The December 2026 SAT is on Saturday, December 5, the last SAT of the year. The next one after it is March 6, 2027. Most students sitting in December are retaking, so this cheat sheet is built around a retake. It shows how to read your last score report, then covers the reasoning skills and math topics where most points are lost, with real SAT-style questions worked through and a short drill after each section. It ends with a four-week plan and a test-day checklist.
December 5, 2026 at a glance
| Test date | Saturday, December 5, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | Friday, November 20 |
| Late registration, changes and regular cancellation | Tuesday, November 24 |
| Scores | Usually about two weeks after test day. College Board posts the exact date on its score release page. |
| Next date after this one | March 6, 2027 |
Deadlines close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Dates are from College Board’s SAT dates page.
If you sat the November 7 test, your scores should arrive around November 20, the same day as December’s regular registration deadline. Late registration stays open until November 24, so you can see your November scores before deciding on December.
What’s on this cheat sheet
- Is December the right date for you?
- Read your score report before you study
- Where retakers lose points
- Inferences
- Command of Evidence
- Cross-Text Connections
- The grammar rules that catch strong readers
- Advanced Math: quadratics and exponentials
- Geometry: circles, angles and triangles
- Statistics: what a sample can and can’t tell you
- A four-week retake plan to December 5
- Test-day checklist
- FAQ
Is December the right date for you?
| Your situation | December makes sense if… |
|---|---|
| Senior applying regular decision | Your colleges accept December scores for their January deadlines. Many do, but check each college’s admissions site. |
| Senior deferred from early decision or early action | The college considers new scores after a deferral. Ask its admissions office. |
| Junior | You want a first score early, so you have March, May and June to improve. |
| Retaking after October or November | You can name the skills that cost you points and have time to work on them. |
Many colleges superscore, combining your best Reading & Writing and best Math scores across test dates. If yours do, a December retake only needs to raise one section to help.
Read your score report before you study
Your online score report shows how you did in each of the eight content domains, four per section. Use it in three steps:
- Find your two weakest domains, one in each section if you can.
- Match each domain to its sections on this page with the table below.
- Spend two-thirds of your study time there and the rest on keeping your strong domains sharp.
| Domain on your score report | Share of its section | Study on this page |
|---|---|---|
| Information and Ideas | ~26% | Inferences, Command of Evidence |
| Craft and Structure | ~28% | Cross-Text Connections, plus Words in Context |
| Standard English Conventions | ~26% | Grammar rules |
| Expression of Ideas | ~20% | Transitions and student notes, in the November cheat sheet |
| Algebra | ~35% | Systems of equations and the formula table |
| Advanced Math | ~35% | Quadratics and exponentials |
| Problem-Solving and Data Analysis | ~15% | Statistics |
| Geometry and Trigonometry | ~15% | Circles, angles and triangles |
Where retakers lose points
We looked at about 5,700 Reading & Writing answers from Pursu’s full-length mock tests. The three lowest-accuracy skills were all reasoning skills:
| Skill | Answered correctly |
|---|---|
| Command of Evidence | 50% |
| Inferences | 50% |
| Cross-Text Connections | 53% |
In Math the samples are smaller, about 100 answers per skill, so read these as rough. The lowest were lines, angles and triangles (42%), circles (44%), and nonlinear equations and systems (47%). Those are the topics this page covers.
These skills share one problem: the wrong answers sound reasonable. Learning more rules won’t fix that. What fixes it is a habit of proving every answer from the text or the math before you pick it.
Inferences
Inference questions end with a blank and ask “Which choice most logically completes the text?” Three steps:
- Find the problem the passage sets up. Most inference passages describe a problem, a failed fix and a new approach.
- Write your own ending before reading the choices.
- Pick the choice that follows from the passage alone. If you need outside knowledge to justify it, it’s wrong.
Worked example 1: the ending the passage already set up
Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) is an Asian tree that has spread widely in North America, where it outcompetes local flora and resists common pest control. A. altissima can be reduced with mechanical removal, but this method can disturb the soil and promote further growth through root suckering. Ongoing studies on utilizing fungal pathogens specific to the species could provide a means to selectively suppress A. altissima, thereby ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A) increasing the accessibility of public parks.
