SAT I Test Prep

SAT Content and Format

The SAT tests three subjects: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. The test is broken into ten sections: three each for critical reading, math, and writing, and one experimental section, which is used to test questions for future administrations of the SAT and does not count toward the final score. Above all, it tests critical thinking. For many students, the most difficult part of the test is not answering the questions themselves, but deciphering what exactly is being asked. The test contains 3 hours and 45 minutes of material, but including orientation and breaks, students should expect the test to take about 4 hours and 30 minutes, unless that student has qualified for extended time. The test format is multiple-choice, with the exception of the first writing section, which is a 25-minute essay, and 9 “grid-in” math questions, where the student must provide their own answers.

One point is awarded for each correct answer, one-quarter of a point deducted for each incorrect answer (except in the math grid-ins, where no points are deducted), and no points are lost or gained for unanswered questions. Scores range from 200-800 in each subject, and the three subject scores are added together to create a composite score ranging from 600-2400.

National Average Percentiles:

SAT I Content

Critical Reading

The Critical Reading section is made up two types of questions: Sentence Completions, and Passage-based Reading.

• Sentence Completions comprise about 30% of questions, are arranged in order of increasing difficulty, and test a student’s vocabulary in context, and ability to follow the logic of complex sentences. Students are given sentences containing either one or two blanks, and asked to choose the word or words that best fit.
• Short Passages and Long passages make up the rest of Critical Reading sections. Short Passages are about 150 words in length; Long passages are about 500 words. Students are asked to answer questions based on each passage. Passage-based Reading questions test a student’s reading comprehension, reasoning abilities, and vocabulary in context.

Math

On the SAT math questions are divided into two types: multiple-choice, and grid-ins, in which the student must write in the answer (there are only 9 grid-in questions on the test). SAT math questions are arranged in order of increasing difficulty, and test a student’s grasp of the following subjects:

• Arithmetic — operations, ratio and proportion, counting, elementary number theory, matrices, sequences, series
• Algebra — functions, expressions, equations
• Geometry — measurement, lines, right triangles, circles, solids, surfaces
• Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability—mean, median, mode, graphs

Writing

The Writing section was added to the SAT in 2005, and is comprised of an essay, and two sections containing multiple-choice questions. The essay is always the first section on the test. In that section, students are asked to write an essay based on a specific question, expressing a strong point of view through the use of examples from literature and art, history, current events, and personal experience. The multiple-choice questions are divided into three categories:

• Improving Sentences, in which students are asked to choose the best version of part of a given sentence.
• Identifying Sentence Errors, in which students are asked to identify (but not correct) the error in a given sentence.
• Improving Paragraphs, in which students are asked various questions about how to improve a given piece of writing.