The 1600.now blog
A better way
to study the SAT.
Worked examples, test rules, and practice decisions you can use in your next session.
51 guides
Merit scholarships by SAT score: thresholds and net cost
Compare verified SAT scholarship thresholds, GPA and reporting rules, renewal requirements, and net college cost before planning a retake.
SAT superscore explained: calculation and retake planning
Calculate an SAT superscore, select the relevant test dates, and check admission and scholarship policies before planning a retake.
How to send SAT scores: free reports, fees, and Score Choice
Send SAT scores through College Board, check free-send deadlines, choose test dates, and distinguish official reports from self-reporting.
SAT score ranges by college: how to read the percentiles
Understand college SAT ranges, current total and section scales, older 2400-point scores, and how to build a sourced target for your college list.
Ivy League SAT scores: published ranges and setting a target
Compare sourced Ivy League SAT ranges by cohort, understand what the percentiles mean, and set a target without treating it as an admission cutoff.
How to use Desmos on the SAT: equations, tables, and checks
Use the SAT version of Desmos to solve equations, inspect intersections, evaluate functions, and check models without relying on screenshots.
SAT Math formulas: reference sheet and what to learn
Compare Bluebook reference formulas with algebra, percent, circle, and trig formulas to learn, then practice choosing the right one.
SAT function questions: notation, graphs, and meaning
Evaluate SAT functions, distinguish inputs from outputs, read intercepts and transformations, and interpret linear and exponential models.
SAT word problems: turn the wording into an equation
Translate SAT word problems into labeled equations, with examples for rates, percentages, mixtures, quadratics, and the requested quantity.
SAT circles: formulas, equations, arcs, and sectors
Learn the circle formulas needed for SAT Math and use worked examples to find radius, area, arc length, sector area, and center.
SAT right triangles and trig: ratios and worked problems
Use the Pythagorean theorem, special triangles, sine, cosine, tangent, and complementary angles in SAT right-triangle questions.
SAT geometry: angles, area, similarity, circles, and trig
A SAT geometry guide with worked angle, area, scale, volume, and coordinate examples, plus a practice order for the tested skills.
SAT statistics: mean, median, spread, and outliers
Work through SAT statistics questions about averages, frequency tables, median, outliers, weighted means, and standard deviation.
SAT probability: tables, conditions, and sample spaces
Solve SAT probability questions by choosing the right denominator, reading two-way tables, and separating overlap from conditional probability.
SAT ratios and proportions: parts, rates, and scale
Learn when to use ratio parts or a proportion, with SAT examples for mixtures, unit rates, scale drawings, and similar figures.
SAT percentages: multipliers, change, and reverse percent
Solve SAT percent increases, discounts, reverse percentages, percentage points, and repeated changes with worked examples.
SAT exponents and radicals: rules with worked examples
Simplify SAT exponents and radicals, convert fractional powers, and solve radical equations without losing restrictions.
SAT inequalities: solve ranges and test feasible points
Solve SAT inequalities, reverse the sign correctly, interpret strict boundaries, and check compound or two-variable constraints.
SAT quadratics: forms, roots, vertex, and solution counts
Choose the right quadratic form, solve exact roots, interpret the vertex, and use the discriminant and Desmos without losing restrictions.
SAT systems of equations: choose a method and verify both
Solve SAT systems by substitution, elimination, or Desmos, and check no-solution, infinite-solution, parameter, and word-problem cases.
SAT linear equations: solve, interpret, and check
Solve SAT linear equations in one or two variables, interpret slope and intercept, and distinguish one solution from none or infinitely many.
How to read SAT poetry passages without overinterpreting
Paraphrase SAT poetry by sentence, identify the speaker’s attitude, and support your answer with the excerpt rather than outside literary analysis.
SAT punctuation rules: a sentence-structure checklist
Review SAT sentence boundaries, commas, dashes, colons, apostrophes, and punctuation traps with exact examples and a structural checklist.
SAT subject-verb agreement: find the subject that controls the verb
Check SAT subject-verb agreement through intervening phrases, inverted sentences, compound subjects, and relative clauses.
SAT commas, semicolons, and colons: the clause test
Choose SAT punctuation by identifying complete clauses, conjunctions, and explanations, with worked examples and comma-splice checks.
