Digital SAT Syllabus: Every Topic Tested, With Weightings

12th October, 2026 | Abhishek Malani | 11 Min Read
Introduction
If you are looking for a single, complete SAT course syllabus, this is it: every domain, every skill, and every published weighting for both sections of the Digital SAT, in one place. This guide covers the full digital SAT syllabus, a detailed SAT syllabus topics breakdown for Reading and Writing, the complete SAT maths topics list with exact question-count ranges, and answers the simple question what is on the SAT without the padding. Bookmark it; the structure here is set by College Board’s official test specification and does not change often.
Digital SAT Syllabus books

Table of Contents

Digital SAT Format at a Glance

Feature Detail
Sections
Reading and Writing; Math (in that order)
Format
Fully digital, delivered via the Bluebook app
Structure
Each section has 2 modules; Module 2 difficulty adapts based on Module 1 performance
Reading and Writing: questions/time
54 questions (27 per module), 64 minutes total
Math: questions/time
44 questions (22 per module), 70 minutes total
Total test time
Approximately 2 hours 14 minutes
Calculator
Permitted throughout Math (built-in Desmos graphing calculator plus your own approved device)
Scoring
200-800 per section; 400-1600 total
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SAT Reading and Writing Syllabus: All Four Domains

The SAT syllabus topics for Reading and Writing are organised into four content domains, each with its own published weighting and specific skills:
Domain Weight Questions Skills Tested
Craft and Structure
≈28%
13-15
Words in Context; Text Structure and Purpose; Cross-Text Connections
Information and Ideas
≈26%
12-14
Central Ideas and Details; Command of Evidence (Textual); Command of Evidence (Quantitative); Inferences
Standard English Conventions
≈26%
11-15
Boundaries (sentence structure, punctuation); Form, Structure, and Sense (grammar, usage)
Expression of Ideas
8-12
High priority; genuinely new to most
Rhetorical Synthesis; Transitions
  • Craft and Structure is the single largest domain, at roughly 28% of all Reading and Writing questions, built around short passages (50–150 words) and testing vocabulary in context as much as traditional reading comprehension.
  • Questions from all four domains are mixed throughout both modules, not grouped into separate blocks by domain, though they typically appear within modules in a broadly consistent order (Craft and Structure, then Information and Ideas, then Standard English Conventions, then Expression of Ideas).
  • Standard English Conventions is effectively the “grammar and punctuation” domain, covering sentence boundaries (run-ons, fragments, comma splices) and broader sentence-level form and usage.
  • Expression of Ideas, the smallest domain, is about editing for effect, not correctness, choosing the most logical transition word or the most effective way to combine or synthesise information from bullet-point notes.

SAT Maths Topics: All Four Domains

The full SAT maths topics list is organised the same way, into four domains with published question-count ranges based on the 44-question Math section:
Domain Weight Questions Skills Tested
Algebra
≈35%
13-15
Linear equations (one and two variables); linear functions; systems of linear equations; linear inequalities
Advanced Math
≈35%
13–15
Nonlinear functions; nonlinear equations and systems; quadratic and exponential expressions; equivalent expressions
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis
≈15%
5–7
Ratios, rates, proportions, and units; percentages; one-variable data (mean, median, mode, spread); two-variable data and scatterplots; probability; statistical claims and experimental design
Geometry and Trigonometry
≈15%
5–7
Area and volume; lines, angles, and triangles; right triangle trigonometry (SOHCAHTOA); circles (equations, arcs, radians)
  • Algebra and Advanced Math together make up roughly 70% of the Math section, which is why both domains deserve the largest share of study time; Problem-Solving/Data Analysis and Geometry/Trigonometry are smaller, more self-contained domains by comparison.
  • Advanced Math is where quadratics, exponents, and function notation live, formerly labelled “Passport to Advanced Math” on the pre-2024 paper SAT; this domain draws mainly from Algebra II-level content.
  • A calculator (built-in or your own approved device) is permitted on every Math question, unlike the older paper SAT, which had a no-calculator section; this does not reduce the need for mental fluency, since many questions are faster solved without reaching for the calculator at all.
  • About 25% of Math questions are student-produced response (grid-in) questions, not multiple choice, so guessing strategies that work for multiple-choice questions do not apply to roughly a quarter of the section.

Full Topic List by Domain

For a granular, checklist-style view, here is the expanded SAT topics list within each Math domain:
  • Algebra: linear equations in one variable; linear equations in two variables; linear functions; systems of two linear equations; linear inequalities in one or two variables.
  • Advanced Math: equivalent expressions (factoring, simplifying); nonlinear equations (quadratic, exponential, radical, rational) and systems; nonlinear functions, including interpreting and building quadratic and exponential models.
  • Problem-Solving and Data Analysis: ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and unit conversions; percentages; one-variable data distributions (center and spread); two-variable data, scatterplots, and lines of best fit; probability and conditional probability; inference from sample statistics and margin of error; evaluating statistical claims and study design.
  • Geometry and Trigonometry: area and volume formulas; lines, angles, and triangle relationships (including congruence and similarity); right triangle trigonometry and the basic trig ratios; circle theorems, arc length, and radian measure.
  • Reading and Writing, by domain: Words in Context (vocabulary from context clues); Text Structure and Purpose; Cross-Text Connections (comparing two related passages); Central Ideas and Details; Command of Evidence, both textual (which quote best supports a claim) and quantitative (which data point from a graph best supports a claim); Inferences; Boundaries (sentence boundaries, punctuation); Form, Structure, and Sense (grammar and usage); Rhetorical Synthesis (combining bullet-point notes to meet a stated goal); Transitions (choosing the most logical connector).

