December 2025 SAT Recap: The "Global Item Pool" & The Rise of Calculation-Heavy Math

According to AlphaTest’s analysis, the December 2025 SAT was statistically "Moderate" in difficulty yet severely penalized reliance on memorization. If you walked out of the test center feeling like the Reading module was "fair" but the Math module felt strangely calculation-heavy, you aren't alone. Our internal analysis of over 200 student reports confirms a stabilizing trend in difficulty, but a significant shift in how that difficulty is applied. While the Reading & Writing module saw significant passage reuse from the November 2025 exam, the College Board altered the question stems—effectively trapping students who relied on remembered answers. Despite moderate vocabulary levels, student scores were primarily threatened by nuanced "Transition" questions (e.g., usage of "Fittingly") and calculation-intensive Composite Function problems in Math. Consequently, the highest ROI strategy for the Class of 2026 is prioritizing "Logic adaptability" over question memorization.

Here is our evidence-based breakdown of the December 2025 exam and what it means for students preparing for 2026.

⚠️The "Trap" of a Gentle Exam

Preliminary data from our student cohort suggests the December administration did not feature the infamous "killer curve" often feared in late-year testing. However, "moderate" difficulty often correlates with a stricter grading curve, where a single silly mistake in Module 1 can cap your score ceiling aggressively.

While the difficulty felt manageable, the internal mechanics of the test revealed a specific strategy by the College Board: Content Recycling with Logical Twists.

💭The "Zombie Question" Phenomenon: Recycled Texts, New Logic

The most distinct trend in the December administration was the reappearance of texts from previous exams—specifically the November 2025 test.

Internal Analysis Note: We tracked multiple reports of the "RSRs / Insurance Premium" passage appearing in the International Reading Module.

However, this was a trap. While the text was identical, the question and options were modified.

• The Trap: Students recognized the passage, assumed the answer was the same as the "leaked" or "remembered" version from November, and selected it without reading.
• The Reality: The College Board changed the logical core (e.g., switching from a "Details" question to an "Inference" question).

The Takeaway: If you see a familiar text in March or May, reset your brain. Assume the question is entirely new. Recognizing the text does not grant you the answer; it only saves you reading time.

The December Vocabulary Dataset

Vocabulary remains the primary gatekeeper for the 700+ Reading/Writing score. The December exam heavily favored abstract verbs and academic adjectives over concrete nouns.

Strategic Insight: Notice the presence of words like Evince and Substantiate. The SAT is testing your ability to understand how an argument is built, not just what the words mean in a vacuum. Flashcards are not enough; you must see these words in the context of argumentative essays.

Below is the consolidated list of high-frequency words

Reading & Writing: The "Logic" Trap

While the vocabulary questions (e.g., words like remember, examined, pervade) were rated as "Low to Medium Difficulty" by our student cohort, the exam compensated by increasing the logical rigor of the Grammar questions.

The differentiator for 700+ scorers was not knowing obscure words, but mastering high-nuance Transition words. The College Board is moving away from obvious contrasts (however/therefore) toward subtler logical connectors. This is exactly what we anticipated. Our previous analysis flagged this "Transition Trap" as the emerging difficulty spike for 2025, and this exam proved that hypothesis correct.（December 2025 SAT R&W Prediction）

Action Item: If you are prepping for March, do not just memorize definitions. You must study the functional logic of secondary transition words like "Fittingly," "Indeed," and "Alternatively."

Math Analysis

The "Literacy" Barrier

In the Math section, the calculation difficulty was standard, but the cognitive load was high.

The "Reading" Problem in Math：For the "Problem Solving and Data Analysis" domain, students reported questions that required significant reading before a single number could be crunched.

• The Trap: Lengthy word problems regarding unit conversions and percentage changes in experimental contexts.
• The Result: Students with lower reading speeds struggled to finish Module 2, not because they couldn't do the math, but because they couldn't parse the scenario fast enough.

New Visuals: The Tetrahedron

North American test-takers reported a visual geometry question involving a Tetrahedron (triangular pyramid). This signals that the College Board is expanding its geometry visual bank beyond the standard circles and cylinders.

Old Concepts, New "Calculation Walls"

The feedback on the Math section can be summarized as: "I knew how to do it, but it took too long."

