The November 2026 SAT is on Saturday, November 7. This cheat sheet puts the whole test on one page: the punctuation and grammar rules Writing questions test, the transition words, the math formulas that are not on the reference sheet, the Desmos moves worth knowing, a four-week plan and a test-day checklist. Real SAT-style questions are worked through along the way, and each section ends with a short practice drill.
November 7, 2026 at a glance
| Test date | Saturday, November 7, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | Friday, October 23 |
| Late registration, changes and regular cancellation | Tuesday, October 27 |
| Scores | Usually about two weeks after test day. College Board posts the exact date on its score release page. |
| Next date if you miss it | December 5, 2026 (register by November 20) |
Deadlines close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Dates are from College Board’s SAT dates page.
What’s on this cheat sheet
- The test in one table
- Where students lose points
- Punctuation rules (Boundaries)
- Grammar rules (Form, Structure, and Sense)
- Transition words by job
- Student-notes questions (Rhetorical Synthesis)
- Reading question types and how to attack each
- Math formulas that are not on the reference sheet
- Three math questions worked through
- Six Desmos moves
- Pacing per module
- A four-week plan to November 7
- Test-day checklist
- FAQ
The test in one table
| Reading & Writing | Math | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 54, in two modules of 27 | 44, in two modules of 22 |
| Time | 64 minutes (32 per module) | 70 minutes (35 per module) |
| Time per question | About 71 seconds | About 95 seconds |
| Score | 200–800 | 200–800 |
| Domains | Craft and Structure ~28%, Information and Ideas ~26%, Standard English Conventions ~26%, Expression of Ideas ~20% | Algebra ~35%, Advanced Math ~35%, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis ~15%, Geometry and Trigonometry ~15% |
| Tools | Annotation and highlighting in Bluebook | Built-in Desmos calculator and a reference sheet for the whole section |
The full test takes 2 hours 14 minutes, with a 10-minute break between the sections. Each section is adaptive: how you do on module 1 decides whether module 2 is harder or easier. A harder module 2 is the only way to reach the top of the score range, so module 1 accuracy matters more than speed.
Where students lose points
We looked at about 5,700 Reading & Writing answers from Pursu’s full-length mock tests. These five skills had the lowest accuracy:
| Skill | Answered correctly | Covered below |
|---|---|---|
| Command of Evidence | 50% | Reading question types |
| Inferences | 50% | Reading question types |
| Transitions | 52% | Transition words by job |
| Cross-Text Connections | 53% | Reading question types |
| Boundaries (punctuation) | 54% | Punctuation rules |
Two of the five are rule-based. Transitions and punctuation follow a small set of rules, so they’re the fastest points to add in four weeks. The reading skills take longer, because they reward a habit (proving every answer from the text) more than a rule.
Punctuation rules (Boundaries)
Boundaries questions give you the same word four times with different punctuation after it. First decide what sits on each side of the blank: a complete sentence (an independent clause) or not. Then use this table.
| What’s on each side of the blank | Correct | Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Two complete sentences | Period, semicolon, or comma + and, but, or, so, for, nor, yet | Comma alone (a comma splice), or nothing |
| Complete sentence, then a list, an example or an explanation | Colon or dash | Semicolon (what follows isn’t a sentence) |
| Subject, then its verb | No punctuation | Any comma, colon or semicolon between them |
| Verb, then its object | No punctuation | Any punctuation between them |
| Extra information in the middle of a sentence | A matching pair: two commas, two dashes or two parentheses | Mixing a comma with a dash, or leaving one side open |
| A title or a name right after a describing noun (“author Toni Morrison”) | No commas when the name is essential | Commas around a name that the sentence needs |
| Two sentences joined by however or therefore | Semicolon before the word, comma after | A comma before it |
Worked example 1: nothing goes between a subject and its verb
Bioluminescence, the production of light by living organisms, is a common trait in the deep ocean where sunlight cannot penetrate. Many creatures have evolved this ability for hunting, defense, or communication. A particularly striking ______ of this adaptation is the anglerfish, which dangles a glowing lure to attract unsuspecting prey in the crushing darkness.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) example,
B) example;
C) example:
D) example
Find the subject and verb of the last sentence. The subject is “A particularly striking example of this adaptation” and the verb is “is.” The blank sits inside the subject, between “example” and “of this adaptation.”
Answer: D) example. Why the others are wrong:
- A (comma) cuts “of this adaptation” off from the noun it describes.
- B (semicolon) needs a complete sentence on both sides. “A particularly striking example” isn’t one.
- C (colon) needs a complete sentence before it. Same problem.
