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The digital SAT came online in Spring 2024, bringing with it a host of changes. As a result, students have some questions about the new version of the exam. These include the format, the number of questions, calculator use, and how to optimize their performance on test day. In this article, we’ll look at all of these topics, but we’ll focus our attention on test-day pacing. We’ll consider many tips and techniques you need to incorporate digital SAT pacing strategies and digital SAT time management tips into your test-day performance.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- Digital SAT Facts
- What Is Tested on the SAT?
- SAT Tools
- General Test-Day Tips
- SAT Pacing Strategies
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
Before we can discuss test-day pacing, let’s make sure we know the facts about the exam itself.
Digital SAT Facts
One of the biggest changes to the SAT is that the digital version is shorter than its predecessor. Its length is 2 hours and 14 minutes, compared to 3 hours and 15 minutes.
You will be able to take the digital SAT at school or at a test center. Also, you may use your own computer or one provided at your testing location. In any case, you will take the test via the Bluebook app, which you must download before test day. In fact, we recommend that you download Bluebook on your computer early in your SAT studying. That way, you can get used to the many new features of the digital platform.
In addition, the SAT test underwent several other changes when it became digital. For example, the College Board redesigned the test as an adaptive exam, which we will explore in more detail later in this article. Additionally, the test-maker combined the 2 Verbal sections to create a single Reading and Writing section. Finally, a major change in the Math section is that you may now use a calculator for any math question.
Now, let’s look at the key components of the SAT in more detail.
The 2 Sections of the SAT
The digital SAT contains 2 sections:
- Math – The 2 Math modules contain 22 questions each, and you have 35 minutes to complete each module. About 3/4 of the questions are multiple-choice, and the remaining 1/4 are fill-in-the-blank questions, often referred to as “student-produced responses.” A major change to the Math section is that you may use a calculator for any question in either module. In fact, you have the option of using the online Desmos graphing calculator.
- Reading and Writing – The 2 Reading and Writing modules contain 27 questions each, and you have 32 minutes to complete each module. A major change from the old SAT is that the digital SAT’s Reading Comprehension passages are shorter. Each passage has just one question associated with it. The combined Reading and Writing section will also ask you questions on grammar, punctuation, and usage.
KEY FACT:
The Math section presents you with 44 questions in 2 modules, and the Reading and Writing section presents you with 54 questions in 2 modules.
Next, let’s discuss the digital SAT’s section adaptivity.
What Does It Mean That the SAT Is Section-Adaptive?
The biggest change to the SAT is that it is now a section-adaptive exam. In essence, this means that the difficulty level of the second module of each section is based on your performance in the first module. To illustrate how section adaptivity works, let’s use the Math section, noting that the same process works for the Reading and Writing section.
In the first Math module, you’ll be presented with a blend of easy, medium, and hard questions. If you do well (getting about 13 or more of the 22 questions correct), then the second math module will present you with fewer easy questions and many medium and difficult (and score-enhancing) questions.
If you don’t do well on the first Math module, the second Math module will present you with many easy and medium questions and only a few difficult questions. Thus, you won’t be given the opportunity to answer tougher score-enhancing questions, and your Math total score will reflect that fact.
Because of the section adaptivity of the SAT, you must perform well from the very beginning of the exam. Whether it’s the Reading and Writing section or the Math section, your early success in module 1 of each section will play an important role in determining your overall SAT score!
KEY FACT:
Because the SAT is section-adaptive, you must do well in the first module of each section to see score-enhancing questions in the second module.
Let’s now examine the content tested on the digital SAT.
What Is Tested on the SAT?
Math
The math material tested on the SAT is similar to what you have studied in high school. However, the SAT tests the material differently. For example, the wording of the questions and the types of questions asked may be a bit different from what you have encountered on your high school math tests, but you will encounter the same math problem-solving concepts. The following are the 4 broad Math topic areas that are covered, along with their subtopics:
- Algebra – linear equations; linear functions; systems of linear equations; linear inequalities; linear word problems
- Advanced Math – functions; function notation; quadratic functions (parabolas); factoring and FOILing; polynomials (higher-order); exponents; radical equations; absolute value; exponential functions; exponential growth and linear growth; systems of equations (quadratic)
- Problem-Solving and Data Analysis – percentages; ratios and proportions; rates; unit conversion; charts and graphs; mean, median, and mode; probability; scatterplots; statistical inference; experiments and observational studies
- Geometry/Trigonometry – lines; angles; triangles; circles; area; volume; Pythagorean theorem; right triangles; trigonometry
KEY FACT:
There are 4 SAT Math categories: Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry/Trigonometry.
