Everything to Know about SAT Test

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States, equivalent to JAMB in Nigeria.

SAT also known as  Scholastic Assessment Test, is an important requirement when applying for admission in almost all American universities and is available to students outside the United States.

The SAT is wholly owned, developed, and published by the College Board, a private, not-for-profit organization in the United States. It is administered on behalf of the College Board by the Educational Testing Service, an Examination Board also in charge of TOEFL

The SAT is offered seven times a year in the United States: in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. For international students SAT is offered four times a year: in October, December, March, and May

The test is typically offered on the first Saturday of the month for the October, November, December, May, and June administrations. 

Candidates wishing to take the test may register online at the College Board’s website or by mail at least three weeks before the test date.

Structure  of the SAT Test

The SAT test has two main sections, namely Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW, normally known as the “English” portion of the test) and the Math section. These are both further broken down into four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Math. The test taker was also optionally able to write an essay which, in that case, is the fifth test section. The total time for the scored portion of the SAT is three hours (or three hours and fifty minutes if the optional essay section was taken).

Reading Test

The Reading Test of the SAT contains one section of 52 questions and a time limit of 65 minutes. All questions are multiple-choice and based on reading passages. Tables, graphs, and charts may accompany some passages, but no math is required to correctly answer the corresponding questions. There are five passages (up to two of which may be a pair of smaller passages) on the Reading Test and 10-11 questions per passage or passage pair. SAT Reading passages draw from three main fields: history, social studies, and science. Each SAT Reading Test always includes one passage from U.S. or world literature; one passage from either a U.S. founding document or a related text; one passage about economics, psychology, sociology, or another social science; and, two science passages. Answers to all of the questions are based only on the content stated in or implied by the passage or passage pair.

The Reading Test contributes (with the Writing and Language Test) to two subscores, each ranging from 1 to 15 points:

• Command of Evidence
• Words in Context

Writing and Language Test

The Writing and Language Test of the SAT is made up of one section with 44 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 35 minutes. As with the Reading Test, all questions are based on reading passages which may be accompanied by tables, graphs, and charts. The test taker will be asked to read the passages, suggest corrections or improvements for the contents underlined. Reading passages on this test range in content from topic arguments to nonfiction narratives in a variety of subjects. The skills being evaluated include: increasing the clarity of argument; improving word choice; improving analysis of topics in social studies and science; changing a sentence or word structure to increase organizational quality and impact of writing; and, fixing or improving sentence structure, word usage, and punctuation.

The Writing and Language Test reports two subscores, each ranging from 1 to 15 points:

• Expression of Ideas
• Standard English Conventions

Mathematics

The mathematics portion of the SAT is divided into two sections: Math Test – No Calculator and Math Test – Calculator. In total, the SAT math test is 80 minutes long and includes 58 questions: 45 multiple choice questions and 13 grid-in questions. The multiple-choice questions have four possible answers; the grid-in questions are free-response and require the test taker to provide an answer.

• The Math Test – No Calculator section has 20 questions (15 multiple choice and 5 grid-in) and lasts 25 minutes.
• The Math Test – Calculator section has 38 questions (30 multiple choice and 8 grid-in) and lasts 55 minutes.

Fees

The SAT costs US$49.50  (US$64.50 with the optional essay), plus additional fees of over US$45 if testing outside the United States as of 2019. The College Board makes fee waivers available for low-income students. Additional fees apply for late registration, standby testing, registration changes, scores by telephone, and extra score reports (beyond the four provided for free).