Worked example 2: comma + and joins two sentences
Early models of planetary formation suggested that gas giants like Jupiter could only form in the cold, outer regions of a solar system. The discovery of “hot Jupiters”—massive gas giants orbiting very close to their stars—challenged this long-held assumption. These findings indicated that the early models were incomplete ____ new theories were needed to explain these unexpected celestial bodies.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) , and
B) and
C) ; and
D) and,
Both sides are complete sentences: “These findings indicated that the early models were incomplete” and “new theories were needed to explain these unexpected celestial bodies.” Two complete sentences joined by and need a comma before the and.
Answer: A) , and. Why the others are wrong:
- B leaves out the comma the SAT expects before and when it joins two complete sentences.
- C doubles up. A semicolon already joins two sentences, so adding and is redundant.
- D puts the comma on the wrong side of and.
Grammar rules (Form, Structure, and Sense)
These questions change the form of one word: a verb’s tense or number, a pronoun, a possessive, or the word that starts a modifier. Six rules cover almost all of them.
| Rule | How to check it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Subject–verb agreement | Cross out everything between the subject and the verb, then match them. | The collection of rare maps is on display. |
| 2. Every sentence needs a main verb | If the blank is the main verb, an -ing form or to + verb can’t fill it. | The theory, which unified many observations, provided a framework. |
| 3. Verb tense follows the timeline | Look for dates and the tense of nearby verbs. | In 1965, scientists found the evidence. |
| 4. Pronouns match their nouns | A company, team or study is singular: it and its, never they or their. | The studio is known for its animation. |
| 5. Possessives and plurals | Plural adds -s; possessive adds ’s; plural possessive adds s’. Its is possessive, it’s means “it is.” | The scientists’ findings |
| 6. Modifiers touch what they describe | An opening phrase describes the first noun after the comma. | Built in 1889, the tower drew critics. |
For a deeper version of these with more examples, see the SAT grammar rules cheat sheet and the SAT comma rules.
Transition words by job
A transition question gives you two ideas and asks which word connects them. Decide the relationship before you look at the choices. There are five jobs a transition can do:
| Job | Words that do it | Ask yourself |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Contrast | however, nevertheless, yet, still, by contrast, on the other hand, even so | Does the second idea push against the first? |
| 2. Addition | moreover, furthermore, in addition, similarly, likewise, also | Does it add another point in the same direction? |
| 3. Cause and result | therefore, thus, consequently, as a result, hence | Does the second idea follow from the first? |
| 4. Example and restatement | for example, for instance, in other words, that is, specifically | Does it illustrate or restate the first idea? |
| 5. Time and sequence | then, subsequently, meanwhile, finally, later, previously | Does it move the story forward in time? |
One shortcut: if two choices do the same job (say therefore and consequently), neither can be the answer, because a question can only have one right choice.
Worked example 3: a contrast hiding behind a cause
In the late 1920s, astronomers discovered that the universe was expanding, a fact that implied it was once confined to a single point. This led to the theory of the Big Bang, a powerful explosion that initiated cosmic expansion. ______, evidence for the Big Bang was sparse and it wasn’t until the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation in 1965 that scientists found strong supporting evidence for this model.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A) Therefore
B) However
C) Moreover
D) Consequently
The first two sentences build a theory. The third says evidence for that theory was sparse for decades. That’s a complication, so the relationship is contrast.
Answer: B) However. A and D both signal cause and result, and they do the same job, so neither can be right. C signals addition, but sparse evidence doesn’t add to the theory’s case. It undercuts it.
The full list, grouped by job, is in the SAT transition words cheat sheet.
Student-notes questions (Rhetorical Synthesis)
These questions give you a bulleted list of notes and a goal, such as “emphasize a similarity” or “introduce the study to an audience unfamiliar with it.” Three steps:
- Read the goal first, before the notes. The goal is the question.
- Check each choice against the goal only. Every choice is usually accurate to the notes, so accuracy won’t separate them.
- Cross out any choice that adds a claim the notes don’t make.
Worked example 4: the goal decides it
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz is a history book by author Erik Larson.
- In an analysis, a commentator for The New York Times remarked that “Larson’s narrative capabilities are outstanding” and that the book offers “an intricate account of historical events.”
- A reviewer for The Wall Street Journal described it as “a tapestry of wartime leadership and domestic challenges.”
- An expert for The Guardian referred to it as “a significant contribution to history.”
The student wants to emphasize a similarity in how critics responded to Larson’s book. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) Critics praised Larson’s book for its historical accuracy, noting that The Guardian referred to it as “a significant contribution to history,” which echoed the intricate nature of Larson’s work as recognized by The New York Times.
