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SAT Math skill page

SAT Data Analysis Practice

Read tables, charts, and statistics carefully so you can turn data into the exact comparison the question asks for.

Practice data analysis in DolphinPractice questions
10-16 min practice time3 questions on pageProblem-Solving and Data Analysis
Practice time10-16 min
Question bank3 questions
Best forProblem-Solving and Data Analysis

What this tests

What to know for this SAT skill

Dolphin question bank

Practice your skill

Question 1 of 3Hard
Two different teams consisting of 10 members each ran in a race. Each member’s completion time of the race was recorded. The mean of the completion times for each team was calculated and is shown below. Team A: 3.41 minutes Team B: 3.79 minutes Which of the following MUST be true? 1. Every member of team A completed the race in less time than any member of team B. 2. The median time it took the members of team B to complete the race is greater than the median time it took the members of team A to complete the race. 3. There is at least one member of team B who took more time to complete the race than some member of team A.
  1. III only
  2. I and III only
  3. II and III only
  4. I, II, and III
Show answer and solution
Correct answerA. III only

Solution walkthrough

  1. Since the average time for the 10 members of team A is 3.41 minutes, the sum of the 10 times for team A is equal to minutes. Since the average time for the 10 members of team B is 3.79 minutes, the sum of the 10 times for team B is equal to minutes.
  2. Since the sum of the 10 times for team B is greater than the sum of the 10 times for team A, it must be true that at least one of the times for team B must be greater than one of the times for team A. Thus, statement III is true.
  3. However, it’s possible that at least some of the times for team A were greater than some of the times for team B. For example, all of team A’s times could be 3.41 minutes, and team B could have 1 time of 3.34 minutes and 9 times of 3.84 minutes.
  4. Thus, statement I need not be true. It’s also possible that the median of the times for team B is less than the median of the times for team A.
  5. For example, all of team A’s times could be 3.41 minutes, and team B could have 6 times of 3.37 minutes and 4 times of 4.42 minutes; then the median of team B’s times would be 3.37 minutes and the median of team A’s times would be 3.41 minutes. Thus, statement II need not be true.
Why the other choices miss
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because neither statement I nor statement II must be true.
Question 2 of 3Hard
The table shown summarizes the number of employees at each of the 17 restaurants in a town.
Number of employeesNumber of restaurants
2 to 72
8 to 134
14 to 192
20 to 257
26 to 312
Which of the following could be the median number of employees for the restaurants in this town?
  1. 2
  2. 9
  3. 15
  4. 21
Show answer and solution
Correct answerD. 21

Solution walkthrough

  1. To find the median, we need to determine the middle value of the ordered data set. There are 17 restaurants, so the median will be the 9th value.
  2. The first 2 restaurants have between 2 and 7 employees, the next 4 have between 8 and 13 employees, and the next 2 have between 14 and 19 employees. This accounts for 8 restaurants.
  3. The 9th restaurant falls in the group with 20 to 25 employees. Therefore, the median number of employees is within this range, and the closest option is 21.
Question 3 of 3Hard
The dot plot represents a data set of the number of bursts for 13 eruptions of a steam vent. If an additional eruption with 11 bursts is added to this data set to create a new data set of 14 eruptions, which of the following measures will be greater for the new data set than for the original data set?

I. The median number of bursts II. The mean number of bursts
  1. I and II
  2. I only
  3. II only
  4. Neither I nor II
Show answer and solution
Correct answerA. I and II

Solution walkthrough

  1. The original data set in order is 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, so the original median is the 7th value, which is 2, and the original mean is 35/13.
  2. After adding 11, the new ordered data set has 14 values, so the median is the average of the 7th and 8th values, 2 and 3, which is 2.5, so the median increases.
  3. The mean also increases because the sum rises from 35 to 46 and the mean changes from 35/13 to 46/14.
  4. Therefore both I and II are greater for the new data set than for the original data set.

Avoid these traps

Common mistakes on this skill

Using the new value as the original

Percent change questions use the original value in the denominator.

Reading the wrong axis

Always check labels and units before choosing a value from a graph.

Overstating what the data proves

The SAT often includes answers that sound reasonable but are not supported by the table or graph.

Study plan

How to practice this skill in Dolphin

  1. Circle the exact quantity the question asks for.
  2. Check whether the question needs a value, difference, ratio, or percent change.
  3. Write the formula before substituting table or graph values.
  4. Reread the units in the answer choices before selecting an answer.
Practice data analysis in Dolphin

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FAQ

Questions about SAT Data Analysis Practice

What is data analysis on SAT Math?

It includes questions about tables, graphs, statistics, rates, percentages, and conclusions based on data.

Do I need advanced statistics for SAT data questions?

No. Most questions focus on reading data precisely and applying basics like averages, percentages, and comparisons.

How do I get faster at data questions?

Practice naming the calculation first, then pulling only the necessary numbers from the table or graph.