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The
SAT is the nation's most widely used admissions
test among colleges and universities. It tests
students' knowledge of subjects that are necessary
for college success: reading, writing, and
mathematics. The SAT assesses the critical
thinking skills students need for academic
success in college—skills that students
learned in high school.
The SAT is typically taken by high school
juniors and seniors. It tells students how
well they use the skills and knowledge they
have attained in and outside of the classroom—including
how they think, solve problems, and communicate.
The SAT is an important resource for colleges.
It's also one of the best predictors of how
well students will do in college.
Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale
of 200-800, with two writing subscores for
multiple-choice questions and the essay. It
is administered seven times a year in the
U.S. and U.S. territories, including Puerto
Rico, and six times a year overseas.
The SAT includes several different question
types, including: a student-produced essay,
multiple-choice questions, and student-produced
responses (grid-ins). Select any section below
to learn more about specific question types.
The Critical Reading Section
Time : 70 min. (two 25-min. sections
and one 20-min. section)
Content : Critical reading and sentence-level
reading
Item Types : Reading comprehension,
sentence completions, and paragraph-length
critical reading
Score : 200-800
The critical reading section, formerly
known as the verbal section, includes short
as well as long reading passages. Questions
can be based on one, or sometimes two, reading
passages. Some questions are not based on
reading passages, but ask you to complete
sentences.
The critical reading section measures:
Sentence Completions
Sentence Completion questions measure your
:
-Knowledge of the meanings of words
-Ability to understand how the different parts
of a sentence fit logically together
Passage-based Reading
The reading questions on the SAT measure a
student's ability to read and think carefully
about several different passages ranging in
length from about 100 to about 850 words.
Passages are taken from a variety of fields,
including the humanities, social studies,
natural sciences, and literary fiction. They
vary in style and can include narrative, argumentative,
and expository elements. Some selections consist
of a pair of related passages on a shared
issue or theme that you are asked to compare
and contrast.
The Mathematics Section
Time : 70 min. (two 25-min. sections
and one 20-min. section)
Content : Number and operations;
algebra and functions; geometry; statistics,
probability, and data analysis
Item Types : Five-choice multiple-choice
questions and student-produced responses
Score : 200-800
The SAT includes mathematics topics from up
through a third-year college preparatory course,
such as exponential growth, absolute value,
and functional notation. It also places emphasis
on such topics as linear functions, manipulations
with exponents, and properties of tangent
lines. Important skills such as estimation
and number sense are measured through the
multiple-choice and student response (grid-in)
questions.
May I use a calculator?
Yes. Students may use a four-function, scientific,
or graphing calculator. The College Board
recommends that students use a graphing (or
at least a scientific) calculator for the
SAT, although it's still possible to solve
every question without a calculator.
The mathematics section has two types of questions:
- Multiple Choice
- Student-Produced Response Questions
Multiple Choice
The questions that follow will give you an
idea of the type of mathematical thinking
required to solve problems on the SAT. First,
try to answer each question yourself, and
then read the solutions that follow. These
solutions may give you new insights into solving
the problems or point out techniques you'll
be able to use again. Most problems can be
solved in a variety of ways, so don't be concerned
if your method is different from the one given.
Note that the directions indicate that you
are to select the best of the choices given.
Student-Produced Responses
Questions
of this type have no answer choices provided.
Instead, you must solve the problem and fill
in your answer on a special grid. Ten questions
on the test will be of this type.
It is very important for you to understand
the directions for entering answers on the
grid!
You will lose valuable testing time if you
read the directions for the first time when
you take the test. The directions are fairly
simple, and the gridding technique is similar
to the way other machine-readable information
is entered on forms.
A primary advantage of this format is that
it allows you to enter the form of the answer
that you obtain, whether whole number, decimal,
or fraction. For example, if you obtain 2/5,
you can grid 2/5. If you obtain .4, you can
grid .4. Generally, you should grid the form
of the answer that you obtain naturally in
solving the problem. The grid will only hold
numbers that range from 0 to 9999. Decimals
and fractions can also be gridded.
When there is a range of possible correct
answers, your gridded response must lie within
the range. For example, consider a problem
for which all numbers between 4 and 5, exclusive,
are correct answers. For this question, although
4.0002 is within the range (4 < x <
5), its rounded value 4.00 is not within the
range and therefore would not be considered
a correct answer to the problem.
Approaches to Student-Produced Responses
Decide in which column you want to
begin gridding your answers before the test
starts. This strategy saves time.
We recommend that you grid the first (left-hand)
column of the grid or that you right-justify
your answers.
If the answer is zero, grid it in column 2,
3, or 4. Zero has been omitted from
column 1 to encourage you to grid the most
accurate values for rounded answers. For example,
an answer of 1/8 could also be gridded as
.125 but not as 0.12, which is less accurate.
A fraction does not have to be reduced
unless it will not fit the grid.
For example, 15/25 will not fit. You can grid
3/5, 6/10, or 9/15. The decimal form, .6,
can also be gridded.
Do your best to be certain of your
answer before you grid it. If you
erase your answer, do so completely. Incomplete
erasures may be picked up by the scoring machines
as intended answers.
Check your work if your answer does
not fit on the grid. If you obtain
a negative value, a value greater than 9999,
or an irrational number, you have made an
error.
Make an educated guess if you don't
know the answer. On student-produced
response (grid-in) questions you don't lose
points for wrong answers.
Always enter your answer on the grid.
Only answers entered on the grid are scored.
Your handwritten answer at the top of the
grid isn't scored. However, writing your answer
at the top of the grid may help you avoid
gridding errors.
The Writing Section
Time : 60 min.
