x5
1. 5
= 5. 0243 =
x
2. x0 = 6. (−2 )2 =
MATH
3. x1 = 7. (−2 )3 =
2
4. = 1
  =
1, 276
1 8.
2
Call On the Calculator

Some questions about exponents will be easier to do with a calculator. Practice
with your own calculator if you’re planning to use it on test day. If you decide to
use the built-in calculator, there are two useful buttons for exponents:
This button squares the number, variable, or term that you entered
a2 before clicking the button. Put everything that needs to be squared in
parentheses because (x + 2)2 is not the same as x + 22.
This button takes the first number, variable, or term you enter and
ab raises it to the power of the second number, variable, or term you
enter. To enter 23, for example, type or click 2, click the ab button,
then type or click 3.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
EXPONENTS PRACTICE
Simplify all of the following expressions.
57
1. 6. (3x4 + 2x3)x 2
54
WRITING
MATH
x3x4 53 × 6 4
2. 7.
x2 25 × 6 2
3 6 5 4
7 2 × 75
3. (3x y z ) 8.
74
15 x 5 y 3
4. 53 – 33 9.
3x 3 y 5
9x 3 y 4
5. 10. (x–4y3z –5)(x5y–2z 6)
3 xy 2

READING
ROOTS
In the same way that division is the opposite of multiplication and subtraction is
the opposite of addition, finding the root of a number is the opposite of raising a
number to an exponent. Therefore, you can use roots to solve equations involving
exponents. For instance, what is the value of x in this equation?
x 2 = 81
WRITING
What does the equation say? There is some number, x, that when multiplied by
itself is 81. What number multiplied by itself is 81? Both 92 and (–9)2 = 81.
This idea is related to finding the square root. The symbol, called a radical,
is used to represent square roots. So 81 is another way to write “the square root
MATH
of 81.” It is important to note that, while either –9 or 9 might have been squared
to get 81, “the square root of 81” is defined as only the positive option, 9. If a
Digital SAT question had –9 as a choice for the square root of 81, you would be
marked incorrect for choosing it.
You may have noticed that some square roots are easy to figure out, like the square
root of 100, which is 10. Numbers with square roots that are whole numbers are
called perfect squares.
The fastest way to find the square root of a number that is not a perfect square is to
use a calculator. Another way is to break the number down into two factors, one of
which is a perfect square. Consider the following example.
75 = 25 × 3
Break up the square root into two square roots. Note that you can break apart
square roots only with multiplication and division.
75 = 25 × 3
Now, find the square root of 25.
75 = 5 × 3
Finally, write the 5 right next to the square root of 3 to represent the multiplication.
75 = 5 3
The square root is now in its most reduced form.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Rationalizing the Denominator

In order for a fraction to be in its simplest form, there cannot be a root in the
denominator (bottom) of the fraction. Let’s say that the final result after working
a problem is the following:
x
2
WRITING
You aren’t allowed to leave that 2 in the denominator, so you need to get rid
2
of it. To do this, multiply by . Because any number divided by itself is 1,
2
you aren’t actually changing the value of your original fraction; you’re just playing
with its formatting. Then, just multiply across to get the simplified fraction.
MATH
x 2 x × 2 x 2
× = =
2 2 2× 2 2
Your new answer has the same value as the original, but it doesn’t have a root in
the denominator, so it’s in its simplest form.
x
i. Can you rationalize this denominator? ______________________
3
Combining Roots
You can add or subtract square roots only when the numbers under the square
root sign are the same.
1. 4 x +2 x =
2. 9 x −3 x =
Multiplication and division are more flexible: different values can be combined
under the root.
3. ( x )( y ) =
x
4. =
y

READING
Call On the Calculator
Digital SAT Math questions rarely ask about roots directly, but you will often
need to take a root while solving an algebra question. Practice with your own
calculator if you’re planning to use it on test day. If you decide to use the built-in
calculator, there are two useful buttons for roots:
This button takes the square root of the number, variable, or term that
WRITING
you enter after clicking the button.
n This button is hidden in the functions menu. Click on “funcs” or

“functions” and then scroll to the bottom of the menu. The button
takes the nth root of the number, variable, or term that you put under
the root sign. To find the cube root of 27, for example, click the but-
ton first, then type or click 3, then type the right arrow or click under
MATH
the root sign, then click or type 27.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
ROOTS PRACTICE
48
1. 100b 2 6.
3
WRITING
121
2. 3
125 7.
MATH
169
64
c6
3. 8.
4 c4
63 x 4 y 3
4. 31 × 31 9.
7x2 y
x2 36
5. y2 10. −
49

READING
Working with Fractional Exponents
Remember that mathematicians use exponents and roots as shortcuts to represent
repetitive multiplication and division. Well, sometimes you need to symbolize a
square root as an exponent. The way you do this is with a fractional exponent.
Think of a fractional exponent like a tree: the power is on top and the root is at the
power
WRITING
bottom. This is represent by .
root
Consider the following example.

1
92
MATH
1
Notice that the exponent in this case is . That means 1 is the power, or the
2
exponent, and 2 is the root. This is the way to symbolize a square root, so this
1
expression is equivalent to 9 , or 3. What if you’re given 64 3 ? Once again, 1 is
the power, or the exponent, but this time 3 is the root. Therefore,
1
64 3 = 3 64
Sometimes, you will see a fractional exponent with a number other than 1 in the
numerator, like this one:
3
42
3
This time, the fraction is a little more complicated. The exponent represents a
2
two-part calculation: the 3 represents the exponent by which the base, which in
this case is 4, is raised.
The 2 represents a square root, just like before. So the solution will look something
like the following.
3
42 = 43 = 64 = 8
For fractional exponents, you can choose to apply either the exponent or the root
first. This can also be written as ( 4 )=
3
2=
3
8.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Working with Negative Exponents

According to the MADSPM rules of exponents, when you are Dividing num-
bers with the same base, you Subtract the exponents. As you saw in the Special
Rules on the previous page, this will sometimes result in a negative exponent. A
number raised to a negative exponent can be written as a fraction with 1 in the
numerator and the base raised to a power in the denominator. Here are two ways of
approaching one exponent problem.
WRITING
x2 x⋅x x/ ⋅ x/ 1 x2
= = = =x
2−4
= x −2
x 4
x ⋅ x ⋅ x ⋅ x x/ ⋅ x/ ⋅ x ⋅ x x 2 x4

This means that 12 = x −2 . Therefore, another way to think about negative expo-
MATH
x
nents is that they are a way to write reciprocals. This will also work if the negative
exponent is in the denominator of a fraction.
x2 x2 1 x2 x3 2+3 x2 2 − ( −3 ) 2+3
= ⋅ = ⋅ = x2 ⋅ x3 = x = x5 =x =x = x5
x −3 1 x −3 1 1 x −3
When you see a negative exponent, make it positive and take the reciprocal. If the
negative exponent is in the denominator, it will move to the numerator, and vice
versa. Here’s another example with numbers instead of variables.
52 52 1 1 23 23 8
3
3
2
2
2 1 2 5 1 5 25

READING
FRACTIONAL AND NEGATIVE EXPONENTS PRACTICE
Use MADSPM and the rules for negative and fractional exponents to rewrite the following expressions. Your answer
should not contain negative or fractional exponents.
1
 1 3
WRITING
1
1. (64d 4 2
) 6.  64 2 
 
MATH
1
x2
2. 812 7.
x4
3
2 −
 −1 2
3. 8 3 8.  25 2 
 
9. ((3x y ) ) 2
−3 5 −4
4. x −2
1 2
5. (16x y ) 10. (216x y ) 3
2 6 2 9 6

NONLINEAR SOLVING
535
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
NONLINEAR SOLVING 101 REVIEW DRILL

Time: 5 minutes

WRITING
x 2 – 15x + 56
A (x – 7 )(x – 8)

MATH
B (x + 7 )(x + 8)
C (x + 4)(x + 14)
D (x – 4)(x – 14)
2 Mark for Review

4a3 + 2a3 – 7a2?
A –a 4

B 6a3 – 7a2
C 8a 6 – 7a2
D 4 a 3 – 5a 2

NONLINEAR SOLVING
READING
If a , b, and c are all positive, which expression is
equivalent to (a –2b2c 6)(a –3b –1c 2)?
A a–5bc 8

B ab3c4
WRITING
C a 6b–2c12
D a11b6c 3
MATH
4 Mark for Review
( z + 5)
2
If 2z + 9 = , what is the value of z ?
5 Mark for Review

What is the negative solution to the equation
70
x= ?
x −3

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Solve quadratics through factoring

• Use the built-in calculator to solve quadratics when factoring is
difficult
• Use the discriminant to determine the number of solutions to a
WRITING
quadratic
• Solve questions related to exponential growth and decay
• Successfully work with exponents and roots
MATH

NONLINEAR SOLVING
READING
WORK YOUR QUAD(RATIC)S
Questions that ask for the factors or solutions to quadratics can often be solved with PITA or Plugging In. Take a
look at several ways the Digital SAT will test quadratics.
WRITING
(4a2 + 2a + 7 ) + (3a2 – a – 4)
A 4a2 – a + 3
MATH
B 4a2 + a + 11
C 7a2 + a + 3
D 7a2 + a + 11
Save time by working in Bite-Sized Pieces

and using POE after every piece.
2 Mark for Review

What is the sum of the distinct possible values of x for
the equation x 2 + 3x – 10 = 0?
A –3
B –2
C 3
D 5
When a quadratic is in the form ax 2 + bx + c = 0:

b
The sum of the solutions equals - .
a
c
The product of the solutions equals .
a

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Which of the following is a solution to the equation

3x 2 = 10x – 3?
A –3
1
B −
WRITING
C 3
10
D
3
What can you do when the question asks for a

MATH
specific value and the answers are numbers?
NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS
Another way to find the solutions to a quadratic that is difficult to factor is to use the quadratic formula:
−b ± b 2 − 4 ac
x=
2a
If a question asks about the number of solutions to a quadratic, use the part of the quadratic formula known as the
discriminant.
For a quadratic in the standard form ax 2 + bx + c, where a, b,

and c are real numbers, the discriminant is D = b 2 – 4ac.
• If the discriminant is positive, the quadratic has
two real solutions.
• If the discriminant equals zero, the quadratic has
one real solution.
• If the discriminant is negative, the quadratic has
no real solutions.

NONLINEAR SOLVING
READING
y = 3x – 3
y = –2x 2 + 7x – 1
The given system of equations has exactly how many
real solutions?
A 0
WRITING
B 1
C 2
MATH
3
We’ll show you in a later chapter how to use a

graphing calculator to answer questions like this.
5 Mark for Review

If m is a variable and n is a constant, and 6m2 +
5m = n , which of the following values for n would
result in an equation with no real solutions?
A n=−6
5
B n= − 5
6
C n=1
6
D n=
5
Which of your Digital SAT Math strategies will help here?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GROWTH AND DECAY

Another way the Digital SAT tests nonlinear algebra is by asking about the exponential growth or decay of some
countable item, such as number of bacteria or dollar value, over time. If something is increasing or decreasing by a
constant percent or multiplier over a set period, use the exponential growth/decay formula.
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OR DECAY FORMULAS

WRITING
When the growth is a percent of the total population, use

final amount = original amount (1 ± rate)number of changes.
When the growth is a multiple of the total population, use
final amount = original amount (multiplier)number of changes.
MATH

A car was worth $5,000 when it was purchased. Over
the next several years, the car’s value decreased by
10 percent per year. Which of the following functions
gives the value, v, in dollars, of the car after n years at
this rate?
A v(n) = 5, 000 − 0.9n
B v(n) = 5, 000(0.9)n
C v(n) = 5, 000(0.1)n
D v(n) = 5, 000(1.1)n
Knowing the formula will help you use POE.

What other strategy could you use?

NONLINEAR SOLVING
READING
A child has a bag of candy that initially contains
32 pieces of candy. Every day, the child eats half

the candy in the bag, as modeled by the equation
d
 
C = 32  1  . Assuming no one else eats the candy,
2
after how many days, d , will there be 4 pieces of
WRITING
candy left in the bag?
MATH
8 Mark for Review
A couple buys a certain home that is worth $120,000.
A real estate agent tells the couple that the value of
the home will increase by 12% per year for the next
ten years. The real estate agent uses the equation
H = 120,000(k) y to model the value, H, of the home
after y years. What value should the real estate agent
use for k?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Some exponential growth or decay questions will ask you to adapt formulas for different units of time.
READING

In selecting a long-term investment, a stock broker
predicts that the value of a particular mutual fund
will increase by 15% every ten years. If the present
WRITING
value of the mutual fund is $20 per share, which

of the following expressions represents the stock
broker’s prediction of the value per share of the
mutual fund y years from now?
y
A (
20 1.15 )
10
MATH
B 20(1.15)10y
y
C (
20 0.15 ) 10
D 20(0.15)10y
What skill can you use when the question asks about
the relationship between variables and there are
variables in the answer choices?

NONLINEAR SOLVING
READING
EXPONENTS AND ROOTS
Many questions involving exponents and roots can be solved with PITA or Plugging In. Knowing the exponent rules
(MADSPM) can also help. See the Nonlinear Solving 101 chapter for a review of the exponent rules and of working
with negative and fractional exponents.
WRITING
c 3d −3
3
cd 2
Which of the following is an equivalent form of the
given expression for all positive values of c and d ?
A c2d –5
MATH
7 13
B c 6d 6
7
c6
C 13
d 6
7
c6
D 5
d6
Remember MADSPM!
M ____________________________
A ____________________________
D ____________________________
S ____________________________
P ____________________________
M ____________________________
With fractional exponents, the numerator is the exponent, and the

denominator is the root. You can apply either one first to make the
calculations easier. For negative exponents, calculate the positive
exponent, then take the reciprocal.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
NONLINEAR SOLVING DRILL

Time: 8 minutes

WRITING
Which of the following is the product of all values of x

that satisfy the equation 5x 2 – 20x – 10 = 0?
A −5 6

B –2
MATH
C 2
D 5 6
2 Mark for Review
x 2 − 6 x − 66 = 5
What are the solutions to the given equation?
A –7 and –13

B –7 and 13
C 7 and –13
D 7 and 13

NONLINEAR SOLVING
READING
2
The factors of 5x – 7x – 6 include which of the
following?
I. 5x – 3
II. x + 2
A I only
WRITING

B II only
C Both I and II
D Neither I nor II
MATH
4 Mark for Review
B = 100(1.09)h
The given equation models the number of microbes,
B, in a bacteria sample h hours after observation
begins. Of the following, which equation models
the number of microbes of bacteria in the sample m
minutes after observation begins?
m
A B = 100(176)

B B = 100(1.0015) 60m
C B = 100(1.09) 60m
m
D B =100 (1.09)60

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
q (x) = 243(1.06)2y
The function q gives the rabbit population of a given
region y years after the population was first counted.
If the population of rabbits in the region increases by
r % of the previous year’s population every 6 months,
what is the value of r ?
WRITING
A 3

B 6
C 12
MATH
D 36

NONLINEAR SOLVING
• What is the standard form of a quadratic equation?
__________________________________________________
• When you are solving a quadratic equation using FOIL, what are the four steps?
F__________________________
O_________________________
I__________________________
L__________________________
• What is the quadratic formula?
__________________________________________________
• For a quadratic, the discriminant is ______________________________________________.
• If the discriminant is positive, the quadratic has __________ real solution(s). If the discriminant is
zero, the quadratic has __________ real solution(s). If the discriminant is negative, the quadratic has
__________ real solution(s).
• What formula do you use when a value is increasing or decreasing by a percent over time?
___________________________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• What formula do you use when a value is increasing or decreasing by a multiple or fraction over
time?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What are the basic rules for manipulating exponents?
M_________________________
A__________________________
D_________________________
S__________________________
P__________________________
M_________________________
• What do the numerator and denominator represent in fractional exponents?
__________________________________________________
• What do you do to manipulate negative exponents?
___________________________________________________________________________

SAT MANUAL
FUNCTIONS
551
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Interpret function notation in a variety of questions

• Work with input and output values to answer questions about
functions
• Identify the type of function based on a description
WRITING
• Use PITA, Plugging In, and POE on questions about functions

MATH

FUNCTIONS
READING
INPUT/OUTPUT
A function is a machine for producing ordered pairs. An x-value is the input of the function, and the corresponding
y-value is the output. This y-value is usually referred to as f (x). The f in f (x) is not a variable; it’s just the name of the
function.
Scratch Paper
WRITING
1 Mark for Review
2
If f (x) = x + 8x + 2, what is the value of f (3)?
A 29
B 33
MATH
C 35
D 53
The x goes into the function machine, and the

y comes out, so f (x) = y.
College Board could also ask for the x-value that must be put into the function to get a certain y-value out.
2 Mark for Review

3
1
If f (x) =  x  , what is one possible value of x for
1 1
which < f (x) < ?
216 64
A 3
B 4
C 5
D 6
What should you do when you see

numbers in the answer choices?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
On some questions, you will be given two input/output pairs or a table of corresponding values and must identify the
READING
function that could be defined by those values.

Which equation defines linear function g if g (0) = 12
and g (1) = 15?
WRITING
A g ( x) = 3 x
B g (x) = 3x + 12
C g (x) = 3x + 15
MATH
D g (x) = 15x + 12
Identifying Function Types

One question type on the Digital SAT will describe a function and ask you to determine the type of function it is.
Look for key words and use POE.
4 Mark for Review

A newborn baby weighing 6 pounds needs about
450 milliliters (mL) of milk per day and needs
approximately 75 mL of additional milk each day for
each pound gained after that. Which of the following
functions could describe the relationship between
the baby’s milk needs and weight?
A Decreasing exponential
B Decreasing linear
C Increasing exponential
D Increasing linear

FUNCTIONS
READING
Each day, the volume of helium inside a balloon
decreases by 1.2% of its volume the previous day.
Which of the following best models the relationship
between the volume of helium in the balloon and
time?
AND
LANGUAGE
WRITING
WRITING
B Decreasing linear
MATH
Increasing linear
Questions about function types are easy to recognize by their

answers.
Determine whether there is an increase or decrease to
eliminate half the answers.
If the function is changing by a constant amount with each
new input, it is linear.
If the function is changing by a percent or multiplier of the
previous output, it is exponential.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
FUNCTIONS IRL
Functions may show up in the form of word problems as well.