SAT inference questions: draw the supported conclusion
Use stated facts, cautious comparisons, and a support check to answer SAT inference questions without adding assumptions or outside knowledge.
SAT command of evidence: match the claim to the proof
Solve textual and quantitative SAT evidence questions by isolating the claim, reading exact comparisons, and checking what the evidence supports.
SAT rhetorical synthesis: match the stated writing goal
Use the writing goal to select relevant notes and reject accurate but unhelpful choices on SAT rhetorical synthesis questions.
SAT transitions: choose the relationship before the word
Choose SAT transitions by contrast, cause, example, and continuation, with worked comparisons and a check for similarly worded distractors.
SAT main idea questions: summarize the claim, then check scope
Find a passage’s central idea by separating its subject, claim, and supporting details, with an original example and answer-choice checks.
SAT Words in Context: predict, compare, and verify
Solve SAT vocabulary questions with passage clues, a plain-language prediction, and a final check for meaning, strength, and tone.
How to study SAT vocabulary so you can use it in context
Build a manageable SAT vocabulary routine with passage clues, precise meanings, retrieval practice, and checks for words with multiple senses.
Digital SAT pacing: checkpoints, skipping, and a second pass
Use flexible SAT module checkpoints, a clear skip rule, and a second pass to reduce rushed guesses without racing every question.
Best free digital SAT practice tests: which to use and when
Compare Bluebook, official question banks, Khan Academy, and extra SAT practice by score accuracy, realistic timing, and useful feedback.
How to Review an SAT Practice Test (the Right Way)
Review SAT misses and guesses by reconstructing the error, writing a specific correction, and proving it on new questions before another full test.
10 Common SAT Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Ten SAT errors with concrete examples and checks: requested values, signs, punctuation, evidence, percentages, pacing, review, and obsolete test advice.
How to Stay Calm During the SAT
Use a rehearsed reset, specific next steps, and a module return routine to manage SAT nerves without losing time to score predictions.
What to Bring to the SAT: Complete Test Day Bag List
Pack the required SAT device, ticket, physical ID, and scratch-work supplies; check current calculator rules and prohibited items before test day.
SAT Test Day Checklist: What to Do the Morning of the Test
A chronological SAT morning checklist: confirm the center, check device and ID, arrive on time, use the break, and confirm submission before leaving.
The Last-Week SAT Study Plan
A seven-day SAT plan for checking pacing, fixing a few repeat errors, preparing Bluebook and your bag, and keeping the final day light.
The 90-Day SAT Study Plan for Serious Score Gains
A 90-day SAT plan that separates learning, mixed practice, and timed rehearsal, with checkpoints that update your priorities rather than promise points.
The 30-Day SAT Study Plan
A practical 30-day SAT schedule with three spaced full tests, review days, focused skill practice, and pacing checks that guide the next week.
How to Study for the SAT in 2 Weeks
A day-by-day two-week SAT plan that prioritizes repeatable errors, short skill sets, a timed checkpoint, and one final full rehearsal.
How Many Times Should You Take the SAT?
Decide whether another SAT attempt is worth it using your target, practice evidence, superscoring policy, deadlines, and registration cost.
When Should You Take the SAT? The Best Test Dates Explained
Choose an SAT date by working back from score deadlines, allowing focused preparation and a retake, and checking current registration dates.
SAT vs ACT: Which Test Should You Take?
Compare the current SAT and enhanced ACT, including optional science, actual section timing, passage format, and a diagnostic method for choosing.
How Adaptive Testing Works on the SAT
Understand SAT module routing without threshold rumors: when adaptation happens, what you can review, and how to pace both modules.
SAT Scoring Explained: From Raw Score to 1600
SAT scores use your answer pattern and question characteristics, not a universal points-per-miss table. Learn section totals, adaptive scoring, and estimate limits.
What Is a Good SAT Score in 2026?
Judge your SAT score using the right percentile group, your colleges' admitted-student ranges, section needs, and scholarship requirements.
Current SAT vs Paper SAT: Every Difference That Matters
Compare the current SAT with the former paper format: shorter modules, one-question passages, calculator access, and what old practice material still teaches.
How the Digital SAT Works in 2026
The SAT has 98 questions in four adaptive modules. Learn the timing, navigation, calculator tools, scores, and a practical first-test routine.