The SAT Math Reference Sheet: What's on It and How to Use It

One of the most underused tools on the SAT is the SAT math reference sheet. Every student has access to a set of provided formulas during the math section, but many students either forget it exists, don't know how to access it during the digital test, or haven't practiced with it enough to use it efficiently under time pressure. Knowing exactly what's on the reference sheet, what's not on it, and how to incorporate it into your problem-solving process can save you time and prevent mistakes on test day.

Here's everything you need to know about the reference sheet and how to make it work for you.

What's on the SAT math reference sheet

The reference sheet provides a set of formulas and facts related to geometry and measurement. Here's what you'll find on it:

Area formulas

• Circle: A = πr² (area equals pi times the radius squared)
• Rectangle: A = lw (area equals length times width)
• Triangle: A = (1/2)bh (area equals one-half base times height)

Volume formulas

• Rectangular prism (box): V = lwh
• Cylinder: V = πr²h
• Sphere: V = (4/3)πr³
• Cone: V = (1/3)πr²h
• Pyramid: V = (1/3)lwh

Circle facts

• Circumference: C = 2πr or C = πd
• A circle has 360 degrees
• A circle has 2π radians

Triangle facts

• The sum of the angles in a triangle is 180 degrees

Special right triangles

• 30-60-90 triangle: The sides are in the ratio x : x√3 : 2x
• 45-45-90 triangle: The sides are in the ratio x : x : x√2

The Pythagorean theorem

• a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse of a right triangle

What's NOT on the reference sheet

This is just as important as knowing what's on it. Several formulas and concepts that appear regularly on the SAT are not provided. You need to have these memorized.

The quadratic formula

x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / 2a

This is not on the reference sheet, and it comes up frequently. You need it for solving quadratic equations that don't factor easily and for questions about the discriminant (the part under the square root that tells you how many solutions exist). Our Advanced Math guide covers when and how to use it.

Slope formula and linear equation forms

• Slope: m = (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁)
• Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b
• Point-slope form: y - y₁ = m(x - x₁)
• Standard form: Ax + By = C

These are fundamental to the Algebra domain and appear on nearly every SAT. They must be automatic.

Exponent rules

• x^a · x^b = x^(a+b)
• x^a / x^b = x^(a-b)
• (x^a)^b = x^(ab)
• x^0 = 1
• x^(-a) = 1/x^a

Percent change formula

Percent change = (new - original) / original × 100

Distance formula

d = √((x₂ - x₁)² + (y₂ - y₁)²)

Note: This is really just the Pythagorean theorem applied to a coordinate plane, so if you know that theorem well, you can derive the distance formula on the spot.

Midpoint formula

Midpoint = ((x₁ + x₂)/2, (y₁ + y₂)/2)

Average (mean)

Average = sum of values / number of values

Which formulas to memorize even though they're on the reference sheet

Here's a strategic tip: even though certain formulas are provided, you should memorize the ones that come up frequently. Looking up a formula takes time, and on a timed test, those seconds add up.

Memorize these (they appear often):

• Area of a circle: A = πr²
• Area of a triangle: A = (1/2)bh
• Circumference: C = 2πr
• Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c²
• Special right triangle ratios (30-60-90 and 45-45-90)

Use the reference sheet for these (they appear less often):

• Volume of a sphere: V = (4/3)πr³
• Volume of a cone: V = (1/3)πr²h
• Volume of a pyramid: V = (1/3)lwh

The volume formulas for spheres, cones, and pyramids are harder to remember and appear infrequently enough that looking them up is more efficient than trying to memorize them. The formulas you use on almost every test should live in your head.

How to access the SAT math reference sheet during the digital test

On the digital SAT, the reference sheet is built into the testing application. You don't have a separate printed sheet on your desk. Instead, you access it through an icon or button within the test interface. It opens as an overlay or panel that you can view while working on a question.

Key tips for accessing it:

• Know exactly where the button is before test day. Practice with the digital testing application (Bluebook or your practice platform) so that finding the reference sheet is automatic.
• The reference sheet doesn't change between questions. Once you've seen it, you know what's on it. Don't waste time reopening it for formulas you've already memorized.
• You can open and close it quickly. It shouldn't disrupt your flow. But if you're using it more than two or three times per module, you probably need to memorize more formulas.

How to practice with the SAT math reference sheet

Practice test integration

When you take practice tests on MockCamp or other platforms, use the reference sheet the same way you would on test day. Don't have a separate formula sheet on your desk. Don't look up formulas on your phone. Access only what's available through the testing interface. This builds realistic habits.

The "derive it" exercise

For every formula on the reference sheet, make sure you understand where it comes from. You don't need to prove each one, but you should understand the logic. For example:

• The area of a triangle (1/2 base times height) comes from the fact that a triangle is half of a rectangle.
• The Pythagorean theorem relates the sides of a right triangle. The distance formula is just the Pythagorean theorem on a coordinate grid.
• The 30-60-90 ratio comes from cutting an equilateral triangle in half.