Jack’s band charges by the performance. Jack’s
WRITING
share P, in dollars, for x performances is given

by the function P = 1,200x – 60. If Jack earned
$4,740 one month playing with his band, how many
performances did the band give?
A 3
MATH
B 4
C 5
D 6
What technique can you use with numbers in

the answer choices?
7 Mark for Review

A gym membership costs $100 per month for a
family of 4, with an additional fee for each family
member after the first 4. A family of 6 pays a monthly
fee of $132 at this gym. Which function h gives the
membership cost, in dollars, for a family with x
members if x ≥ 4?
A h (x) = 16x + 100
B h (x) = 16x + 36
C h (x) = 22x + 100
D h (x) = 22x
What technique can you use with variables

in the question and answer choices?
For word problems containing functions, read carefully for key words,
and look for ways to Plug In or PITA.

FUNCTIONS
READING
ADVANCED FUNCTIONS
Harder functions questions will take the basics we’ve already covered and combine or build on them to make a
question more difficult or more time-consuming.
WRITING
3
The function f is defined as f (x) = x + 1. Which table
gives three values of x and their corresponding values
of f (x)?
A x f (x)
2 9
MATH
3 13
4 65
B x f (x)
2 1
3 2
4 3
C x f (x)
2 9
3 28
4 65
D x f (x)
2 7
3 10
4 13

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
f (x) = 37 ⋅ c x
The exponential function f is defined by the given
equation. If c is a positive constant and f (2) = 592,
what is the value of f (3)?
WRITING
MATH
10 Mark for Review

The value of the function f (x) increases by 10% each
time x increases by 1. If f (2) = 100, what is the value
of f (4)?
A 110

B 120

C 121

D 200

FUNCTIONS
READING
x
p (x) = 8(3)
r (x) = p (x – 1)
The function r is related to function p as defined
by the given equations. Which of the following
equations describes function r ?
WRITING
A r (x) = – 8(– 3)x
B r (x) = – 8(3)x
C r (x) = 8(– 3)x
MATH
8
D r (x) = 3 (3)x
Don’t forget your POOD on complicated functions

questions. If you do tackle them, work in Bite-Sized
Pieces and look for ways to Plug In.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
FUNCTIONS DRILL
Time: 8 minutes

WRITING
f ( x) = 2 x – 3
g ( x) = 1
x
For the given functions, what is the value of
2f (3) + 3g (3)?
10
A
MATH

B 4

C 7
29
D
3
2 Mark for Review

The function g is defined as g (x) is 85% of x for all
values of x > 0. What is the best description of the
function?

B Decreasing linear
D Increasing linear

FUNCTIONS
READING
The profit of a certain manufacturing company
can be expressed using the quadratic function
P (x), where P is the company’s profit, in thousands
of dollars, and x is the number of units sold, in
thousands. If the maximum profit of the company is
$90,000 and occurs when 4,000 units are sold, which
of the following equations could represent P (x)?
WRITING
A P (x) = –15x 2 + 90x + 4,000

B P (x) = –10x 2 + 4,000x
C P (x) = –5x 2 + 40x + 10
MATH
D P (x) = –2x 2 + 30x + 90
4 Mark for Review

The value of the function g (x) decreases by 25% each
time x increases by 1. If g (1) = 24, what is the value of
g (3)?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
x f (x)
0 200
2 140
4 98
6 68.6
WRITING
Values of the function f are shown in the table. When

x increases by 2, f (x) decreases by p%. What is the
value of p?
A 30
MATH

B 43
C 60
D 70

FUNCTIONS
• In a function, x is the ___________________ and y is the ___________________.
• f (x) = ___________________
• When a question gives the function and an input value, _________________________________.
• When a question gives the function and an output value, ________________________________.
• When a question gives pairs of input and output values and asks for the function, ___________________.
• When a question asks what type of function matches a description, work in _________________________
and use _________________________________.
• For word problems containing functions, read carefully and look for ways to ___________________ or
___________________.

SAT MANUAL
REPRESENTATION AND
INTERPRETATION
565
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Consistently apply the Word Problem Basic Approach

• Quickly recognize when a word problem is a Representation or
Interpretation question
• Apply a variation of the Word Problem Basic Approach to
WRITING
Representation questions
• Apply a variation of the Word Problem Basic Approach to
Interpretation questions
MATH

REPRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION
READING
WHEN SOLVING ISN’T THE SOLUTION
Some questions on the Digital SAT aren’t about solving. Instead, they will ask you to find what represents a situation
or to identify the interpretation of something in context. These are typically word problems, so let’s review the Basic
Approach.
WRITING
WORD PROBLEM BASIC APPROACH
1. Read the Final Question (RTFQ)—Understand the actual
question being asked. Write down key words.
2. Let the Answers Point the Way—Use the answer type to
help determine how to start working on the question.
3. Work in Bite-Sized Pieces—Find one piece to start with,
MATH
then work piece-by-piece until the final question has been
answered.
4. Use POE—Check to see whether any answers can be
eliminated after each bite-sized piece.
Representing a Situation
When a Math question on the Digital SAT asks for the answer that represents the situation described in the
question, translate the words into math one piece at a time and eliminate after each piece.

A player earned a total of 11,000 points in a video
game: 500 points for each squad joined and 150
points for every mission completed with that squad.
If the player joined 1 squad and completed c missions
with that squad, which of the following equations
represents this situation?
A 150 – 500c = 11,000
B 150 + 500c = 11,000
C 500 – 150c = 11,000
D 500 + 150c = 11,000
Need a refresher on translating English into math?

Math Vocabulary 101 has what you need.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
REPRESENTATION QUESTION BASIC APPROACH

1. Read the Final Question (RTFQ) and let the answers point
the way—Together, the question and answers will tell you
that you’re dealing with a Representation question.
2. Translate English into math—Find one piece of information
WRITING
and translate the English into math using Bite-Sized Pieces.

3. Use POE—Eliminate any answers that do not translate the
piece of information correctly.
4. Keep eliminating—Repeat steps (2) and (3) until only one
answer remains.
MATH

The amount of radioactivity in a certain isotope
decreases by one-half every hour. If the initial
radioactivity of this isotope is measured at 1,768
units, which of the following equations represents the
radioactivity, r, of the isotope h hours after the initial
measurement?
1
A r= (1,768)h
2
B r = 2(1,768)h
h
C r = 1,768  1 
2
D r = 1,768(2)h
Do the answer choices look like a familiar formula?

How does that help you answer the question?
How to Spot a Representation Question

1. The question asks what represents, models, or gives a
situation, number, or total.
2. The answers contain one or more equations, inequalities, or
functions.

A system is made up of two or more equations or inequalities. When a question asks for a system that represents a
READING
situation, that means there’s more to work with in the answer choices and more ways to eliminate!

A teacher has 51 items to grade, divided into
p papers and q quizzes. It takes the teacher
AND
12.4 minutes to grade a paper and 7.75 minutes to
LANGUAGE
WRITING
grade a quiz. The teacher grades for a total of 465
WRITING
minutes. Which of the following systems of equations
represents this situation?
A 12.4p + 7.75q = 465

p + q = 51
MATH
B 7.75p + 12.4q = 465
p + q = 51
C 12.4p + 7.75q = 51
p + q = 465
D 7.75p + 12.4q = 51
p + q = 465
Sometimes you will need to translate and then perform an additional calculation to determine the correct answer.
4 Mark for Review

At the beginning of a certain week, Bowley has 18
pages of reading to do for a certain class. Each day
she reads 8 pages. Bowley’s teacher assigns 6 more
pages of reading every day. Which of the following
equations best models the number of pages, p, that
Bowley has remaining to read for the class d days
since the beginning of the week?
A p = 18 – 2d
B p = 2d + 18
8
C p= d + 18
7
D p = 18 – d
What else could you do when a question is about the

relationship between variables and there are variables
in the answer choices?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
INTERPRETATION IN CONTEXT
Some Digital SAT Math questions will give you the equation or graph that represents a situation and then ask you
to interpret part of the equation or graph. For this kind of question, you will continue to rely heavily on Bite-Sized
Pieces and POE.
5 Scratch Paper
WRITING
Mark for Review

The equation 4a + 14b = 160 represents the situation
in which a computer technician worked for a total
of 160 hours during a certain month. The technician
completed a laptop repairs and b system diagnostics.
Each task takes a consistent amount of time, and
the technician did no other work. What is the best
interpretation of 14 in this context?
MATH

A The computer technician performed a total of
14 system diagnostics during the month.

B The computer technician spent 14 hours on
each system diagnostic during the month.

C The computer technician performed a total of
14 laptop repairs during the month.
D The computer technician spent 14 hours on

each laptop repair during the month.

READING
Interpretation Basic Approach
1. Read the Final Question (RTFQ)—Know what part of the
equation or graph the question is asking about.
2. Translate and label—Find one piece of information and
translate the English into math using Bite-Sized Pieces.
Label the equation or graph with that information.
WRITING
3. Use POE—Eliminate any answers that do not make sense
with the labels.
4. Keep eliminating—Repeat steps (2) and (3) until only one
answer remains.
MATH
On an extrasolar planet, the height H, in meters, of a
spherical object t seconds after it is launched straight
up in the air is estimated using the function
H(t) = –2.1t 2 + 35t + 96 for 0 ≤ t ≤ 19. What is the
meaning of the number 96 in this function?
A The maximum height of the object
B The height of the object 16 seconds after being

launched
C The change in height for each second after

launch
D The height from which the object was

launched
If you get struck translating and labeling, try plugging

in some numbers to see how things fit together.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Follow the same Interpretation Basic Approach if the question asks you to interpret part of a graph.
READING

y
Value (in thousands of dollars)
12
WRITING
10 •
•
•
8 •
•
•
6
•
4
MATH
2 •
•
•
x
5 10 15 20 25
Age (years)
The scatterplot shows the age and value of ten cars

produced by a certain manufacturer. The line of best
fit is also shown. What is the best interpretation of the
slope of the line of best fit?
A The estimated value, in thousands of dollars,

of a car x years old
B The estimated initial value of the car, in

thousands of dollars
C The estimated age at which the car has a value

of zero dollars
D The estimated change in the car’s value, in

thousands of dollars, each year

READING
For linear graphs that represent an amount over time,
• the slope represents the rate of change.
• the y-intercept represents the initial amount.
• the x-intercept represents the time at which the amount is 0.
WRITING
Finally, you may be asked to perform a basic calculation based on the interpretation of two values in an equation.

A baker uses a total of 110 cups of sugar to make b
MATH
batches of brownies and c batches of cookies. The
equation 2b + 5c = 110 represents this situation.
How many more cups of sugar are used for each batch
of cookies than for each batch of brownies?
You can’t use POE on fill-in questions, but keep

translating in Bite-Sized Pieces.
IDENTIFYING REPRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS

Practice recognizing these question types by marking whether the information indicates that you’re dealing with a
Representation (R) question or an Interpretation (I) question.
The final question is “What is the best interpretation of the vertex of the graph?” R I
The final question is “Which of the following represents this situation?” R I
The answers contain systems of inequalities. R I
The answers contain words that describe a value. R I
The final question is “According to this model, how many...?” R I
The final question is “Which equation best represents this model? R I

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
REPRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION DRILL

Time: 8 minutes

WRITING
The function h (s) = 50 + 2s can be used to

approximate the total weight of one bowl and s
cherries, in grams, as cherries are added to the bowl
one by one. According to the function, what is the
average weight, in grams, of one cherry?
A 2
MATH

B 25
C 48
D 50
2 Mark for Review

The total number of wolves, w, in Idaho, Montana,
and Wyoming from 1995 to 2005 can be approximated
using the equation w = 71.3y + 48, where y is the
number of years since 1995. Which of the following
is the best interpretation of the number 71.3 in the
context of the problem?

A The average annual increase in the total
number of wolves in Idaho, Montana, and
Wyoming from 1995 to 2005

B The average total number of wolves in Idaho,
Montana, and Wyoming from 1995 to 2005

C The number of years it took the total number
of wolves in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming to
increase by 48
D The total number of wolves in Idaho, Montana,

and Wyoming in 1995

READING
y
5
Water depth (inches)
WRITING
3
0 x
MATH
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Time (days)
The graph displays the depth of flood waters y, in

inches, x days after a certain hurricane. What does
the y -intercept represent in the graph?
A The depth of the flood waters after 9 days

B The decrease in floodwater depth for each day
C The number of days until the flood waters

subside
D The initial depth of the flood waters

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Keisha, a club treasurer, collects dues from the club

members. The function f (x) = 8x + 148 represents
the number of dollars in the club’s treasury after
Keisha collected dues from x members. If the function
f (x) = y is graphed in the xy -plane, which statement is
the best interpretation of the slope of the graph of the
function in this context?
WRITING
A Keisha had 8 dollars in the treasury before

collecting dues from the members.

B Keisha collects 8 dollars in dues from each
member.
MATH
C Keisha had 148 dollars in the treasury before

collecting dues from the members.
D Keisha collects 148 dollars in dues from each

member.
5 Mark for Review

Anh uses mosaic tiles of the same size to cover
picture frames. She covers t wide frames and v
narrow frames with the mosaic tiles. This situation is
represented by the equation 12t + 8v = 480. In this
context, which of the following best represents 12t ?
A The total number of mosaic tiles on the wide

frames

B The number of wide frames Anh covered
C The total number of mosaic tiles on the narrow

frames
D The number of narrow frames Anh covered

• What is the Word Problem Basic Approach?
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
• What steps should you follow when asked for a representation of a situation?
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
• What steps should you follow when asked for the interpretation of part of an equation or a graph?
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• What are some terms that indicate a Representation question?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
• What are some terms that indicate an Interpretation question?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

WORKING WITH
DATA 101
Questions about data on the Digital SAT will

test statistical concepts, looking up information
on a figure, or both. This chapter covers the
basics of both.
579
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS
Many questions on the Digital SAT involve visual representations—such as charts,
graphs, and tables—of real-world data. You might be asked to look up something
on the figure or to apply your knowledge of statistical measures.
No matter what type of figure you’re working with, this is always the first step:
WRITING
Figure Out the Figure

Before diving into the question, examine these key elements:
• Description
MATH
• Labels
• Units
With that in mind, here are the types of figures you might encounter.

WORKING WITH DATA 101
READING
Scatterplots
In a scatterplot graph, each dot represents one data point. Sometimes a line or
curve of best fit will be drawn to represent the equation that most closely matches
the data.
WRITING
When working with graphs, always read the
description, labels, and units before working on
the question.
MATH
The scatterplot shows the grams of protein and grams of fiber in twelve brands of
whole-wheat bread.
Grams of Protein and Grams of Fiber
in Twelve Brands of Whole-Wheat Bread
8
7
6
Fiber (grams)
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Protein (grams)
1. What are the label and units along the horizontal (x) axis? ____________________
2. What are the label and units along the vertical (y) axis? _______________________
3. How much fiber is in the bread with 6 grams of protein? _____________________
4. How much protein is in the bread with 7 grams of fiber? _____________________
5. According to the line of best fit, approximately how many grams of fiber
would be in the bread with 10 grams of protein? ________________________
6. How many grams of protein are in the bread that is closest to the line of
best fit? ___________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Bar Graphs and Histograms

A bar graph is another way to represent data. Rather than giving points, a bar
graph represents the values with a bar. A histogram is just a bar graph in which
each bar represents a range of values rather than a specific value. The height of the
bar corresponds to the value on the y-axis. As with scatterplots, read the descrip-
tion, labels, and units first.
WRITING
The bar graph shows the unemployment rate in the United States from 2006
through 2011.
Unemployment Rate in the United States
12
10
% Unemployment
MATH
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Year
1. What is the label along the horizontal (x) axis? ____________________
2. What is the label along the vertical (y) axis?_______________________
3. What is the lowest unemployment rate shown? _________________________
4. For what year was the unemployment rate the highest? __________________
5. What was the unemployment rate during the last year shown? ___________

READING
Two-Way Tables
Two-way tables give counts for data according to two variables. They have catego-
ries listed across the top and down the left side of the table. Before working on the
question, read the description and headings.
The table summarizes the preferred beverage for a group of men and women.
WRITING
Coffee Tea Hot Chocolate Total
Men 923 254 89 1,266
Women 655 362 193 1,210
Total 1,578 616 282 2,476
MATH
1. What are the labels on top? ____________________________________________
2. What are the labels on the left side? ____________________________________
3. What is the total number of people represented in the table? _____________
4. What is the total number of people who preferred tea? __________________
5. How many women are represented in the table?____________________
6. How many men preferred hot chocolate? _______________________________
7. How many women preferred coffee? ____________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Frequency Tables
A frequency table provides a type of shorthand for listing many values. It has two
columns: one column contains the values, and the other column contains the
number of times each value occurs—or its frequency.
The frequency table shows the number of holly trees within each acre in a forest.
WRITING
Number of Holly Trees Number of Acres

0 2
1 0
2 5
3 7
4 2
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5 3
6 1
1. How many total acres were surveyed? ___________________________
2. List the number of trees in each acre: ____________________________
_________________________________________________________
3. How many acres contain 5 holly trees? ___________________________
4. How many total holly trees are in those acres? _____________________
5. What is the most frequent number of holly trees in an acre? __________
6. What is the greatest number of holly trees in any single acre? _________
7. How many total holly trees are in all the surveyed acres? (Hint: multiply
across each row and add the results.) ____________________________
_________________________________________________________
8. What is the average number of holly trees per acre? (Hint: divide the
total number of trees by the number of acres.) _____________________

READING
Dot Plots
A dot plot uses one dot to represent one data point, and the number of dots in a
column shows how often that value occurs. You can also visualize a curve above
the dot plot to get a sense of the standard deviation of the data, a topic covered
later in this chapter.
Here’s the data about holly trees in a forest that was in the frequency table above,
WRITING
now shown as a dot plot. The numbers along the bottom represent the number of
trees, and each dot represents an acre that has that number of trees. There are 2
acres with 0 trees, 0 acres with 1 tree, 5 acres with 2 trees, and so on.
MATH
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
STEM-AND-LEAF PLOTS
Once in a while, College Board may ask you about a stem-and-leaf plot or a box
plot (also known as a box-and-whisker plot). The good news is that these questions
are usually pretty straightforward if you understand the basic concepts.
Suppose that a class earned these quiz scores: 65, 70, 70, 78, 80, 81, 84, 86, 89, 89,
93, 93, 93, 98, 100.
A stem-and-leaf plot would illustrate the data as follows:
6 5
7 0 0 8
8 0 1 4 6 9 9
9 3 3 3 8
10 0

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
BOX PLOTS
A box plot shows the data broken into quartiles. Using our fifteen quiz scores, the
box plot would be illustrated as follows:
65 78 86 93 100
WRITING
Here is what all the parts of the box plot represent.
Box
Whisker Whisker
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Min Lower Upper Max

Quartile Median Quartile
Q1 Q2 Q3
For the quiz scores, 86 is the median, and this is the line inside the box, also
known as the second quartile. The lower quartile and upper quartile are the medians
of the lower and upper halves of the data, respectively, and are represented by the
ends of the box.
Q1 Q2 Q3
65 78 86 93
The horizontal lines on a box plot, called the whiskers, extend to the lowest data
point on the left and the highest one on the right. Here, those points are 65 and
100, respectively.
Minimum Q1 Q2 Q3 Maximum
65 78 86 93 100
A box plot shows the spread of the data by the width of the whiskers or halves of
the box. Here, because the left whisker appears to be the longest, we know that the
data points in the lowest 25% are spread out the most. Also, the interquartile range
is the range of the middle 50%: Q3 – Q1, or the width of the box.

