SAT Math Formula Sheet: What's Provided vs What to Memorize

The SAT provides a math formula sheet with 12 formulas. This sheet includes formulas for area and volume of basic shapes, trigonometric functions, and some algebraic identities. Students can view this sheet during the entire math section of the test. The sheet has formulas like the area of a circle, which is pi r squared, and the quadratic formula.

The formula sheet includes formulas like the area of a triangle, which is 0.5 base times height, and the formula for the volume of a cylinder, which is pi r squared h. It also has formulas for sine, cosine, and tangent in a right triangle. The formulas are listed in a specific order and are not explained or derived on the sheet. The tradeoff is that while the sheet saves time, it may not help with more complex problems that require derivation of formulas.

While the formula sheet is helpful, there are some formulas that are not included and should be memorized. These include the Pythagorean theorem, which is a squared plus b squared equals c squared, and the formula for the sum of an arithmetic series, which is n divided by 2 times the sum of the first and last terms. Memorizing these formulas can save time during the test. The test is 2 hours 14 minutes long, and the math section has two 35 minute modules of 22 questions each.

To get used to the formula sheet, students should practice taking the math section of the SAT with the formula sheet provided. This will help them learn what formulas are included and how to use them quickly. Students should also practice deriving formulas that are not included on the sheet. The Digital SAT is section adaptive, so the first module decides whether the second module is the easier or harder one. Practicing with the formula sheet can help students prepare for this adaptive format.

The SAT math formula sheet is a useful resource, but it should not be relied upon exclusively. Students should memorize key formulas and practice using the sheet during practice tests. The score for each section runs from 200 to 800, and the total score runs from 400 to 1600. By combining memorization and practice, students can improve their scores and feel more confident during the test. Students can start by reviewing the formulas on the sheet and practicing problems that require those formulas.