Verbal
The Reading topics of the Reading and Writing section include:
- Craft and Structure – general or specific purpose of a passage; structure of a passage; words in context; paired passage questions
- Information and Ideas – main idea; detail, inference; textual or quantitative evidence
The Writing part of the Reading and Writing section asks questions dealing with the following:
- Standard English Convention – subject-verb agreement; pronoun-antecedent agreement; plural and possessive nouns; verb forms; modifier placement; punctuation; sentence structure
- Expression of Ideas – transitions; rhetorical synthesis
KEY FACT:
The Reading and Writing section tests you on analyzing passages and identifying proper grammar and usage.
Next, let’s review the tools available to you during the exam.
SAT Tools
On test day, you will have several noteworthy tools to assist you in doing your best. To be ready for the exam, learn about them and practice with them on the Bluebook app. Then, on test day, you can use them to your best advantage.
Scratch Paper
Your proctor will give you scratch paper before the start of the SAT. Also, you may request more if you run out. And make sure to bring your own pen or pencil.
The Countdown Clock
Within each module, you’ll see the countdown clock at the top middle of your screen. It will always be visible unless you choose to hide it. It can be a valuable tool to help keep you on track, but if it distracts you too much, you can click on the “hide” button to hide the display.
The “Mark for Review” Feature
As you progress through each SAT module, you’ll see only one question at a time. Because of this, you might think that you can’t go back to review an earlier question, but you can. On the paper-and-pencil test, you could just flip back a couple of pages to see an earlier question, but the digital SAT gives you the “mark for review” option to have the same effect. So if you have a question you aren’t sure of, just click on the Mark for Review box, located next to the question number, and you will be able to revisit the question later.
Even if you mark a question for later review, be sure to answer the question before you mark it for review. That way, if you run out of time before you have a chance to revisit it, you have a chance of getting it correct. Remember, there is no penalty for guessing.
KEY FACT:
The “mark for review” feature allows you to flag a question so that you can easily revisit it later.
The Strikethrough Option
As you’re considering answer choices, you can electronically strike through any answer choice you want to eliminate. During the exam, the strikethrough button is located to the right of the “mark for review” box at the top of each question.
KEY FACT:
You can electronically cross out answer choices as you eliminate them by using the strikethrough option.
The “Highlights and Notes” Option
In the Reading and Writing section, you may highlight text, and you may type notes to yourself about the highlighted material. You can find the “Highlight and Note” button at the top right margin of any Reading and Writing section question.
KEY FACT:
Use the “highlights and notes” option to highlight text and to record notes about the material.
The Math Reference Sheet
You may bring up the math reference sheet by clicking on the icon that looks like x^2 at the top right of your Bluebook screen. Recall that the math reference sheet provides you with primarily geometric information, including area and volume formulas and special right triangles. Also, the SAT website provides more information about the SAT reference sheet.
KEY FACT:
You can bring up the SAT math reference sheet any time during the Math section of the test.
Next, let’s see how your knowledge about the SAT can be put to good use on test day.
General Test-Day Tips
Okay, it’s SAT test day, the moment you’ve been waiting for! You’ve been studying the material and taking practice tests on Bluebook, and you have a calculator that you’re comfortable using. Before we discuss the timing breakdown and specific pacing techniques, let’s look at some general tips for having as successful a testing experience as possible.
Good Times, Bad Times
During the exam, be prepared to feel both exhilaration and panic. For example, it will be exciting to see a question that is an old friend, one you’re confident that you can answer quickly. But don’t become so overconfident that you gloss over important facts or make careless errors.
And don’t have a panic attack if you encounter a question that stresses you. Just remind yourself to stay level and focused. Give it your best shot, use intelligent guessing, mark it for review, and move on to the next question.
