Blog/SAT Formula Sheet: The Complete Reference for Test Day (2026)
SAT Math·9 min read
SAT Formula Sheet: The Complete Reference for Test Day (2026)
SAT formula sheet for 2026: what College Board gives you on the Digital SAT reference sheet, what you must memorize, and how to actually use it.
Larry Learns Team
The SAT formula sheet, in one page
Every Digital SAT includes a built-in reference sheet with a short list of geometry formulas and facts. It stays open in one click throughout both math modules. That is the good news. The bad news: the sheet only covers a small slice of what you actually need. Everything algebra, functions, statistics, and most of geometry still lives in your head. This is the complete reference: what is given, what is not, and how to use both on test day.
What the Digital SAT gives you (every formula on the reference sheet)
College Board publishes the reference sheet inside the Bluebook testing app. You can pull it up on any math question in either module. The entire sheet is geometry. Here is the full list:
Shape or fact
Formula given
Circle area
A = πr²
Circle circumference
C = 2πr
Rectangle area
A = lw
Triangle area
A = ½bh
Pythagorean theorem
a² + b² = c²
45-45-90 triangle
sides x, x, x√2
30-60-90 triangle
sides x, x√3, 2x
Rectangular prism volume
V = lwh
Cylinder volume
V = πr²h
Sphere volume
V = (4/3)πr³
Cone volume
V = (1/3)πr²h
Pyramid volume
V = (1/3)lwh
Degrees in a circle
360°
Radians in a circle
2π
Sum of angles in a triangle
180°
That is the entire SAT formula sheet. If the problem is not about area, volume, Pythagorean relationships, or angle sums, the formula is not on the sheet. For the official layout, check College Board's Digital SAT math overview.
What you still have to memorize
Everything else. Here is the shortlist of formulas the Digital SAT expects you to know cold, grouped by domain. This is not every formula on the test, just the ones you will definitely use.
Algebra
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
Distance formula: d = √((x₂ − x₁)² + (y₂ − y₁)²)
Midpoint: ((x₁ + x₂)/2, (y₁ + y₂)/2)
Advanced Math
Quadratic formula: x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a
Discriminant: b² − 4ac (positive = two real roots, zero = one, negative = none)
Vertex form of a parabola: y = a(x − h)² + k, vertex (h, k)
Factored form: y = a(x − r₁)(x − r₂), roots r₁ and r₂
Each interior angle of a regular polygon: ((n − 2) · 180°) / n
Trigonometry
SOH: sin θ = opposite / hypotenuse
CAH: cos θ = adjacent / hypotenuse
TOA: tan θ = opposite / adjacent
Pythagorean identity: sin²θ + cos²θ = 1
Complementary angle identity: sin θ = cos(90° − θ)
That is the full memorization list. Nothing beyond it shows up on the Digital SAT. No unit circle, no law of sines, no trig identities besides the two above, no matrices, no vectors, no calculus.
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How to actually use the formula sheet on test day
Most students forget the sheet exists. Others open it every question and waste time. The right balance:
Open it once at the start of each module to confirm what is in there. Click through the shapes so you remember exactly where each formula sits.
Do not open it for anything you can memorize. Circle area and Pythagorean theorem should be in your head. Opening the sheet for those wastes 5-10 seconds each time.
Open it immediately for the volume formulas. Even students who know them well often mix up cone (1/3 factor) versus cylinder (no factor). The sheet is faster than second-guessing.
Special right triangles: look them up once, write the ratios on your scratch sheet. Then you do not need to reopen it for the next special-triangle problem.
On Bluebook, the reference sheet is a button at the top of the math modules. It overlays the question so you can still see what you are solving.
Smart memorization tactics
You cannot fit the full memorization list into your head the night before. Here is a simple 4-week build:
Week 1: Algebra formulas (slope, point-slope, distance, midpoint). Write each one ten times by hand. Do 10 practice problems per formula.
Week 2: Advanced Math (quadratic formula, vertex form, exponent rules, compound interest). Same drill. Focus on quick recall.
Week 3: Problem-Solving & Data Analysis + Geometry not on the sheet. These are shorter lists; use flashcards and drill for 20 minutes a day.
Week 4: Trigonometry + final review. SOH-CAH-TOA, the Pythagorean identity, and a quick re-pass through everything.
Practice with real questions. You can start a free SAT math quiz and see which formulas you reach for unconsciously (good) versus ones you look up (still need drilling).
Printable version
A few students like to print a one-page cheat sheet and keep it on their desk during study sessions. Useful. Just remember you cannot bring it into the test: Bluebook only allows the official in-app reference sheet. For a print-ready layout with every formula grouped by domain, our SAT math formula sheet pillar is designed for that.
Frequently Asked Questions About the SAT Formula Sheet
Does the SAT give you a formula sheet?
Yes. The Digital SAT includes an in-app reference sheet available throughout both math modules. It is geometry-only and contains about 15 formulas and facts: area and volume formulas, the Pythagorean theorem, special right-triangle ratios, and angle-related constants (360°, 2π, 180° in a triangle).
What is on the SAT reference sheet?
Geometry formulas only. Area of a circle, rectangle, and triangle; circumference of a circle; volumes of rectangular prisms, cylinders, spheres, cones, and pyramids; the Pythagorean theorem; side ratios for 45-45-90 and 30-60-90 triangles; and three angle facts (360° in a circle, 2π radians, 180° in a triangle). Nothing else.
What SAT math formulas do I need to memorize?
Everything outside geometry: slope, point-slope, distance, midpoint, the quadratic formula, vertex form, exponent rules, exponential growth/decay, percentages, averages, probability, circle equations, arc length, sector area, polygon interior angles, and the trig ratios (SOH-CAH-TOA plus the Pythagorean identity). About 25 formulas total.
Is the Pythagorean theorem on the SAT reference sheet?
Yes, the Pythagorean theorem (a² + b² = c²) is on the sheet, as are the 45-45-90 and 30-60-90 side ratios. You can look these up during the test, but most students find it faster to have them memorized because they come up frequently.
Is the quadratic formula on the SAT reference sheet?
No. The quadratic formula is one of the most commonly missing formulas from the reference sheet. You must memorize it: x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a. It shows up often enough that you will need it in multiple questions per test.
Is there a trigonometry reference sheet on the SAT?
No. Trig formulas are not on the Digital SAT reference sheet. You need to memorize SOH-CAH-TOA (sin = opposite/hypotenuse, cos = adjacent/hypotenuse, tan = opposite/adjacent) and the Pythagorean identity (sin²θ + cos²θ = 1). The SAT does not test any other trig identities, the unit circle, or inverse trig.
Can I bring my own formula sheet to the SAT?
No. The Digital SAT is fully locked into Bluebook on a managed device. You cannot bring a printed cheat sheet, paper notes, or any external reference. Everything you need is either in your head or on the built-in reference sheet.
How much of the SAT math section can I answer using only the formula sheet?
Realistically, 3-5 questions out of 44 are pure geometry problems where the sheet alone solves the question. Another 2-3 questions lean on the Pythagorean theorem or special triangles, where the sheet helps but you still need setup. The rest of the section (algebra, advanced math, data analysis) requires memorized formulas and reasoning the sheet does not cover.