READING
From a stem-and-leaf plot or a box plot, you can determine the median and range
of the set of data. It is also possible to calculate the mode and mean from a stem-
and-leaf plot and the interquartile range from a box plot. We’ll cover some of these
concepts in greater detail in the next chapter.
WRITING
Two Tools to Use
To make sure you find the correct value on a figure, do one of these things:
• Use the edge of your scratch paper as a straight edge on the computer
MATH
screen.
• Move the mouse pointer up and down or left and right using your
mouse or trackpad (only if you trust yourself to trace straight lines).

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
STATISTICAL MEASURES
Now that you know how to understand figures and look up data, let’s see what else
you can do with data.
Statistics Vocabulary
WRITING
Statistics in real life—or in a stats class at school—can get very complicated very
quickly. Fortunately, the Digital SAT sticks to a few basic terms and concepts.
The mean of a list of numbers is the sum of all of the numbers divided by how
many numbers there are. On the Digital SAT, mean and average mean the
same thing.
MATH
The median of a list of numbers is the number exactly in the middle when the list
is in order. “Median” sounds like “middle,” and that’s what it is.
The mode of a list of numbers is the number that appears most often in the list.
“Mode” sounds like “most,” and that’s what it is.
The range of a list of numbers is the difference between the greatest value and the
least value. Find these values and subtract.
Standard deviation is a measure of how numbers are distributed around the

mean. The Digital SAT will not ask you to calculate standard deviation, so
think of it as a measure of how spread out the numbers are.
Mean = Average
The simplest way to calculate the mean, or average, of a list of numbers is with the
TAN equation:
Total = Average × Number of things
T = AN
No matter which two pieces of the equation the question gives you, plug them
into the equation and solve for the third piece. Try using T = AN to answer the
following questions.
1. What is the average of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5? __________________________
2. What is the average of 2, 4, 6, and 8? ____________________________
3. What is the average of 2, 5, 10, 12, and 16? _______________________
4. What is the total if 5 numbers have an average of 8? ________________

READING
5. What is the total if 12 numbers have an average of 1.5?_______________
6. How many items are in a list that adds up to 99 and has an average
of 11? ____________________________
WRITING
Median = Middle
When a list of numbers is small, it is easy to cross off numbers from each side
to find the number in the middle. When a list has an odd number of items, the
median is the one number that is right in the middle. When a list has an even
number of items, the median is the average of the two middle numbers. Take a
look at these two examples:
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Item 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Item 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Number 8 9 10 11 12 Number 8 9 10 11
Median = 10 Median = 9.5
What do you do when the list is longer and it will take too much time to write
out all of the numbers and cross out from the ends? Well, because median means
middle, cut the list in half.
The first example above has 5 items (also called terms or elements). Cut 5 in half to
5
get = 2.5, then round up to 3. The third item is the median, like 10 was in the
2
first example.
4
The second example above has 4 items. Cut 4 in half to get = 2, but notice
2
that we need the average of the 2nd item and the item to the right of it—the 3rd
item—to find the median of 9.5.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Here are two more examples:
If a list of numbers has 33 items, divide by two and round up: the
median is the 17th item.
If a list of numbers has 78 items, divide by two and take the average
of that item and the item to the right: the median is the average of
WRITING
the 39th and 40th items. If you wrote out the entire list, there would
be 39 – 1 = 38 items to the left of the 39th item and 78 – 40 = 38
items to the right of the 40th item. Those two items are exactly in
the middle.
Circle the correct answer for these examples.

MATH
1. If a list has 49 items, which of the following is the median?
the value of the 24th item
the average of the values of the 24th and 25th items
the average of the values of the 23rd and 24th items

READING
Mode = Most
There is nothing complicated about finding the mode of a list of numbers: simply
look for the number that appears most often. Because this is relatively simple,
questions will often ask you to compare the mode to other statistical measures or
to find the mode from a visual representation, such as a stem-and-leaf plot or a
frequency table.
WRITING
Range = Greatest Minus Least
Range is also relatively straightforward, but watch out for lists of numbers that are
not in order. Simply find the largest number and the smallest number on the list
and subtract.
MATH
Standard Deviation = Spread
Standard deviation is similar to range in that it shows how spread out a group of
numbers is. However, standard deviation takes it further by relating the spread to
the center, or the mean. Questions about standard deviation will often include a
visual representation of the data, so think of it in terms of curves.
Large standard deviation Normal standard deviation Small standard deviation
Determine These Stats, Stat!

Match the value to the statistical measure for this list of numbers:
1, 2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 10, 10, 11, 18, 18, 20
Mean ________ A. 19
Median ________ B. 4
Mode ________ C. ???
Range ________ D. 8
Standard deviation ________ E. 9

WORKING WITH
DATA
593
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
WORKING WITH DATA 101 REVIEW DRILL

Time: 5 minutes

WRITING
80
70
temperature (F°)
Average annual
60
50
40
30
MATH
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
State
The bar graph shows the average annual temperature

in degrees Fahrenheit for 7 US states. What is the
average annual temperature for the coldest state
shown on the graph?

WORKING WITH DATA
READING
The line graph shows the number of breaks a
marathon runner takes each day during a week of
training.
6
5
Number of breaks
AND
LANGUAGE
4
WRITING
WRITING
3
2
1
0
ay
ay
ay
ay
da
d
id
on
es
es
rs
MATH
Fr
u
Tu
n
M
Th
ed
W
Based on the graph, on which day did the runner take

the fewest breaks?
A Monday

B Wednesday
C Thursday
D Friday

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The scatterplot shows the relationship between the

number of hours worked and the paycheck amount,
in dollars, for employees at a coffee shop.
340
320
Paycheck amount ($)
WRITING
300
280
260
240
220
200
MATH
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Number of hours worked
What is the approximate paycheck amount, as

predicted by the line of best fit, for an employee who
works 26 hours?
A $260

B $279
C $289
D $297

WORKING WITH DATA
READING
Spring Summer Fall Total
blooming blooming blooming
Annual 6,700 2,500 1,200 10,400
Perennial 3,200 3,500 5,300 12,000
Total 9,900 6,000 6,500 22,400
WRITING
The inventory of plants in a greenhouse is shown in
the table. What proportion of perennials are summer
blooming?
5
A
32
MATH
25
B
224
7
C
24
7
D
12
5 Mark for Review
4 8 12 16 20 24
Points
The box plot summarizes the points scored by a

basketball player during a season. What is the best
interpretation of the number 20 in the context of the
data?
A The highest number of points scored by the

player

B The range of points scored by the player
C The mean number of points scored by the

player
D The median number of points scored by the

player

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand and apply concepts of mean, median, mode, range, and standard deviation
• Know how to find information using visual representations of data
WRITING
APPLYING STATISTICAL CONCEPTS

Math questions on the Digital SAT often test statistical concepts with word problems or visual representations of
data. In either case, read carefully, use your scratch paper, and work in Bite-Sized Pieces.
MATH
Mean = Average
When working on questions about the mean, or average, of a list of numbers, remember to use the T = AN equation.

Mei has an average score of 83 on five equally-
weighted quizzes. The teacher decides to remove the
lowest quiz score for each student in the class. Mei’s
average for the four remaining quizzes is now 89.
What was Mei’s lowest quiz score before the teacher
decided to remove that score?
A 59
B 65
C 70
D 77
Every time the word “mean” or “average” appears

in a question, write down the equation T = AN
and fill in numbers from the question.

WORKING WITH DATA
READING
Median = Middle
The median is the middle number in an ordered list of numbers. If there is an even number of elements in the list,
the median is the average of the two numbers in the middle.
WRITING
An element’s valence is a measure of the combining
power of an element. The frequency table shows the
valence of the 108 elements with known valency.
Valence Number of elements

0 3
1 9
MATH
2 13
3 28
4 20
5 12
6 19
7 4
Based on the table, what is the median valence for

these 108 elements?
A 3
B 3.5
C 3.7
D 4
Remember the shortcut for finding which item(s) in

a list give the median: cut the list in half by dividing
the number of items in the list by 2.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Mode = Most and Range = Greatest Minus Least

The mode is the number that appears most often in a list of numbers. Range is the difference between the greatest and
least elements of a list of numbers.

WRITING
Test Scores from First Practice Test

1 21 22 24 25 26
26 27 28 30 31 33
A class of 12 students took the first practice test of the

semester. The scores earned by the students are in
MATH
the table. Later, it is determined that the student who

scored a 1 used a pen instead of a pencil, making the
score invalid. If the score of 1 is removed from the
data, which of the following would change the most?
A Mean
B Median
C Mode
D Range

WORKING WITH DATA
READING
Standard Deviation = Spread
Standard deviation is a measure of the spread of a group of numbers. The greater the standard deviation of a list, the
more spread apart the numbers are from the average of the list. A list with a small standard deviation has numbers
closely grouped around the average.
WRITING
Option A
MATH
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Option B
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
The two dot plots shown model the ways to roll a

certain total with combinations of dice in a role-
playing game. Which of the following is a true
statement about the standard deviations of the two
options?
A The standard deviation of option A is greater

than the standard deviation of option B.
B The standard deviation of option A is less than

the standard deviation of option B.
C The standard deviation of option A is equal to

the standard deviation of option B.
D There is not enough information to compare

the standard deviations of the two options.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
WORKING WITH DATA DRILL

Time: 8 minutes

WRITING
The data set shows the number of students who

graduated last year from each high school in a certain
region.
343, 272, 321, 283, 272, 438, 309

What is the median number of students who
graduated from high schools in the region last year?
MATH
2 Mark for Review
Data set P: 23, 18, 13, 27, 30

Data set Q: 3, 8, 2, 19
Data sets P and Q are shown. Which statement

correctly compares the range of data set P and the
range of data set Q?
A The ranges of data set P and data set Q are

equal.

B The range of data set P is less than the range of
data set Q.
C The range of data set P is greater than the

range of data set Q.
D There is not enough information to compare

the ranges.

WORKING WITH DATA
READING
0 7
1 2 6
2 3 6 6
3 2 6
WRITING
4 0
Which of the following is closest to the mean of the

data shown in the stem-and-leaf plot?
A 3.4
MATH

B 6.2
C 24.2
D 26.0
4 Mark for Review
Company A
Company B
25 30 35 40 45 50 55
The box plots summarize the ages of all employees

at two small companies, Company A and Company B.
Which of the following must be true based on the box
plots?
A The median age at Company A is 5 years

younger than the median age at Company B.

B The median age at Company A is 5 years older
than the median age at Company B.
C The range of ages is greater at Company B than

at Company A.
D The range of ages is the same at both

companies.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
14 15 16 17 18
WRITING
The dot plot represents the current ages of 12 high

school students. If a second dot plot were created
showing the ages of the same students 5 years ago,
which of the following would correctly compare the
two sets of data?

A The means of the two data sets would be equal,
MATH
and the range of the current ages would be less

than the range of the ages 5 years ago.

B The means of the two data sets would be equal,
and the range of the current ages would be
greater than the range of the ages 5 years ago.

C The mean of the current ages would be less
than the mean of the ages 5 years ago, and the
two data sets would have the same range.

D The mean of the current ages would be greater
than the mean of the ages 5 years ago, and the
two data sets would have the same range.

WORKING WITH DATA
• What is the definition of mean?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What formula can you use to organize your information on average questions?
__________________________________________________
• What is the definition of median?
___________________________________________________________________________
• How do you calculate the median when the list of numbers has an even number of items?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What is the definition of range?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What is the rough definition of standard deviation?
___________________________________________________________________________
• In a frequency table, the left column shows the values / frequency of each value and the right
column shows the values / frequency of each value.
• Each dot in a dot plot represents ____________________________ .

COORDINATE
GEOMETRY 101
Skilled use of a graphing calculator—either your

own or the built-in calculator—is key to improving
your Math score on the Digital SAT. However, you
also need an understanding of how graphs work.
This chapter focuses on the terminology and rules
related to graphs in the xy-plane.
607
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GRAPHING BASICS
Functions or Equations
Questions on the Digital SAT that deal with graphs in the xy-plane might use
“y =” or “ f(x) =” to show the equation that defines the graph. The “ f(x)” notation
WRITING
indicates a function, but both forms mean the same thing: the y-value of a point
on a graph is determined by what happens with the x-value on the other side of the
equation. Thus, one of the simplest but most important things to remember about
graphs is this:
f(x) = y
MATH

The built-in graphing calculator will help immensely on many questions about
graphs. It probably does things that your handheld calculator can’t do, or at least
does them more easily. You can use your own calculator on the Digital SAT, but
try out the built-in calculator to learn its features.
If you haven’t already done so, read Section 2 of the Digital SAT Calculator
Guide available in your student dashboard to learn more about using the built-in
graphing calculator.
Graph the following using the built-in calculator:
y = –2x + 3
f(x) = –2x + 3
If you entered them correctly, these equations show the same line. That’s because
f(x) = y.

COORDINATE GEOMETRY 101
READING
LINEAR GRAPHS
Slope
rise y 2 − y 2
WRITING
=
run x 2 − x 1
Line #1
MATH
Plot these ordered pairs and draw a line to connect them.
(–4, –5) y
(–2, –1)
(1, 5)
(3, 9)
1. Use (1, 5) and (3, 9) to calculate the slope. (Which one is y1, and
which one is y2? It doesn’t matter! Just be consistent: Match the
x-coordinates in the same order.)
_____________________________________________________________
2. At what y-value does the line cross the y-axis? _____________________
3. What does x equal when the line crosses the y-axis? ________________
The (x, y) point where the line crosses the y-axis is called the y-intercept.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Slope-Intercept Form
One form of a linear equation that you will see on the Digital SAT is called
slope-intercept form. You probably remember this from school, but here’s a quick
review.
WRITING
Slope-intercept form
y = mx + b
4. What does m represent?_______________________________________________

MATH
5. What does b represent?________________________________________________
6. What do x and y represent?____________________________________________
7. What is the slope-intercept form of Line 1?_____________________________
Standard Form
Another form of a linear equation, called standard form, appears less often but is
worth knowing.
Standard form
Ax + By = C
A C
In standard form, the slope is – and the y-intercept is .
B B
Line #2
The equation of a line in standard form is given as 3x + 2y = 14.
1. What is the slope of the line?_______________________________
2. What is the y-intercept of the line? ___________________________
3. What is the equation of the line in slope-intercept form?
______________________________________________________

READING
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Plot the ordered pairs for each of these three lines, draw the three separate lines,
label them, then calculate the slope for each. (Note that you already have the
y-intercept for each line—look at the third ordered pair in each line.)
Line #3 Line #4 Line #5
WRITING
(–4, 2) (–4, –8) (–4, 10)
(–2, 3) (–2, –7) (–2, 6)
(0, 4) (0, –6) (0, 2)
(2, 5) (2, –5) (2, –2)
(4, 6) (4, –4) (4, –6)
MATH
y
1. What is the slope-intercept form of Line #3?______________________
4. What is the relationship between Lines #3 and #4?_________________
5. What is the relationship between their slopes?____________________
6. What is the relationship between Lines #3 and #5?_________________
7. What is the relationship between their slopes?____________________
8. At how many points do lines 3 and 4 intersect? ___________________
9. At how many points do lines 3 and 5 intersect? ___________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
The points where graphs intersect are called solutions. Some questions will ask
READING
you how many solutions there are. Others will ask for the coordinates of a point of
intersection.
For questions about points of intersection or the number of solutions, try graph-
ing the equations in the built-in calculator. Each point of intersection will be
indicated by a gray dot, and you can click on the dot to see the (x, y) coordinates
WRITING
of the point.
NONLINEAR GRAPHS
MATH
Parabolas
Most of the graphs of nonlinear equations or functions on the Digital SAT will be
of parabolas, which are the result of graphing a quadratic.
Use the built-in calculator to graph each of the following:
y = x 2 – 2x – 15
Remember! f(x) = y f(x) = (x + 3)(x – 5)
y = (x – 1)2 – 16
All three produced the same graph. These are examples of the three forms of
quadratics that you will see on the Digital SAT.
You learned about quadratics in the Nonlinear Solving 101 and Nonlinear Solving
chapters. Here’s a quick overview, but review those chapters if you’ve forgotten the
details.
The standard form of a quadratic equation is y = ax 2 + bx + c.