Content : Grammar, usage, and word
choice
Item Types : Multiple choice questions
(35 min.) and student-written essay (25 min.)
Score : 200-800
The writing section includes both multiple-choice
questions and a direct writing measure in
the form of an essay.
Short Essay
- The short essay measures your ability to:
- Organize and express ideas clearly
- Develop and support the main idea
- Use appropriate word choice and sentence
structure
- You'll be asked to develop a point of a
view on an issue, using reasoning and evidence
— based on your own experiences,
readings, or observations — to support
your ideas.
- The essay will be scored by trained high
school and college teachers. Each reader will
give the essay a score from 1 to
6 (6 is the highest score) based on the overall
quality of the essay and your demonstration
of writing competence. Please
note that the essay images seen by readers
for scoring purposes are clearer than the
images we can display
for students and institutions on our website.
- Get more information about the essay:
- Sample Essay Question
- Essay Scoring Guide
Multiple-Choice
- The multiple-choice writing questions
measure your ability to:
- Improve sentences and paragraphs
- Identify errors (such as diction, grammar,
sentence construction, subject-verb agreement,
proper word usage, and wordiness)
- Try multiple-choice questions:
- Identifying Sentence Errors
- Improving Sentences
- Improving Paragraphs
About the SAT Subject Tests
The SAT Subject Tests measure your knowledge
and skills in particular subject areas,
and your ability to apply that knowledge.
The SAT Subject Tests are the only national
admissions tests that give you the opportunity
to demonstrate mastery of content in specific
subjects, such as English, history, mathematics,
science, and various foreign languages.
Many colleges use the SAT Subject Tests
for admission, for course placement, and
to advise students about course selection.
Some colleges specify the SAT Subject Tests
that they require for admission or placement;
others allow applicants to choose which
tests to take. These tests give you and
colleges a very reliable measure of how
prepared you are for college-level work
in particular subjects. Used in combination
with other background information (your
high school record, SAT scores, teacher
recommendations, etc.), they provide a dependable
measure of your academic achievement and
are a good predictor of future college performance
in specific subject areas.
The SAT Subject Tests offer you an additional
opportunity to show colleges what you know
and what you know you
can do.
SAT Subject Tests fall into five general
subject areas:
English
1. Literature
History
1. US History
2. World History
Mathematics
1. Mathematics Level 1
2. Mathematics Level 2
Science
1. Bilology E/M
2. Chemistry
3. Physics
All SAT Subject Tests are one-hour, multiple-choice
tests. However, some of these tests have
unique formats:
•
The
SAT Subject Test in Biology E/M
contains a common core of 60 general-knowledge
multiple-choice questions, followed by 20
multiple-choice questions that emphasize
either ecological (Biology E) or molecular
(Biology M) subject matter. Before testing
begins, you must choose which test you will
take, either the ecological or molecular.
Students are not allowed to take
both tests in one sitting. If you do, your
scores may be canceled.
•
The
SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics
(Level 1 and Level 2) have some
questions that require the use of at least
a scientific or graphing calculator. Mathematics
Subject Tests are developed with the expectation
that most students will use a graphing calculator.
•
The
SAT Subject Tests in Languages with
Listening (Chinese, French, German,
Japanese, Korean, and Spanish) consist of
a listening section and a reading section.
Students taking these tests are required
to bring an acceptable CD player with earphones
to the test center.
For more detailed information, including
recommended preparation, anticipated skills,
test format, sample questions, and more,
visit the Subject Tests Preparation Center.
Which SAT Subject Tests should you
take?
Before deciding which tests to take, make
a list of the colleges you're considering.
Then review school catalogs, College Search
Engines, or College Handbooks to find out
whether the schools require scores for admission
and, if so, how many tests and in which
subjects.
Use your list of colleges and their admission
requirements to help plan your high school
course schedule. You may want to adjust
your schedule in light of colleges' requirements.
For example, a college may require a score
from a SAT Subject Test in a language for
admission, or the college might exempt you
from a freshman course requirement if you
do well on a language SAT Subject Test.
Many colleges that don't require SAT Subject
Test scores will still review them since
they can give a fuller picture of your academic
background.
If you're not sure which SAT Subject Test
to take from a subject area, talk to your
teacher or school counselor and visit the
Subject Tests Preparation Center.
When should you take SAT Subject
Tests?
Most students take SAT Subject Tests toward
the end of their junior year or at the beginning
of their senior year.
Take tests such as World History, Biology
E/M, Chemistry, or Physics as soon as possible
after completing the course in the subject,
while the material is still fresh in your
mind. If you take such courses in your freshman
or sophomore year, and you are eligible
for fee waivers, you can request a fee waiver
to test before your junior year. For foreign
language tests, you'll do better after at
least two years of study.
The Unscored Section
In addition to the nine scored sections
of the SAT, there is one 25-minute section
that we use to ensure that the SAT continues
to be a fair and valid test. Don't be worried:
the section does not count towards your
score. It may be a critical reading, mathematics,
or writing multiple-choice section.
It is common test development to use an
unscored section to try out new questions
for future editions of the test. It also
ensures that scores on new editions of the
SAT are comparable to scores on earlier
editions of the test. This helps to ensure
the fairness of the SAT, which is one of
our primary objectives.
Test Order
The SAT is comprised of 10 total testing
sections. The first section is always a
25-minute essay, and the last section is
always a 10-minute multiple-choice writing
section. Sections two through seven are
25-minute sections. Sections eight and nine
are 20-minute sections. Test-takers sitting
next to each other in the same session may
have test books with entirely different
content orders for sections two through
nine (mathematics, critical reading, and
writing).
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