TTP PRO TIP:
Don’t get excited if you see a familiar question, and don’t get stressed if you encounter an unfamiliar one. Stay the course and keep your focus.
Don’t Stress If You Have a Rocky Start
If the first few questions just don’t feel right, you may simply be taking a bit of time to adjust to the test. So, take a deep breath, make your best guess, mark the questions for review, and continue on! The odds are that you will get your striding and things will get better! And remember, you can miss a few questions and still get a great SAT score.
TTP PRO TIP:
Don’t let the first few questions set a negative expectation for the rest of the test. If they give you trouble, take your best guess, mark them for review, and continue on.
Don’t Try to Analyze Your Test Performance
During the SAT, you do not have the time or the energy to assess how well you’re doing. This will distract you from the task at hand, which is to answer as many questions correctly as possible. So, don’t scold yourself for not studying long enough or not learning a particular topic well enough. Also, you must avoid negative self-talk. After the exam, yell and scream if need be, but during the exam, just focus on answering questions correctly.
TTP PRO TIP:
Trying to analyze how well you’re doing during the exam is a waste of time and energy.
Be in the Moment
Focus your entire universe on the question you’re currently working on. Concentrate on that question and that question alone. Don’t worry about the next question or the next section or the previous question. Also, don’t be concerned about your score or what will happen if you don’t do well. Just stay in the moment, and do your best.
TTP PRO TIP:
Focus only on the question in front of you.
Leave No Question Unanswered
There is no penalty for an incorrect answer on the SAT, so it is foolhardy to leave any question blank. For example, even if you randomly guess a traditional multiple-choice question, you have a 25% chance of getting it right. And if you can eliminate an answer choice, you’ll increase your chance of getting it right to 33%.
Don’t leave any SPR (fill-in-the-blank) questions blank, either. Instead, choose a reasonable answer based on the question and go for it! For example, if the question asks how many solutions a particular equation has, pick a whole number like 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. Or if the question asks the probability of some event, pick a reasonable-sounding decimal number, maybe 0.5 or 0.75. Generally, it would be almost a miracle that you would lucky-guess an SPR question, but miracles do happen. Just don’t waste a lot of time debating a random guess. So, give it a shot and move on.
Don’t discount guessing on the SAT. If you get even one lucky guess on a module 1 question, your total section score could be increased by as much as 200 points!
TTP PRO TIP:
Don’t leave any SAT question unanswered, even if you’re guessing randomly.
Next, let’s discuss effective pacing strategies for each section of the digital SAT.
SAT Pacing Strategies
Time management during the exam is all-important. For example, you might know how to answer every question on the SAT, but if it takes you 3 minutes per question, you are dead in the water! Next to mastery of the material, time management is the most important skill you can develop to get the best possible SAT score.
Because the verbal and math sections test different concepts and have different question types, we will discuss pacing strategies and time management tips separately for each section. Let’s start with the Math section.
Pacing Strategy for the Math Section
Recall that the Math section has 2 modules, each with 22 questions, and you have 35 minutes to answer them. This averages out to a bit more than 1 ½ minutes per question. If this sounds like a math sprint, you may be right! You won’t have time to check your work, and if you make a careless mistake, you’ll eat up valuable time backtracking to find and correct it.
But don’t be dismayed! Remember, you’ll encounter 6 easy questions, 8 medium questions, and 6 hard questions (along with 2 unscored questions) in module 1. If you’re at all prepared, you should be able to knock out the easy questions in 30-45 seconds each. And assuming you need the full 1 ½ minutes for each medium question, you’ll still have roughly 2 minutes per question to tackle each of the hard questions.
For module 1, then, the key is to quickly and accurately answer the easy questions, building up a “time bank” that will allow you to spend a bit more time on the more challenging questions. Because the questions come at you (roughly) in order of increasing difficulty, you might feel that you are pacing yourself well, early on. But remind yourself that the more difficult questions are yet to come, so answering those early questions quickly is a necessity.
TTP PRO TIP:
For Math module 1, answer the easy questions as quickly as you can, banking the time for the later, more difficult questions.
Let’s look at a straightforward pacing strategy for the SAT Math section.
