How do I enter grid-in answers on the SAT?
Updated
A grid-in question has no answer choices: you work out the answer and type it into a box. On the digital SAT, the box takes up to 5 characters for a positive answer and 6 for a negative one. Aniko's grid-in questions use the same box and the same rules, so you practice them the way you'll test.
College Board calls these questions student-produced responses, and its Bluebook test directions set the rules below. About 25% of SAT Math questions are grid-ins. See What's on the SAT?
The rules
- Up to 5 characters. A negative answer gets 6, because the minus sign takes one. The decimal point and the fraction bar each count as a character.
- A fraction that doesn't fit goes in as its decimal. 150/11 takes 6 characters, so enter its decimal instead.
- A decimal that doesn't fit is rounded or cut off to fill the box. 150/11 is 13.6363…, so enter 13.63 or 13.64.
- A mixed number goes in as an improper fraction or a decimal. Enter 3½ as 7/2 or 3.5. Typed as 31/2, it reads as 31 halves.
- No symbols. Leave out percent signs, dollar signs and commas: enter 1200, not $1,200.
If an answer fits as it is, such as 7/2 or 0.25, enter it exactly. You only round when it doesn't fit.
Fill the box with a long decimal
A rounded decimal has to fill the box. 13.6 is a correct rounding of 13.6363…, but the box has room for 1 more digit, so 13.6 is marked wrong, while 13.63 and 13.64 are right. The SAT gives no credit for the shorter entry either.
For an answer below 1, the leading zero is optional, so how many digits fill the box depends on it. 0.667 fills the box for 2/3. Without the zero, .667 leaves room for one more digit, so enter .6667 or .6666 instead.
| Answer | You can enter | Marked wrong |
|---|---|---|
| 3½ | 7/2, 3.5, 3.50 | 31/2 |
| 2/3 | 2/3, .6666, .6667, 0.666, 0.667 | .666, .667, .67, 0.67 |
| -1/3 | -1/3, -.3333, -0.333 | -.333, -.33, -0.33 |
| 150/11 | 13.63, 13.64 | 13.6 |
To get the decimal of a fraction, type the fraction into the Desmos calculator. See Use the Desmos calculator.
Grid-ins on Aniko
Type your answer in Your answer. In a study session, click Check. The box stops taking characters at the limit, and it won't take letters, spaces, %, $ or commas, so you can't type an entry too long for the SAT's box.
Aniko checks an exact answer by its value, the way the SAT does, so 7/2, 3.5 and 3.50 are all the same answer. A rounded or cut-off decimal counts only when it fills the box: for 2/3, 0.667 and .6667 are right, and .667 is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
A common cause is a decimal that stops too early. A rounded decimal has to fill the box, so for 150/11 enter 13.63 or 13.64, not 13.6. If your entry follows the rules and still looks right, ask the AI tutor to check the question with you, or click the flag at the top of the question (Something look off?) so our team can check it.
Either, when it fits. A fraction that fits is exact, so you don't have to round. Use a decimal when the fraction doesn't fit.
You've reached the limit of 5 characters, or 6 for a negative answer. Round or cut off the decimal so it fits. A longer entry wouldn't fit on the SAT either.
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