SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test
The SAT is a standardized test designed to measure basic critical reading, math
and writing skills. Most colleges and universities request ACT or SAT score results
from applicants. Students may usually take their test of choice, but it is best
to check with schools of interest before selecting (unless the student plans to
take both exams). Standardized tests are an important factor in the admissions process,
and students should do their best to show schools that they know their stuff. The
SAT is composed of three main sections, each with its own subsections. The three
major sections will be graded on a scale of 200-800. The final score will be the
sum of all sections, a number between 600 and 2400. Here is what you can expect
to see in each section.
- The Writing - The writing section of the test is 60 minutes long
and is composed of both multiple choice questions and an essay. The SAT will begin
with the 25 minute essay. Students will be asked to express their position on a
provided passage and to support their opinions with evidence. The essay will be
scored on a scale of 1 to 6. The multiple choice portion of the writing section
is composed of 49 questions that test the student’s ability to clearly communicate
ideas, identify grammatical errors and to improve sentences and paragraphs. Students
will have 35 minutes to complete this portion of the test.
- The Math - The math section is 70 minutes long and composed of
both multiple choice questions and student-produced response questions. Luckily,
only 10 are student produced. In this section, you may find questions dealing with
numbers and operations, algebra, geometry and data analysis among others. Students
are allowed to use their calculators, but some restrictions apply. Permitted calculators
include ones that are scientific, graphic and four-function.
- The Critical Reading - The critical reading section tests a student’s
ability to understand what they have read, quickly. Like the math section, it is
70 minutes in length. Two different question types can be found in this section,
the sentence completion and the passage-based reading. There will be 19 sentence
completion questions on the test. To answer these questions, students will have
to choose which one or two words best complete the sentence blanks. Their vocabulary
skills and their ability to understand how sentence parts fit together will be tested.
There are also 48 passage-based reading questions in this section. These are composed
of short passages followed by questions that deal with them.
When taking the test, keep in mind that points may be deducted for certain incorrect
answers. Points will not be deducted for those that are left blank. If you are completely
clueless about the answer, it may be in your best interest to leave the answer blank.
However, if you can eliminate at least one or two answers, it’s worth a shot. The
amount deducted for incorrect answers is lower than the amount received for correct
ones.
The SAT is administered seven times per year, and students who are not satisfied
with their score may retake the exam. If you wish to take the test again, make sure
to plan ahead. It’s important to submit scores to schools on time. Meanwhile, prepare.
A low score may not ruin your chance to attend the school of your dreams, but a
good one can definitely increase it.
Sample Questions