Overview

The SAT is a standardized test taken by thousands of (primarily) high school seniors each year, the results of which are a major selection criteria to colleges. While not all schools require the SAT, most do. The SAT tests students on material they learn in high school, focusing on the ability of the student to apply that knowledge in various problem scenarios. The critical thinking skills used to solve the problems are necessary to succeed in college. While the SAT is definitely not the only indicator of college success, it has proven to be a reliable measure of college success in the United States for decades.

Exam A-B-Cs

The SAT has three sections: Math, Critical Reading and Writing (including the essay). The test lasts 3 hours, 45 minutes, has a total score of 2400. Each section is scored on a 200 to 800 point scale. The SAT is administered 7 times per year. Click here for the SAT registration calendar.

• 54 questions
• 70 minutes

• Arithmetic, Algebra I & II and Geometry

• 67 questions
• 70 minutes

• Tests Critical reading, diction and vocabulary

• 49 multiple choice questions
• One essay
• Tests grammar, usage, word choice

• Total of 60 minutes, including 25 minutes for the essay

SAT Subject Tests

In addition to the standard SAT, there are 20 SAT Subject Tests in five general subject areas: English, History, Languages, Math and Science. You can choose the Subject test that you are best at. Each test is 60 minutes and content based.

You may want to consider taking SAT subject tests to provide colleges a more complete picture of your interests and academic potential, and could show admission offices your readiness for certain majors in college. Colleges may extend credit for introductory level courses, or use the scores to place students into appropriate courses.

Scoring

Each section is scored on a 200 to 800 point scale, making the “perfect” score 2400. The current average overall SAT score is 500. Is the score good enough? That really depends on the weight placed on SAT scores by a school. The admissions offices at the schools you are interested in will give you more information on the weight given to SAT scores.

While SAT scores are an extremly important admissions factor, they are by no means the only one. High school GPAs, personal essays, and letters of recommendation, are all key factors. The SAT is also not the only standardized test that colleges will accept. Most, if not all U.S colleges and universities will accept ACT scores in lieu of SAT scores.

Choosing to release your scores

Once you take your SAT, you will be allowed to pick and choose the SAT scores that you want released to the colleges of your choice. The program, called Score Choice , is optional, ad at no cost to students. It gives students the option of choosing their best SAT score to send to colleges. Remember, you must choose ScoreChoice, otherwise all test results will be sent to the specified schools by default. Also keep in mind that scores from an entire SAT test will be sent – not individual sections. Plus, colleges need to paprticipate in the program as well! Your favorite college may be one that has opted out of this program and require you to report every SAT score. More on ScoreChoice.

Canceling your score

After you take the test, and believe you could have done much better, you have the choice of canceling your score. Be sure to ask the test supervisor for a “Request to cancel test score” form. You may submit the completed form to ETS at the testing center itself, or do it no later than the Wednesday after the test. Think out our score cancellation strategy in advance, before the exam.

PSAT

The PSAT is the Practice-SAT which is very similar to the SAT, in that it contains three sections: math, verbal and English grammar, but unlike the SAT, it does not contain an essay section. While some students take the PSAT in their sophomore year to get a feel for the exam, most do so in their Junior year of high school. Not only are the PSATs a great way to experience the SAT, they are are widely used by colleges as a criterion for admission. But most importantly, PSAT scores are used to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Each PSAT section is scored on a scale of 20 to 80 (vs. 200-800 for the SAT) and these scores are combined to create the National Merit Scholarship selection index.

Fees and Registration

It costs $49 to register for the SAT. SAT Subject tests registration fees are additional. For more information on payment methods, Subject fees, and waivers, here.