Use the Countdown Clock for the “12 and 24” Strategy for Math Module 1
As soon as time begins, you’ll see the countdown clock at the top middle of your test screen. It counts down in minutes and seconds; thus, it shows the time remaining on your current module.
Your best strategy is the simplest one. Let’s call it the “12 and 24” strategy. Here’s how it works.
Recall that there are 22 questions in 35 minutes in module 1, so after you have finished 11 questions and are about to start on question 12, you will be at the halfway point for the number of questions completed. So does this mean that your countdown clock should read 17:30 (which is half the time allotted for module 1) after 11 questions? Absolutely not!
Remember, the first half of the module presented all the easy and many of the medium questions. Thus, you should have averaged about 1 minute each for those 11 questions, so your countdown clock should show 35 – 11 = 24 minutes remaining for you to finish the remaining 11 questions.
Thus, the “12 and 24” strategy is this: When you are just starting question 12, your countdown clock should show 24 minutes remaining. So, you will have 24 minutes to answer the remaining 11 questions. This is a great pace (about 2 minutes and 10 seconds) for answering the remaining medium questions and attacking the hard questions in module 1.
TTP PRO TIP:
Use the “12 and 24” strategy for pacing on Math module 1.
On test day, you may need to adjust your pacing. Let’s discuss.
What If You Don’t Show 24 Minutes on the Countdown Clock?
Now, if you have more than 24 minutes on the countdown clock, hurrah! You have even more time (2 minutes and 10 seconds or more) to tackle each of those tougher problems. If you have between 18 and 22 minutes on the countdown clock, you’re a bit behind your goal of 2 minutes per question, but you’re still okay. But you must work efficiently and not waste even a second on the rest of the module.
The worst scenario is if you have less than 17 minutes and 30 seconds on your countdown clock. This means that you have less time to answer the hard questions than it took you to answer the easier ones in the first half. So, it is likely that you will not finish answering all the questions. If this happens, spend time on the questions that you feel you can answer correctly. If you encounter an impossible question, make an educated guess, mark it for review, and move on. Just remember to follow our earlier advice and not leave any questions unanswered.
TTP PRO TIP:
At the halfway point in Math module 1, you might need to adjust your “12 and 24” pacing strategy.
Next, let’s look at pacing in Math module 2.
Math Module 2
We have already discussed that the SAT is an adaptive exam. Remember, if you did well on Math module 1, module 2 will present more challenging (and score-enhancing) questions. And if you didn’t perform well on module 1, module 2 will present easier questions, and your total math score will be negatively impacted.
If you performed well on Math module 1, module 2 will have about 2 easy, 9 medium, 9 hard, and 2 unscored questions. Again, they will be presented in order of difficulty. Let’s assume you can answer each easy and medium question in an average of 1 minute. Thus, when you are starting question 12 in your second module, you can again apply the “12 and 24” strategy, giving you an average of 2 minutes and 10 seconds to answer the remaining 11 hard questions.
A caution: don’t spend an inordinate amount of time on any one question. You do NOT have to get every question correct to get a great score! And if you spend too much time on one question, you will have to sacrifice time later.
If you didn’t perform well in Math module 1, you’ll encounter 10 easy questions, 8 medium, 2 hard, and 2 unscored questions in module 2. Again, you should be able to answer the easy questions faster than the medium or hard questions. Thus, you likely will be able to use the “12 and 24” strategy for module 2. So, the important thing is to keep your focus and work steadily and confidently. Make sure that you answer every question, using intelligent guessing where necessary.
TTP PRO TIP:
You likely will be able to use the “12 and 24” strategy for Math module 2.
You may be wondering about pacing for fill-in-the-blank questions. Let’s discuss.
What About Fill-In-The-Blank Questions?
About 25% of the math questions are SPR (student-produced response), or fill-in-the-blank questions. They should take the same amount of time as any other question, so your pacing strategy should not be affected by these questions. However, you must know the rules for correctly filling in the SPR box, or you will not receive credit for what you think is a correct answer. For example, if your calculator display shows 0.66666 and you enter 0.67, that is a wrong answer! The correct answer for this value would be 0.667 or .6667, among others.
As you are doing your SAT prep, make sure you learn the rules for entering student-produced responses (SPR).
