Digital SAT Math 2026 — Study Roadmap
Mapped to NCERT chapters with verified chapter numbers. Follow the timeline, use the filter to focus on one class at a time.
📊 Exam Overview
Format: 44 questions · 70 minutes (2 modules × 35 min) · Adaptive
Calculator: Built-in Desmos graphing calculator allowed for ALL questions
Domains: Algebra (35%) · Advanced Math (35%) · Problem Solving & Data (15%) · Geometry & Trig (15%)
Question Types: Multiple choice + Student-produced response (grid-in)
~30% of questions are word problems set in real-world contexts
Calculator: Built-in Desmos graphing calculator allowed for ALL questions
Domains: Algebra (35%) · Advanced Math (35%) · Problem Solving & Data (15%) · Geometry & Trig (15%)
Question Types: Multiple choice + Student-produced response (grid-in)
~30% of questions are word problems set in real-world contexts
📅 Study Timeline — Follow This Order
Start from the top. Each phase builds on the previous one. Don't skip ahead.
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Class 6 Phase 1 — Foundations✦ Fractions & decimals (Ch 7 — Fractions)
✦ Basic ratios & proportional thinking
✦ Patterns in mathematics (Ch 1 — Patterns)
✦ Lines & angles intro (Ch 2 — Lines and Angles)
✦ Perimeter & area basics (Ch 6 — Perimeter and Area)
✦ Data handling (Ch 4 — Data Handling)→ These basics make everything later much easier. Don't skip. -
Class 7 Phase 2 — Ratios, Percentages & Expressions✦ Fractions & decimals (deeper) (Ch 8 — Working with Fractions)
✦ Comparing quantities — ratios, percentages, profit-loss (Comparing Quantities — older syllabus)
✦ Simple equations intro (Ch 4 — Expressions Using Letter-Numbers)
✦ Integers & rational numbers
✦ Lines, angles & triangles intro (Ch 5 — Parallel & Intersecting Lines, Ch 7 — A Tale of Three Intersecting Lines)→ SAT loves ratio & percentage problems. Master these early. -
Class 8 Phase 3 — Core Algebra Starts Here✦ Linear equations in one variable (Ch 2)
✦ Algebraic expressions & identities (Ch 8)
✦ Factorisation (Ch 12)
✦ Exponents & powers (Ch 10)
✦ Comparing quantities — percentages, compound interest (Ch 7)
✦ Direct & inverse proportions (Ch 11)
✦ Mensuration — area & volume of 2D/3D (Ch 9)
✦ Intro to graphs (Ch 13)→ This is where real SAT-level algebra begins. Spend time here. -
Class 9 Phase 4 — Algebra + Geometry + Stats✦ Polynomials — zeros, factoring, identities (Ch 2)
✦ Coordinate geometry — Cartesian plane (Ch 3)
✦ Linear equations in two variables (Ch 4)
✦ Lines & angles (Ch 6)
✦ Triangles — congruence criteria (Ch 7)
✦ Circles — chords, arcs, angles (Ch 9)
✦ Heron's formula — triangle area (Ch 10)
✦ Surface areas & volumes (Ch 11)
✦ Statistics — mean, median, mode, range (Ch 12)→ Heavy class. Geometry and stats are critical for SAT. -
Class 10 Phase 5 — Quadratics + Systems + Trig✦ Polynomials (deeper) (Ch 2)
✦ Pair of linear equations — substitution, elimination (Ch 3)
✦ Quadratic equations (Ch 4)
✦ Arithmetic progressions — patterns & sequences (Ch 5)
✦ Triangles — similarity (Ch 6)
✦ Coordinate geometry — distance & section formula (Ch 7)
✦ Introduction to trigonometry — sin, cos, tan (Ch 8)
✦ Applications of trigonometry — heights & distances (Ch 9)
✦ Circles — tangents (Ch 10)
✦ Areas related to circles — sectors, segments (Ch 11)
✦ Surface areas & volumes — 3D solids (Ch 12)
✦ Statistics — grouped data (mean, median, mode) (Ch 13)
✦ Probability — theoretical (Ch 14)→ Quadratics and trig are SAT favorites. Practice heavily. -
Class 11 Phase 6 — Advanced & Final Topics✦ Relations & functions — function notation, domain, range (Ch 2)
✦ Trigonometric functions — unit circle, graphs, identities (Ch 3)
✦ Complex numbers & quadratic equations (Ch 4)
✦ Linear inequalities — one/two variables, graphing (Ch 5)
✦ Straight lines — slope, forms of equations (Ch 9)
✦ Conic sections — circle equations, parabola (Ch 10)
✦ Statistics — variance, standard deviation (Ch 13)
✦ Probability — axiomatic, conditional (Ch 14)→ These are the hardest SAT questions. Worth the most points if you get the hard module. -
🎯 Phase 7 — SAT-Specific Practice✦ Learn Desmos calculator tricks (solving equations, graphing intersections)
✦ Full-length practice tests — College Board Bluebook app
✦ Time management — 35 min per module, ~1.5 min per question
✦ Review weak areas from practice test results
✦ Learn grid-in question strategies
✦ Practice word problem → equation translation→ Don't start this until you've finished Phases 1–6.
