August 2024 Digital SAT: Reddit's Full Question & Answer Thread, Analyzed | The Test Advantage

August 2024 Digital SAT: Reddit's Full Question & Answer Thread, Analyzed

Making Sense of the Post-Test Reddit Threads

If you've just taken the August 2024 Digital SAT, you know the feeling. You walk out of the test center and immediately head to r/Sat to see what everyone else is saying. It's a chaotic mix of questions, debated answers, and memes.

We've analyzed the threads to bring you a comprehensive breakdown of the most talked-about questions. This isn't just a list of answers; it's an expert analysis of the core concepts the College Board was testing, helping you understand *why* the correct answer is correct.

TTA Pro Editor Note: This guide analyzes unofficial student discussions from Reddit. The questions and answers are interpretations and may not be exact. Use this as a tool to understand difficult concepts and focus your prep, not as an official answer key.

Digital SAT August 2024 Math Section: Complete Concept Breakdown

1. Water Pressure Equation

Reddit Discussion: Students were confused by a word problem asking to find an inequality for 'b' where a > b, b = w, and a = the difference between pressure values at v=1.71 and v=1.77.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Translating Words to Math. This is a multi-step comprehension problem. Step 1: Calculate 'a' by plugging v=1.71 and v=1.77 into the given pressure formula and finding the difference. Step 2: Set up the simple inequality 'w' < 'a' using the value you just found. The SAT often hides simple math inside confusing word problems.

2. Tree Growth Rate

Reddit Discussion: A question asked to convert a growth rate of 117cm per 'm' months into a growth rate over 'k' years.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Unit Conversion & Algebraic Expressions. This is dimensional analysis. First find the rate per year: (117 cm / m months) * (12 months / 1 year) = 1404/m cm/year. Then, for 'k' years, the total growth is (1404/m) * k = **1404k/m**.

3. Sodium Chloride Solution

Reddit Discussion: A mixture problem where 0.3% and 0.15% solutions were mixed to create 110g with 0.27g saline, asking for the amount of 0.3% solution used.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Systems of Equations. Let x = grams of 0.3% solution and y = grams of 0.15%.
1) x + y = 110 (total weight)
2) 0.003x + 0.0015y = 0.27 (total saline)
Solving this system gives the correct answer. It's a classic setup for mixture problems.

4. Quadratic Function Roots

Reddit Discussion: A problem with f(x)=(x-a)(x-b) where f(34)>0, f(37)<0, f(40)>0, asking for a possible value of a+b.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Understanding Function Behavior. The function changes sign between x=34 and x=37, and again between x=37 and x=40. This means the two roots, 'a' and 'b', must be in those intervals (34 < a < 37 and 37 < b < 40). The sum a+b must be between 71 and 77.

5. Line of Best Fit Modification

Reddit Discussion: A question asked what happens to a line of best fit if 538 is added to every x-value in the dataset.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Data Transformation. Adding a constant to all x-values shifts the entire graph horizontally. The slope of the line of best fit remains the same, but the y-intercept will change. The new y-intercept will be the old y-intercept minus (slope * 538).

6. Unit Conversion (m/s² to miles/min²)

Reddit Discussion: Students had to convert a value like 11.8 m/s² to miles/min².

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Dimensional Analysis. This requires careful, step-by-step conversion. You need the conversion factors for meters to miles, and seconds to minutes. Remember to square the time conversion factor (60 s / 1 min)² because the unit is seconds-squared.

7. Equation Solving

Reddit Discussion: A problem asked to solve an equation like k-x = 52-x for one solution.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Algebraic Manipulation. This is a trick question. If you add 'x' to both sides, you get k = 52. The equation only has a solution if k is exactly 52. The question likely asked for the value of 'k' that would allow for a solution.

8. Percentage Calculation

Reddit Discussion: A multi-step percentage problem, e.g., "If 28% of h is 90% of j, and j is 44% of k, what percentage of k is h?"

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Translating Percentages to Equations. Write it out: 0.28h = 0.90j and j = 0.44k. Substitute the second equation into the first: 0.28h = 0.90(0.44k). Simplify to find the relationship between h and k, then convert the decimal to a percentage.

9. Quadratic Equation

Reddit Discussion: Given -3x² - 24 = nx has one solution, what is n²/32?

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - The Discriminant. For a quadratic ax²+bx+c=0 to have exactly one solution, the discriminant (b²-4ac) must equal 0. Rearrange the equation to 3x² + nx + 24 = 0. Here, a=3, b=n, c=24. So, n² - 4(3)(24) = 0. Solve for n², then divide by 32.

