Estimation vs. calculation: Your competitive edge on the Digital SAT

The digital SAT no longer has the no-calculator math section. Moreso it provides students with Desmos, a powerful graphing calculator. With the availability of these tools, comes the temptation to use calculators for every question. In this post, we will cover how to, instead, swiftly tackle the questions like an engineer. 

In the real world, engineers use estimation to quickly gauge answers or navigate uncertainty. And on the digital SAT, students can use the same technique to breeze through certain questions.

Estimation can help save time. 
On the digital SAT, where every second counts, the ability to estimate like an engineer is more than just a skill; it's a strategic advantage. While the allure of calculators is undeniable, they can be a double-edged sword in a timed test environment. Estimation, on the other hand, serves as your trusty shortcut, getting you close to the correct answer without diving into complex calculations.

Estimation is a safeguard against silly errors. 
Beyond saving precious minutes, estimation acts as a safeguard against those all-too-common slip-ups, such as misplacing a decimal or a typo that can derail your score. With estimation, on the other hand, we're finding a ballpark of the answer, which will help us dodge the tricky wrong choices on the test. 

Supercharge Your Skills
Check out our YouTube video where we break down how to use estimation to ace the digital SAT math section like a pro!