B) enhancing the visual aesthetics of urban areas.
C) preserving native species and ecosystems.
D) improving the nutritional content of local produce.
The problem is in the first sentence: the tree “outcompetes local flora.” Suppressing it selectively would protect that local flora.
Answer: C. A, B and D are each a plausible benefit of removing an invasive tree, but the passage never mentions parks, appearance or food. They need outside reasoning, and C needs only the first sentence.
More on this skill: SAT inference questions.
Command of Evidence
These questions state a claim and ask which quotation or finding supports it. The trap is a choice on the right topic that doesn’t prove the claim. Before reading the choices, shrink the claim to a few words.
Worked example 2: match the claim, not the topic
Elegantly intertwining elements of biography, essay, history, and critical analysis, Indian author Arundhati Roy crafts non-fiction that delves into themes such as politics and human rights. Her works have elicited reactions from people across various disciplines and in an array of forms, from documentary films and journalistic articles to social activism campaigns and public speeches. In an essay, a student contends that the genesis of these multifaceted contributions by others is reflective of Roy’s own methodology in constructing non-fiction narratives.
Which quotation from a scholarly review on Roy’s work best supports the student’s claim?
A) “Roy’s focus on the intricacies of individual narratives does not translate into broader social or political commentary.”
B) “Although Roy’s prose is often considered lyrical, her non-fiction works are sometimes viewed as disconnected from reality.”
C) “Her writings, while politically charged, rarely transcend their literary boundaries to inspire real-world dialogue or action.”
D) “Roy’s adeptness in weaving together biography, history, and analysis encourages a cross-disciplinary engagement with her narratives.”
Shrink the claim: her mixed method causes mixed responses. The answer has to connect the two halves.
Answer: D. It names her method (weaving together biography, history and analysis) and says it causes cross-disciplinary engagement. A and C say her work fails to spark a wider response, the opposite of the passage. B is about her prose style and reputation, not about what her method causes.
Practice: Reading
Six real Reading questions, mixing inference, evidence and the other reading skills.
Try a real Digital SAT reading set.
6 real Digital SAT Reading questions — inferences, evidence, central ideas, words in context, and text structure. Read the passage, choose the best-supported answer, and see why. ~7 minutes.
Cross-Text Connections
Two short texts, and a question about how one author would respond to the other. Two things trip people up:
- Agreeing or disagreeing too strongly. Text 2 often grants that Text 1 has a point and then adds something.
- Choosing a response that neither text mentions. The answer has to come from what’s actually in Text 2.
Worked example 3: “counter” doesn’t mean “disprove”
Text 1
In 2019, research coordinated by Dr. Elaine Monroe explored the hypothesis that the Great Permian Extinction, an event occurring roughly 252 million years ago that led to the disappearance of a large percentage of terrestrial and marine species, might have been caused by massive volcanic activity. Monroe supported her theory by referencing volcanic ash layers detected in ancient rock formations across Siberia and correlating these with spikes in atmospheric carbon isotopes from the same period.
Text 2
While the volcanic theory holds merit, it is crucial to consider the potential role of methane hydrate release during the Permian period, as put forward by geologist Jin-Tai Park. Park notes that ocean sediment records indicate significant methane releases. Given the potency of methane as a greenhouse gas and its abundance in the geological strata corresponding to the extinction period, Park advocates for the investigation of a methane-driven extinction scenario.
Based on the texts, how might geologist Jin-Tai Park counter Dr. Elaine Monroe’s volcanic hypothesis for the Great Permian Extinction, as discussed in Text 1?
A) By pointing out the inaccuracies in the carbon isotope analysis linked to volcanic activity.
B) By emphasizing the significance of methane hydrate release indicated by ocean sediment records from the Permian period.
C) By presenting evidence of a major asteroid impact at the time of the extinction.
D) By arguing that continental drift, not volcanism, led to the environmental changes responsible for the extinction
Text 2 says the volcanic theory “holds merit,” so Park isn’t trying to disprove it. Park offers a second cause, methane, and points to ocean sediment records.
Answer: B. A attacks Monroe’s data, which Text 2 never does. C (an asteroid) and D (continental drift) appear in neither text.