10. Cylinder Volume Comparison

Reddit Discussion: A question comparing the volume of two cylinders, where Cylinder B's volume is 252 times larger than Cylinder A's.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Geometric Scaling. The volume of a cylinder is V = πr²h. If the new volume is 252V, the answer choices would present new dimensions (e.g., radius 6r and height 7h). You would plug these into the formula: V' = π(6r)²(7h) = π(36r²)(7h) = 252(πr²h) = 252V.

11. Population Growth

Reddit Discussion: A problem about calculating future population based on past data points (e.g., 56,000 in 1997 to 223,000 in 2017).

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Linear Extrapolation. Assume the growth is linear unless told otherwise. Find the slope (rate of change): (223,000 - 56,000) / (2017 - 1997) = rate per year. Then use this rate to calculate the population for the target year.

12. Circle Geometry

Reddit Discussion: Given the area of a larger circle, find the radius of a concentric inner circle.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Area of a Circle. This problem likely involved a "donut" shape (an annulus). The area of the annulus is the area of the large circle minus the area of the small circle. You'd be given two of the three variables (e.g., large area, annulus area) and have to solve for the small radius. Remember A = πr².

13. Similar Triangles

Reddit Discussion: A question with two triangles, one inside the other, asking to find a side length of the larger one.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Proportional Relationships. If the triangles are similar (which they usually are in this setup), the ratio of corresponding sides is constant. Set up a proportion: (small side 1 / big side 1) = (small side 2 / big side 2) and solve for the unknown length.

14. Exponential Function

Reddit Discussion: A problem with f(x) = 56(0.11x)² asking for the condition where f(n) < f(n-1).

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Exponential Function Behavior. This is likely a typo in the student recollection, as (0.11x)² is a quadratic. If it was an exponential function like f(x) = 56(0.11)^x, this would be an exponential decay function, meaning f(n) is *always* less than f(n-1) for any integer n. If the function was f(x) = 56(1.11)^x, it would be growth, and f(n) would always be greater than f(n-1).

15. Feet to Yard Conversion

Reddit Discussion: A simple unit conversion from feet to yards.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Basic Unit Conversion. There are 3 feet in 1 yard. This question likely had a trick, perhaps involving area (square feet to square yards, where you divide by 3²=9) or was part of a more complex problem.

August 2024 Digital SAT Reading/Writing Section: Complete Analysis

1. Vocabulary

Reddit Discussion: Students listed many challenging vocabulary words tested, including: nebulous, precipitate, pervasive, amorphous, scrupulous, engender, eclipse, spurious, insurmountable, accentuate, palpable, repudiate, arduous, erratic, outsized, tally, profound, exploit.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Words in Context. The Digital SAT focuses on the precise meaning of words in a specific context. For example, "eclipse" might not be about the moon, but about one person's fame overshadowing another's. "Precipitate" could mean "to cause to happen suddenly." Focus on understanding these nuanced uses. Our mnemonics guides can help.

2. King Arthur Passage

Reddit Discussion: A question asked what source Malory did *not* use for the round table stories.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Command of Evidence. This is a close-reading task. The passage will mention some sources and time periods. The correct answer will be the one option that is either not mentioned or is explicitly contradicted (e.g., the passage says he used 12th-century French texts, and an answer choice is a 9th-century text).

3. Chimpanzee and Vitamin D

Reddit Discussion: A passage on chimps' adaptation to UV light in zoos led to a conclusion question.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Scientific Inference. The correct conclusion must be directly supported by the data in the passage. If the study showed chimps in zoos had healthy vitamin D levels despite lower UV, the logical conclusion is that they were adapting and supplements were likely unnecessary. Avoid answers that go beyond the scope of the study.

4. Laughter Across Cultures

Reddit Discussion: A question on whether geography affects the ability to distinguish real vs. fake laughter.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Interpreting Study Results. The passage likely described a study. If the results showed people from different regions had similar success rates, the answer is that geography doesn't have a significant impact. Focus only on what the study's results show.

5. Indian Cooking and Deep Frying

Reddit Discussion: A question on the effect of a hydrocolloid coating on fat content in fried food.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Cause and Effect in Scientific Contexts. The passage would have explained the function of the coating (likely as a barrier). The question then asks for the logical outcome if that barrier is absent: more fat would be absorbed.

