The SAT: What You Need to Know
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Colleges use the SAT to evaluate your readiness for college. Thinking of taking the SAT? Here's an overview of what to expect.
What’s on the SAT Test?
The SAT tests the knowledge and skills you’ve gained in high school including your critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills. The test is two hours and 14 minutes long and is comprised of two sections:
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The Reading and Writing Section, which is 64 minutes long and divided into two 32-minute modules
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The Math Section, which is 70 minutes long and divided into two 35-minute modules
The SAT Math Section
The SAT Math Test covers a range of math practices that students are likely to encounter in college and in many careers. Each module includes questions covering four different areas of math:
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Algebra
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Advanced Math
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Problem-Solving and Data Analysis
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Geometry and Trigonometry
Most of the questions on the SAT Math Test – around 75 percent – are multiple-choice with four answers to choose from. The rest are “Student-Produced Response” questions that require you to produce the correct answer. Some of the questions are word problems that ask you to apply your math skills to real-world scenarios.
You are permitted to use an approved calculator on the Math section. Geometry formulas are provided.
The SAT Reading and Writing Section
The Reading and Writing section is comprised of two modules. Each module presents short reading passages followed by a single multiple-choice question. The reading passages range from 25-150 words in length and reflect the following subject areas: literature, history/social studies, the humanities, and science.
The questions fall into four content areas:
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Information and Ideas: You will be asked to interpret and evaluate information and ideas from text and infographics.
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Craft and Structure: You will be asked to analyze and interpret words and phrases in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and make connections between topically related texts.
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Expression of Ideas: You will be asked to revise texts to meet specific rhetorical goals
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Standard English Conventions: You will be asked to show your knowledge of standard English sentence structure, punctuation, and usage.
Is the SAT Adaptive? And What Does That Mean?
The SAT is an adaptive test, which means it adjusts to your skill level as you take the exam. The Reading and Writing section and Math section each contain two test modules. The first module contains a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. How well you do on the first module determines the difficulty of the questions you will see on the second module.
If you don’t perform well on the first module, you’ll be routed to an “easier” second module where top scores are capped in the mid to high 600s. If you perform well on the first module, you’ll be routed to a more difficult second module offering more points and the potential to reach a perfect SAT score of 1600.
During the test, you’ll have the ability to flag questions that you want to skip and return to later. You can also change your answers to questions in the first module before the test adapts for your second module. See this video for more information on SAT adaptive testing.
How is the SAT scored?
You will earn points for each correct answer. You will not be penalized for incorrect answers.
Each section of the SAT has a score range of 200-800 points. Your total SAT score is the sum of these two sections, and the highest SAT score possible is 1600. According to the College Board (which is the creator and publisher of the SAT), an SAT score isn’t just determined by the number of questions answered correctly. The type of question and its level of difficulty are also factors, with tougher questions weighted more heavily. This means that two students can answer the same number of SAT questions correctly but end up with different SAT scores
Your SAT Score Report
Your score report will include
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Your total SAT score
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Your scores on the Reading and Writing Section and the Math Section
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Your scores compared to other test takers at your school and within your district and state
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The percentage of students who scored higher as well as lower than you
You’ll also see how well you performed on different content domains of the test, such as Algebra or Standard English Conventions.
How to Prepare for the SAT
One of the best ways to prepare for the SAT is to take timed practice tests and study sample questions. The College Board offers testing tips and free practice tests on khanacademy.org. There are also many inexpensive and free online test prep resources available. You might also be able to find SAT prep books at your local library or used prep books at a reduced cost.
When Should You Take the SAT?
Counselors often recommend that students take the SAT for the first time in the fall or spring of junior year, so they will have time to take it more than once if they’d like. Be sure to confirm the last possible date you can take the test with the colleges you are applying to.
How to Send SAT Scores to Colleges
When you register for the SAT, you can choose to have your scores sent at no cost to up to four colleges or scholarship providers. After you take the test, you can have your scores sent to additional colleges for a fee. Fee waivers are available, based on income.
Make sure that you understand a college’s score-use policies. Some schools require that you submit all your scores from every test you have taken date, while others may accept only your best combined score from a single test.
Some Colleges Don’t Require Test Scores
Many colleges and universities do not require the SAT or ACT for admission. For a listing of these schools, visit fairtest.org.
Interested in taking the SAT? See SAT Testing Updates for information on upcoming test dates, registration deadlines, fees, and an SAT FAQ.