The grammar rules that catch strong readers
Strong readers tend to choose what sounds right, and these four rules are where that fails:
| Rule | What sounds right | What’s correct |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A long modifier between subject and verb | The verb agrees with the nearest noun | The verb agrees with the real subject. Cross out the middle. |
| 2. The sentence still needs a main verb | An -ing form, which sounds fluent | A conjugated verb, if the sentence has none yet |
| 3. Company, team or study as subject | they, their | it, its |
| 4. A list after a complete sentence | A semicolon | A colon. A semicolon needs a complete sentence after it too. |
Worked example 4: find the main verb
Although initially met with skepticism from the scientific community, the theory of plate tectonics, which unified disparate observations about the contours of continents, the locations of volcanoes, and the composition of seafloor sediments, ______ a revolutionary framework for understanding the Earth.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) provided
B) provide
C) providing
D) to provide
Strip the sentence down. The opening “Although” phrase and the “which” clause are both extras, which leaves “the theory of plate tectonics ______ a revolutionary framework.” The blank is the sentence’s only main verb, and its subject, theory, is singular.
Answer: A) provided. B is plural, agreeing with “sediments” or “volcanoes” instead of “theory.” C and D aren’t main verbs, so the sentence would never get one.
The full rule set is in the SAT grammar rules cheat sheet.
Practice: Writing
Grammar and transitions, the way the SAT tests them.
6 real Digital SAT Writing questions — punctuation, sentence structure, agreement, and transitions. Pick the correct version and see exactly why. ~7 minutes.
Advanced Math: quadratics and exponentials
Advanced Math is about 35% of the Math section. Most of it is three ideas:
| Idea | What to know |
|---|---|
| 1. A parabola’s vertex | Halfway between the roots, at x = −b/2a. It’s the minimum if a > 0 and the maximum if a < 0. |
| 2. Factored form shows the roots | (x − p)(x − q) = 0 has roots p and q. Watch the signs. |
| 3. Exponential models | a(b)t: a is the start, b is the multiplier per period. Change the time unit inside the exponent, never in the base. |
Worked example 5: the minimum sits between the roots
g(x) = (x − 5)(x + 11)
The function g is defined by the given equation. For what value of x does g(x) reach its minimum?
A) −7
B) −3
C) 3
D) 5
The roots are x = 5 and x = −11. A parabola is symmetric, so its vertex is halfway between them: (5 + (−11)) / 2 = −3. The x2 term is positive, so the parabola opens upward and the vertex is the minimum.
Answer: B) −3. C flips the sign. D is a root, where g(x) = 0, but the minimum is lower: g(−3) = (−8)(8) = −64. In Desmos, graph it and click the lowest point:
Worked example 6: change units in the exponent
f(t) = 500(0.88)t
The given function f models the remaining mass, in grams, of a radioactive substance t days after an observation. Which of the following functions g best models the mass of the substance h hours after the observation?
A) g(h) = 500(0.88/24)h
B) g(h) = 500(0.88/24)h/24
C) g(h) = 500(0.88)h/24
D) g(h) = 500(0.88)24h
The mass keeps 88% of itself once per day. h hours is h/24 days, so replace t with h/24.
Answer: C. A and B change the base, which would change the daily decay rate itself. D uses 24h, which counts 24 days for every hour. Check with h = 24: C gives 500(0.88)1, exactly one day of decay.
Geometry: circles, angles and triangles
These were the lowest-accuracy Math topics in our data. Five facts cover most of the questions:
| Fact | On the reference sheet? |
|---|---|
| 1. Angles in a triangle add to 180°; a straight line is 180° | Triangle sum yes, straight line no |
| 2. Parallel lines cut by a transversal: corresponding and alternate angles are equal | No |
| 3. Circle equation (x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2 | No |
| 4. 180° = π radians, and arc length = (angle/360) × 2πr | A full circle is 2π radians, yes. Arc length no |
| 5. Special right triangles: 30-60-90 is x, x√3, 2x; 45-45-90 is s, s, s√2 | Yes |
Circle equations in the general form need completing the square. Or type the equation into Desmos and read the center and radius off the graph.
Worked example 7: the signs flip inside the parentheses
In the xy-plane, a circle with radius 7 has center (3, −4). What is the equation of this circle?
