SAT Key Facts:
- The digital SAT is developed and delivered by College Board, a non-profit organization in the USA.
- SAT is offered internationally in most countries seven times each year–in August, October, November, December, January, May, and June.
- SAT is more closely aligned with the knowledge and skills that are taught at high schools.
- It does not assess how well you have memorized a large set of facts. Rather, it evaluates your ability to apply the knowledge and skills you will need in college and career.
- Your SAT Score Report will also include the percentile rank, which ranges from 1 to 99, for each score. Your percentile rank indicates the percentage of test-takers who scored at or below your score.
- Registering for the SAT allows you to send your results to up to four institutions.
SAT Scores:
Total Score: 400-1600
Reading and Writing: 200-800
Math: 200-800
SAT Structure:
The digital SAT consists of two sections: Reading and Writing and Math. You have 64 minutes to complete the Reading and Writing section and 70 minutes to complete the Math section for a total of 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Each section is divided into 2 equal length modules, and there is a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing section and the Math section. The first module of each section contains a broad mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on how you perform on the first module, you will receive questions in the second module.
Component Time Allotted (minutes) Number of Questions/Tasks
Reading and Writing 64 (two 32-minute modules) 54
Math 70 (two 35-minute modules) 44
Total 134 98
Most of the questions are multiple choice, though some of the math questions ask you to enter the answer rather than select it.
On all questions, there's no penalty for guessing: if you're not sure of the answer, it's better to guess than leave the response blank.
The Reading and Writing Section:
The Reading and Writing section presents short reading passages (or passage pairs) followed by a single multiple-choice question. Questions on the Reading and Writing section represent one of four content domains—Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas.
What the Reading and Writing Passages Are Like
The passages in the Reading and Writing section range from 25 to 150 words, and they are taken out from literature, history/social studies, the humanities, and science.
What the Reading and Writing Questions Are Like
The questions on the Reading and Writing section fall into four content domains:
Information and Ideas
Measures comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills and knowledge and the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information and ideas from texts and informational graphics (tables, bar graphs, and line graphs).
Craft and Structure
Measures the comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning skills and knowledge needed to understand and use high-utility words and phrases in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and make connections between topically related texts.
Expression of Ideas
Measures the ability to revise texts to improve the effectiveness of written expression and to meet specific rhetorical goals.
Standard English Conventions
Measures the ability to edit text to conform to core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.
The Math Section:
The Math section focuses on the areas of math that play the biggest role in college and career success:
• Algebra
• Advanced Math
• Problem-Solving and Data Analysis
• Geometry and Trigonometry
Like the Reading and Writing section, the Math section is divided into 2 modules. Over the course of the Math section, you’ll answer multiple-choice and student-produced response questions that measure your fluency with, understanding of, and ability to apply the math concepts, skills, and practices that are most essential.
Approximately 30% of Math questions are set in context. These in-context ("word") questions require you to consider a science, social studies, or real-world scenario and apply your math skills and knowledge, along with an understanding of the context, to determine the answer to each.
