Example 1 Easy
A $40 item is discounted by 25%. What is the sale price?
- $10
- $25
- $30
- $35
Show answer and explanation
Answer: $30
25% of 40 is 10, so the discounted price is 40 - 10 = 30.
SAT Math skill page
SAT Percent Change Practice
Set percent change against the original amount, not the new amount.
10-16 min practice time 3 examples on page Problem Solving and Data Analysis
What this tests
What to know for this SAT skill
- Calculate percent increase and decrease
- Find final values after discounts or markups
- Work backward to original values
- Avoid mixing original and final quantities
Practice examples
Try a few SAT-style questions
Example 2 Medium
A value increases from 80 to 100. What is the percent increase?
- 20%
- 25%
- 80%
- 125%
Show answer and explanation
Answer: 25%
The increase is 20, and 20/80 = 0.25 = 25%.
Example 3 Hard
After a 20% increase, a price is $72. What was the original price?
- $54
- $57.60
- $60
- $90
Show answer and explanation
Answer: $60
The final price is 120% of the original. 72 / 1.2 = 60.
Quick drills
Practice this skill from more angles
Calculate percent increase and decrease
Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.
Find final values after discounts or markups
Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.
Work backward to original values
Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.
Avoid mixing original and final quantities
Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.
Avoid these traps
Common mistakes on this skill
Solving before naming the task
The SAT often hides the real skill inside familiar wording. Identify the rule, relationship, or question type first.
Choosing an answer that only partly fits
Many wrong answers are close. Check every condition in the question before committing.
Skipping the final check
Reread what the question asks for so you do not answer a nearby but different question.
Study plan
How to practice this skill in Dolphin
- Read the question and name the tested skill before looking at the choices.
- Write the equation, rule, or passage relationship in plain language.
- Eliminate answers that violate the setup or overstate the evidence.
- Review misses by writing the exact trap that pulled you toward the wrong answer.
Related practice
Build the surrounding skills
Skill cluster
Keep practicing SAT Math
FAQ
Questions about SAT Percent Change Practice
What is the best way to practice SAT Percent Change Practice?
Start with a few focused examples, review the mistake pattern, then mix the skill into full SAT practice so you can recognize it in context.
Why does this skill matter on the SAT?
It shows up in short, high-leverage questions where one missed rule or setup can quickly cost a point.
Can Dolphin SAT help me drill this skill?
Yes. Dolphin SAT can surface targeted practice, track missed questions, and help you review the patterns that keep repeating.