READING
The built-in calculator shows the minimum or maximum of the parabola—
b
also known as the vertex—as a gray dot. If necessary, you can use – to find
2a
the x-coordinate of the vertex, and then plug that value into the standard form
quadratic to find the y-value of the vertex.
WRITING
The built-in calculator also shows the solutions—also known as x-intercepts or
roots—as gray dots. Another way to find the solutions to a quadratic is to convert
standard form into factored form. You have likely spent a lot of time moving
between these two forms in school, and you practiced it earlier in this book.
MATH
The factored form of a quadratic equation is
y = a(x – m)(x – n), where m and n are
the x-intercepts of the parabola.
The third form of a quadratic is vertex form.
The vertex form of a quadratic equation is

y = a(x – h)2 + k.
The following information is shown in vertex form.
• The minimum or maximum value (also known as the vertex) is (h, k)
• The sign of a determines what direction the parabola opens. If a > 0,

the parabola opens up. If a < 0, the parabola opens down.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING

Use the built-in graphing calculator for the exercise below.
Graph the following system:
f(x) = x + 3
WRITING
y = x 2 – 2x – 15
1. What are the coordinates of the x-intercept of the line?
_______________________________________________________
2. What are the coordinates of the x-intercepts of the parabola?

MATH
_______________________________________________________
3. What are the coordinates of the minimum of the parabola?
_______________________________________________________
4. How many solutions does the system have?
_______________________________________________________
5. What are the coordinates of the solution(s) to the system?
_______________________________________________________

READING
COORDINATE GEOMETRY EQUATIONS
Lines
y2 − y1
• Slope:
WRITING
x 2 − x1
• Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b
• Standard form: Ax + By = C
MATH
Parabolas
• Standard form: y = ax 2 + bx + c
• Factored form: y = a(x – m)(x – n)
• Vertex form: y = a(x – h)2 + k

COORDINATE
GEOMETRY
617
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
COORDINATE GEOMETRY 101 REVIEW DRILL

Time: 5 minutes

WRITING
Linear function g is graphed in the xy -plane, where

y = g (x). Which of the following defines g if the line
passes through the point (0, –5) and has a slope of
3
– ?
2
3
A g ( x) = – –5
2
MATH
3
B g ( x) = – +5
2
3
C g ( x) = –5
2
3
D g ( x) = +5
2
2 Mark for Review
x
–10 –8 –6 –4 –2
–2
–4
–6
–8
If the x -intercept of the graph shown can be written

as (a, 0), what is the value of a ?

COORDINATE GEOMETRY
READING
Line m and line n are parallel when graphed in the
xy -plane. If the equation of line n is 12x = –9y + 18,
what is the slope of line m?
WRITING
4 Mark for Review
MATH
g (x) = –3x 2 – 18x – 15
Function g is defined by the given equation. For what
value of x does the graph of g (x) reach its maximum?
A –5

B –3
C –1
D 12
5 Mark for Review
3x 2 + y = 3
4x – y = 1
The given system of equations has two solutions when
graphed in the xy -plane. Which of the following is the
y -coordinate of one of the solutions?
2
A
3

B 1
5
C
3
D 9

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Apply skills of graphing in the xy-plane to questions about lines

• Apply skills of graphing in the xy-plane to questions about parabolas
• Use the built-in graphing calculator for questions about graphing
lines and parabolas
WRITING
• Use POE, PITA, and Plugging In to simplify graphing questions

MATH

COORDINATE GEOMETRY
READING
LINES IN THE COORDINATE PLANE
As you saw in Coordinate Geometry 101, there are three important equations for working with the graphs of straight
lines.
Linear Equations
WRITING
• Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b
• Standard form: Ax + By = C
rise y 2 − y 2
• Slope = =
run x 2 − x 1
MATH
Use your knowledge of these forms to answer questions about features of graphs.

In the xy -plane, line l passes through the points (2, 9)
and (–4, 0). If line l crosses the y -axis at the point
(0, k), what is the value of k?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Knowing the slope of a line is essential when you need to determine if that line is parallel or perpendicular to a
second line.
WRITING
Parallel lines have the same slope and no

solutions.
Perpendicular lines have negative reciprocal
slopes and one solution.
MATH

In the xy -plane, what is the slope of a line
perpendicular to the line defined by the equation
3x – 5y = 15?
5
A –
3
3
B –
5
3
C
5
5
D
3

COORDINATE GEOMETRY
READING
CURVES IN THE COORDINATE PLANE
Many graphing questions will ask about the different forms of equations that define a parabola. Be sure to know
which forms of quadratics are useful for determining particular features of the graph. Keep in mind that the built-in
graphing calculator, or your own calculator, can be quite helpful on many of these questions.
WRITING
Quadratic Equations
• Standard form: y = ax 2 + bx + c
• Factored form: y = a(x – m)(x – n)
MATH
• Vertex form: y = a(x – h)2 + k

f (x) = x 2 – 12x + 9
What are the coordinates of the minimum value of
function f ?
A (6, –27)
B (–6, –27)
C (6, 27)
D (–6, 27)
Coordinate Geometry 101 has a trick for finding

the vertex in standard form, but what are
two other options?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
POWERFUL “P” STRATEGIES

Many of the core Math strategies are helpful on questions about graphs, especially PITA, Plugging In, and POE.

WRITING
y
5
4
3
2
1
x
O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
–1
MATH
–2
–3
–4
–5
Which of the following equations could define the

line of best fit in the scatterplot?
A y = –2.7x – 4.5
B y = –2.7x + 4.5
C y = 2.7x – 4.5
D y = 2.7x + 4.5
Will the slope of the line be positive or negative?

What can you eliminate based on this Bite-Sized piece?

COORDINATE GEOMETRY
READING
y
y = g(x)
WRITING
x
O
(–4, –1)
• • (0, –1)
•(–2, –3)
MATH
The parabola shown in the xy -plane is the graph
of function g. Which of the following could be the
equation of g (x)?
( x − 2)
1 2
A g ( x) = −3
2
( x + 2)
1 2
B g(x) = −3
2
( )
2
C g(x) = x + 2 − 3
( x − 2)
1 2
D g(x) = −3
3
Try plugging points from the graph into the function.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS
Slopes and Systems of Equations

• If two equations represent the same line,
WRITING
the system has infinitely many solutions.

• If two equations represent parallel lines,
the system has no solutions.
• In both cases, the lines have the same slope.
MATH

3x + 5y = 80
mx + ny = 20
The given system of equations has infinitely many
solutions. If m and n are constants, what is the value
m
of ?
n

COORDINATE GEOMETRY
Some questions will ask about the solution(s) to a system with one linear and one nonlinear equation. You can use
READING
the discriminant, as described in Coordinate Geometry 101, or use the built-in graphing calculator along with PITA
or Plugging In.
The number of solutions to a system of equations is the
WRITING
number of times the graphs of the equations intersect
in the coordinate plane.
MATH
y = x 2 + 19x + 53
y = 5x – b
The system of equations shown is graphed in the
xy -plane. For what value of b does the system have
exactly one real solution?
A –7
B –4
C 4
D 7

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
COORDINATE GEOMETRY DRILL

Time: 8 minutes

y
WRITING
x
–6 –4 –2 O 2 4 6
–2
MATH
–4
–6
The point with the coordinates (1, y) lies on the line

shown. What is the value of y?
1
A –
2
2
B –
5
1
C –
5
5
D
2
2 Mark for Review

Line l can be modeled by the equation y = 5x – 9.
If line m is parallel to line l , which of the following
could represent line m?
A –5x + y = 11

B –3x + 5y = 15
C x + 5y = –2
D 10x + 2y = 9

COORDINATE GEOMETRY
READING
y = 36x 2 – 48x + c
If the given equation has no real solutions, which of
the following is a possible value of constant c?
A –4
WRITING

B 9
C 16
D 24
MATH
4 Mark for Review
x f ( x)
6 –27
13 –62
20 –97
The table shows three values of x and their

corresponding values of f (x) for the linear function
f (x) = mx + 3. What is the value of constant m?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
y = k (x – 9)(x + 3)
In the given quadratic equation, k is a nonzero
constant. The graph of the equation in the xy -plane is
a parabola with vertex (a, b). Which of the following
is equal to b?
WRITING
A –48k

B –36k
C –27k
MATH
D –3k

COORDINATE GEOMETRY
• For questions about the graphs of functions or equations, remember that f(x) = ___________ .
• What is the formula for the slope of a line? _______________________
• The slopes of parallel lines are _______________________ .
• The slopes of perpendicular lines are __________________________________________________________.
• What are three names for the point(s) where a graph crosses the x-axis?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
• What are the three forms of a quadratic equation?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
• The roots of a quadratic can be found using the _______________________ form.
• The minimum or maximum of a quadratic can be found using the _______________________ form.
• Which three “P” strategies help on questions about the graphs of functions or equations?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
• Which tool in the testing app can make a big difference on graphing questions?
______________________________________

PROPORTIONAL
RELATIONSHIPS 101
The Math Vocabulary 101 chapter went over some

of the terms you need to know in order to translate
English into Math. This chapter will further explore
the ways that numbers relate to each other and how
to express those relationships mathematically.
633
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
RATIOS & PARTS

Most of the ways to express the relative relationships of numbers are part-to-whole
relationships. Ratios, on the other hand, are part-to-part relationships. Ratios can
part
be written as part or as part:part. For example, if a school newspaper has a ratio
5
WRITING
of 5 news articles to 2 editorials, the ratio can be written as or as 5:2. Use the
2
fraction form when entering ratios into a calculator.
1. Marie lives with her mother, father, one sister, and five
brothers. Everyone in her family is either a woman or a
man.
MATH
i. What is the ratio of women to men in the family?______________
ii. What is the ratio of children to parents?______________________
iii. How many people are there in the family in total?______________
iv. What fraction of the family is men?_________________________
PARTS & WHOLES

Do numbers mean much without context? Try the examples below to find out.
1. A friend tells you she has read half of her homework

assignment. Is that many or few pages?
A. Many.
B. Few.
C. Who knows?
2. Another friend tells you he has done 100 pages of his

homework assignment. Is he almost done?
A. Yes.
B. No.
C. Who knows?
3. You tell your mother you’ve spent 2 hours on

homework. How many more hours are left to finish?
A. A ton.
B. None—it’s time to play some video games.
C. Who knows?

PROPORTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS 101
4. You tell your mother you’ve done 75% of your
READING
homework. Does she know what portion you have left
to do?
A. Yes.
B. No.
As you can see, you need to know the whole before you can evaluate the part.
WRITING
Unless you know the total pages of homework assigned, you can’t judge whether
“half” is impressive (1,000 pages assigned) or pitiful (2 pages assigned). Similarly,
either completing 100 pages or doing 2 hours of work could be just the beginning
or close to the end. Digital SAT questions about proportional relationships will
give you what you need to determine the numbers and the relationship.
MATH
Fractions & Decimals
Fractions and decimals are two different ways of expressing the same part-to-
whole relationship. If 4 numbers in a list of 10 numbers are odd, for example, the
part-to-whole relationship can be written in several forms:
4 2
= = 0.4
10 5
If you are more comfortable with one form—either fractions or decimals—you

can convert one to the other. However, the best thing to do is use the built-in cal- Use a calculator to save
culator or your own calculator. A calculator can convert fractions to decimals and time and avoid making
vice versa, can reduce fractions, and can handle mixed numbers, as long as you mistakes with fractions
and decimals.
enter them carefully.

Review the first section of the Digital SAT Calculator Guide
and practice using the built-in calculator to work with
fractions and decimals.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Proportions
When numbers are proportional, they maintain the same part-to-whole relation-
ship when they increase or decrease. To solve a proportion question, set up two
equal fractions and cross-multiply to find the missing value.
1. On a bookshelf with 50 books, 4 out of every 10 books

WRITING
are non-fiction, and the rest are novels.

i. How many of the books are non-fiction?_____________________
ii. What proportion of the books are novels? ____________________
iii. How many of the books are novels? ________________________
Here’s what the math looks like to answer the question “How many of the books
MATH
are non-fiction?”
4 x
=
10 50
Cross-multiply to get (10)(x) = (4)(50), which becomes 10x = 200. Divide both
sides of the equation by 10 to get x = 20. There are 20 non-fiction books.
Percents
Percents are a special kind of part-to-whole relationship in which the whole is
always 100. To convert a percent into a fraction or decimal, divide by 100.
60
60% = = 0.6
100
The Math Vocabulary 101
chapter has more informa-
tion about percents.
To convert a decimal or fraction into a percent, multiply by 100.
25
0.25 = 25% =
100
You may also be asked to calculate a percent increase or decrease. Use the follow-
ing formula.
Percent Change = Difference × 100

Original

READING
Putting the Parts Together
Use the data in the table below to answer the questions that follow.
1. The table shows the number of students who received

each grade in a class.
A B C D F
WRITING
7 10 5 1 2
i. What is the ratio of students who got an A to students who got

a B? _________________________________________________
ii. What percent of students got a C?__________________________
MATH
iii. What proportion of students got an F? ______________________
iv. What grade did 40% of the students get? ____________________
Margin of Error
A margin of error uses percents to give a range for random sampling errors in a
survey or poll. It indicates how much the results might change if the poll were re-
peated or if the entire population were asked instead of a random sample.
For example, if a survey shows that 70% of randomly sampled test-takers prefer
the Digital SAT to the paper-and-pencil SAT, and there is a margin of error of
± 5%, that means it is highly likely that between 65% and 75% of all test-takers
prefer the Digital SAT.
PROBABILITY
You learned about statistical measures in the Working with Data chapter. One
more statistical concept is probability, which is a specific kind of proportion.
When working with probability, think of the part as the # of outcomes that fit
requirements, or what you want, and the whole as the total # of possible outcomes,
or total.
# of outcomes that fit requirements

Probability =
total # of possible outcomes

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Think about flipping a coin and hoping it comes up tails. There is 1 side—tails—
that gives you want you want, and 2 sides—heads and tails—that are the total
1
possible outcomes. So, the chance of the coin coming up tails is , or a 50%
2
probability.
Want
WRITING
MATH

Total
The # of outcomes that fit requirements won’t always be 1, however. When more
than one thing gives you what you want, either add up those things and put them
in the numerator or find the probability of each outcome that gives you what you
want and add them together.
Let’s say you’re rolling a standard six-sided die and want an even number.
Want or Want or Want

Total
You could roll a 2, 4, or 6 to get what you what, which means the number of
outcomes that fit requirements is 3 out of a total # of possible outcomes of 6, for
3 1
a probability of . The other option is to think of “or” as addition: there is a
6 6
1 1
chance of rolling a 2, a chance of rolling a 4, and a chance of rolling a 6.
6 6
1 1 1 3
The chance of rolling a 2 or a 4 or a 6 is + + = .
6 6 6 6

READING
RATES AND UNIT CONVERSION
A rate shows the relationship between two values, usually speed or work over
time. A snail might crawl at a rate of 1.2 millimeters per second, or a journalist
could publish 4 articles per week. Rates can be expressed as fractions but are often
written out.
Miles per hour is an example of a rate: it is the number of miles traveled for every Per usually means
WRITING
1 hour. Once you know the rate, you can set up equal proportions to find different division. Percent means
values. Let’s use a rate of 40 miles per hour. divided by 100. Miles per
hour means the number
of miles divided by the
40 miles 80 miles 20 miles number of hours.
= =
1 hour 2 hours 30 minutes
MATH
Notice that the last rate switched from hours to minutes. There are 60 minutes
in 1 hour, so 30 minutes is the same as a half-hour. Some Digital SAT questions
will require you to convert units. The question will give you the conversion if the
test-writers think it’s something that isn’t common knowledge. For example, you
would not be given the conversion for minutes to hours but would be given the
conversion for feet to miles.
To convert units, set up equal proportions. Always label the units to keep the
numerators and denominators consistent. Let’s say a question asks you how many
inches are in 5 feet and tells you that 1 foot = 12 inches. Set up a proportion, being
sure to match the up the units. It doesn’t matter which way you set up the frac-
tions as long as the units match up. Here are two versions that both work:
12 inches x inches
=
1 foot 5 feet
12 inches 1 foot
=
x inches 5 feet
Using either form of the proportion, cross-multiply to get (1)(x) = (12)(5), which
becomes x = 60. There are 60 inches in 5 feet. If you invert one of the fractions by
5
mistake, you will get x = , so always use the scratch paper for conversions and
12
write down the units.

PROPORTIONAL
RELATIONSHIPS
641
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Understand and apply concepts of ratios, proportions, probability, and percents

• Work with rates and convert units
WRITING
RATIOS = PART-TO-PART
Ratios relate one part to another part. When one part changes value, the value of the other part must change to
maintain the same ratio.
MATH

A bag contains only red and green marbles, and the
ratio of red marbles to green marbles is 3 to 5. If the
bag contains 160 total marbles, how many green
marbles does the bag contain?
A 20
B 60
C 100
D 140

PROPORTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
READING
PART-TO-WHOLE RELATIONSHIPS
Two “P” words, Proportions and Percents, relate a part to a whole. Like ratios, these can be written as fractions.
Proportions
AND
Values that are proportional increase or decrease together while maintaining the same proportional relationship. Set
LANGUAGE
WRITING
up equivalent fractions to solve proportion questions.
WRITING
Newton-meters and foot-pounds are proportional
measures of torque. If 8 newton-meters is equivalent
MATH
to 5.90 foot-pounds, how much torque, in newton-
meters, is 10.53 foot-pounds?
Percents
A percent is a part-to-whole relationship that uses 100 as the whole. Make sure to RTFQ and translate in
Bite-Sized Pieces.
3 Mark for Review

A student has $60 and must purchase textbooks
costing a total of $42. What percent of the $60 does
the student spend on textbooks?
A 42%
B 51%
C 60%
D 70%

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Sometimes you’ll be asked about increasing or decreasing an amount by a percent.