6. Fish Vision and Head Size

Reddit Discussion: A comparative question about the performance of intermediate vs. big-headed fish in low visibility.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Comparative Analysis. The correct answer is a direct restatement of the results mentioned in the text. Find the sentence that compares the two types of fish and choose the answer choice that accurately reflects that comparison.

7. Dogu Sculpture

Reddit Discussion: Students debated the main idea of a passage on Dogu sculptures.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Main Idea Identification. The correct answer will encompass the entire passage. Was the focus on describing the art form, explaining its cultural significance, or detailing researchers' quest to find its purpose? The right choice is the one that summarizes the overall point, not just one detail.

8. Indigenous Language Influence

Reddit Discussion: A question asking for examples of words from indigenous languages.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Supporting Examples. This is a simple "find the detail" question. The answer will be explicitly stated in the text. Scan the passage for the specific examples mentioned.

9. Scientific Study Design

Reddit Discussion: A question on the most important factor for establishing a cause-effect relationship in an animal study.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Understanding Scientific Methodology. The gold standard for establishing causality in an experiment is **random assignment**. This ensures that the groups being compared are similar in all ways except for the variable being tested, minimizing the influence of confounding factors.

10. Transition Words

Reddit Discussion: Debates over transition words like "Accordingly" vs. "However".

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Rhetorical Synthesis. "Accordingly" indicates a logical consequence or result. "However" indicates a contrast or contradiction. Read the sentences before and after the blank to determine the logical relationship between the ideas. Check out our guide to transitions.

11. Punctuation (Complex)

Reddit Discussion: Confusion over punctuation in a sentence about OECD member nations.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Punctuation Rules. This likely tested comma usage with appositives or non-essential clauses. If a phrase can be removed without changing the core meaning of the sentence, it should be set off by commas. If it's essential to identify the noun, no commas are used.

12. Grammar (Sentence Structure)

Reddit Discussion: A question on whether to use "and" or a period to connect/separate clauses about indigenous people.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Sentence Boundaries. If both parts are complete sentences (independent clauses), you cannot join them with just a comma. You need a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a conjunction (like "and"). If one part is a dependent clause, other rules apply.

13. Convergent Evolution

Reddit Discussion: A debate over the main idea of a passage on convergent evolution.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Main Idea Synthesis. This question likely required distinguishing between a passage that *explains the difficulty* of studying a topic versus one that *compares the results* of different studies on that topic. The correct answer depends on the overall focus of the text.

14. Forest Field Graph

Reddit Discussion: A question about interpreting a trend in a graph about a forest field.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Data Interpretation. This is a straightforward skill. Carefully read the axes and the data points. The correct answer will be a direct and accurate description of the trend shown in the graph (e.g., "increases consistently until 2000").

15. Spontaneous Speech

Reddit Discussion: A question about egocentric speech in Spanish vs. native speakers.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Interpreting Comparative Studies. The passage would have described a linguistic study comparing two groups. The correct answer will be the one that accurately summarizes the findings of that comparison as stated in the text.

16. Anthropogenic Noise

Reddit Discussion: A question on the effect of human-made noise on birds and arthropods.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Scientific Cause and Effect. The passage would have detailed a study on this ecological relationship. The question would ask you to identify a specific effect that was mentioned in the text.

17. Wikipedia Context Word Choice

Reddit Discussion: Students agreed the word choice in a sentence about Wikipedia was "spurious".

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Words in Context. "Spurious" means fake or not genuine. In a sentence about the potential for misinformation on a user-edited platform, this word is a perfect fit to describe information that seems plausible but is actually false.

18. Naming of Violins

Reddit Discussion: A question about how famous violins were named.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Finding Supporting Details. The answer to this question would be stated directly in the passage. The task is to locate the specific sentence that explains the naming convention (e.g., named after owners, makers, etc.).

19. Dog Language Recognition

Reddit Discussion: A question about dogs' brain activity when hearing familiar vs. unfamiliar languages.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Interpreting Scientific Findings. The correct answer directly reflects the results described. If the passage said the difference in brain activity increased with age, that is the answer. Avoid making your own assumptions.

20. Meteors and ZHR

Reddit Discussion: A question about Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) for meteors.

TTA Pro Tip: Key Skill - Understanding Technical Definitions. The passage would have defined ZHR. The correct answer would be the choice that best summarizes or completes that definition, likely mentioning that it refers to the rate under "ideal conditions" (e.g., clear, dark sky with the radiant at the zenith).

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