SAT Math in English: a guide for international students

約3分で読めます · 更新 2026-11-07

Many international students know the maths but lose points on the English wording. Learning the key terms, the phrases that signal operations and inequalities, and the answer-entry rules can turn understanding into points.

For students who learned mathematics in another language, the hardest part of SAT Math is often the English, not the maths. A question may test a simple linear equation, but if you misread "at most" or "the quotient of", you lose the point.

1. Learn the core terms in English

Make sure you instantly recognise the English names for familiar ideas. Some examples:

• Numbers: integer, prime number, reciprocal, absolute value.
• Algebra: coefficient, slope, y-intercept, system of equations.
• Functions: function, domain, vertex, discriminant.
• Statistics: median, standard deviation, margin of error.
• Geometry: hypotenuse, circumference, similar triangles.

The SAT dictionary explains about 190 maths terms in plain English with translations into eight languages, including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Hindi.

2. Watch words that change meaning

Some everyday English words have a special meaning in maths:

• product — the result of multiplying, not something you buy.
• difference — the result of subtracting.
• mean — the average.
• range — in statistics, the largest value minus the smallest; for a function, the set of outputs.
• root — a value that makes an equation equal zero.
• degree — the highest power in a polynomial, or a unit for angles.

3. Translate inequality phrases carefully

These phrases are a common source of errors:

• at least 12 → ≥ 12
• at most 20 → ≤ 20
• more than 5 → > 5
• no more than 5 → ≤ 5
• fewer than 10 → < 10

Write the inequality symbol on your scratch paper before solving.

4. Read word problems in three passes

1. What is being asked? Underline the final question: "how many kilometres", "what is the value of x".
2. What do I know? List the numbers with their units.
3. What is the relationship? Is it a rate, a percentage change, a ratio, a linear model?

Common patterns include a fixed fee plus a rate (linear: *y = mx + b*), percent increase or decrease (multiply by 1.05 or 0.85), and exponential growth (multiply by the same factor each period).

5. Know the answer-entry rules

About a quarter of Math questions require you to type your answer. The rules:

• Fractions and decimals are both accepted: 7/2 or 3.5.
• Mixed numbers like 3 1/2 are not accepted.
• Long decimals must fill the space: for 2/3, .6666, .6667, 0.666 or 0.667 are accepted, but 0.67 is not.
• Negative answers are allowed.

The AUSLEX Math practice uses these rules, so you build the right habits.

6. Use the calculator wisely

The built-in Desmos graphing calculator is available on every question. It is very useful for graphing lines and parabolas, finding intersections and checking answers. But simple arithmetic is often faster by hand, so practise both.

Practise next

• SAT Math practice by domain
• Timed Math module
• Read The Digital SAT explained

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