SAT

📘 SAT study guides (4)

Start with the maths vocabulary: many students know the maths but lose marks on the English wording. Words in Context vocabulary, grammar rule cards and original practice questions are being added. SAT is a trademark of College Board; check the official site for the latest test details.

Grammar rule cards (240 practice questions)

Reading and Writing practice (100 questions)

Math practice (100 questions)

⏱ Timed module practice (Reading and Writing · Math)

• percent change

  noun

  The change in a value divided by the original value, shown as a percentage.

  Percent change = (new − original) ÷ original × 100.

• percent decrease

  noun

  The decrease in a value shown as a percentage of the original value.

  A drop from $80 to $60 is a 25% decrease.

• percent increase

  noun

  The increase in a value shown as a percentage of the original value.

  A price rise from $50 to $60 is a 20% increase.

• perimeter

  noun

  The total distance around the outside of a shape.

  The perimeter of a 5 by 3 rectangle is 16.

• perpendicular lines

  noun

  Lines that meet at a right angle; their slopes multiply to −1.

  Perpendicular lines have slopes of 2 and −1/2.

• pervasive

  adjective

  Spreading widely through every part of something.

  Advertising has a pervasive influence on culture.

• pessimistic

  adjective

  Expecting bad things to happen.

  Some economists are pessimistic about growth next year.

• pi

  noun

  The number π, about 3.14159, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

  Leave your answer in terms of pi.

• plausible

  adjective

  Seeming reasonable or likely to be true.

  The hypothesis is plausible but not yet proven.

• point-slope form

  noun

  The form y − y₁ = m(x − x₁) for a line through a point with slope m.

  Use point-slope form for the line through (2, 5) with slope 3.

• polygon

  noun

  A flat closed shape with straight sides.

  A hexagon is a polygon with six sides.

• polynomial

  noun

  An expression made of terms with variables raised to whole-number powers, such as 3x³ − x + 2.

  The polynomial has degree 3.

• population

  noun

  In statistics, the whole group that a study wants to learn about.

  The population is all students at the school.

• posit

  verb

  To suggest an idea as a basis for argument or discussion.

  The researcher posits that sleep improves learning.

• positive correlation

  noun

  A relationship where one variable tends to increase as the other increases.

  Height and arm span show a positive correlation.

• pragmatic

  adjective

  Dealing with problems in a practical, realistic way.

  The mayor took a pragmatic approach to the budget.

• preclude

  verb

  To prevent something from happening or make it impossible.

  The small sample precludes firm conclusions.

• premise

  noun

  An idea that an argument is based on.

  The argument rests on the premise that people act rationally.

• previously

  adverb

  A transition meaning "before now" or "earlier".

  Previously, scientists thought the species was extinct.

• prime number

  noun

  A whole number greater than 1 whose only factors are 1 and itself.

  7 is a prime number, but 9 is not.

• prism

  noun

  A 3D shape with two identical ends and flat sides.

  A rectangular prism has six faces.

• probability

  noun

  How likely something is to happen, from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain).

  The probability of rolling a 6 is 1/6.

• product

  noun

  In maths, the result of multiplying numbers together.

  The product of 4 and 5 is 20.

• prominent

  adjective

  Important and well known; or easy to see.

  A prominent scientist reviewed the paper.

• proportion

  noun

  In maths, an equation showing that two ratios are equal, such as 2/3 = 4/6.

  Set up a proportion to find the missing value.