TTP PRO TIP:
Learn the rules for what constitutes a correct answer for SPR questions.
Now that we know how to pace ourselves in the SAT Math section, let’s discuss pacing in the Reading and Writing section.
Pacing Strategy for the Reading and Writing Section
The Reading and Writing section is the first section you’ll encounter on the SAT. Each of the 2 Reading and Writing modules will present you with 27 questions, and you’ll have 32 minutes to complete them. So, you have an average time of 1 minute and 10 seconds per question.
There are about 15 Reading questions, and they are presented first. Each Reading passage will be short (25-150 words), and it will be followed by one question. You can expect to spend more time on each Reading question than on each Writing question.
There are about 12 Writing questions, and they generally take less time to answer than the Reading questions because most of them ask fairly straightforward grammar questions.
KEY FACT:
In the Reading and Writing Section, the Reading passages are presented first, followed by the Writing questions.
Let’s look at a pacing strategy for the SAT Reading and Writing section.
The “14 and 12” Strategy for the Reading and Writing Modules
It is reasonable to expect to spend about twice as much time answering each Reading passage question as each Writing question. Thus, you could plan an average of 1 ½ minutes on each Reading passage and 45 seconds on each Writing question. By the time you are about halfway through the module, just starting question 14, your countdown clock should read about 12 minutes. Using this strategy, you will have the time to answer 2 more Reading questions (1 ½ minutes each) and the 12 Writing questions (45 seconds each) comfortably.
Module 2 of the Reading and Writing section is structurally identical to module 1. However, as we discussed in the Math section, the difficulty of module 2 depends on how well you performed in module 1. So, the questions in module 2 could be overall easier or more difficult than what you encountered in module 1. But it is still a safe bet to use the “14 and 12” strategy for your module 2 pacing.
Before you adopt this “14 and 12” strategy for the Reading and Writing section or any other, you should get some digital SAT pacing practice by taking a few practice exams, to see if a given strategy works for you.
TTP PRO TIP:
Use the “14 and 12” pacing strategy for both Reading and Writing modules.
Key Takeaways
In this article, we have discussed how to pace yourself on the digital SAT.
- The digital SAT is 2 hours and 14 minutes long. It has 2 sections: the Reading and Writing section and the Math section.
- The SAT digital platform has many tools to make your test experience more efficient. These include scratch paper, a countdown clock, the “mark for review” option, the strikethrough option, the highlights and notes option, and the Math Reference Sheet.
- The Reading and Writing section contains 2 modules. Each module contains 27 questions, and you have 32 minutes to answer them. Module 1 has a blend of easy, medium, and hard questions. If you do well on module 1, then module 2 will present you with more difficult (but score-enhancing) questions.
- The Math section also contains 2 modules, each of which contains 22 questions, and you have 35 minutes to answer each module. Similar to what happens in the Reading and Writing modules, your performance in Math module 1 determines the difficulty level of module 2.
- The pacing strategy for the SAT focuses on the fact that each module presents problems in order of increasing difficulty level. Thus, you should be able to answer questions presented early in the modules faster than you can answer questions presented later in the module.
- For the Math modules, you can use a straightforward pacing strategy, which is called the “12 and 24” strategy. This means that when you are ready to start question 12, your countdown clock should show about 24 minutes remaining.
- For the Reading and Writing modules, you use a similar strategy, the “14 and 12” strategy. That is, when you are ready to start question 14, your countdown clock should show about 12 minutes remaining.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Can I Improve My Pacing on the Digital SAT?
The more you know about the format and structure of the digital SAT, the more you can develop a pacing strategy that works for you. In this article, we have proposed some ideas for managing time on the digital SAT that will help you with your test pacing.
What Is the Recommended Time Per Question for the Digital SAT?
There is no single number that is recommended for the average question time for the digital SAT. A smart pacing strategy uses the fact that Reading passage questions take more time to answer than Writing questions, and hard math questions take more time to answer than easy math questions.
What’s Next?
An SAT pacing strategy will not be of any use if you’re not fully prepared for the test. So, read our guide for creating and following an SAT study plan to get some preparation ideas.
One specific tool mentioned in this article was the SAT Math Reference Sheet. Learn how to use it to make your test day experience as painless as possible.
