December SAT Predictions (2025)
- Laura (Heslin) Whitmore
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Laura Whitmore
It’s that time of year again—the holiday lights are coming out, your Spotify playlist is full of Mariah Carey, and the SAT is just around the corner. I’m Laura Whitmore from Strategic Test Prep, and after 18 years of coaching students (and earning a 1590 myself), I’ve learned how to recognize patterns in what the College Board loves to test. I also just took the November exam, which gives me an up-to-date perspective on what’s likely coming your way in December.
This blog post breaks down my Top 10 Predictions for the December SAT—covering both English and Math—so you can study smarter and maximize your score.
Don’t feel like reading? Watch the full YouTube video here where I walk through each problem step-by-step.
🔮 Prediction 1: Complementary Angles Make Another Appearance
👉 If two angles add to 90°, the sine of one equals the cosine of the other. When you see a right triangle and both sine and cosine are present, this identity will likely save you from unnecessary calculations.
🔮 Prediction 2: Need to Pick the -ing Verb
👉 Module 2 continues to lean on sentences that need an –ing verb form functioning as a modifier rather than the main verb. When the subject and verb are separated by a descriptive phrase, that middle phrase often requires an –ing modifier. Just make sure you identify the true verb so the modifier doesn’t compete with it.
🔮 Prediction 3: Tricky Percentage Problem
👉 The SAT loves percentage-increase scenarios where no specific numbers are provided. The best strategy is to choose clean starting values—100 is perfect—and run the percent changes from there. Then apply the percent change formula carefully to determine relative increases or comparisons.
🔮 Prediction 4: A Punctuation Question Testing Independent Clauses
👉 Scan the answer choices first. Usually only one option can properly separate two complete sentences. But don’t rely on the strategy blindly—double-check that each side is actually independent. This pattern showed up on the November test and continues to be a favorite.
🔮 Prediction 5: Regression Problem with Vertex
👉 Expect the classic “object launched into the air” quadratic. They often give you the vertex and just one zero. Use symmetry to infer the missing zero, then run a quadratic regression in Desmos to produce the function. From there, plugging in a time value becomes simple.
🔮 Prediction 6: Dash Separating a Non-Essential Clause
👉 Dashes are back. When you see one in the text, there’s a strong chance the correct answer uses a pair of dashes to set off a non-essential clause. Just verify the clause can be removed without harming the sentence and that the subject remains clear.
🔮 Prediction 7: System of Equations with Binomials
👉 These look intimidating but can be solved quickly by adding the equations to eliminate a variable. If the question asks for multiple copies of the resulting expression—like 6 of something—multiply directly rather than solving for one unit and scaling up afterward.
🔮 Prediction 8: Semicolon Separating Items in a List
👉 Long items in a list—especially those already containing commas—usually require semicolons. If you see a semicolon in the text, it’s a hint that the SAT expects you to use it to separate list items cleanly. Just check for consistent parallel structure between the items.
🔮 Prediction 9: Margin of Error
👉 Margin of error questions can be sneaky. If the mean is 5.2 with a margin of error of 0.6, the plausible range is 4.6 to 5.8. Values outside that range are not impossible—they’re simply not likely. Many wrong answers misuse the words “possible,” “likely,” or “not likely,” so match the logic carefully.
🔮 Prediction 10: Slant Height of a Cone
👉 Geometry is alive and well on Module 2, and slant-height cone problems continue to trend. Use the given volume and base area to find the height, then form a right triangle with the radius and height to compute the slant height using the Pythagorean theorem. Because these can be time-consuming, save them for the end.
🔥 Final Thoughts
If you’re taking the SAT soon, may your curve be kind and your DESMOS graph behave. And if you want deeper breakdowns of the strategies behind each prediction, my self-paced English and Math courses dive far beyond what I can cover in a single post. Good luck—and happy holidays!
Happy prepping!