B) Critics appreciated Larson’s detailed description of Churchill’s family, given that The Wall Street Journal highlighted the “tapestry of wartime leadership and domestic challenges,” aligning with The Guardian’s view of the book as a substantial historical addition.
C) Reviewers recognized Larson’s book as an effective balance between personal and political narratives, with appreciation for the author’s storytelling as indicated by The New York Times and a nod from The Wall Street Journal for its interconnected portrayal of leadership and home life.
D) Critics lauded Larson’s book for its compelling narrative qualities, with The New York Times commenting on “Larson’s narrative capabilities” being outstanding and The Wall Street Journal similarly describing the work as “a tapestry of wartime leadership and domestic challenges.”
The goal is a similarity between critics. D names one shared quality (narrative skill), ties two critics to it and signals the link with “similarly.”
Answer: D. Why the others are wrong:
- A claims critics praised its “historical accuracy.” No note says that.
- B claims they praised its description of Churchill’s family, which is also not in the notes, and the two quotes it pairs don’t share a point.
- C describes what the book does (balancing personal and political) more than what the critics have in common.
Practice: Writing
Six real Writing questions, mixing punctuation, grammar and transitions. Each one is graded as you go.
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.
Reading question types and how to attack each
Reading questions come in seven types. Every one has the same rule underneath: the right answer is the one the text proves, not the one that sounds smartest.
| Question type | What it asks | How to attack it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Words in Context | Which word fits the blank | Cover the choices, predict a plain word, then match meaning and tone. Full guide: SAT Words in Context. |
| 2. Text Structure and Purpose | What a sentence or passage is doing | Name the job in your own words (“gives an example,” “raises a doubt”) before reading the choices. |
| 3. Cross-Text Connections | How the author of Text 2 would respond to Text 1 | Find the one point both texts discuss, then decide: agree, disagree or add. |
| 4. Central Ideas and Details | The main point, or what the text says about a detail | The main idea covers the whole passage. A choice that fits one sentence is too narrow. |
| 5. Command of Evidence: text | Which quotation or finding supports a claim | Restate the claim in five words. The answer has to prove exactly that, not just the topic. |
| 6. Command of Evidence: data | Which choice uses a table or graph correctly | Read the claim first, then check the choice against the numbers. Wrong choices quote real data that answers a different question. |
| 7. Inferences | Which choice most logically completes the text | Write your own ending first. The answer follows from the text alone, with no outside knowledge. |
More practice on the two hardest types: SAT inference questions and SAT reading practice questions.
Practice: Reading
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.
Math formulas that are not on the reference sheet
Bluebook gives you a reference sheet with area and volume formulas, the Pythagorean theorem and the special right triangles. Everything in the table below is not on it, and each one shows up regularly.
| Topic | Formula or fact |
|---|---|
| Slope | m = (y2 − y1) / (x2 − x1) |
| Line forms | y = mx + b (slope, y-intercept); Ax + By = C has slope −A/B |
| Parallel and perpendicular lines | Parallel: equal slopes. Perpendicular: slopes multiply to −1. |
| Linear model | In y = mx + b, b is the starting value and m is the change per unit. |
| Systems of equations | No solution: same slope, different intercept. Infinitely many: same line. Full guide: SAT systems of equations. |
| Quadratic formula | x = (−b ± √(b2 − 4ac)) / 2a |
| Discriminant | b2 − 4ac: positive = 2 real solutions, zero = 1, negative = none |
| Vertex of a parabola | x = −b/2a, which is also halfway between the two roots |
| Sum and product of roots | For ax2 + bx + c: sum = −b/a, product = c/a |
| Exponential growth and decay | y = a(1 ± r)t; growth if the base is above 1, decay if below |
| Percent change | (new − old) / old × 100. “x% more” means multiply by (1 + x/100); “x% less” means multiply by (1 − x/100). |
| Circle equation | (x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2, center (h, k), radius r |
| Arc length and sector area | Arc = (angle/360) × 2πr; sector = (angle/360) × πr2 |
| Radians | 180° = π radians |
| Trig ratios | sin = opposite/hypotenuse, cos = adjacent/hypotenuse, tan = opposite/adjacent |
| Complementary angles | sin x° = cos(90 − x)° |
| Similar triangles | Corresponding sides are proportional, and corresponding angles have equal sin, cos and tan. |
| Mean, median and spread | An outlier moves the mean much more than the median. |
| Margin of error | Estimate ± margin gives the plausible range for the population value, not for individuals. |
The full list with examples is in the SAT math formula sheet.
