SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)

  1. Home
  2. SAT

SAT is a pre-requisite Reasoning Test for admission into any Bachelors Degree Program in USA and is conducted by College Board. The test score of SAT is valid up to 5 years from the test date.

  • Total Marks-1600 plus 24 for optional Essay
  • CBT/PBT (Computer Based Test/Paper Based Test)
  • Total Time-3 hrs Plus 50 minutes
  • 3 Parts (Reading, Writing and Language, Math) plus optional Essay

Marks :-

Reading 400
Writing and Language 400
Math 800
Essay 24
Sections Mathematics Section Reading Section Writing and Language Section Essay Section
Time 80 minutes 65 minutes 35 minutes 50 minutes
Sections
  • 25-mins. Part I
  • 55-mins. Part II

5 types of questions you should expect to see on your test day something like the following mentioned below (Not necessarily in the exact order)

  • Question 1 to 10-US/word literature passage
  • Questions 11 to 21- Social Studies passage (with graphic)
  • Questions 22 to 31-Science paired passage
  • Questions 32 to 42-Social Studies passage (US founding document/global conversation)
  • Questions 43 to 52-Science passage (with graphic)

4 types of questions you should expect to see on your test something similar to the following mentioned below (Likely in a different order)

  • Questions 1 to 11 - Career-related topic
  • Questions 12 to 22 – Humanities
  • Questions 23 to 33 - Social Studies
  • Questions 34 to 44 - Science

5 paragraphs will be given wherein you have to write an essay analyzing how the author of the given passage has made his/her argument

Content
  • Number & operations
  • Algebra & Functions
  • Geometry
  • Statistics
  • Probability & Data Analysis
  • Critical Reading
  • Reading comprehension
  • Sentence completions & paragraph-length
Grammar, usage, and word choice 150-200 words
Marks 800 400 400 24
Test Starts With Reading Section
  • In this section, you have to read 5 passages
  • There are 52 questions on Reading Test
  • In that, 5 types of questions you should expect to see on your test day something like the following mentioned below (Not necessarily in the exact order)
  • Time-65 minutes

  • Question 1 to 10 - US/word literature passage
  • Questions 11 to 21 - Social Studies passage (with graphic)
  • Questions 22 to 31 - Science paired passage
  • Questions 32 to 42 - Social Studies passage (US founding /global conversation)
  • Questions 43 to 52 - Science passage (with graphic)

All the questions are multiple- choice questions, so you have to select the correct one based on the given passages

The key points to be focused or need to be underlined while reading passages-

  • 1. Main idea of the passage
  • 2. Specific details
  • 3. The author’s attitude about the subject
  • 4. The author’s logic and techniques displayed in the passage
  • 5. The implications of the discussion
  • 6. The meaning of the specific words (vocabulary questions)
Next Writing and Language Test
  • In this section, you have to read 4 passages and need to find grammatical error and select the correct one from the given choices
  • There are 44 questions on Writing and Language Test
  • In that, 4 types of questions you should expect to see on your test something similar to the following mentioned below (Likely in a different order)
  • Time- 35 minutes

  • Questions 1 to 11 - Career-related topic
  • Questions 12 to 22 - Humanities
  • Questions 23 to 33 - Social Studies
  • Questions 34 to 44 - Science

All the questions are multiple- choice questions- you have to select the correct one the given in the options.

In that, paragraphs are underlined and marked with respective question numbers in sequence.

In this section, you can follow skim reading (read underlined sentences) to analyze the errors made in the underlined word or sentence and can select the correct answer from the given choices (to get correct answer for some question read the whole paragraph).

Points to be understood in this section-

  • 1. Improve the equality of the author’s message
  • 2. Grammar usages and mechanics
  • 3. Info graphic- a table, chart, graph, map, or some combination of graphics
  • 4. Rhetorical statements
Next Math Section
  • In this section, there are total 58 questions divided into 2 portions, each of which has its own format.
  • Part - 1 (No calculator) - There are 20 questions, Time- 25 minutes. In this portion, you will get 15 multiple choice questions and 5 grid-in questions
  • Part - 2 (With Calculator) - There are 38 questions, Time-55 minutes In this portion, you will get 30 multiple choice questions and 8 grid-in questions

SAT covers Math as follows :-

  • 1. Numbers and Operations (20-25%)
  • 2. Algebra and Functions (35-40%)
  • 3. Geometry and Measurement (25-30%)
  • 4. Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability (10-15%)
Last Section – Essay

This section comes at the end of the test. Essay writing is optional –does not affect your composite SAT score.

Time- 50 minutesMarks-24

  • Here, you will be given a passage of 5 paragraphs. You have to write an essay analyzing how the author of the given passage has made his/her argument
  • You have to interpret the source text accurately
  • Your written essay will be scored by two graders from 1 to 4 in three categories: Reading, Analyzing, and Writing
  • Category scores are then combined and reported separately (i.e. 2-8 for Reading; 2-8 for Analyzing; 2-8 for Writing)

Your time will be allotted as follows :-

Reading the source 4-10 minutes
Prewriting 1-5 minutes
Writing Essay 35-45 minutes
Editing 0-5 minutes
Total 50 minutes

Following key words need to be used to display author’s idea :-

  • For Evidence - Statistics, Authoritative, Observation and Opinion, Anecdote, Historical Allusion, Current Events Media
  • Reasoning - Contrast, Reciprocity, Consistency, Cause and Effect, Comparison and Analogy, Rhetorical Questions
  • Style and Persuasion - Sensory Language, Emotional Appeal (Ethos), Logical Appeal (logos), Emotions (Pathos), Irony, Sarcasm, Hyperbole