READING

A pair of boots costs $50 and a certain coat costs $150.
If the cost of the boots is increased by 20% and the
cost of the coat is decreased by 30% , what is the sum
of their new costs?
WRITING
A $165
B $200
C $225
MATH
D $265
Review the Math Vocabulary 101 chapter for

a refresher on translating words into math
and working with percents.

READING
Margin of Error
Percents are also used in questions that test margin of error. A margin of error gives a percent by which survey results
could increase or decrease if the survey were repeated. On some questions, knowing the definition is sufficient.
WRITING
A representative sample of the coniferous trees in
a certain forest was examined to determine how
many were pine trees. It was found that 34% of the
coniferous trees were pine trees. The margin of error
of the examination was 2%. Which of the following
statements is the most accurate interpretation of this
margin of error?
MATH
A There is a 2% chance that the findings of the
study are incorrect.

B It is likely that between 32% and 36% of the
coniferous trees in the forest are pine trees.

C It is unlikely that fewer than 32% of the trees in
the forest are pine trees.

D No more than 36% of the trees in the forest are
pine trees.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
To answer other margin of error questions, you will need to use percents to find a numerical value or range of values.
READING

Out of the 2,500 members of the incoming class at
a college, 100 are randomly selected for a survey
about whether they intend to live on campus. Of
WRITING
those surveyed, 68 indicate that they intend to live

on campus. If the margin of error on the poll is ±8% ,
what is the range of students in the entire class who
would be expected to not intend to live on campus?
A 24–40
MATH

B 64–72

C 600–1,000

D 1,500–1,900

READING
PROBABILITY = CHANCE
# of outcomes that fit requirements

Probability = �
total # of possible outtcomes
WRITING
MATH
Solids Stripes Plaid Total
Shirts 5 10 10 25
Pants 8 5 2 15
Hats 7 3 0 10
Total 20 18 12 50
The clothing items available for sale at a thrift shop

are summarized in the table. There are 50 clothing
items available. What is the probability of selecting
a shirt if one clothing item is selected at random?
(Express your answer as a decimal or fraction, not as
a percent.)

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
The table shows the results of a survey at a university

about the preferred hot drinks among undergraduate
students and graduate students.
Coffee Tea Hot Total

Chocolate
Undergraduate 923 254 89 1,266
WRITING
Graduate 655 362 193 1,210

Total 1,578 616 282 2,476
According to the table, if one person from among

these respondents were chosen at random, what
is the probability that the chosen person is an
undergraduate student who prefers hot chocolate or a
MATH
graduate student who prefers tea?
89
A
1, 266
447
B 1, 266
451
C
2, 476
898
D
2, 476

READING
Rates and Unit Conversions
A rate typically gives an amount of work or a distance per a unit of time. Because per means division, the rate is the
work or the distance divided by the time.
AND
LANGUAGE
WRITING
WRITING
Jane is writing a research paper and writes at an
average rate of 20 sentences per hour. If it takes her
15 hours to write the research paper, how many
sentences are in the research paper?
A 15
MATH
B 20
C 280
D 300
When units are underlined in the question, that’s a big hint that you need to read carefully and convert
units.
10 Mark for Review

A garden snail crawls at a rate of 8,640 centimeters
per day. What is the snail’s crawling rate in meters
per day? (1 meter = 100 centimeters)

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
PROPORTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS DRILL

Time: 8 minutes

WRITING
Faraz paid $48.00 before tax for a new coat that was
marked 20 percent off of its original price. What was
the original price of the coat?
A $38.40
B $57.60
MATH
C $60.00
D $72.00
2 Mark for Review

Over the past year, the amount of money in a
retirement account decreased by 3%. What is the
value of a if the current amount of money in the
account is a times the amount that was in the account
one year ago?
A 0.03
B 0.97
C 1.03
D 1.97

READING
A certain smartphone can download a 6 -megabyte
file in one second. Approximately how long, in
minutes, will it take to download 16 files that average
110 megabytes each?
A 1
WRITING
B 5
C 50
D 300
MATH
4 Mark for Review
The table shows the favorite movie genres as reported
by a randomly selected group of people aged 15–70.
Age Action Comedy Drama Romance Thriller

15–25 30,432 18,835 6,984 5,395 9,926
26–35 35,967 16,923 34,451 20,916 20,510
36–50 8,123 12,531 30,792 25,520 11,647
51–70 5,291 15,515 22,591 17,043 4,750
According to the data, the ratio of moviegoers who

prefer Action to those who prefer Romance is greatest
for which of the following age categories?
A 15–25
B 26–35
C 36–50
D 51–70

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Out of the 18 employees of the Toronto office of a

certain company, 27.8 percent have at least two dogs.
The average number of employees in each office
of this company is 18. If there are 30 offices in this
company and the Toronto office is representative
of the offices in this company with regards to dog
ownership, which of the following best estimates
WRITING
the number of employees of this company who have

fewer than two dogs?
A 150
B 390
MATH
C 540
D 2,700

• What does a ratio represent?
__________________________________________________
• To solve a probability question, set up equal ______________ and _____________________.
• To convert a percent to a fraction, ______________________________________.
• What is the formula for probability?
_____________________________________________________________________________
• When working with rates, be sure to match up the ___________________.

GEOMETRY AND
TRIGONOMETRY 101
Approximately 15% of the questions on the Digital SAT

cover Geometry and Trigonometry topics. That’s between 5
and 7 total questions split between the two modules. The
questions cover a wide range of topics, and you might not
see everything covered in this chapter on your test. Review
everything in this chapter, apply it during your preparation,
and use your POOD to answer Geometry and Trig questions
that you understand. Guess and Go on ones you don’t.
655
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
REFERENCE INFORMATION
Reference Sheet Collapse
 2x 60° 45°
1
•
r h b
c x s s 2
w
30°
WRITING
45°
b a x 3 s
A = πr2 A = w
C = 2πr A = 12 bh c2 = a2 + b2 Special Right Triangles
•r h
h r h
h
w r w
MATH
 
V = wh V = πr2h V = 43 πr3 V = 13 πr2h V = 13 wh
The number of degrees of arc in a circle is 360.

The number of radians of arc in a circle is 2π.
The sum of the measurements in degrees of angles of a triangle is 180.
FORMULAS OF BASIC SHAPES

The test-writers are nice enough to provide a Reference Sheet with the basic geom-
etry facts and formulas. You can open it at any time by clicking on the Reference
icon in the upper right corner of the testing app.
2
Check anything you don’t remember, but you can save time by knowing the
information by heart. Try to work the following questions without using the
information on the Reference Sheet, and make a note to memorize anything you
had to look up. If anything stumps you that isn’t on the Reference Sheet (not
all of these are), make sure to study those until you can always recall them from
memory.

GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY 101
READING
Area
Figure Formula
Square
Rectangle
WRITING
Parallelogram
Triangle
B C
MATH
8
A 5 D
1. What is the area of the shaded region of rectangle ABCD?
_______________________________________________________________
L M
5 cm
4 cm
O 9 cm N
2. The dimensions of parallelogram LMNO are given in centimeters.

What is the area, in square centimeters, of parallelogram LMNO ?
_______________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Perimeter
How do you get the perimeter of any figure with sides?
_______________________________________________________________
WRITING
Circles
It’s easier to think of the formulas for circles together.
Area Circumference
MATH
3. What is the area of a circle with a circumference of 14p?
_______________________________________________________________
Volume
Figure Formula
Cube
Rectangular solid
Cylinder
4. The volume of a cube is 64 cubic inches. What is the length, in

inches, of one edge of the cube?
_______________________________________________________________
Geometry IRL
Some geometry questions will take the form of word problems. For example, a
question could ask for the area of square floor tile or the volume of a brick. Focus
on the geometric shape rather than the real-world details, and see if the units pro-
vide a clue. For example, the phrase “cubic feet” indicates a 3-D shape, and those
have volume.

READING
ANGLES
The Digital SAT will test the measure of degrees in given shapes. Fill in the chart
below with the measure, in degrees, of each angle and shape. If you aren’t sure,
look it up!
Figure Degrees
WRITING
Right Angle
Straight Line
Triangle
Quadrilateral
MATH
Circle
5 Mark for Review
A B
xº yº
C
Note: Figure not drawn to scale.

Don’t forget about
In the figure, if AC is perpendicular to BC , which Plugging In! The question
of the following represents the value of x in terms says “in terms of” and
of y? the answers contain
variables.
A 45 + y

B 90 – y
C 180 – y
D 180 + y

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
100º
yº
xº
WRITING
6. In the figure above, what is the value of x + y?
_______________________________________________________________
MATH
Parallel Lines and Angles
When a line intersects two parallel lines

• Two kinds of angles are formed: big angles and small
angles.
• Each big angle is equal to the other big angles.
• Each small angle is equal to the other small angles.
• Any big angle plus any small angle is 180°.

READING
45°
A
B
d
WRITING
7. In the figure above, two parallel lines, line A and line B, intersect
line C . What is the measure of angle d ?
_______________________________________________________________
MATH
a 160°
p
q
b
r
8. In the figure above, lines p and q are parallel. Line r intersects both
p and q, as shown. What is the sum of the measures of angle a and
angle b?
_______________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
RIGHT TRIANGLES
If you know two sides of a right triangle, you can find the third side using the
Pythagorean Theorem.
Pythagorean Theorem: a 2 + b 2 = c 2
WRITING
(where c is the hypotenuse)
Fill in the third side of each triangle listed below. You are likely to see some
Pythagorean Triples on the Digital SAT, which means that all three sides are
MATH
integers. The table below includes the best-known of these, but you are likely to
encounter Pythagorean Triples with larger numbers, as well.
a b c
1 10
3 4
5 13
8 10
7 25
2 2 3
5 5 2
6 7
3 6
4 2 8

READING
Special Right Triangles
Special right triangles are unique in that we know the measurement of every angle
and every side without using trigonometry. You may have spotted them in some
of the triangles in the previous chart. If you can spot them and memorize the rela-
tionships, you’ll save yourself some time. But if you can’t, the Reference Sheet and
the Pythagorean Theorem will come to the rescue.
WRITING
45 o
o
x 2 30
x x 3 2x
MATH
45 o o
60
x x
a. The triangle on the left is an isosceles right triangle because the legs are
both x. What is the measure of each angle in an isosceles right triangle?
_______________________________________________________
b. An equilateral triangle is a triangle with 3 equal sides and 3 equal

angles. What is the relationship between an equilateral triangle and the
special right triangle on the right?
_______________________________________________________
c. How can a 30-60-90 triangle be used to find the height of an

equilateral triangle?
_______________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
A C
WRITING
9. In the right isosceles triangle above, what is the length of AC ?
_______________________________________________________________
B
MATH
10
A C
D
10. What is the length of BD in equilateral triangle ABC, shown above?
_______________________________________________________________

READING
CIRCLES
If you know just one thing about a circle, you know everything. Fill in the CArd
chart below to practice finding anything you need for a circle question using any
piece of information the question gives you.
Circumference Area radius diameter
WRITING
d
pd or 2pr pr 2 2r
2
C A r d
MATH
10
36p
4p
18p
144p
14
9p
20p

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
TRY SOME TRIG

READING
You may have good memories, bad memories, or no memories at all about the trig-
onometry you learned in school. For the Digital SAT, there are two main things
to know.
SOHCAHTOA
WRITING
The three primary trig functions—sine, cosine, and tangent—describe relation-

ships among sides and angles in a triangle. On the Digital SAT, you can expect
these to be tested in the context of a right triangle. Remember them with the
acronym SOHCAHTOA:
opposite adjacent opposite

sin = cos = tan =
MATH
hypotenuse hypotenuse adjacent
Opposite means the side of the triangle across from the angle you’re interested
in. Adjacent means the side next to the angle you’re interested in that isn’t the
hypotenuse. The hypotenuse is the side opposite the right angle, and it is always the
longest side of the triangle.
In the figure below, the side labeled 9 is opposite angle B and adjacent to angle C,
the side labeled 40 is opposite angle C and adjacent to angle B, and the side labeled
41 is the hypotenuse.
Use the triangle below to answer the following questions.
41
40
A 9 C
What is the value of sin(B)? _________
What is the value of cos(C)? _________
What is the value of tan(B)? _________
What is the value of tan(C)? _________

READING
Radians
The other piece of trig to remember for the Digital SAT is radians. If you
remember the unit circle from school, you know where radians come from.
All that matters, though, is the relationship between radians and degrees. The
Reference Sheet provides this, and you can also memorize the following ways to
convert.
WRITING
2π radians = 360 degrees
π radians = 180 degrees
When you are asked to convert radians to degrees or degrees to radians, set up a
proportion using one of these conversions, and solve for the unknown value.
MATH
PROVE IT
The only time you will be asked to do something that resembles a geometric proof
is when a question asks about similar or congruent triangles.
Two triangles are similar when at least one of the following is true:
• All three angles of the triangles are congruent (AAA).

• Pairs of sides of the triangles are in proportion, and the angle in
between those sides is congruent (SAS).
• All three sides of one triangle are in proportion to the corresponding
three sides of the other triangle (SSS).
Two triangles are congruent when at least one of the following is true:
• All three sides are equal (SSS).

• Two pairs of angles and the side between them are equal (ASA).
• Two pairs of sides and the angle between them are equal (SAS).
• Two pairs of angles and a side that isn’t between them are equal
(AAS).

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Take a look at the three triangles below, then answer the following questions. The
figures might not be drawn to scale, so don’t rely entirely on how they look. Fig-
ures on Digital SAT questions will usually say “Note: Figure not drawn to scale.”
Even when the figure looks accurate, use labels on the figure and information in
the question to avoid assuming something that isn’t true.
B E
WRITING
85°
25 25
85° 20° 75°

A C D F
MATH
75°
30
20°
G I
Are triangles ABC and DEF similar? Yes No
Are triangles ABC and GHI similar? Yes No
Are triangles DEF and GHI similar? Yes No
Are triangles ABC and DEF congruent? Yes No
Are triangles ABC and GHI congruent? Yes No
Are triangles DEF and GHI congruent? Yes No

READING
VOCABULARY
Sometimes, the key to getting a question right is knowing the geometry vocabu-
lary. In the list below, the terms with * next to them show up frequently on the
Digital SAT, while the other terms are less common. The definitions for these vo-
cabulary words can be found in the Glossary at the end of this chapter. Fill in the
ones you already know, and look up the rest in the Glossary. Make sure to write
down and study any you didn’t know.
WRITING
Term Definition
Arc*
Area*
Bisect
MATH
Chord
Circumference*
Circumscribed
Collinear
Congruent*
Diagonal (of a polygon)
Diameter*
Edge (of a 3-D figure)*
Equilateral triangle*
Face (of a 3-D figure)*
Inscribed
Isosceles triangle*
Parallel*
Perimeter*
Perpendicular*
Plane
Polygon
Quadrilateral*
Radius*
Regular polygon
Sector
Similar*
Surface area*
Tangent
Vertex/Vertices

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
FUN FACTS ABOUT FIGURES

Read and review the following facts you need to know about plane geometry. Put
an “x” next to any rule(s) that you don’t know, and make sure to study them until
you do.
Line Facts
WRITING
Lines
• A line has no width and extends infinitely in both directions.
• Any line measures __________ degrees.
• If a figure on the SAT looks like a straight line, and that line looks
like it contains a point, it does.
Line segments
MATH
• A line segment is a part of a line and has two _______________.

• The degree measure of a line segment is __________.
Perpendicular
• Two lines that intersect in a __________ angle are perpendicular and
their __________ are negative reciprocals.
Angle Facts
• There are __________ degrees in a right angle.
• When two straight lines intersect, angles __________ each other are
equal.
• There are __________ degrees in a straight line.
• Two lines are ___________________ when they meet at a 90° angle.
• The sign for perpendicular is __________ .
• There are __________ degrees in a triangle.
• There are __________ degrees in any four-sided figure.
Triangle Facts
In any triangle
• The __________ side is opposite the largest angle.
• The __________ side is opposite the smallest angle.
• All angles add up to __________.
• Area = ____________________
• The __________ is the perpendicular distance from the base to the
opposite vertex.
• __________________ is the sum of the sides.
In an isosceles triangle
• Two __________ are equal.
• The two __________ opposite the equal __________ are also equal.

In an equilateral triangle
READING
• All three __________ are equal.
• All angles are each equal to __________.
Four-Sided Figure Facts

In a quadrilateral
WRITING
• All four angles add up to __________.
In a parallelogram
• Opposite sides are __________ and equal.
• Opposite angles are __________.
• Adjacent angles are _______________ (add up to 180°).
• Area = ____________________
MATH
• The height is the _______________ distance from the base to the
__________ side.
In a rectangle
• Rectangles are special parallelograms; thus, any fact about parallelo-
grams also applies to rectangles.
• All 4 angles are each equal to __________.
• Area = ____________________
• Perimeter = ______________________________
• The diagonals are __________.
In a square
• Squares are special rectangles; thus, any fact about rectangles also
applies to squares.
• All 4 sides are __________.
• Area = __________
• Perimeter = __________
• The diagonals are _______________.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Circle Facts
Circle
• There are __________ degrees in a circle.
Radius (r)
• The distance from the __________ to any point on the edge of the
circle
WRITING
• All __________ in a circle are equal.
Diameter (d)
• The distance of a line that connects two points on the edge of the circle,
passing through the __________
• The longest __________ in a circle
• Equals twice the __________
MATH
Chord
• Any _______________ connecting two points on the edge of a circle
• The longest chord is called the _______________.
Circumference (C)
• The __________ around the outside of the circle
• C = __________
Arc
• Any part of the _______________
• The length of an arc is _______________ to the size of the interior
angle.
Area
• The amount of space within the _______________ of the circle
• A = __________
Sector
• Any part of the __________ formed by two __________ and the out-
side of the circle
• The area of a sector is _______________ to the size of the interior angle.

