What are the most common mistakes students make on the SAT Math section?

Question

My child is preparing for the SAT and feels fairly confident, but their practice test scores are inconsistent. What are the most common traps or mistakes students fall into on the math section, and how can we avoid them?

Answer 1

The two expert answers provided make excellent points. I would add that many students make one huge mistake in preparing for the SAT. They must treat every single practice question as though it is an actual question on the SAT. They must build habits designed to always lead them to the correct answers.

I teach a 6-hour in-person seminar where I guide students to achieve higher SAT scores. I also tutor 1-on-1 through Wyzant giving more guided assistance preparing students for the SAT.

Daniel Shenkman

Answer 2

In many ways, doing well on the SAT is more about understanding the SAT than math or English. They are trying to trick you, so you have to be on your toes all the time. A few pointers:

1. Go through once and get all the questions you absolutely know and can do in a matter of seconds. This gets whatever questions are easier FOR YOU done while your mind is fresh. If you see something that will take time, but you know how to do, mark it to come back to it. Any questions you don't know how to do at all, just mark an answer and move on. The worst thing you can do is waste time trying to figure something out that you actually don't know.
2. Read the full question. Like I said, they are trying to trick you. They turn easy questions into missed questions by changing units or by asking for something other than what's obvious. For example: If 3x+15=90, what is the value of 12x? Students glance at equation, and find the value of x, which WILL be an answer choice. But it's not what they're looking for.
3. If they don't know how to type, get them on a program to learn. The online SAT uses Desmos, and you don't want them wasting time, looking for the keys on their keyboard or trying to find things on the pop-up keyboard. As much as I hate teaching to a test, and teaching calculator tricks, it would be worth it to get a tutor who is an expert on Desmos.

Answer 3

Inconsistent SAT Math scores are incredibly common, even for students who feel well-prepared. The issue often isn’t a lack of knowledge, but a mix of test-day pressure, careless errors, and unfamiliar question styles.

Some of the most common mistakes include:

1. Misreading the question (especially multi-part or negatively worded ones)
2. Skipping key details like units, function types, or constraints
3. Trying to rush and misapplying formulas or basic rules
4. Avoiding the calculator strategically or using it inefficiently

I help students break the test down by teaching both the math content and the test logic. We focus on pacing strategies, identifying question types quickly, checking reasoning efficiently, and working backward when it’s faster. I also show students how to spot trap answers, particularly in multiple-choice sections where one small mistake can lead to the most tempting wrong choice.

Improving SAT Math scores is about learning to think clearly under pressure. With the right strategies, even small adjustments can make a big difference in both accuracy and timing.