A) (x + 8)2 + (y − 6)2 = 5
B) (x + 8)2 + (y + 6)2 = 25
C) (x − 8)2 + (y − 6)2 = 25
D) (x − 3)2 + (y + 4)2 = 49
Put h = 3, k = −4 and r = 7 into the circle equation: (x − 3)2 + (y − (−4))2 = 72, which is (x − 3)2 + (y + 4)2 = 49.
Answer: D. None of the others has center (3, −4). On harder versions, the traps are the sign of the center and putting r instead of r2 on the right side, so check both.
Statistics: what a sample can and can’t tell you
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis questions about samples test three limits:
- A margin of error describes the population average, not individuals.
- A random sample generalizes only to the population it was drawn from. A survey of one school says nothing about all teenagers.
- Only a randomized experiment shows cause and effect. An observational study shows association.
Worked example 8: a margin of error is about the average
Based on a random sample from a population, an analyst determined that the average height of adult males in the population is 175 cm, with an associated margin of error of 2. What would be the most appropriate conclusion?
A) The true average height of adult males in the population is likely between 173 cm and 177 cm.
B) The average height of every adult male in the population is between 173 cm and 177 cm.
C) It is impossible for any adult male in the population to be taller than 177 cm or shorter than 173 cm.
D) The average height of adult males in the population is exactly 175 cm without any variation.
175 ± 2 gives a plausible range of 173 to 177 cm for the population’s average.
Answer: A. B and C apply the range to individual people, which is the classic trap: plenty of men are taller than 177 cm. D ignores the margin of error entirely.
Practice: Math
Six real Math questions across all four domains. Keep Desmos open in another tab to practice the graphing moves.
All four Math domains, one drill.
6 real Digital SAT Math questions across algebra, advanced math, problem-solving and geometry. Solve by hand or in Desmos, then see the worked explanation. ~10 minutes.
A four-week retake plan to December 5
If you’re starting later, begin at the week that matches today’s date.
| Week | Focus | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Nov 9–15 | Write down what you remember | If you sat in October or November, list the question types that felt hardest while you still remember them. Otherwise, take a full-length practice test in Bluebook. |
| 2. Nov 16–22 | Read the score report | November scores should arrive around November 20. Find your two weakest domains and map them to this page. Register by November 20, or by November 24 with late registration. |
| 3. Nov 23–29 | Fix the weak domains | Daily drills on the two weak domains. Thanksgiving week is a good time for one full-length test. |
| 4. Nov 30–Dec 5 | Sharpen, then rest | Review only your own mistakes. Light practice through Thursday. Nothing new on Friday. |
Pursu’s Score Map updates your accuracy on every SAT skill as you practice and ranks your top opportunities, so each day you know which skill to drill next. Try it free.
Test-day checklist
From College Board’s test-day guidance, in three groups.
Before Saturday:
- Open Bluebook and complete exam setup for the December test.
- Get your admission ticket from Bluebook in the days before the test, and print it if you can.
- Charge your device fully. It should hold a charge for about 3 hours.
What to bring:
- Your testing device with Bluebook installed, and a charger or portable battery. Outlets aren’t guaranteed.
- An acceptable physical photo ID. Digital IDs aren’t accepted.
- A pen or pencil. Scratch paper is provided.
- An approved calculator if you want one. Desmos is already built into Bluebook.
- Your admission ticket.
On the day:
- Plan to arrive by 7:45 a.m. unless your admission ticket says otherwise.
- Phones go to the proctor. Smartwatches and Bluetooth earbuds aren’t allowed.
- Dress in layers. Testing rooms in December can be cold.
December SAT FAQ
When is the December 2026 SAT?
Saturday, December 5, 2026. Register by November 20, or by November 24 with late registration.
When do December SAT scores come out?
Usually about two weeks after test day. College Board posts the exact date on its score release page.
Is the December SAT too late for regular decision?
For many colleges with January deadlines, no: they accept December scores. Policies differ, so check each college’s admissions site.
Is December the last SAT of 2026?
Yes. The next weekend SAT after December 5 is March 6, 2027.
Should I retake the SAT in December?
Retake if you can name the skills that cost you points and you have time to work on them before December 5. Your score report’s domain breakdown is the place to start.