SATadvice

Table of contents

1. What is the SAT Test?
2. What Dates is the SAT offered?
3. How can I register for the Test?
4. How much does the SAT test Cost?
5. What Questions are on the SAT?
6. How is the SAT Scored?
7. How is the Essay Scored

What is the SAT Test?

The SAT is one of the most widely used admissions exams for colleges and universities in the United States. The exam is administered seven times a year in the United States and six times a year for students living outside the United States.

The SAT measures students’ knowledge of reading, writing and mathematics based on what they should have learned in high school, and what they will need to succeed in college. The exam is typically taken by high school seniors and is meant to be a demonstrative of their critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.

The SAT test is comprised of three sections; Critical Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Each section is worth 800 possible points, for a combined total of 2400 possible points. The exam itself varies in format and includes multiple choice questions, Grid-Ins (math section only) and a short essay.

What Dates is the SAT Test offered?

The SAT is given seven times a year in the United States (October | November | December | January | March or April | May | June). The table below is the most up-to-date schedule published by the College Board; you can always see the official schedule here.

How Can I Register for the SAT Test?

The easiest way to Register for the SAT is through the College Board’s website. To register or learn more about fees and your registration options, click here.

How much does the SAT cost?

Online Registration is currently $45 dollars. Additional fees apply for registering over the phone or if you request scores to be sent to more than four schools. A detailed fee breakdown can be found here.  Lastly, some students may be eligible for fee waivers details can be found here.

Question Breakdown by Type and Section:

Math (70 minutes in total)

• 25 minute section with 20 Multiple Choice questions
• 25 minute section with 8 Multiple Choice questions and 10 Grid-In questions
• 20 minute section with 16 Multiple Choice questions

Critical Reading (70 minutes in total)

• 25 minute section with 24 questions comprised of:
  • 8 Sentence Completion questions
  • 4 Short Critical Reading Passage questions
  • 12 Critical Reading questions from 1 passage
• 25 minute section with 24 questions comprised of:
  • 5 Sentence Completions questions
  • 4 Short Critical Reading Passage questions
  • 15 Critical Reading questions from 2 distinct passages
• 20 minute section with 19 questions:
  • 6 Sentence Completions questions
  • 13 Critical Reading questions from 2 related passage
    • 4-5 questions relating to Passage 1
    • 4-5 questions relating to Passage 2
    • 2-4 questions asking you to compare/contrast the two passages

Writing (60 minutes in total)

• 25 minute section with 1 Essay
• 25 minute section with 35 questions broken down into the following:
  • 11 Improving Sentences questions
  • 18 Identifying Sentence Errors questions
  • 6 Improving Paragraphs questions
• 10 minute section with 14 Improving Sentences questions

How is the SAT Scored?

The SAT is scored based on two separate calculations. First you have a “Raw Score”, which is the actual number of points earned. Then the Raw Score is converted to a “Scaled Score” by a statistical process called equating (think of a bell curve). Since there are over two million students taking the test annually (and there are different versions of the test), Raw Scores need to be converted into Scaled Scores in order to even out variances and ensure an even distribution.

The Raw Score is calculated as follows:

• For each correct answer you get one point (+1)
• For each wrong multiple choice answer you lose one-forth of a point (-1/4)
• No points are lost for wrong student produced response questions (Grid-Ins)
• For each question you omit or leave blank you don’t lose any points

The Scaled Score:

• The Raw Score from above is converted into a Scaled Score by equating, then each section is reported on a 200 to 800 point scale
  • Equating ensures that different forms of the test and test taking ability of other students do not affect your score
  • Equating also makes it possible to compare test takers who take different editions of the SAT over different time periods

Subscores (Writing Section)

You are probably wondering about the Writing Section, more specifically the Essay. Before we discuss the Essay, lets talk about the multiple choice questions on the Writing Section. The multiple-choice questions are calculated just like the other multiple choice questions on the Math and Critical Reading sections.

The Essay is reported on a 2 to 12 point scale. Each Essay is independently scored by two readers on a 1 to 6 point scale; neither reader knows the others score and they do not know your name or school information. If their 1 to 6 scores differ by more than one point, a third reader scores the Essay. The multiple-choice Writing Section counts for approximately 70 percent of the total Raw Score, and the Essay counts for 30 percent. Once totaled, your Raw Score is converted into a Scaled Score between 200 and 800 points.

Essay Scoring Guide

The essay is scored by experienced and trained teachers. Each essay is scored by two people who won’t one another’s score. They won’t know your identity or school either. Each reader will give the essay a score from 1 to 6 (6 is the highest score) based on the following scoring guide — taken directly from www.collegeboard.com.

SCORE OF 6

An essay in this category demonstrates clear and consistent mastery, although it may have a few minor errors. A typical essay

• effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position
• is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas
• exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary
• demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure
• is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

SCORE OF 5

An essay in this category demonstrates reasonably consistent mastery, although it will have occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay

• effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position
• is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas
• exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary
• demonstrates variety in sentence structure
• is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

SCORE OF 4

An essay in this category demonstrates adequate mastery, although it will have lapses in quality. A typical essay

• develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position
• is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas
• exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary
• demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
• has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

SCORE OF 3

An essay in this category demonstrates developing mastery, and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:

• develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, but may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position
• is limited in its organization or focus, or may demonstrate some lapses in coherence or progression of ideas
• displays developing facility in the use of language, but sometimes uses weak vocabulary or inappropriate word choice
• lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure
• contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

SCORE OF 2

An essay in this category demonstrates little mastery, and is flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:

• develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, and demonstrates weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufficient examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position
• is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas
• displays very little facility in the use of language, using very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice
• demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure
• contains errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics so serious that meaning is somewhat obscured

SCORE OF 1

An essay in this category demonstrates very little or no mastery, and is severely flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:

• develops no viable point of view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to support its position
• is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay
• displays fundamental errors in vocabulary
• demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure
• contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that persistently interfere with meaning

Essays not written will receive a score of zero.