The 5 Math Gaps That Hold Back SAT Math Scores

By Dr. Brink, Ph.D., 32 years teaching mathematics

The short answer: the five gaps that most often hold back an SAT Math score are (1) a shallow first understanding of the coordinate plane, (2) weak, inflexible fraction skills, (3) basic facts and formulas that were never memorized, (4) not being able to move between graphs, tables, equations, and ordered pairs, and (5) poor notetaking and organization in math class. All five are predictable, and all five can be prevented early.

As a high school math teacher and tutor to thousands of students, I see gaps in students' knowledge and skills every day. These gaps are extremely predictable. Because they are so predictable, I believe they are also very preventable. If you (or your child) are early in the algebra journey, paying careful attention to these five topics is a wonderful investment.

1. The first encounter with the coordinate plane

Students need to spend real time here, with their teacher or with a tutor if needed, until they understand what the coordinate plane actually is: a way to create a picture of the relationship between two variables. Without that deep understanding, a student is badly handicapped on a test like the SAT.

2. A flexible grasp of fractions

Students need a solid, flexible command of fractions and the basic operations with them. That has to hold up with variables, monomials, and binomials, not just numbers.

3. A willingness to memorize basic facts

Having times tables, formulas, trigonometric ratios, and key equations at your fingertips is like a mechanic whose tools are neatly laid out and ready to use. The opposite is a mechanic whose tools sit in a rusty old toolbox covered in cobwebs.

4. Moving easily between four ways of showing a relationship

Students need to move flexibly between (a) points on the coordinate plane, (b) a table of independent and dependent values, (c) an equation that links two variables, and (d) ordered pairs. A very large share of SAT questions depend on the connection between these four.

5. A surprisingly simple one: notes and organization

I have seen it over and over. A student who takes great notes and has a good system for organizing their math material almost never underachieves. A student with no notes, no folders, and no idea what is where can still get good results, but underachieves at a much higher rate.

Where to start

A free practice test on this site names the exact skills behind every question you miss, so you can see which of these gaps apply to you. If the basics are the problem, the free Foundations course rebuilds them step by step. For the full picture, here is every skill the SAT Math section is built on.

Find out which gaps are costing you points. It takes one free practice test.

Take a free practice test Start the Foundations course