READING
GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY FORMULAS
Here’s a list of the geometry and trig formulas that could show up on the Digital
SAT. Although the Reference Sheet includes many of these, knowing them well
can save time on the test.
WRITING
Circles
• Area: A = pr 2
• Circumference: C = 2pr = pd
• Arc length: r q, where q is the central angle in radians or equal to the
central angle when both the arc length and the central angle are in
degrees.
MATH
Triangles
1
• Area: A = bh
2
• Perimeter: P = sum of the sides
• Pythagorean Theorem: a 2 + b 2 = c 2
SOHCAHTOA
opposite
• sin(q) =
hypotenuse
adjacent
• cos(q) =
hypotenuse
opposite
• tan(q) =
adjacent
Quadrilaterals
Parallelograms
• Area: A = bh
• Perimeter: P = sum of the sides
Rectangles
• Area: A = lw
• Perimeter: P = 2(l + w )

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Squares
• Area: A = s2
• Perimeter: P = 4s
Polygons
WRITING
• Sum of angles in an n-sided polygon: (n − 2 )180

(n − 2)180
• Angle measure of each angle in a regular n-sided polygon:
n
3-D Figures
MATH
• Surface area of a rectangular solid: S = 2 (lw + lh + wh )

• Surface area of a cube: S = 6s2
• Surface area of a right circular cylinder: S = 2pr 2 + 2prh
• Surface area of a sphere: S = 4pr 2
• Volume of a cube: V = s3
• Volume of a rectangular solid: V = lwh
• Volume of a right circular cylinder: V = pr 2h
4pr 3
• Volume of a sphere: V =
3

READING
GLOSSARY
Arc: Any part of the circumference of a circle
Area: The size of a surface, or the amount of space inside the boundary of a 2-D
shape
Bisect: To cut in half
WRITING
Chord: Any line segment connecting two points on the edge of a circle
Circumference: The distance around the outside of a circle, or the circle’s perimeter
Circumscribed: Surrounded by a circle as small as possible
Collinear: Lying on the same line
Congruent: Equal in size
MATH
Diagonal (of a polygon): A line segment connecting non-adjacent vertices
Diameter: The distance of a line that connects two points on the edge of a circle,
passing through the center
Edge (of a 3-D figure): A line segment that joins two vertices on the boundary or
where faces meet
Equilateral triangle: All sides are equal and each angle measures 60°
Face (of a 3-D figure): Any of the individual surfaces of a solid object
Inscribed: An angle in a circle with its vertex on the circumference or, more
generally, one shape within another so that their boundaries touch but do not
intersect
Isosceles triangle: A triangle with two equal sides
Parallel: Two distinct lines that do not intersect
Perimeter: The total distance around the edge of a 2-D figure
Perpendicular: At a 90° angle
Plane: A flat surface extending in all directions
Polygon: A closed figure with three or more sides
Quadrilateral: A four-sided figure
Radius: The distance from the center to any point on the edge of a circle
Regular polygon: A figure with all equal sides and all equal angles
Sector: Any part of the area formed by two radii and the outside of the circle
Similar: Equal angles and proportional sides
Surface area: The sum of areas of each face of a figure
Tangent: A line that intersects a circle at one point on the circumference, forming
a right angle with the radius that extends from the center to that point
Vertex/Vertices: A corner point. For angles, it’s where two lines meet. For
figures, it’s where two adjacent sides meet.
SAT MANUAL
GEOMETRY AND
TRIGONOMETRY
677
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY

Reference Sheet Collapse
 2x 60° 45°
1
•
r h b
c x s s 2
w
WRITING
30° 45°
b a x 3 s
A = πr2 A = w
C = 2πr A = 12 bh c2 = a2 + b2 Special Right Triangles
•r h
h r h
h
w r w
MATH
 
V = wh V = πr2h V = 43 πr3 V = 13 πr2h V = 13 wh
The number of degrees of arc in a circle is 360.

The number of radians of arc in a circle is 2π.
The sum of the measurements in degrees of angles of a triangle is 180.

READING
GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY 101 REVIEW DRILL
Time: 5 minutes

What is the volume, in cubic centimeters, of a sphere
WRITING
with a radius of 6 centimeters?
A 8π

B 48π
MATH
C 288π
D 2,304π
2 Mark for Review
l m
y°
58°

In the figure, line l is parallel to line m . What is the
value of y?

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
3 Scratch Paper
READING
In triangle WXY, angle X measures 90º. If cos(W ) has

48
a value of 73 , what is the value of sin(Y )?
48
A
73

WRITING
48
B 55
73
C
55
73
D
48
MATH
4 Mark for Review

The hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle has a
length of 16 2 meters. Which of the following is the
length, in meters, of one leg of this triangle?
A 8

B 16
C 32
D 128

READING
What is the perimeter of a rectangle, in feet, if the
rectangle has a length of 2x feet and a width of x feet?
A 2x

B 3x
WRITING
C 6x
D 2x 2
MATH

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Use the Geometry Basic Approach on all geometry questions

• Solve questions related to lines and angles
• Solve questions related to triangles and circles, including ones involving trigonometry
• Solve questions related to overlapping shapes
WRITING
• Solve questions related to volume
GEOMETRY
As with many other questions in the Math modules of the Digital SAT, keeping the information organized and
MATH
having a plan of attack will help with geometry questions.
Geometry Basic Approach

1. Draw a figure on your scratch paper.
2. Label all information from the question on the figure.
3. Write down formulas.
Apply the Geometry Basic Approach to the following question.
1 Scratch Paper
The area of rectangle A is x . The width of rectangle B
is twice the width of rectangle A, and the length
of rectangle B is one-half the length of rectangle B.
Which of the following represents the area of
rectangle B?
1
A x
4
1
B x
2
C x
D 2x

READING
LINES AND ANGLES
Many geometry questions about lines will be about parallel or perpendicular lines. Questions about angles are often
about congruent angles, right angles, or two angles that add up to 90°.
When parallel lines are intersected by the same line, two kinds
of angles are created—BIG and small.
WRITING
• BIG angles = BIG angles
• small angles = small angles
• BIG + small = 180 degrees
MATH
1
x°
y°
z° 2
In the figure, ℓ1 is parallel to ℓ 2, x = 120, and

y = 110. What is the value of z ?
A 10

B 30
C 50
D 70
Redraw the figure and label it with

information from the question.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
TRIANGLES
Triangle questions on the Digital SAT will cover some of these same ideas about lines and angles, as well as other
topics such as area, perimeter, similarity, and trigonometry.
Pythagorean Theorem
WRITING
You are likely quite familiar with this method of finding the third side of a right triangle. Keep an eye out for
Pythagorean Triples and special right triangles to save time.
Pythagorean Theorem: a 2 + b 2 = c 2, where c is the hypotenuse

MATH

H
13
G I
5
F J
In the figure, GI is parallel to FJ and IJ = 13. What is

the length of FH ?
Look for Pythagorean Triples!

READING
Similar and Congruent
Figuring out that the two triangles were similar was necessary in the previous question. Some questions will ask
about the information needed to determine whether two triangles are similar or congruent. Review the rules in the
Geometry and Trigonometry 101 chapter, and learn the following definitions.
WRITING
Two triangles are similar when they have equal angles and proportional sides.
Two triangles are congruent when they have equal angles and equal sides.
All congruent triangles are similar, but not all similar triangles are congruent.
MATH
In triangles QRS and WXY, angle R has measure
80º, angles S and Y each have measure 61º, and
the length of side QS is 12. Which additional piece
of information is sufficient to determine whether
triangle QRS is similar to triangle WXY ?
A No additional information is necessary.

B The measure of angle W
C The length of side WY
D The lengths of sides RS and XY

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
TRIGONOMETRY
The Digital SAT contains a small amount of trig. Knowing the basic definitions of sine, cosine, and tangent will be
helpful.
SOHCAHTOA
WRITING
sin = cos = tan =

MATH

B
b°
X
a°
A x°
C
w°
W Y
Note: Figures not drawn to scale.

1
In the figure, if sin a = and b = x , what is the value
2
of sin x ?
1
A
2

3
B
2
3
C
3
D 3

READING
RADIANS AND DEGREES
Radians and degrees are different ways of measuring angles. The built-in calculator has both modes—and your
calculator probably does, too—so make sure the calculator you use is in the mode you need for the question you’re
working on.
WRITING
To convert radians to degrees, set up a proportion:
p radians
=
180 degrees
or
MATH
2p radians
=
360 degrees

7p
If an angle measures radians, what is the
10
measure of the angle, in degrees?
A 88.2

B 126
C 234
D 257.1

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
CIRCLES
Central angles of circles may also be measured in radians. Aside from basic circle questions about circumference and
area, College Board may ask about a slice of a circle (a sector) or a part of the circumference (an arc) formed by the
central angle.
WRITING

W
X
O
MATH
The figure shows a circle with center O. The central

angle described by  measures
WXY p
radians. If the
4
circle has a radius of 5, what is the length of ?
WXY
3p
A
4

B p
5p
C
4
3p
D
2
To find an arc length of a circle in radians, use

s = r θ, where s is the arc length, r is the radius,
and θ is the central angle.
Arcs and sectors are proportional to the central angle of a circle.
part central angle arc length sector area

= = =
whole 360° 2r r 2

READING
OVERLAPPING SHAPES
When given one shape inside another, use the information given about the first shape to determine the necessary
information about the second shape.
WRITING
A square has an area of 4 square units. What is the
area, in square units, of the largest circle that can be
inscribed in the square?
p
A
2

B π
MATH
C 2π
D 4π
VOLUME
Volume measures shapes in three dimensions rather than two dimensions, but the Geometry Basic Approach still
applies.
9 Mark for Review

The volume of a cylinder is 54π cm3. If the height of
the cylinder is twice the radius, what is the height?
A 3 cm

B 6 cm
C 9 cm
D 12 cm

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY DRILL

Time: 8 minutes

WRITING
W Z 5 Y
60° 60°
X
MATH
In triangle WXY, what is the length of WX ?
A 2.5

B 5 2
C 5 3
D 10
2 Mark for Review

A circular wading pool has an area of 1.21π square
meters. What is the circumference of the wading
pool, in meters?
A 1.1π

B 1.21π
C 2.2π
D 2.42π

READING
GH = 76
HI = 95
IG = 57
Right triangles DEF and GHI are similar, where D
corresponds to G and E corresponds to H. The side
lengths of triangle GHI are shown. What is the value
WRITING
of sin E ?
3
A
5
3
B
4
MATH
4
C
5
5
D
3
4 Mark for Review

A building block shaped like a rectangular pyramid
has a base width of 5 inches, a base length of 5 inches,
and a height of x inches. If the volume of the building
block is 50 cubic inches, what is the value of x ?
5 Mark for Review

A set of 3 identical rectangular boxes are stacked on
top of each other. The height of each box is 8 inches.
If the combined volume of the three boxes is 2,304
cubic inches, what is the area of the base of one box,
in square inches?
A 24

B 96
C 288
D 768

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• How do you access geometry facts and formulas in the testing app?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What three steps should you follow for all geometry questions?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• What two kinds of angles are created when two parallel lines are both intersected by another line,
and how are those angles related?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
• What is the Pythagorean Theorem?
__________________________________________________
• What are three examples of Pythagorean Triples?
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________

• What are two characteristics of similar triangles?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• What are two characteristics of congruent triangles?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• What are the three definitions that make up the mnemonic SOHCAHTOA?
_______________________ _______________________ ________________________
• What is a formula for converting between radians and degrees?
______________________________________
• What can you do when there are overlapping shapes?
___________________________________________________________________________
• How do you approach geometry questions about volume?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

ADVANCED
COORDINATE
GEOMETRY
695
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
• Apply the skill of graphing in the xy-plane to more unusual concepts

• Know how to work with the equation of a circle in the xy-plane
• Understand how changes to an equation will shift the graph in the
WRITING AND
xy-plane
LANGUAGE
• Know how to work with functions of different degrees in the xy-plane

MATH

ADVANCED COORDINATE GEOMETRY
READING
CIRCLES IN THE COORDINATE PLANE
Like parabolas, circle equations in the xy-plane also have a standard form, and College Board likes to ask questions
about circles in non-standard form. Just as with parabolas, knowing the parts of the standard form and how to
manipulate circle equations into different forms can be useful.
WRITING AND
LANGUAGE
The standard form of a circle is (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r 2,
where (h, k) is the center and r is the radius.
MATH
A circle with the equation x 2 – 8x + y 2 – 6y = –21 is
graphed in the xy -plane. Which of the following is the
length of the radius of the circle?
A 2
B 4
C 11
D 16
Don’t waste time trying to complete the square or

using other methods you learned in school. Use the
built-in graphing calculator for circle questions.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
TRANSLATING GRAPHS
Occasionally, a question will ask about a translation of a graph, also known as transforming a graph. The graph
changes position based on a change to the function or equation. It might move up, down, left, right, or a combina-
tion of directions.
WRITING AND
LANGUAGE

2
Function g is defined by g (x) = –3x – 36x – 107.
Function h is defined by h (x) = g (x – 4). Which of
the following is the value of x when the graph of h (x)
reaches its maximum?
A –10
MATH
B –6
C –2
D 4
In relation to f(x):
• f(x) + k is shifted upward k units in the xy-plane.
• f(x) – k is shifted downward k units in the xy-plane.
• f(x + k) is shifted to the left k units in the xy-plane.
• f(x – k) is shifted to the right k units in the xy-plane.

READING
2 2
The graph of the circle defined by (x + 3) + (y + 3)
= 9 is translated left 3 units in the xy -plane. What is
the equation of the resulting graph?
A x 2 + (y + 3)2 = 9
WRITING AND
LANGUAGE
B (x + 3)2 + y2 = 9
C (x + 3)2 + (y + 6)2 = 9
D (x + 6)2 + (y + 3)2 = 9
MATH
To help visualize the way graphs shift, graph
the equations with the built-in calculator.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GRAPHS OF HIGHER-DEGREE FUNCTIONS

Most of the nonlinear graphs on the Digital SAT are parabolas, but there will be
the occasional third- or fourth-degree polynomial. Depending on the question,
some or all of the following approaches will be useful.
• Count the number of x-intercepts.

• Plug in points from the graph.
WRITING
• Use a graphing calculator.

• Recognize the shape of the graph.
To utilize the last approach, it helps know what graphs with an x3 or x4 term look
like. When counting the x-intercepts, keep your eyes open for a double root.
MATH
Third-degree polynomial with Fourth-degree polynomial with three

one real root distinct real roots
f (x) = x3 + 2 f (x) = x4 – 2x2
y y
4 4
2 2
x
x –2 O 2
–2 O 2
–2
–2
The function on the right above has a “double root,” which means that the
graph touches the x-axis at one point—(0, 0)—before bending away again in the
opposite direction. This means that the equation of the line will have the factor
that yields that value of x raised to an even exponent (in this case, the x is squared).

READING
y
WRITING AND
LANGUAGE
x
–1 –0.5 O 0.5 1
–1
MATH
Which of the following could be the equation of the
graph shown?
A y = x2 − 1
B y = x3 − x
C y = x3 − x2
D y = x4 − x 2

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
• What is the standard form equation of a circle?
__________________________________________________
• What tool is useful for questions about transforming graphs?
__________________________________________________
• When counting the number of roots for a third- or fourth-degree polynomial, look out for
_________________________________________.

MATH REVIEW
WORKSHEET
As you get closer to your test date, it will be helpful to review

everything you’ve learned so far. Use the following chapter to
write down the strategies, formulas, and other information
that you want to have ready to go on test day. Go back to
earlier chapters and look up anything you don’t remember.
703
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
STRATEGIES
These should all be second nature by now, but make sure you apply all of these strategies and follow every
step. Writing something down helps it stick in your memory, so grab a pen or pencil and fill in the informa-
tion below.
POOD
WRITING
O
MATH
I use this to...
RTFQ
This helps me to...

MATH REVIEW WORKSHEET
READING
POE
WRITING
E
This is useful when...
MATH
Word Problem Basic Approach
Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.
Step 4.
Scratch Paper
I plan to use my scratch paper...
Built-In Calculator
I plan to use this tool...

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Plugging In the Answers (PITA)
Step 1.
Step 2.
WRITING
Step 3.
Step 4.
Step 5.
MATH
This works well on questions that...
Plugging In
Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.
Step 4.
Step 5.
This works well on questions that...

READING
FACTS AND FORMULAS
Many of the key concepts and formulas you should know for the Digital SAT are in the rest of this chapter.
However, it is not a comprehensive list. Go back through the earlier chapters and make a note of anything
in a curved box or a chapter summary.
WRITING
Fundamentals of Solving
Order of Operations
MATH
M
Algebra
The basic rule of algebra is...

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Exponents
MADSPM
M
WRITING
S
MATH
These rules apply when...
Growth and Decay
When the growth is a percent:
When the growth is a multiple:
Functions
f(x) =
In a function, x is
In a function, y is

READING
Data and Stats
Three elements to identify in a visual representation of data
1.
WRITING
2.
3.
MATH
Statistical Terminology
Mean means...
Average Formula:
Median means...
Mode means...
Range means...
Standard deviation means...

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Coordinate Geometry
Linear Equations
Slope-intercept Form:
WRITING
Standard Form:
Slope Formula:
MATH
Quadratics and Parabolas
Standard form:
Factored form:
Vertex form:
FOIL:
The vertex in standard form:
The sum of the solutions in standard form:
The product of the solutions in standard form:
Quadratic Formula:
Discriminant:
The discriminant tells me...