Understanding the logic helps you reconstruct formulas if you blank on them during the test, and it helps you recognize when to apply them in unfamiliar problem contexts.

Speed drills

Time yourself on formula recall. Set a timer for 60 seconds and write down as many formulas as you can from memory (both the provided ones and the ones you need to memorize). After a week of doing this drill daily, formula recall will be nearly instantaneous.

Identify the formula questions

Go through a set of 20 to 30 SAT math questions and, before solving each one, identify which formula (if any) you'll need. This builds the connection between problem types and formulas. Some questions require no formula at all, just reasoning. Others require a formula that's on the reference sheet. Others require a memorized formula. Knowing which is which before you start solving saves time. For broader strategies on working efficiently through the math section, see our time management guide.

Common mistakes with the reference sheet

Mistake 1: Not knowing it exists

Some students walk into the SAT without ever having seen the reference sheet. They spend time trying to remember formulas they could have looked up, or they skip geometry questions because they don't recall the volume formula for a cone. Familiarize yourself with the reference sheet during your very first practice test.

Mistake 2: Over-relying on it

On the opposite end, some students look up every formula, even basic ones like the area of a rectangle. Each lookup costs 10 to 15 seconds, and if you do it five or six times per module, that's over a minute of lost problem-solving time. Memorize the common formulas and save the reference sheet for the ones you genuinely don't know.

Mistake 3: Knowing the formula but not when to use it

Having the formula available doesn't help if you don't recognize when a problem calls for it. Some SAT questions don't directly say "find the area" or "calculate the volume." They describe a real-world situation and expect you to identify the relevant geometric concept. Practice translating word problems into geometric setups so you can match the situation to the right formula. Our word problems guide covers the translation process in detail.

Mistake 4: Mixing up similar formulas

The volume formulas look similar and are easy to confuse. A cylinder is πr²h. A cone is (1/3)πr²h. A sphere is (4/3)πr³. Under pressure, it's easy to grab the wrong one. When you use a volume formula from the reference sheet, double-check that you've selected the right shape. Taking three seconds to verify is faster than solving the entire problem with the wrong formula.

The reference sheet and geometry questions

Geometry and trigonometry make up one of the four math domains on the SAT, and the reference sheet is most relevant here. Our geometry and trig review covers the full range of topics in this domain, but the reference sheet specifically supports:

• Circle problems: area, circumference, arc length, sector area
• Triangle problems: area, the Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles
• 3D shape problems: volume of cylinders, cones, spheres, and pyramids

For each of these problem types, having the formula is just the starting point. You also need to know how to set up the equation using information from the problem, solve for the unknown, and check that your answer makes sense in context.

The bottom line

The SAT math reference sheet is a valuable tool, but only if you know how to use it efficiently. Memorize the formulas that come up frequently (area of circles and triangles, circumference, Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles) so you don't waste time looking them up. Use the reference sheet for the less common formulas (volume of spheres, cones, and pyramids) when those questions appear. And make sure you've memorized the critical formulas that aren't provided, especially the quadratic formula, slope, and exponent rules.

Practice with the reference sheet during every practice test so that accessing it on test day is seamless. Know what's on it, know what's not, and know when each formula applies.

Try a free practice test on MockCamp and practice using the reference sheet the way you would on the real SAT. Building this habit during prep means one less thing to worry about on test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the SAT math reference sheet the same as the one on the old paper SAT?

The formulas are essentially the same, but the way you access them is different. On the digital SAT, the reference sheet is built into the testing application and accessed through an on-screen button. On the old paper SAT, it was printed at the beginning of each math section. The content covers the same geometry formulas, special right triangles, and circle facts.

Does the reference sheet include trigonometry formulas?

No. The reference sheet does not include trigonometric ratios (sine, cosine, tangent) or the unit circle values. You need to memorize that sine equals opposite over hypotenuse, cosine equals adjacent over hypotenuse, and tangent equals opposite over adjacent. The SAT tests basic trigonometry, so these should be part of your memorized formula set.

Should I make my own formula sheet for studying?

Yes, creating your own formula sheet is a great study exercise. Write down every formula you might need, both the ones on the reference sheet and the ones you need to memorize. Then gradually stop referring to it as you internalize each formula. By test day, you should be able to write the entire sheet from memory for the critical formulas and know where to find the rest on the provided reference.

How many questions on the SAT actually require formulas from the reference sheet?

Only about 3 to 5 questions per math module directly require a formula from the reference sheet (typically geometry and volume problems). However, many more questions require the memorized formulas that aren't on the sheet, like the quadratic formula, slope, and exponent rules. The reference sheet supports a small fraction of the total math questions, which is why memorizing the key non-provided formulas is essential.