The December exam did not introduce radical new concepts. Instead, it took standard Algebra and Advanced Math topics and increased the computational labor required to solve them. This is a deliberate design to test fluency, not just understanding.

Prediction Validation: On-Target Conceptual Analysis It remains vital for students to follow our ongoing trend reports. Our pre-exam analysis effectively forecasted the primary knowledge scope for this administration. The specific concepts we flagged—particularly regarding Algebra mechanics and the expanding role of Geometry—aligned closely with the actual test content.（December DSAT Prediction） This consistency underscores the importance of our "Watch List": mastering these high-probability topics provides a strong foundation, allowing students to approach the exam with greater confidence and focus.

Key Difficulty Spikes:

• Composite Functions: Students reported complex "Function inside a Function" problems ($f(g(x))$) that required multiple steps of manual calculation, making them difficult to solve purely via Desmos.
• Geometry Resurgence: Geometry is taking up more real estate in the Hard Module.Specific Concepts: Equation of a circle (completing the square), Slant height of cones, and similar triangles. We strongly encourage you to review our earlier prediction articles（2025 December DSAT Math section Prediction）, where these exact concepts were flagged as high-probability targets. The appearance of these problems serves as strong validation of our prediction system's underlying logic and effectiveness.The Curveball: A specialized Tetrahedron problem that required unit conversion, catching many students off guard.

Internal Data Projection: We are observing a gradual, linear increase in Geometry difficulty throughout 2025. Students relying solely on Algebra shortcuts are seeing their scores plateau at 680.

Key Math Concepts to Review for March:

• Advanced Math: Polynomial simplification & Quadratic roots (Standard).
• Geometry: Circle equations (completing the square) & 3D Surface Area (Cylinders/Cones).
• Functions: Interpretation of X-intercepts where the denominator $\ne 0$.

🎯Next Steps for the Class of 2026

The December 2025 SAT is officially in the books. For seniors, this was the final push for Regular Decision applications; for juniors, it was a critical baseline.

The December 2025 SAT rewarded students who prioritized precision over speed. In Reading, it was about the precise logic of transitions. In Math, it was about the precise execution of multi-step calculations.

If you are a Junior (Grade 11) and December was your baseline:

1. Don't trust "Recall": The recycling of the "Insurance" passage proves that memorizing past questions is a fragile strategy. Focus on underlying logic.
2. Audit your Reading Speed: If you ran out of time on Math Module 2, the issue is likely your reading comprehension, not your calculator skill.
3. Download the Vocab List: Take the words in the table above and write three sentences for each, using them in an academic context.

If you are a Senior (Grade 12) and this was your Final Stand:

• Execute the "Test Optional" Calculus: For Regular Decision applications (due Jan 1–15), this is likely your final data point. Be ruthless with your strategy: if your December score falls below the 25th percentile of your target university's admitted student profile, do not submit it out of pride. A strong GPA submitted "Test Optional" is statistically safer than a submitted score that anchors you to the bottom of the applicant pool.
• Manage Your "Send" Settings: With deadlines weeks away, you do not have the luxury of time. If you pre-set your scores to automatically send to colleges, check your portal immediately upon score release. If you did not auto-send, you may need to pay for "Rush Reporting" to ensure the data arrives before admissions officers begin their initial reads in January.
• Pivot to Essays: The testing window for top-tier private universities has officially closed. Do not waste mental energy ruminating on the Tetrahedron problem. Your highest ROI activity is now perfecting your Supplemental Essays. Close the College Board tab and open your word processor—your voice matters more than your score now.

Final Takeaway

The December 2025 SAT is officially in the books. The data indicates a stabilizing difficulty trend but a clear evolution in how students are tested—moving away from pure content knowledge toward "Logic Adaptability." Whether you are preparing for March or finalizing applications, remember: Precision beats Speed.

Next Step: Are you planning for the March 2026 SAT? We are updating our AlphaTest Question Bank this week to include the "Fittingly" and "Tetrahedron" variations seen in this exam.

Author Profile:

Dr. Emily Carter - Director of Curriculum

Dr. Emily Carter is the Director of Curriculum at AlphaTest. With over 15 years of experience in standardized test design and educational strategy, she specializes in decoding the adaptive algorithms of the Digital SAT to help students achieve top 1% scores.