SAT Questions
What’s on the SAT?
The SAT Reasoning Test is composed of three sections: Critical Reading, Writing, and
Math.
SAT Critical Reading: This section contains multiple-choice questions that test sentence
completion and passage-based reading. The SAT critical reading section takes 70 minutes
(two 25-mininute sections and one 20-minute section).
SAT Writing: This section consists of multiple-choice questions and an essay and tests
your ability to recognize sentence errors, improve paragraphs, and write an essay. The
SAT writing section takes 60 minutes (two 25-minute sections, one 10-minute section).
SAT Math: This section is made up of multiple-choice and grid-in questions and tests
Algebra, Geometry, Statistics & Data Analysis, and Geometry. The SAT math section
takes 70 minutes (two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section).
How is the SAT scored?
The SAT is scored out of 2400. There are three sections, and each section is worth 800.
The sections scores are added together to make up your total score.
Sample SAT score
Critical Reading
550
Math Writing Essay Total
650
630
8
1830
How is the SAT essay scored?
SAT essays are graded on a scale of 1 to 6 by two essay graders. The two scores are
added together for your essay score. A perfect score on the SAT essay is 12. Your essay
score is factored into your total writing score.
What’s a good score on the SAT?
A perfect score on the SAT is a 2400. A “good” score depends what college you want to
go to. We recommend looking at schools' admissions pages on their websites to find out
what scores specific schools require. This will help you set your goal score for the SAT.
Should I guess on the SAT?
Guessing isn't always the best choice to make on the SAT. A quarter of a point is
subtracted from your score for every multiple-choice question you answer incorrectly.
However, if you don't answer a question at all, nothing is subtracted from your score.
This means, generally, that if you have no idea what the answer to the question is, it's
better to skip it. However, if you are able to eliminate some of the answers to narrow
down the choices, it may make sense to guess.
Will colleges see all my SAT scores?
The College Board, the company that administers the SAT, has a new policy on reporting
your scores called Score ChoiceTM. Score Choice lets you choose the score you want
colleges to see. That means if you take the SAT twice and your second score is higher,
that's the only one the college you apply to will be able to see.
However, some schools choose not to participate in Score Choice so these schools can
see all of your SAT scores. Make sure to check the policy of the schools you're applying
to.
When should I take the SAT?
Generally, the best time to take the SAT is in the spring of your junior year. This gives
you plenty of time to re-take the SAT, if necessary. Most students start preparing for the
SAT by the fall of their junior year.
If you have any questions about your SAT testing timeline, please do not hesitate to
contact us at (877) 738-7737. Our experienced and knowledgeable test prep counselors
are always available to help you understand the college admissions process and plan your
testing schedule.
Can I take a practice test to see how I’d do on the SAT?
Spring Branch administers the PSAT test (practice SAT) in the fall (October) of the
junior year. Results, along with an explanation of those results will be given to the
students. From this, students can then plan their SAT test preparation strategies. This
testing is also the initial screening for The National Merit® Scholarship Program - an
academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955.
**Sophomores have an opportunity to take the PSAT on a weekend in October for a fee.
(Usually around $30). Sophomores who are serious about maximizing the PSAT score
during the junior year for National Merit Consideration should consider this testing
opportunity. Only the junior year testing is considered for the National Merit
Scholarship competition.**
SAT
vs.
ACT
reasoning test
Type of Test
content-based test
Critical Reading: 2, 25-min Test Format
sections and 1, 20-min
section; Math: 2, 25-min
sections and 1, 20-min
section; Writing: 1, 25-min
essay, 1, 25-min section, and
1, 10-min section
English: 1, 45-min section;
Math: 1, 60-min section;
Reading: 1, 35-min section;
Science: 1, 35-min section;
Writing: 1, 30-min essay
(optional)
reading, vocabulary,
grammar & usage, writing,
and math
Content
Covered
grammar & usage, math,
reading, science reasoning, and
writing (optional)
tricky, questions can be
phrased in ways that make
them difficult to decipher
Test Style
straightforward, questions may
be long but are usually less
difficult to decipher
Math, Critical Reading, and
Writing scores will each
range between a 200-800;
total SAT score ranges
between 600-2400
Scoring
English, Math, Reading, and
Science scores will each range
between 1-36. Composite
ACT score is the average of
your scores on the four
sections; ranges between 1-36
yes – you lose ¼ of a point
for incorrect answers (except
on the grid-in math
questions)
Penalty for
Wrong
Answers?
no – you do not lose points for
incorrect answers
yes – you can choose which
set(s) of SAT scores to
submit to colleges
Score
Choice?
yes – you can choose which
set(s) of ACT scores to submit
to colleges
questions increase in
difficulty level as you move
through that question type in
a section (except reading
passage questions, which
progress chronologically
through the passage)
Difficulty
Levels
difficulty level of the questions
is random
arithmetic, data analysis,
algebra I and II, functions,
geometry; formulas are
provided in the test booklet
Math Levels
arithmetic, algebra I and II,
functions, geometry,
trigonometry; no formulas are
provided
private schools; schools on
the east and west coasts
Preferred
by?
public schools; schools in the
Midwest and south; however,
every four-year college in the
US accepts ACT scores
seven times per year:
January, March or April,
May, June, October,
November, December
Offered
when?
six times per year: February,
April, June, September,
October, December (note that
some states offer the ACT as
part of their state testing
requirements; these tests are
not administered on the
national test dates)
typically about four weeks
before the test date
Registration
deadline?
typically about five to six
weeks before the test date
www.collegeboard.com
More
Information
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