Skills vs. Difficulty: How Weighting Actually Works

  • A domain’s weighting is about question count, not difficulty: Algebra and Advanced Math having the most questions does not mean they are the hardest domains; Geometry and Trigonometry, despite being a smaller share, is frequently cited as formula-heavy and easy to under-prepare for precisely because it gets less attention.
  • The adaptive format means Module 2’s difficulty, not just its topic mix, depends on Module 1 performance: A stronger Module 1 performance unlocks a harder, higher-ceiling Module 2 in the same section; the topic weightings above apply across the test as a whole, not module by module.
  • Weightings are approximate ranges, not fixed counts: College Board publishes these as percentage bands (for example, “≈35%”) precisely because the exact number of questions from each domain can vary slightly test to test.

What Changed From the Old Paper SAT

Feature Old Paper SAT (pre-2024) Digital SAT (current)
Format
Paper-based, fixed difficulty
Digital, adaptive by module
Math calculator rule
One calculator-allowed section, one no-calculator section
Calculator allowed throughout
Math domain names
Heart of Algebra; Passport to Advanced Math; Problem Solving and Data Analysis; Additional Topics in Mathematics
Algebra; Advanced Math; Problem-Solving and Data Analysis; Geometry and Trigonometry
Reading and Writing passages
Long passages (500+ words), separate Reading and Writing/Language sections
Short passages (50–150 words), combined into one Reading and Writing section
Total test length
About 3 hours
About 2 hours 14 minutes
The content tested has not fundamentally changed, the same algebra, the same grammar rules, the same reading skills, but the Geometry and Trigonometry domain (renamed from the old “Additional Topics in Mathematics”) and the shift to short, standalone Reading and Writing passages are the two most meaningful structural differences test-takers should be aware of if they encounter older study material.

How to Use This Syllabus to Plan Study Time

  • Weight your prep time roughly in line with domain size: Spending disproportionately more time on Algebra and Advanced Math (70% of Math between them) and Craft and Structure plus Information and Ideas (54% of Reading and Writing between them) reflects where the bulk of questions actually come from.
  • Do not skip the smaller domains entirely: Geometry and Trigonometry and Expression of Ideas are smaller, but a student who ignores them caps their own ceiling; 15% and 20% of a section respectively are still substantial, consistently tested shares.
  • Use this list as a diagnostic checklist: After a full practice test, map your incorrect answers back to the specific domain and skill (not just “Math” or “Reading”), since that is the level of detail at which a useful study plan actually operates.
  • Treat skills, not just domains, as your real study unit: “Command of Evidence (Quantitative)” and “Command of Evidence (Textual)” are different skills within the same domain and often need separate practice, since one is about data in graphs and the other about textual quotes.

Summary

The full digital SAT syllabus is built from eight domains across two sections. Reading and Writing covers Craft and Structure (≈28%), Information and Ideas (≈26%), Standard English Conventions (≈26%), and Expression of Ideas (≈20%), across 54 questions. Math covers Algebra (≈35%), Advanced Math (≈35%), Problem-Solving and Data Analysis (≈15%), and Geometry and Trigonometry (≈15%), across 44 questions, with a calculator permitted throughout. Algebra and Advanced Math dominate the Math section, just as Craft and Structure and Information and Ideas dominate Reading and Writing, which is exactly where the bulk of prep time belongs, without neglecting the smaller domains that still account for a meaningful share of every test. This structure comes directly from College Board’s published test specification and has remained stable since the Digital SAT’s introduction, making it a reliable reference for planning study time regardless of which prep materials you use.
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FAQs

Two sections: Reading and Writing (54 questions across four domains, testing vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and editing skills) and Math (44 questions across four domains, testing algebra, advanced math, data analysis, and geometry/trigonometry), all delivered digitally with adaptive modules.
Algebra and Advanced Math, each approximately 35% of the Math section, together making up roughly 70% of all Math questions. Problem-Solving and Data Analysis and Geometry and Trigonometry each account for approximately 15%.
Craft and Structure (≈28%), Information and Ideas (≈26%), Standard English Conventions (≈26%), and Expression of Ideas (≈20%). Craft and Structure, built around vocabulary-in-context and text analysis, has the highest weighting of the four.
Yes. Unlike the older paper SAT, which had a no-calculator section, the Digital SAT permits a calculator (a built-in Desmos graphing calculator or your own approved device) throughout the entire Math section.
98 questions in total: 54 in Reading and Writing (27 per module) and 44 in Math (22 per module), completed in about 2 hours 14 minutes across four adaptive modules.
Want a study plan built directly around this syllabus and your own diagnostic results? Reach out to Quest for Success; we’re here to help you turn this topic list into a focused, domain-by-domain prep schedule.
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