ALL ABOUT THE SATThe Most Popular College Entrance Exam
The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is one of the two most important tests you'll take in high school. The SAT (and alternatively the ACT) determines your eligibility to go to many competitive colleges - in fact the SAT is used (in addition to other factors) by most colleges in the United States. Different colleges weigh your SAT scores differently, but in some cases they can be nearly as important as your GPA. The SAT is primarily a test of your natural aptitude in a variety of academic areas, as opposed to a test measuring your knowledge and understanding of specific subjects.
The exam was created by the College Board, and is now administered by ETS in conjunction with The College Board.
Exam Registration
It is possible to register online, at www.collegeboard.com. By this method, you can register, starting in May, for tests to be given the following school year. You can also register by phone, at 1-800-SAT-SCOR (1-800-728-7267). Fax registration is available for those living outside the U.S., and mail registration is available for those testing under Services for Students with Disabilities, or who need other special accommodations. Credit card payment is required for online, telephone, and fax registration.
When To Take The SAT
The SAT should generally be taken two times, once during the Spring of your junior year and again in the Fall of your senior year.
Preparing To Take The Test
The SAT is a critically important test and will be a major factor in determining where you go to college. Each year millions of students spend billions of dollars on books, courses, and tutoring in order to get a higher score on their SAT test.
Be Familiar with the Test
Going into an SAT exam without getting any idea of what the test looks like is a big mistake. Getting familiar with it beforehand enables you to spend less time figuring out how to proceed on the test when you're actually taking it.
What Does The Test Cover?
The SAT sections cover writing, critical reading, and mathematics. The math is high school geometry, algebra, statistics, and probability. You are allowed to use a calculator on the math section. The critical reading section includes sentence completion, reading comprehension, and paragraph-length critical reading. The writing section includes multiple choice questions and an essay.
Writing Section
This section has a multiple choice section on grammar and usages and an essay section. You have 60 minutes to complete this section.
Critical Reading Section
This section covers critical reading and sentence-level reading. You have 70 minutes to complete this section.
Math Section
This section covers algebra, geometry, and statistics. It includes multiple choice and grid-in questions. You have 70 minutes to complete this section.
SAT vs ACT
The SAT is different from the ACT, although both tests are used by admissions departments. The ACT, as we discuss in its own article, has four curriculum areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning. The SAT is a test of more general verbal, mathematical, and writing skills.
How Many Times Can I Take The Test?
You can take the SAT as many times as you like, and generally only the highest score you've attained (even if it is not the most recent) is the only one considered. It is also administered several times a year to give you the opportunity to take it again. Remember, though, that colleges will see all of the scores from each attempt.
How Is Scoring Done?
For each of the Verbal, Math, and Writing sections you can get a scaled score between 200 and 800. The maximum score you can get is 2400.
The scoring for the SAT is relatively simple. You get one point for each question you get right, and lose 1/4 of a point for each incorrect answer. For grid-in answers there is no penalty for an incorrect answer. For example, for one recent test, you could answer up to four of the 78 verbal questions wrong and still get a perfect 800. There are 60 math questions and 78 verbal questions.