SAT math topics fall into four domains: Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry and Trigonometry. Algebra and Advanced Math each make up about 35% of the Math section, and the other two about 15% each. Under them sit 19 skill areas, from linear equations to circles. The Math section has 44 questions in two 35-minute modules, and some ask you to type your answer.
Learn this skill with Mr. O, free
Study the full SAT Math Mixed Review lesson (free) Practice this skill (free)
Question banks: October 2026 Math question bank
Notes and practice need a free account: one click with Google, and you land straight on the lesson.
This page lists every topic in College Board's specifications and shows how often each one appears in 3,989 questions from our SAT Question Bank. Use it to decide what to study first.
Quadratics, percentages, circles and more. Free lesson notes and Targeted Practice cover one skill at a time.
Start 1-day free trial →What are the SAT math topics?
College Board's Math specifications name four domains and their skill and knowledge testing points. The question counts come from the Math section overview.
| Domain | Share of Math | Questions per test | Topics (College Board testing points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra | About 35% | 13 to 15 | Linear equations in 1 variable; linear equations in 2 variables; linear functions; systems of 2 linear equations in 2 variables; linear inequalities in 1 or 2 variables. |
| Advanced Math | About 35% | 13 to 15 | Equivalent expressions; nonlinear equations in 1 variable and systems of equations in 2 variables; nonlinear functions. |
| Problem-Solving and Data Analysis | About 15% | 5 to 7 | Ratios, rates, proportional relationships and units; percentages; one-variable data; two-variable data and scatterplots; probability and conditional probability; inference from sample statistics and margin of error; evaluating statistical claims. |
| Geometry and Trigonometry | About 15% | 5 to 7 | Area and volume; lines, angles and triangles; right triangles and trigonometry; circles. |
Each module has 20 scored questions and 2 unscored pretest questions. Questions from all four domains appear in every module, ordered from easiest to hardest. About 30% of Math questions are word problems set in science, social studies or real-world contexts.
Those unscored pretest questions look like the scored ones. Our guide to SAT experimental questions explains why College Board includes them and how to handle them on test day.
What is on SAT Algebra?
Algebra covers linear relationships. College Board's Algebra page says this domain measures how well you "analyze, fluently solve, and create linear equations and inequalities."
- Linear equations in 1 variable. Solve for x, or interpret a constant or solution.
- Linear equations in 2 variables. Work with equations like Ax + By = C, find slope, and spot parallel or perpendicular lines.
- Linear functions. Read input and output pairs, tables, graphs and rate of change.
- Systems of 2 linear equations. Decide if a system has no solution, one solution or infinitely many.
- Linear inequalities. Solve and interpret inequalities in 1 or 2 variables.
In our math banks, 1,241 questions carry an Algebra tag. The biggest group is linear functions, lines and models (560 questions). Practice two of these topics in the free Systems of Two Linear Equations lesson notes and the Linear Inequalities lesson notes.
What is on SAT Advanced Math?
Advanced Math covers nonlinear equations and functions. College Board's Advanced Math page lists absolute value, quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational and radical equations.
See which question types are costing you points
Start with a free mock, free drills, or preview sample questions before using all 45 question banks.
- Equivalent expressions. Factor, rewrite, add, subtract and multiply polynomials, and rewrite rational exponents in radical form.
- Nonlinear equations and systems. Solve quadratic, absolute value, rational, radical and polynomial equations and systems. Find how many real solutions a quadratic has.
- Nonlinear functions. Model with quadratic and exponential functions, and interpret and transform their graphs.
This is the largest domain in our banks: 1,413 questions. The top tags are exponential growth and functions (305), quadratic and nonlinear functions (262), expressions and polynomials (217) and quadratic equations (213). Start with the free Quadratic Equations lesson notes, then the Growth Factors and Linear vs Exponential Models lesson notes.
What is on SAT Problem-Solving and Data Analysis?
This domain tests ratios, percentages and data. College Board's Problem-Solving and Data Analysis page describes it as using "quantitative reasoning" with rates, units and data from tables and graphs.
- Ratios, rates and units. Unit rates, proportions and unit conversions.
- Percentages. Discounts, interest, taxes and tips, and how a percent increase or decrease links to a growth factor.
- One-variable data. Histograms, dot plots and box plots; mean, median, range, outliers and standard deviation.
- Two-variable data. Scatterplots, and fitting linear, quadratic and exponential models to data.
- Probability. Probability and conditional probability from tables, area models or word descriptions.
- Inference and margin of error. Use a sample mean or proportion to estimate a population value. A larger sample generally means a smaller margin of error.
- Statistical claims. Decide whether a study shows cause and effect, and why random assignment matters.
Our banks hold 666 questions in this domain. Ratios, rates and units (164) and percentages (161) lead. For more on those two, read how percentages and ratios are tested on the Digital SAT, or practice with the free Percent Change lesson notes and Reading Data lesson notes.
What is on SAT Geometry and Trigonometry?