Three math questions worked through
Worked example 5: the constant in a linear model
A study estimates that a certain tree was 2 meters tall when it was planted and that it grew at a rate of 0.5 meters per year. The tree’s height over time can be modeled by the equation h(t) = c + dt, where h(t) represents the height, in meters, of the tree t years after it was planted, and c and d are constants. What is the value of c?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
At planting, t = 0, so h(0) = c + d(0) = c. The constant term is the starting value, and the tree started at 2 meters.
Answer: B) 2. The rate, 0.5, is d. Choices C and D are the tree’s heights after 2 and 4 years, which is what you get if you plug in a time when the question didn’t ask for one.
Worked example 6: “percent less” as one multiplication
The number m is 24% less than 80. If m is the product of 80 and s, what is the value of s?
A) 0.36
B) 0.76
C) 3.6
D) 36
“24% less than 80” is 80 × (1 − 0.24) = 80 × 0.76. Since m = 80s, s = 0.76. No need to work out m = 60.8 at all.
Answer: B) 0.76. The other choices are decimal-place slips (C, D) or a mangled subtraction (A). The habit to build: turn every “percent more” or “percent less” into a single multiplier.
Worked example 7: similar triangles share their trig ratios
Triangle XYZ is similar to triangle MNO, where angle X corresponds to angle M and angles Y and N are right angles. If cos(X) = 45/53, what is the value of cos(M)?
A) 45/54
B) 54/53
C) 45/53
D) 53/45
Similar triangles have equal corresponding angles, so angle M equals angle X, and equal angles have equal cosines. No side lengths needed.
Answer: C) 45/53. B and D are greater than 1, and the cosine of an acute angle in a right triangle is always less than 1 (the hypotenuse is the longest side). A changes the ratio for no reason.
Six Desmos moves
Desmos is built into every Math module. These six moves turn algebra into a click:
| Move | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 1. Graph both equations and click the intersection | Any system of equations, linear or not |
| 2. Graph the function and click its x-intercepts | Solving a quadratic or any equation set to zero |
| 3. Click the vertex | The maximum or minimum of a parabola |
| 4. Add a slider for an unknown constant | “For what value of k” questions: move the slider until the graphs do what the question says |
| 5. Type both sides of an equation as separate graphs | Checking whether two expressions are equivalent (they’re equivalent if the graphs overlap) |
| 6. Use a table | Regression and line-of-best-fit questions with data points |
Step-by-step versions with screenshots are in how to use Desmos on the SAT.
Practice: Math
Six real Math questions across all four domains. Keep Desmos open in another tab to practice the moves above.
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.
Pacing per module
| Reading & Writing module | Math module | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions and time | 27 in 32 minutes | 22 in 35 minutes |
| Halfway check | Question 14 by minute 16 | Question 11 by minute 17 |
| Spend less time on | Words in Context and grammar questions (under a minute each) | The first third of the module, which is usually the easiest |
| Spend more time on | Evidence, inference and cross-text questions | The last third of the module |
Never leave a question blank. There’s no penalty for a wrong answer, so flag it, guess and come back if time allows.
A four-week plan to November 7
If you’re starting later, begin at the week that matches today’s date.
| Week | Focus | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Oct 12–18 | Find your gaps | Take one full-length practice test in Bluebook. List every miss by skill, not by question. |
| 2. Oct 19–25 | The rule-based points | Punctuation, grammar and transitions from this page, plus the math formulas table. Drill the two weakest skills from week 1 daily. Register by October 23 if you haven’t. |
| 3. Oct 26–Nov 1 | The reasoning points | Inference, evidence and cross-text questions, and the hardest third of each Math module. Take a second full-length test at the weekend. |
| 4. Nov 2–7 | Sharpen, then rest | Review only your own mistakes from the two tests. 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:
- Install Bluebook on your testing device and complete exam setup.
- 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.
- Eat a real breakfast and bring a snack and water for the break.
November SAT FAQ
When is the November 2026 SAT?
Saturday, November 7, 2026. Register by October 23, or by October 27 with late registration.
When do November SAT scores come out?
Usually about two weeks after test day. College Board posts the exact date on its score release page.
Can I use November SAT scores for early decision or early action?
Many colleges with November 1 early deadlines accept November scores, but not all. Check each college’s admissions site before you rely on it.
What should I study in the last week before the SAT?
Your own mistakes from recent practice tests, plus the rule-based topics on this page: punctuation, grammar, transitions and the math formulas that aren’t on the reference sheet. Don’t start new topics in the last two days.
What if I miss the November SAT?
The next date is December 5, 2026, with registration due November 20. After that, the next weekend SAT is March 6, 2027. See the December SAT cheat sheet.