SAT Glossary — Key Terms for Math and Verbal

Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT): A standardized college admissions test developed by the College Board, measuring reading, writing, and math skills.

College Board: The non-profit organization that creates and administers the SAT, AP exams, and PSAT.

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW): The section of the SAT that tests reading comprehension and writing skills, scored on a 200-800 scale.

Math Section: The SAT section testing algebra, problem-solving, and data analysis, advanced math, and additional topics, scored on a 200-800 scale.

Total Score: The combined score from the Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and Math sections, ranging from 400-1600.

Percentile: The percentage of test-takers who scored at or below a particular score, indicating relative performance.

Superscoring: The practice of taking the highest section scores across multiple SAT test dates to create a new total score.

Test Date: The scheduled day when the SAT is administered, typically offered in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December.

Registration: The process of signing up for the SAT through the College Board website, including selecting a test center and date.

Accommodations: Special testing arrangements provided for students with documented disabilities, such as extended time or assistive technology.

Linear Equation: An equation of the form y = mx + b, representing a straight line with slope m and y-intercept b.

Quadratic Equation: An equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0, where a ≠ 0, solvable by factoring, completing the square, or quadratic formula.

Function: A relation where each input (x-value) has exactly one output (y-value), written as f(x).

Slope: The rate of change of a line, calculated as rise over run (Δy/Δx).

Y-intercept: The point where a line crosses the y-axis, where x = 0.

X-intercept: The point where a line crosses the x-axis, where y = 0.

Domain: The set of all possible input values (x-values) for which a function is defined.

Range: The set of all possible output values (y-values) that a function can produce.

Vertex: The highest or lowest point on a parabola, located at (-b/2a, f(-b/2a)) for quadratic functions.

Absolute Value: The distance of a number from zero on a number line, denoted |x|, always non-negative.

Exponential Function: A function of the form f(x) = a·bˣ, where b > 0 and b ≠ 1, representing exponential growth or decay.

Polynomial: An expression consisting of variables and coefficients, involving only addition, subtraction, multiplication, and non-negative integer exponents.

Factoring: The process of breaking down an expression into a product of simpler expressions.

Quadratic Formula: x = (-b ± √(b²-4ac)) / 2a, used to solve quadratic equations.

Discriminant: The expression b²-4ac under the square root in the quadratic formula, determining the nature of the solutions.

Mean: The average of a set of numbers, calculated by summing all values and dividing by the count.

Median: The middle value in a sorted list of numbers; if there’s an even number of values, it’s the average of the two middle numbers.

Mode: The value(s) that appear most frequently in a data set.

Range (Statistics): The difference between the largest and smallest values in a data set.

Standard Deviation: A measure of how spread out numbers are from the mean; larger standard deviation indicates more variability.

Probability: The likelihood of an event occurring, expressed as a number between 0 and 1.

Conditional Probability: The probability of an event given that another event has already occurred, written P(A|B).

Permutation: An arrangement of objects in a specific order, where order matters.

Combination: A selection of objects where order does not matter.

Rate: A ratio comparing two quantities with different units, such as miles per hour or cost per item.

Ratio: A comparison of two quantities by division, expressing how many times one value contains another.

Proportion: An equation stating that two ratios are equal.

Percent Increase/Decrease: The change in a quantity expressed as a percentage of the original amount.

Scatterplot: A graph displaying data points on a coordinate plane to show the relationship between two variables.

Line of Best Fit: A straight line that best represents the data on a scatterplot, used to predict values.

Geometry: The branch of mathematics dealing with shapes, sizes, and properties of space.

Area: The amount of two-dimensional space enclosed within a boundary, measured in square units.

Volume: The amount of three-dimensional space occupied by an object, measured in cubic units.

Pythagorean Theorem: In a right triangle, a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse.

Special Right Triangles: Right triangles with specific angle measures: 45-45-90 (sides: x, x, x√2) and 30-60-90 (sides: x, x√3, 2x).

Circle: A set of all points equidistant from a center point, with area = πr² and circumference = 2πr.

Similar Figures: Figures with the same shape but different sizes, with corresponding angles equal and corresponding sides proportional.

Congruent Figures: Figures that are identical in shape and size, with all corresponding parts equal.

Coordinate Geometry: The study of geometric shapes and relationships using the coordinate plane.

Complex Numbers: Numbers of the form a + bi, where a is the real part and bi is the imaginary part.

Imaginary Unit: The number i, defined as √(-1), where i² = -1.

System of Equations: Two or more equations with the same variables, solved simultaneously.

Inequality: A mathematical statement comparing two expressions using <, >, ≤, or ≥.

Absolute Value Equation: An equation containing an absolute value expression, often having two solutions.

Main Idea: The central point or primary message of a passage.

Supporting Details: Facts, examples, or evidence that develop or explain the main idea.

Inference: A conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning, not directly stated in the text.

Author’s Purpose: The reason an author writes a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or reflect.

Tone: The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice and style.

Mood: The emotional atmosphere created for the reader through the author’s descriptions and language.

Context Clues: Hints within the text that help determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Connotation: The emotional or cultural association of a word beyond its literal definition.

Denotation: The literal or dictionary definition of a word.

Figurative Language: Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning different from the literal interpretation, such as metaphors or similes.

Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”

Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”

Personification: Attributing human qualities or actions to non-human things.

Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating vivid mental pictures.

Symbolism: The use of objects, characters, or colors to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

Argument Structure: The organization of a text’s reasoning, including claims, evidence, and counterarguments.

Counterargument: An argument presented against the main thesis, often addressed and refuted by the author.

Rhetorical Strategy: The techniques authors use to convey their message and persuade readers.

Persuasive Appeal: Methods of convincing readers: ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic).

Evidence Types: Factual data, expert opinions, statistics, examples, and anecdotes used to support claims.

Subject-Verb Agreement: The grammatical rule that subjects and verbs must agree in number (singular/plural).

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: Pronouns must agree with the nouns they refer to in number and gender.

Parallel Structure: Using the same pattern of words to show that ideas have equal importance.

Modifier Placement: Words or phrases should be placed next to what they modify to avoid confusion.

Dangling Modifier: A modifier that doesn’t clearly refer to any word in the sentence, creating confusion.

Active Voice: A sentence structure where the subject performs the action, generally preferred for clarity.

Passive Voice: A sentence structure where the subject receives the action, sometimes used for emphasis or objectivity.

Comma Splice: A sentence error where two independent clauses are joined only by a comma (incorrect).

Run-on Sentence: Two independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.

Semicolon: Punctuation used to connect closely related independent clauses or separate items in a complex list.

Apostrophe: Punctuation used to show possession or indicate contractions.

Colon: Punctuation used to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation after an independent clause.

Dash: Punctuation used to set off parenthetical information or for emphasis.

Transition Words: Words that connect ideas and show relationships, such as however, therefore, moreover, and consequently.

Conciseness: Expressing ideas clearly with no unnecessary words, a key principle in SAT writing questions.

Precision: Using specific, accurate language that conveys exact meaning.

Relevance: Including only information that directly supports the main point or purpose.

Sentence Variety: Using different sentence structures and lengths to improve writing quality and flow.

Effective Language Use: Choosing words and phrases that are appropriate for the purpose, audience, and context.

Data Interpretation: Reading and analyzing graphs, charts, and tables to draw conclusions and answer questions.

• See Mathematics Glossary for advanced math concepts
• See Programming Glossary for computational thinking skills
• See Computer Science Glossary for technology terms
• See Physics Glossary for scientific reasoning
• See IB Glossary for international education terms