Average questions for the SAT come in many different varieties. I have noticed the SAT focusing on 4 main types of average (mean) question: missing value, variable, extra value, and game changers. You should know that finding the average is simply a matter of taking the sum of your set and dividing it by the number of members of the set. There are several average questions during your SAT. There are dozens of examples in the official guide as well as in Mike’s SAT math book.

The Average Video Lesson

If you have forgotten, I have a very useful SAT math vocabulary video that covers these topics. But, hopefully you know that the SAT does not ask questions in that way. What kind of SAT question asks you to find the average of (5, 10, 13, 20, & 42)? None! Those aren’t SAT questions.

The SAT tests your ability to use math to answer logical questions. It is a reading test as much as it is a math test — if you do not understand the question, you will never get the right answer.

In today’s lesson, I teach you exactly how to deal with these questions. Dealing with averages is a simple process. If you do not care to watch the video, you can easily answer average questions by following these rules:

1. Anytime you see an average, draw a “T” shape
2. On top of the T shape you put the sum of your set
3. On the bottom left of the T shape you put the number of things in the set
4. On the bottom right of the T shape you put the average
5. You only need 2 of these facts to solve the third
6. You multiply the # of things & average to get the sum
7. You divide the sum & # of things to get the average
8. You divide the sum & average to get the number of things

Most average questions will give you some variation of those three. Some will have missing values, others will give you some numbers and ask you to take the average of a subset. The strategy is the same. Set up your T, figure out what you know, figure out what you need to know, and then figure that out.

Some people call the average T the pyramid or the pie.

Do you have an average question that seems difficult? Ask it in the comments below.