This domain covers shapes, angles and right-triangle trig. College Board's Geometry and Trigonometry page names four topic groups. Its specs add the Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles, unit circle trig and circle theorems.
- Area and volume. Area, perimeter, surface area and volume, and how scale factors change length and area.
- Lines, angles and triangles. Congruent and similar triangles, the triangle sum, vertical angles, and parallel lines cut by a transversal.
- Right triangles and trigonometry. The Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles, and sine, cosine and tangent.
- Circles. Radii, tangents, arc length, sector area, circle equations and converting degrees to radians.
Our banks have 666 questions here, led by area, perimeter and volume (203) and triangles (162). Bluebook gives you a reference sheet with common formulas during the Math section. For trig, read how trigonometry is tested on the SAT and try the free Right-Triangle Trigonometry lesson notes or Circles lesson notes.
Which SAT math topics come up most in our question banks?
In our 21 Digital SAT Math question banks, the domain mix lands close to College Board's targets. Advanced Math is the biggest domain and Geometry has the highest share of Hard questions.
| Domain | Questions in TTA math banks | Share | College Board target | Marked Hard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Math | 1,413 | 35.4% | About 35% | 41.6% |
| Algebra | 1,241 | 31.1% | About 35% | 30.0% |
| Problem-Solving and Data Analysis | 666 | 16.7% | About 15% | 36.8% |
| Geometry and Trigonometry | 666 | 16.7% | About 15% | 47.6% |
The banks hold 3,989 Math questions from test months between March 2024 and October 2026. 599 of them are student-produced response questions, where you type the answer. "Hard" is our own difficulty label, and 38.2% of all bank questions carry it. These counts include the two unscored pretest questions in each module, because we cannot tell which ones they were. The newest set is the October 2026 Math Question Bank.
For the hardest patterns in each domain, see the hardest SAT math question types and how to solve hard Module 2 math questions. For counts across the whole test, see how many questions are on the Digital SAT by type.
Can you use a calculator on every SAT math topic?
Yes. Under the calculator policy, you can use a calculator for the whole Math section. Bluebook has a built-in Desmos graphing calculator. You can also bring an approved handheld calculator, as long as it has no computer algebra system. Practice it on our free Desmos for the Digital SAT page.
Which SAT math topics should you study first?
Follow the weights. Algebra and Advanced Math together make up about 70% of the section, so start there.
- Linear equations, functions and systems. These show up across Algebra, and Algebra feeds the rest.
- Quadratics and exponential functions. They lead Advanced Math in our banks and carry many Hard questions.
- Percentages, ratios and rates. They are the two biggest Problem-Solving and Data Analysis topics in our banks.
- Area, volume, triangles and right-triangle trig. Fewer questions, but the highest share of Hard ones in our banks.
Pick your topic in the free SAT Math Mixed Review lesson notes. A free account is needed to open them. Then mix topics with a timed set. Create a free account to take one full-length adaptive SAT section free, or browse every bank in the practice test catalog. For a week-by-week order, use our Digital SAT math study plan.
How we built this page
Verified 2026-10-13. Topic lists, shares and question counts come from College Board pages fetched that day. We used Math Specifications, The Math Section: Overview, the four Types of Math pages, Student-Produced Responses and the calculator policy. TTA counts come from read-only queries of our database run the same day. They cover all 21 active Digital SAT Math question banks: 99 sections, 3,932 passages and 3,989 questions, each matched to its topic tags. A question stored in two banks counts in both. The Test Advantage is not affiliated with College Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the SAT math topics?
College Board groups SAT math into four domains: Algebra (about 35%), Advanced Math (about 35%), Problem-Solving and Data Analysis (about 15%) and Geometry and Trigonometry (about 15%). Its specifications list 19 skill and knowledge testing points, from linear equations to circles.
What is on SAT Algebra?
Linear equations in 1 and 2 variables, linear functions, systems of 2 linear equations in 2 variables, and linear inequalities in 1 or 2 variables. Each SAT has 13 to 15 Algebra questions.
What is on SAT Advanced Math?
Equivalent expressions, nonlinear equations in 1 variable and systems of equations in 2 variables, and nonlinear functions. That includes quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational, radical and absolute value equations. Each SAT has 13 to 15 Advanced Math questions.
What is on SAT Problem-Solving and Data Analysis?
Ratios, rates and units; percentages; one-variable data; two-variable data and scatterplots; probability and conditional probability; inference and margin of error; and evaluating statistical claims. Each SAT has 5 to 7 of these questions.
What is on SAT Geometry and Trigonometry?
Area and volume; lines, angles and triangles; right triangles and trigonometry; and circles, including radians. Each SAT has 5 to 7 of these questions, and Bluebook gives you a reference sheet with common formulas.
Which SAT math topics come up most in our question banks?
In 3,989 questions across 21 TTA Digital SAT Math question banks, Advanced Math has 1,413 (35.4%), Algebra 1,241 (31.1%), and Problem-Solving and Data Analysis and Geometry and Trigonometry 666 each (16.7%). Geometry has the highest share marked Hard, at 47.6%.