1. Algebra ~35% of SAT · 13–15 questions
| SAT Topic | What They Test | NCERT Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| Linear equations in one variable | Solving one/multi-step equations, fractions, decimals, word problems | Class 8 — Ch 2 (Linear Equations in One Variable) Class 9 — revision |
| Linear equations in two variables | Graphing, finding solutions, interpreting in context | Class 9 — Ch 4 (Linear Equations in Two Variables) Class 10 — Ch 3 (Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables) |
| Linear functions | Slope, y-intercept, rate of change, interpreting f(x) in context | Class 9 — Ch 4 (graphing linear eq, intro) Class 11 — Ch 9 (Straight Lines — slope, equation forms) |
| Systems of two linear equations | Substitution, elimination, graphing, no/one/infinite solutions | Class 10 — Ch 3 (Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables) |
| Linear inequalities | Solving & graphing in one/two variables, flipping inequality sign | Class 11 — Ch 5 (Linear Inequalities) |
2. Advanced Math ~35% of SAT · 13–15 questions
| SAT Topic | What They Test | NCERT Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| Equivalent expressions | Factoring, algebraic identities, exponents, radicals, simplifying | Class 8 — Ch 8 (Algebraic Expressions & Identities), Ch 12 (Factorisation) Class 9 — Ch 2 (Polynomials) Class 10 — Ch 2 (Polynomials) |
| Nonlinear equations in one variable | Quadratics, exponential, radical, absolute value equations | Class 10 — Ch 4 (Quadratic Equations) Class 11 — Ch 4 (Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations) |
| Systems with nonlinear equations | Line-circle, line-parabola intersections | Class 11 — Ch 10 (Conic Sections) |
| Nonlinear functions | Quadratic, exponential, polynomial graphs; f(x) notation; transformations | Class 10 — Ch 4 (quadratic graph basics) Class 11 — Ch 2 (Relations & Functions), Ch 3 (Trig Functions) |
3. Problem Solving & Data Analysis ~15% of SAT · 5–7 questions
| SAT Topic | What They Test | NCERT Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| Ratios, rates, units | Unit conversion, proportional relationships, rates | Class 6 — Ch 7 (Fractions — intro to proportional thinking) Class 7 — Comparing Quantities Class 8 — Ch 7 (Comparing Quantities), Ch 11 (Direct & Inverse Proportions) |
| Percentages | Percentage increase/decrease, profit-loss, discount, tax | Class 7 — Comparing Quantities Class 8 — Ch 7 (Comparing Quantities — percentages, CI, profit/loss) |
| One-variable data | Mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation interpretation | Class 9 — Ch 12 (Statistics) Class 10 — Ch 13 (Statistics — grouped data) |
| Two-variable data | Scatterplots, line of best fit, interpreting models | Class 11 — Ch 13 (Statistics — correlation, dispersion) |
| Probability | Basic & conditional probability, two-way tables | Class 9 — Ch 12 (intro probability in Statistics) Class 10 — Ch 14 (Probability) Class 11 — Ch 14 (Probability — axiomatic approach) |
| Inference & margin of error | Sample statistics, confidence, margin of error | Class 11 — Ch 13 (Statistics) + SAT-specific prep needed |
| Observational studies & experiments | Distinguishing study types, valid conclusions | SAT-specific (not in NCERT — learn from SAT prep materials) |
4. Geometry & Trigonometry ~15% of SAT · 5–7 questions
| SAT Topic | What They Test | NCERT Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| Area & volume | 2D area, 3D surface area & volume, composite shapes | Class 8 — Ch 9 (Mensuration) Class 9 — Ch 10 (Heron's Formula), Ch 11 (Surface Areas & Volumes) Class 10 — Ch 11 (Areas Related to Circles), Ch 12 (Surface Areas & Volumes) |
| Lines, angles & triangles | Parallel lines, transversals, similarity, congruence, angle sums | Class 9 — Ch 6 (Lines & Angles), Ch 7 (Triangles) Class 10 — Ch 6 (Triangles — similarity) |
| Right triangles & trigonometry | Pythagorean theorem, sin/cos/tan, special triangles (30-60-90, 45-45-90) | Class 10 — Ch 8 (Intro to Trigonometry), Ch 9 (Applications of Trig) Class 11 — Ch 3 (Trigonometric Functions) |
| Circles | Arc length, sector area, tangents, circle equations (x²+y²) | Class 9 — Ch 9 (Circles — chords, arcs) Class 10 — Ch 10 (Circles — tangents), Ch 11 (Areas Related to Circles) Class 11 — Ch 10 (Conic Sections — equation of circle) |
💡 SAT-Specific Tips
1. Desmos is your best friend: Use it to graph equations, find intersections, and check answers. Learn it before test day.
2. Formula sheet is provided: You get area/volume formulas on test day — don't waste time memorizing cylinder/cone/sphere formulas. Focus on when to use them.
3. Word problems = ~30% of questions: Practice translating English → equations. "3 more than twice x" = 2x + 3.
4. Time management: 35 min per module = ~1.5 min per question. Don't get stuck — flag and move on.
5. Module 2 is adaptive: Do well on Module 1 → get harder (higher-scoring) questions in Module 2. The first module matters.
6. Practice with Bluebook: Download the College Board Bluebook app for official practice tests. Nothing else is as accurate.
7. Topics NOT in NCERT: "Observational studies vs experiments" and "margin of error" are not covered in NCERT. Learn these from SAT prep resources (Khan Academy is free).
2. Formula sheet is provided: You get area/volume formulas on test day — don't waste time memorizing cylinder/cone/sphere formulas. Focus on when to use them.
3. Word problems = ~30% of questions: Practice translating English → equations. "3 more than twice x" = 2x + 3.
4. Time management: 35 min per module = ~1.5 min per question. Don't get stuck — flag and move on.
5. Module 2 is adaptive: Do well on Module 1 → get harder (higher-scoring) questions in Module 2. The first module matters.
6. Practice with Bluebook: Download the College Board Bluebook app for official practice tests. Nothing else is as accurate.
7. Topics NOT in NCERT: "Observational studies vs experiments" and "margin of error" are not covered in NCERT. Learn these from SAT prep resources (Khan Academy is free).