READING
Circles in the Coordinate Plane
Standard Form:
WRITING
Proportional Relationships
Proportions:
MATH
Percents:
Probability:
Geometry and Trigonometry

Quadrilaterals
Area of a square:
Area of a rectangle:
Perimeter of a square:
Perimeter of a rectangle:

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Triangles
Area:
Perimeter:
WRITING
Pythagorean Theorem:
Trig Functions
MATH

READING
Circles
Area:
Circumference:
WRITING
Degrees and radians conversion:
MATH
Volume
Rectangular solid or prism:
Cylinder:
Sphere:
Cone:
Right rectangular pyramid:

SAT MANUAL
QUESTION
IDENTIFICATION DRILL
715
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GETTING STARTED
One of the most valuable pacing skills on Digital SAT Math is simply getting
started on a question. There’s no need to plan out the entire question in advance:
just complete the first bite-sized piece and determine what to do next.
POOD and Pacing

WRITING
• If the first step and each subsequent step are clear,

Answer and Advance.
• If the first step is clear but a later step is confusing,
Mark and Move.
• If the first step isn’t clear now but might be later,
skip for now.
MATH
• If the first step isn’t clear and never will be, Guess and Go.
Identifying the First Step

You have seen throughout this book that some questions call for a specific strategy
(such as PITA) while some question types (such as Representation or Geometry)
have a basic approach. The clues about which strategy or approach to use are in
two places:
How to Identify the Best Approach
• Use the Question—look for key words in the question

stem, especially in the final question.
• Use the Answers—note the features of the answer choices,
such as variables, words, or equations.

QUESTION IDENTIFICATION DRILL
READING
The Options
The list below doesn’t include every approach you might use on the Math section
of the Digital SAT, but it covers the major methods that you have learned.
PITA
AND
Plugging In
LANGUAGE
WRITING
Translate/Label in Bite-Sized Pieces and use POE
WRITING
Solve algebraically
Graphing calculator
Skip for now
Guess and Go
MATH
The examples below show part of the question (usually the final question) and a
description of the answer choices. Don’t try to answer the question because that
will be impossible without the full question and answer choices. Instead, choose
an approach from the list of options above to indicate how you would approach
the question. There might be more than one approach that would work, so pick
your top method for that question.
1. Which of the following could be the coordinates of point D?
The answers contain pairs of (x, y) coordinates.
My method: ______________________________
2. ...which of the following expressions is equivalent to...
The answers contain expressions with variables.
My method: ______________________________
3. How many solutions does the given system of equations have?
The answers contain statements, including “infinitely many.”
My method: ______________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
PITA
Plugging In
Solve algebraically
Graphing calculator
Skip for now
WRITING
Guess and Go
4. What is the best interpretation of the y-intercept in this context?
The answers contain descriptions.

MATH
My method: ______________________________
5. The function p reaches its maximum value at what value of x?
The answers contain numbers in order.
My method: ______________________________
6. What is the measure of angle C?
The answers contain numbers of degrees in order.
My method: ______________________________
7. What are all values of b that satisfy the equation...
I. 1
II. 4
The answers contain combinations of Roman numerals.
My method: ______________________________
8. Which expression correctly expresses y in terms of x and z?
The answers contain expressions with three variables.
My method: ______________________________

READING
PITA
Plugging In
Solve algebraically
Graphing calculator
Skip for now
WRITING
Guess and Go
9. How much money did Sally earn from selling $5 toys?
The answers contain dollar amounts in order.
MATH
My method: ______________________________
10. Which equation represents the total storage space, s, required for the
game and l levels?
The answers contain linear equations with two variables.
My method: ______________________________
11.

Cups of lemonade sold Profit made
25 $5.00
50 $17.50
100 $42.50
200 $92.50
Which of the following correctly determines the total profit P(x), in

dollars, from selling x cups of lemonade?
The answers contain functions with one variable.
My method: ______________________________
12. What is the volume, in cubic inches, of the pyramid?
This is a fill-in question, so there are no answer choices.
My method: ______________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
PITA
Plugging In
Solve algebraically
Graphing calculator
Skip for now
WRITING
Guess and Go
13. Which of the following best models the value, v, of stocks m months
after the initial investment?
MATH
The answers contain growth/decay functions with variables.
My method: ______________________________
14. Which of the following could be the equation of the graph shown?
The answers contain linear equations with two variables.
My method: ______________________________

READING
START TO FINISH
Now that you’ve identified the best way to approach these questions, it’s time to get them right!
AND
LANGUAGE
WRITING
y > 5x – 3
WRITING
y ≤ –4 x + 7
When the given system of inequalities is graphed
in the xy -plane, point D is a solution. Which of the
following could be the coordinates of point D ?
A (0, 4)
MATH
B (2, 3)
C (2, 9)
D (3, –7 )
2 Mark for Review

When t > 0, which of the following expressions is
7t 3 5t 3
equivalent to the expression − ?
8 4
3t 3
A −
4
3t 3
B −
8
3t 3
C
8
3t 3
D
4

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
5x – 7y = 13
20x – 28y = 52
How many solutions does the given system of
equations have?
A Zero
WRITING
B Exactly one
C Exactly two
MATH
D Infinitely many
4 Mark for Review
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
O
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The graph models the number of bacteria, y, in

millions, present in a sample x minutes after the start
of an experiment, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 8. What is the best
interpretation of the y -intercept in this context?

A The estimated number of bacteria in the sample
at the beginning of the experiment was
3,000,000.

B The estimated number of bacteria in the sample
8 minutes after the start of the experiment was
3,000,000.

C The estimated number of bacteria in the sample
at the beginning of the experiment was 3.

D The estimated number of bacteria in the sample
8 minutes after the start of the experiment was 3.

5 Mark for Review
READING
The function p is defined as p (x) = – (x – 2)2 . The
function p reaches its maximum value at what value
of x ?
A –2
WRITING
B 0
C 2
D 4
MATH
6 Mark for Review
A C D F
Note: Figures not drawn to scale.
In similar right triangles ABC and DEF, the measure

of angle E is 36°. Side AC corresponds to side DF, and
side AB corresponds to side DE . What is the measure
of angle C ?
A 36°
B 44°
C 54°
D 144°

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
What are all values of b that satisfy the equation

b − 2 = b?
I. 1
II. 4
A Neither I nor II
WRITING
B I only
C II only
D I and II
MATH
8 Mark for Review
7x − 2
In the equation z = , x, y, and z are distinct
y
positive numbers. Which equation correctly
expresses y in terms of x and z ?
z
A y=
7x − 2
B y = 7x – z – 2
C y = z (7x – 2)
D y = 7x − 2
z

READING
Sally sold 50 toys at a garage sale. Some of the toys
were sold for $3, and the rest were sold for $5. The
total amount of money Sally earned was $220. How
much money did Sally earn from selling $5 toys?
A $100
WRITING
B $150
C $175
D $200
MATH
10 Mark for Review
A certain game requires 25 MB of storage space
plus an additional 4 MB of storage space per level.
Which equation represents the total storage space, s,
required for the game and l levels?
A s = 4l + 25
B s = 4(l + 25)
C s = 25l + 4
D s = 25(l + 4)

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL

READING
Cups of lemonade sold Profit made

25 $5.00
50 $17.50
100 $42.50
WRITING
200 $92.50
The table shows the profit Willa expects to make from
her lemonade stand. A linear function can be used to
show the relationship between the number of cups
of lemonade she sells and the profit she will make.
Which of the following correctly determines Willa’s
total profit P (x), in dollars, from selling x cups of
lemonade?
MATH
A P (x) = 0.2x – 5.0
B P (x) = 0.2x
C P (x) = 0.5x – 7.5
D P (x) = 0.5x
12 Mark for Review

A right pyramid with a rectangular base has a height
of 4 inches, a length of 7 inches, and a width of 5
inches. What is the volume, in cubic inches, of the
pyramid?

READING
An investor purchases stock from a music company.
She initially purchases $250 worth of stock. The
investor notices that the value of her stock triples
every 4 years. Which of the following equations best
models the value, v, of the stocks m months after the
initial investment?
m
WRITING
A v = 250(3)48
m
B v = 250(3) 4
 
C v = 250 1 + m 
 4
MATH
 
D v = 250 1 + m 
 48 
14 Mark for Review
y
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
x
–0.6 –0.4 –0.2 O 0.2 0.4 0.6
–0.2
–0.4
Which of the following could be the equation of the

graph shown?
A 5x + y = 1
B 5x – y = –1
C 5x + y = –1
D 5x – y = 1

SAT MANUAL
PREPARING FOR
TEST DAY
729
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
PREPARING FOR TEST DAY

Congratulations! You’ve now learned how to approach all of the different types of
questions on the Digital SAT. If you have some time between now and test day,
however, or if you think you may take the Digital SAT again in a few months,
how should you continue to study on your own?
Resources
What are some resources available to you as you continue to study on your own?
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
Study Time
If your test is within the next three weeks, we recommend that you continue to
prep for the Digital SAT every day for 30 minutes. If your test isn’t for a month or
more, try to do a 30-minute session about three times per week until your test is a
few weeks away.
Avoid Burnout and Reduce Stress

• In the last week before your test, focus on your stronger areas.
• If you know you need to keep working on SAT prep but start to feel
burned out, try mixing up your study methods.
• Try doing lower-pressure activities that don’t give you a score, such as
reviewing class recordings, to reduce anxiety.
• Review all of your work carefully instead of doing more and more
drills or practice tests.

Pre-Test Timeline
Now: Download and install the Bluebook app on your laptop or tablet if you will
be bringing your own device. It’s okay to go ahead and open the app to make sure
it works.
Five days before your test: Open Bluebook and you should see your registration
listed. Go through the exam setup, which will confirm that your device meets the
requirements, and then your admission ticket will be generated. You’ll be able to
email it to yourself or print it. We recommend that you do both, just in case.
The Night Before the Test

Here are some possible ways to spend the night before the test. Select whether each
is a good idea or a bad idea.
Good idea Bad idea
Reading a thrilling book _________ _________
Hanging out with friends but coming

home early _________ _________
Binge-watching a new TV show _________ _________
Staying up late cramming for the test _________ _________
Taking a bubble bath _________ _________
Playing a board game with your family _________ _________
Playing an engrossing video game _________ _________
Setting an alarm for an hour before bedtime

to start winding down _________ _________
Studying for 30 minutes if it makes you

feel more relaxed _________ _________
Not studying at all because you know

you’re prepared _________ _________
Going to bed at 6 pm _________ _________
Going to a wild party _________ _________
Meditating or engaging in other

mindfulness activities _________ _________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Here are some other tips for the night before the test:
• Pack your bag. Gather everything you will need for test day.
• Charge your device.
• Set out comfortable clothes to wear.
• Avoid electronics for an hour before bedtime.
• Make a list of anything you need to remember in the morning.
• Go to bed about 9 hours before you plan to wake up. Set a back-
up alarm just in case.
What to Bring on Test Day

• Your laptop or tablet, if bringing your own. See device require-
ments at the end of this chapter. The device should be fully charged,
but it’s a good idea to bring your charging cable as well, though
there’s no guarantee you’ll be near an outlet. It’s fine to bring an
external mouse for a laptop or a tablet, but external keyboards are
allowed only for tablets. Also, make sure to follow the instructions
sent to you by College Board about how and when to download the
testing app.
• Your admission ticket. You can present it digitally on a phone or

show the printout.
• Acceptable photo ID. This must be government- or school-issued

(such as a driver’s license, passport, or school ID) and contain a
recent, recognizable photo and your full, legal name exactly as it ap-
pears on your admission ticket.
• Pencils or pens. Either is fine, and it’s okay to bring several. Differ-
ent colors of pens can make your math work easier to organize. You
won’t be filling out a paper bubble sheet, so there’s no need to worry
about a specific type of writing implement.
• An acceptable calculator, if bringing your own. Check the Col-

lege Board website if you’re not sure whether yours is allowed.

Nice to Have
• A watch. Even though you will have a timer throughout each mod-
ule of the test, it may be helpful to have a watch for your ten-minute
break.
• A bag. It’s fine to bring a bag or backpack to hold your possessions;

just make sure to remove anything that isn’t allowed.
• A small snack and drink for the break. Think granola bar and
water bottle.
Don’t Even Try It

• Cell phones. These aren’t technically forbidden, but there are serious
consequences (such as your test and the tests of students around you get-
ting canceled) if your phone makes a sound or is seen during the test.
• Smart watches, Bluetooth devices (such as wireless earbuds), and

any other tablet or laptop besides the one you will be testing on.
• Highlighters, colored pencils, paper, notebooks, books, scissors,

rulers, compasses, or earplugs.
It’s the Big Day!

On test morning, give yourself plenty of time to get ready so that you can have a
relaxing morning. Here are some other good ideas:
• Eat a good breakfast.
• Do a little exercise and/or take a shower.
• Don’t try anything that you don’t normally do.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to the testing center.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
WHAT TO EXPECT ON TEST DAY

Make sure to arrive on time. See your admission ticket for the arrival time and
address of your testing center. In most cases, doors open at 7:45 and close at 8:00.
We recommend planning to arrive by 7:30.
Testing usually starts between 8:15 and 8:45. Bluebook will guide you through the
instructions, and the proctor will give you a start code, at which time the test will
begin. You’ll need to close all other applications on your device.
During the break, leave your device open and keep your calculator on your desk.
If you leave the room, bring your ID with you, as it may be checked when you
come back. You can bring your snack and drink with you, but leave your phone in
its secure location if you brought it.
The proctor will collect your scratch paper when the test is over, which should be
before noon.
The First Run is a Practice Run

If possible, plan to take the Digital SAT more than once. Of course, if you ace it
on the first try, you can be done, but this helps take some of the pressure off of
your first time taking it.
Stick to the Plan!

A standardized test is exactly that. It is more or less the same every time it’s given.
This means that you know exactly what to expect. Don’t panic and go back to
what you might have done before your preparation. Stick to the plan and do what
you have been preparing to do. You’ve got this!

DEVICE REQUIREMENTS
All devices must be able to connect to WiFi and be charged enough to stay on for
3 hours. They must also have the latest version of Bluebook installed. Here are the
specific devices that are allowed and their requirements.
Windows laptops/tablets
• Windows 10 or later operating system
• Minimum 1 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, and 250 MB free hard drive
space
• Minimum laptop screen size 10 inches, minimum tablet size 8 inches
• Minimum screen resolution 1024 × 768
Mac laptops
• MacOS 11.4 or later operating system
• Minimum 1 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, and 150 MB free hard drive
space
• Minimum screen size 10 inches and minimum resolution 1024 × 768
iPads
• iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 or later, iPad (5th generation or later), and iPad
Mini 4 or later
• iPadOS 13.4 or later operating system
• 16 GB or more with 150 MB free storage
• Minimum size 8 inches and minimum resolution 1024 × 768
School-Managed Chromebooks
• No personal Chromebooks allowed
• Must be from 2017 or later and must be run in kiosk mode
• Chrome OS v83–98 and Chrome OS 100+ operating systems
(Version 99 not allowed)
• At least 150 MB free storage
• Minimum screen size 10 inches and minimum resolution 1024 × 768

SAT MANUAL
ANSWER KEY
737
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING AND WRITING
READING DRILL 1 READING DRILL 3

1. D 1. D
2. B 2. B
3. D 3. A
4. A 4. D
5. B 5. A
6. A 6. C
7. C 7. B
8. C 8. C
READING DRILL 2 READING DRILL 4

1. A 1. C
2. C 2. D
3. B 3. A
4. D 4. B
5. A 5. A
6. D 6. B
7. C 7. D
8. B 8. C

ANSWER KEY
READING AND WRITING
WRITING DRILL 1 WRITING DRILL 3

16. B 16. B
17. D 17. B
18. B 18. C
19. C 19. C
20. D 20. A
21. C 21. C
22. A 22. C
23. A 23. D
24. C 24. A
25. B 25. B
26. D 26. B
27. D 27. D
WRITING DRILL 2 RW MODULE

16. A 1. A
17. B 2. B
18. B 3. C
19. A 4. C
20. D 5. D
21. B 6. C
22. C 7. A
23. A 8. C
24. B 9. A
25. B 10. A
26. D 11. B
27. A 12. B
13. D
14. C
15. B
16. C
17. D
18. A
19. D
20. C
21. D
22. C
23. C
24. C
25. A
26. B
27. C

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
MATH
MATH VOCABULARY 101 Percentages

increase by a percent multiply, then add
decrease by a percent multiply, then subtract
Math Operations Discounts multiply, then subtract

D. Sum the result of addition Sales taxes multiply, then add
B. Difference the result of subtraction Income taxes multiply, then subtract
A. Product the result of multiplication Interest multiply, then add
C. Quotient the result of division
The Order of Operations: Parentheses; Exponents;

Multiplication and Division; Addition and Algebra Vocabulary
Subtraction
C. 5x term
Famous Saying: PEMDAS or Please Excuse My
Dear Aunt Sally D. 5+x expression
A. x variable
Translating English to Math B. k constant

= is, are, were, did, does
> greater than E. 5 + x = 12 equation
< less than
12
≥ at least C. kx term
≤ no more than
5
– how much greater than
x what
= equals, is equal to How to Enter Fill-in Answers
≠ is not equal to
5
× of .5 0.5 1/2 5/10
/ out of 10
× times 2π 6.283
/ per
2.5 5/2 2.5 2.50
2,500 2500
8
− –8/12 –.6666 –0.666 –0.667 –2/3
120

