Dr. Yo’s NEW Bag O’ Trix, Shortcuts, and Workarounds for the Digital SAT

Who doesn’t love tricks and shortcuts when it comes to high-stakes tests like the SAT? Practically no one.

So here are Dr. Yo’s favorite tricks, shortcuts, and workarounds for the Reading & Writing and Math sections of the Digital SAT.

Reading & Writing

1. Always read the question and skim the answer choices before reading the passage. This helps get your head in the game and gives you clues about what the item is really asking.
2. Use the highlighter tool. Highlight key words in both the question stem and the passage.
3. When answer choices differ only in verb number (singular vs. plural), choose the one there’s only one of. Subject-verb agreement questions are often built this way.
4. When answer choices differ only in punctuation, start by checking for independent clauses. If there aren’t independent clauses on both sides, eliminate semicolons and periods. (The ONE rare exception is semicolons used to separate items in a series that already contain commas.)
5. Pay special attention to extra words in question stems. Beyond the standard “logically completes the text” or “supports the claim” language, any additional wording is often a critical clue.
6. Punctuation around non-essential elements comes in pairs. Parentheses, commas, and dashes usually appear in matching sets, except at the very end of a sentence, where a period replaces the second mark.
7. Avoid unnecessary words. Shorter is often sweeter.
8. When two or more answer choices mean essentially the same thing, eliminate all of them. The SAT can’t have multiple correct answers.
9. Be skeptical of emotionally extreme answers and absolutes. Words such as always, never, only, all, best, and proved are often red flags.
10. Remember that SAT answers are evidence-based. You should be able to defend your choice by pointing to specific words or phrases in the passage and question stem.

Math

1. Desmos. Become a beast with it. Practice until you can play it like a violin. Learn every tool, symbol, and feature available on the Digital SAT version.
2. Plug in answer choices instead of solving algebraically whenever possible.
3. For literal equations, make up your own numbers. See how the equation behaves numerically, then translate your findings back into algebra.
4. Desmos. Many problems that appear difficult become much easier when graphed.
5. For systems of linear equations:
   • Infinite solutions = the same line in disguise (one is just a multiple of the other, so same slope and same y-intercept).
   • No solution = parallel lines = same slope.
   • One solution = lines with different slopes that intersect.
6. Zeros, roots, solutions, and x-intercepts are usually different names for the same thing.
7. For systems of equations, try combining equations. Adding or subtracting (occasionally multiplying and dividing) corresponding sides often leads directly to the answer.
8. For quadratics, don’t waste time finding roots when all you need is their sum or product.
   • Sum of roots = -b/a
   • Product of roots = c/a
9. When in doubt, graph it. Likewise, ALWAYS draw a picture or use some kind of chart to help you.
10. Did I mention Desmos?