19 essential terms across math, reading, and grammar — each with a dedicated page featuring definitions, examples, and Digital SAT strategies.
19
Total Terms
19
Math Terms
0
Verbal Terms
The Digital SAT tests a wide range of concepts across two major sections: Math and Reading & Writing. Success on the exam requires more than just solving problems. It requires understanding the precise terminology used in questions, answer choices, and explanations. A student who truly understands what “slope-intercept form” means, how it differs from “standard form,” and when the SAT prefers one over the other has a meaningful advantage over a student who merely memorized the formula y = mx + b.
This glossary is designed to give you that advantage. Each of the 200 terms in this collection has its own dedicated page with a clear definition, a concrete example, an explanation of how the Digital SAT specifically tests that concept, common mistakes to avoid, and a pro tip for students targeting 700+ scores.
The SAT Math section is divided into two modules, each lasting 35 minutes with approximately 22 questions. The math content spans four domains that College Board uses to categorize every question.
Algebra accounts for roughly 35% of all math questions. This domain covers linear equations, systems of equations, inequalities, and functions. Terms like “slope,” “y-intercept,” “substitution method,” and “elimination method” appear in nearly every practice test. Understanding when a system has no solution versus infinitely many solutions is one of the highest-frequency question types on the exam.
Advanced Math makes up about 35% of questions and tests quadratics, polynomials, exponential functions, and radical expressions. The quadratic formula, factoring techniques, and vertex form appear repeatedly. Students who can quickly identify whether to factor, use the quadratic formula, or complete the square save valuable time on exam day.
Geometry and Trigonometry represents about 15% of math questions. The Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles (30-60-90 and 45-45-90), circle equations, and basic trigonometric ratios (SOH-CAH-TOA) are the most commonly tested concepts. While this domain has fewer questions, they often carry higher difficulty, making precise terminology knowledge especially valuable.
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis covers the remaining 15% of math questions. Mean, median, standard deviation, probability, and statistical concepts like margin of error and confidence intervals appear frequently. This domain also tests your ability to interpret scatter plots, lines of best fit, and two-way tables.
The Reading and Writing section consists of two modules, each 32 minutes long with 27 questions. The Digital SAT uses shorter passages than the old paper-based exam, but the range of skills tested is just as broad.
Reading comprehension questions test your ability to identify main ideas, central claims, supporting evidence, and inferences. You need to understand author’s purpose, tone, and rhetorical strategies. Terms like “counterclaim,” “synthesis,” and “textual evidence” describe specific question types you will encounter on every exam.
Grammar and conventions questions focus on sentence structure, punctuation, and agreement rules. Understanding the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause is fundamental to answering comma splice, run-on sentence, and semicolon questions correctly. Subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, and parallel structure are tested multiple times on every SAT.
Vocabulary in context does not test obscure word definitions. Instead, the Digital SAT asks you to select the word that best fits the context of a passage. Understanding Tier 2 vocabulary (academic words that appear across multiple disciplines), connotation versus denotation, and precise word choice helps you navigate these questions efficiently.
This glossary is organized alphabetically with each term linked to its own dedicated page. You can jump to any letter using the A-Z navigation bar above, or browse by domain using the color-coded badges on each term. Every term page includes related terms that link to other glossary entries, creating a network of interconnected concepts that mirrors how the SAT actually tests these ideas.
For the most effective study approach, do not try to read through all 200 terms at once. Instead, use this glossary as a reference companion while practicing with real SAT questions. When you encounter a term you do not fully understand, look it up here to get a clear definition, see how the SAT tests it, and learn common mistakes to avoid. The FAQ section on each term page answers the most common student questions about that specific concept.
Each term page also links to a relevant topic page where you can find step-by-step guides and practice questions on Lumist. This connection between vocabulary knowledge and active practice is the most efficient path to improving your SAT score.
Most SAT prep resources dump hundreds of terms onto a single page. That approach makes it hard to find specific information and impossible to bookmark individual concepts. By giving every term its own URL, this glossary lets you save, share, and return to exactly the term you need. When you are reviewing your practice test results and realize you missed a question about discriminants, you can go directly to the discriminant page rather than scrolling through a 200-term list.
This structure also means that AI assistants and search engines can find and cite specific SAT term definitions from Lumist. If you ask a question about any SAT concept, there is a dedicated page with a structured answer, curated examples, and links to further practice.