ANSWER KEY
LINEAR SOLVING 101 NONLINEAR SOLVING 101
Linear Equations Quadratics

1. –2, –1
1. 2 2. 1, 5
3. –4, 2
2. 32 4. –2, 5
8 5. –1, 6
3.
3 6. –12, 2
4. 7 7. –7, 2
5. –6 8. –3
6. 28 9. –2, 2
7. 9 10. 4
Inequalities Exponents
1. x > –10
2. x<6
3. x > 11 Basic Rules
1. x5
2. x4
3. x8
Absolute Value 4. 12x 2y3
1. 8 5. 8x6
2. –3 6. 2x
3. 3 7. 8x 2
4. 5 or 11 8. 2x 2 + 4y3
Special Rules
Number of Solutions 1. 1
1. 1 2. 1
2. infinitely many 3. x
3. 0 4. 1
4. infinitely many 5. 0
5. 1 6. 4
6. 1 7. –8
7. 0 1
8.
4

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Exponents Practice 8. c
1. 53 = 125
2. x5 9. 3xy
3. 81x12y24z 20 6
10. −
4. 125 – 27 = 98 7
5. 3x 2y2
6. 3x6 + 2x5 Fractional and Negative Exponents
7. 5 × 62 = 5 × 36 = 180 Practice
8. 73 = 343
5x 2 1. 8d2
9. 5x 2y–2 or 2
y
10. xyz 2. 9
3. 4
1
Roots 4.
x2
5. 4xy3
Rationalizing the Denominator
6. 2
x 3 1
i. 7. or x–2
3 x 2
8. 125 or 5 5
Combining Roots x6
1. 6 x 9.
9 y 10
2. 6 x 10. 36x6y4
3. xy
x
4.
y
Roots Practice
1. 10b
2. 5
3. 4
4. 31
x
5.
y
6. 4
11
7.
13

ANSWER KEY
WORKING WITH DATA 101 Statistical Measures
Mean = Average
Visual Representations 1. 3
2. 5
3. 9
Scatterplots 4. 40
1. Protein (grams) 5. 18
2. Fiber (grams) 6. 9
3. 5 grams
4. 9 grams
5. 6.5 grams Median = Middle
6. 4 grams 1. the value of the 25th item
2. the average of the values of the 24th and
25th items
Bar Graphs and Histograms 3. the average of the values of the 75th and
1. Year 76th items
2. % Unemployment 4. the value of the 78th item
3. 3.9%
4. 2010
5. 9.2% Determine These Stats, Stat!
E. Mean 9
D. Median 8
Two-Way Tables B. Mode 4
1. Preferred Beverage A. Range 19
2. Men and Women C. Standard deviation ???
3. 2,476
4. 616
5. 1,210
6. 89
7. 655 COORDINATE GEOMETRY 101
Frequency Tables
1. 20 Linear Graphs
2. 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4,
4, 5, 5, 5, 6
3. 3 Line #1
4. 15 1. 2
5. 3 2. 3
6. 6 3. 0
7. 60
8. 3

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Slope-Intercept Form PROPORTIONAL

4. slope
5. y-intercept
RELATIONSHIPS 101
6. any ordered pair on the line
7. y = 2x + 3
Ratios & Parts
1. i. 3:6 or 1:2
Standard Form ii. 7:2

iii. 9
6 2
Line #2 iv.
9
or
3
3
1. –
2
2. 7
3 Parts & Wholes
3. y=– x+7 1. C
2
2. C
3. C
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines 4. A
1
1. y= x+4
2
1
2. y= x–6 Proportions
2
1. i. 20
3. y = –2x + 2
4. parallel 6 3
ii. or
5. same 10 5
6. perpendicular iii. 30
7. negative reciprocals
8. 0
9. 1
Putting the Parts Together
1. i. 7:10
Nonlinear Graphs ii. 20%
2
iii.
Call on the Calculator 25
1. (–3, 0) iv. B
2. (–3, 0) and (5, 0)
3. (1, –16)
4. 2
5. (–3, 0) and (6, 9)

ANSWER KEY
PLANE GEOMETRY 101 Angles

Right Angle: 90°
Straight Line: 180°
Formulas of Basic Shapes Triangle: 180°
Quadrilateral: 360°
Area Circle: 360°
Square: A = s2
5. B
Rectangle: A = lw
6. 80
Parallelogram: A = bh
1
Triangle: A = bh
2 Parallel Lines and Angles
1. 20 7. 135°
2. 36 8. 40°
Perimeter Right Triangles

Add up all the sides
a b c
Circles 1 3 10
Area: A = πr2
Circumference: C = πd or 2πr 3 4 5
3. 49π 5 12 13
6 8 10
Volume 7 24 25
Cube: V = s3
2 2 3 4
Rectangular Solid: V = lwh
Cylinder: V = πr2h 5 5 5 2
4. 4 6 7 85
3 3 3 6
4 2 4 2 8

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Special Right Triangles Prove It

a. 45°:45°:90° Yes, triangles ABC and DEF are similar.
b. The 30°:60°:90° triangle is half of an Yes, triangles ABC and GHI are similar.
equilateral triangle.
Yes, triangles DEF and GHI are similar.
c. Divide it into two identical 30°:60°:90°
triangles. Yes, triangles ABC and DEF are congruent.
No, triangles ABC and GHI are not congruent.
9. 4 2
No, triangles DEF and GHI are not congruent.
10. 5 3
Fun Facts About Figures

Circles Line Facts
• Any line measures 180 degrees.
C A r d
• A line segment is a part of a line and has
8p 16p 4 8 two endpoints.
10p 25p 5 10 • The degree measure of a line segment is

180 degrees.
12p 36p 6 12 • Two lines that intersect in a right angle are
4p 4p 2 4 perpendicular and their slopes are negative
reciprocals.
18p 81p 9 18
Angle Facts
24p 144p 12 24
• There are 90 degrees in a right angle.
14p 49p 7 14
• When two straight lines intersect,
6p 9p 3 6 angles opposite each other are equal.
2p p 1 2 • There are 180 degrees in a straight line.
16p 64p 8 16 • Two lines are perpendicular when they
meet at a 90° angle.
20p 100p 10 20
• The sign for perpendicular is ⊥.
• There are 180 degrees in a triangle.
SOHCAHTOA
• There are 360 degrees in any four-sided
9 figure.
sin(B) =
41
9
cos(C) =
41
9
tan(B) =
40
40
tan(C) =
9

ANSWER KEY
Triangle Facts In a rectangle

In any triangle • Rectangles are special parallelograms;
thus, any fact about parallelograms also
• The longest side is opposite the largest applies to rectangles.
angle.
• All 4 angles are each equal to 90°.
• The shortest side is opposite the smallest
angle. • Area = length × width = lw
• All angles add up to 180°. • Perimeter = 2(length) + 2(width) = 2l + 2w
1 1 • The diagonals are equal.
• Area = (base × height) = bh
2 2
In a square
• The height is the perpendicular distance
from the base to the opposite vertex. • Squares are special rectangles; thus, any
fact about rectangles also applies to
• Perimeter is the sum of the sides. squares.
In an isosceles triangle • All 4 sides are equal.
• Two sides are equal. • Area = (side)2 = s2
• The two angles opposite the equal sides are • Perimeter = 4(side) = 4s
also equal.
• The diagonals are perpendicular.
In an equilateral triangle
• All three sides are equal.
Circle Facts
• All angles are each equal to 60°.
Circle
• There are 360 degrees in a circle.
Four-Sided Figure Facts
Radius (r)
In a quadrilateral
• The distance from the center to any
• All four angles add up to 360°. point on the edge of the circle
In a parallelogram • All radii in a circle are equal.
• Opposite sides are parallel and equal. Diameter (d)
• Opposite angles are equal. • The distance of a line that connects two
points on the edge of the circle, passing
• Adjacent angles are supplementary (add through the center
up to 180°).
• The longest chord in a circle
• Area = base × height = bh
• Equals twice the radius
• The height is the perpendicular distance
from the base to the opposite side. Chord
• Any line segment connecting two points
on the edge of a circle
• The longest chord is called the diameter

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Circumference (C)
QUESTION IDENTIFICATION
• The distance around the outside of the
circle DRILL
• C = 2πr = πd 1. A PITA
2. B Plugging In
Arc 3. D Graphing Calculator or Solving
Algebraically
• Any part of the circumference
4. A Translate/Label
• The length of an arc is proportional to the 5. C PITA or Graphing Calculator
size of the interior angle. 6. C Geometry Basic Approach and
maybe PITA
Area
7. C Plugging In
• The amount of space within the bound- 8. D Plugging In or Solving
aries of the circle Algebraically
9. C PITA
• A = πr2
10. A Translate/Label or Plugging In
Sector 11. C Plugging In
12. 140/3, Geometry Basic Approach
• Any part of the area formed by two radii 46.66,
and the outside of the circle or 46.67
• The area of a sector is proportional to the 13. A Plugging In or Translate/Label
size of the interior angle. 14. B Graphing Calculator or
Plugging In

SAT MANUAL
PACING REVIEWS
749
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
PACING REVIEW FOR PRACTICE TEST #2

Before you attempt your second practice test, review your previous test to look for areas of strength and
weakness and revisit the pacing strategies that we discussed in the introduction chapters. Use the score re-
port from your most recent test to complete the following exercises.
Your scores from your first practice test:
Reading and Writing Section: ________ out of 800 Math Section: ________ out of 800
Section Analysis of the First Practice Test

Reading and Writing Section
Module 1: How did you do with pacing? Circle one:
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
How many Reading questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
How many questions did you miss in each category?
Vocabulary ___________ out of ___________ questions
Purpose ___________ out of ___________ questions
Dual Texts ___________ out of ___________ questions
Retrieval ___________ out of ___________ questions
Main Idea ___________ out of ___________ questions
Claims ___________ out of ___________ questions
Charts ___________ out of ___________ questions
Conclusions ___________ out of ___________ questions
Of the Reading categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 categories were your greatest strengths?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
In which 3 Reading categories did you miss the most questions?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________

PACING REVIEWS
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many of those questions do you feel you fully
understand and should have gotten right? __________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things you plan to do differently on the Reading portion of the RW section of the next
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
How many Writing questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Complete Sentences ___________ out of ___________ questions
Connecting Clauses ___________ out of ___________ questions
Punctuation with Describing Phrases ___________ out of ___________ questions
Lists ___________ out of ___________ questions
No Punctuation ___________ out of ___________ questions
Verbs ___________ out of ___________ questions
Pronouns ___________ out of ___________ questions
Nouns ___________ out of ___________ questions
Modifiers ___________ out of ___________ questions
Transitions ___________ out of ___________ questions
Rhetorical Synthesis ___________ out of ___________ questions
Of the Writing categories with 3 or more questions, which categories were your greatest strengths?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
In which Writing categories did you miss the most questions?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things you plan to do differently on the Writing portion of the RW section of the next
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the RW modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
you navigated the modules?
________________________________________________________________________________
Math Section
How many Math questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Plugging In the Answers ___________ out of ___________ questions
Plugging In ___________ out of ___________ questions
Linear Solving ___________ out of ___________ questions
Nonlinear Solving ___________ out of ___________ questions
Functions ___________ out of ___________ questions
Representation and Interpretation ___________ out of ___________ questions
Working with Data ___________ out of ___________ questions
Coordinate Geometry ___________ out of ___________ questions

PACING REVIEWS
Proportional Relationships ___________ out of ___________ questions
Geometry and Trig ___________ out of ___________ questions
Advanced Coordinate Geometry ___________ out of ___________ questions
Now figure out how many you missed based on the question type:
Multiple-choice ___________ out of ___________ questions
Fill-ins ___________ out of ___________ questions
Of the Math categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 were your greatest strengths?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
In which 3 Math categories did you miss the most questions?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many were careless errors (you used the correct
method but got the wrong answer due to misreading or making a simple math mistake)? __________
How many did you miss but feel you could now get right with the strategies and skills you’ve learned in
class? __________
How can you avoid making these mistakes next time?
________________________________________________________________________________
How many questions did you miss because you didn’t know how to do them? ___________________
Which errors are easier to fix: careless errors or those due to not knowing a concept?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the Math modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
________________________________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Write down two other things you plan to do differently on the Math section of the next practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Overall Goals
Your score goals for the second practice test:
Remember that you have not yet covered all strategies and question
types in class. On your first pass, attempt questions that you know you
can do quickly and with good accuracy. If you have time for a second
pass, attempt questions that will take longer or that you aren’t as
accurate with. Your goals for pacing and the types of questions you
will answer on this test will probably be different from those you will
attempt on subsequent tests.

PACING REVIEWS
PACING REVIEW FOR PRACTICE TEST #3

Before you attempt your third practice test, review your previous test to look for areas of strength and weak-
ness and revisit the pacing strategies that we discussed in the introduction chapters. Use the score report
from your most recent test to complete the following exercises.
Your scores from your second practice test:
Section Analysis of the Second Practice Test

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
________________________________________________________________________________
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________

PACING REVIEWS
________________________________________________________________________________
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Math Section

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
How many did you miss but feel you should have gotten right? This could mean you forgot to use a
strategy you learned in class or otherwise have the skills to do but did not solve the problem correctly or
skipped it. __________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________

PACING REVIEWS
Overall Goals
Your score goals for the third practice test:
Which topics that were recently covered in class will you focus on for the third practice test?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
Which topics from earlier in the course do you need to review based on your performance on the second
practice test?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
To review those topics, which resources will you use? Circle one or more.
Class recordings Homework sections (including Math 101s) Office hours (if offered)
Supplemental tests Supplemental books (if available) Ask instructor for advice
On your first pass, attempt questions that you know you can do quickly
and with good accuracy. If you have time for a second pass, attempt
questions that will take longer or that you tend to get wrong. Make sure
to enter an answer for any questions you do not plan to work on.

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
PACING REVIEW FOR ADDITIONAL PRACTICE TESTS

Before you attempt your next practice test, review your previous test to look for areas of strength and weak-
ness and revisit the pacing strategies that we discussed in the introduction chapters. Use the score report
from your most recent test to complete the following exercises.
Your scores from your most recent practice test:
Section Analysis of the Most Recent Practice Test

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________

PACING REVIEWS
________________________________________________________________________________
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
________________________________________________________________________________
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Math Section

PACING REVIEWS
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Overall Goals
Your score goals for the next practice test:
Which topics that were recently covered in class will you focus on for the next practice test?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
Which topics from earlier in the course do you need to review based on your performance on the most
recent practice test?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
questions that will take longer or that you tend to get wrong. Make
sure to enter an answer for any questions you do not plan to work on.

PACING REVIEWS
PACING REVIEW FOR THE DIGITAL SAT

You’ve made it through the course and your Digital SAT is fast approaching. Let’s revisit your pacing strat-
egy one more time to maximize your score on the real Digital SAT. Use the score report from your most
recent test to complete the following exercises.
Your scores from your most recent practice test:
Section Analysis of the Most Recent Practice Test

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things that you want to remember to do on test day for the Reading portion of the RW
section:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________

PACING REVIEWS
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things that you want to remember to do on test day for the Writing portion of the RW
section:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Math Section

DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
How can you avoid making these mistakes on the Digital SAT?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things that you want to remember to do on test day for the Math section:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________

PACING REVIEWS
Overall Goals
Your goals for the real Digital SAT:
Which topics that were recently covered in class will you focus on for the Digital SAT?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
Which topics from earlier in the course do you need to review based on your performance on your most
recent practice test?
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
questions that will take longer or that you tend to get wrong. Make
sure to enter an answer for any questions you do not plan to work
on. Never revisit a question you have worked through to completion;
changed answers are almost always incorrect.
You’ve got this!

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Digital SAT ®

SAT is a registered trademark of College Board.

Reading and Writing Introduction........................................................ 13

Preparing for Test Day................................................................... 729

Answer Key.................................................................................. 737

Pacing Reviews............................................................................ 749

WHAT IS THE DIGITAL SAT AND

What DOES SAT stand for, anyway?

How important is it?

Small Liberal Large State

The Digital SAT and YOU!

When is the Digital SAT administered?_______________________________

When will YOU take the Digital SAT? _______________________________

Knowing the structure and scoring of the Digital SAT will

2 | © TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC

STRUCTURE OF THE DIGITAL SAT

Reading and Writing (RW)

• Total test time is about two-and-a-half hours, including the break.

© TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC | 3

How is the Digital SAT scored?

If you get enough questions correct in the first module,

Section Scores: _________________________________________________

What’s a good score?

4 | © TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC

DIGITAL SAT STRATEGIES

Can I answer this

Yes, and it won’t take Maybe, but it might take

There is no penalty for

© TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC | 5

Mark and Move

1 Mark for Review ABC

Keeping Track of Your Work

What should the student do with the remaining question(s)?

question because _______________________________________________________.

So, in the last minute or two, make sure to _________________________________.

6 | © TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC

Navigating the Test Modules

Organizing Your Work

© TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC | 7

1 Mark for Review ABC

Which choice completes the text with the most

But what should you guess? Does it matter?

8 | © TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC

HOW TO USE THIS COURSE TO NAIL

If you are serious about increasing your scores significantly,

© TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC | 9

Reading and Writing ______________ Math ______________

Reading and Writing ______________ Math ______________

What are my biggest strengths from the first practice test?

Using the Using the Using the

10 | © TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC

How was your pacing on the RW modules of the first test?

Module 1: I finished early. I finished right on time. I ran out of time.

Module 2: I finished early. I finished right on time. I ran out of time.

Module 1: I finished early. I finished right on time. I ran out of time.

Module 2: I finished early. I finished right on time. I ran out of time.

Module 1: Few if any About half of them Nearly all of them

Module 2: Few if any About half of them Nearly all of them

Module 1: Few if any About half of them Nearly all of them

Reading and Writing Math

Reading and Writing Math

Each module has _ questions and is _ minutes long.

_ are Reading questions and _ are Writing questions.

_______ _ _________

% % %

(a _____ or a _) or has a _______ falls into this category.

Module 1: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

Module 2: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

Module 1: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

Module 2: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

Module 1: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

Module 2: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

Module 1: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

Module 2: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

Module 1: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

Module 2: _____ out of _ correct; _______%

• Reading consists of and _____.

Rules consists of /.

Rhetoric consists of and _____.