Impact of Desmos by Guest Blogger Sophia Cheng (Current High School Junior )

I use Desmos pretty often when I practice for the SAT Math section. I think it is really useful, especially for graphing equations, finding intersections, and solving problems that would normally take a lot more steps. However, I don’t use Desmos for everything. For simple calculations, I prefer using a physical calculator because I’m more comfortable with it and can type things in faster.

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If the SAT suddenly removed Desmos, I don’t think it would affect me too much in terms of knowing how to solve the questions. I would still be able to use my physical calculator and solve most of the problems. However, it would definitely make the test harder for me because I would have to spend much more time solving certain questions.

With a timed test like the SAT, even spending an extra minute or two on a few questions can make a big difference. I would feel more rushed toward the end of the section and have less time to check my answers. I think removing Desmos would have an even bigger impact on other students, especially those who rely on it a lot. Some students practice specific Desmos shortcuts and use Desmos for many different types of SAT questions. Without it, they would have to learn different ways to solve those problems and might struggle with managing their time. Overall, I think Desmos makes the SAT Math section more manageable for many students.

(Sophia is a High School Junior. She'll be taking the SAT this August and seeks to score a 1550.)