SAT Overview and Sections

Study Notes

The SAT

The Scholastic Assessment Test, commonly known as the SAT, is a standardized test widely used by American colleges and universities to make decisions about college admissions and scholarships. The SAT measures critical thinking, problem solving, reasoning ability, and knowledge that are essential for academic success.

The three main sections of the SAT are Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Mathematics, and the optional Essay. Each section is scored on a scale of 200–800, and the total score ranges from 400–1600.

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section

This component assesses a student's ability to analyze and interpret texts, understand relationships between ideas, and write clear and concise responses.

Mathematics Section

The Math section tests knowledge and understanding of mathematical concepts from algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and data analysis. This section includes both multiple-choice questions and grid-in problems that require students to fill in the missing answers on a chart or graph using numbers provided.

Essay (Optional)

The optional essay is designed to test a student's ability to write a clear, coherent argument supported by evidence from a reading passage. The prompt requires students to read a text with care and respond to it within 50 minutes. The grading scale for the essay ranges from 0 to 12 points.

Scoring and Reporting

Raw scores are converted into scaled scores, which range from 200 to 800 for each section. These subscores are combined to create a total score between 400 and 1600. Additionally, three "cross-test" scores are calculated to show how well a student does in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Mathematics, and Total Performance compared to their peers in their school district and nationwide. Subsection percentiles provide more detailed information about how a student performed within specific areas of the exam. Educational Testing Service provides official SAT score reports to schools, colleges, and universities after the student agrees to release them.

Description

This quiz provides an overview of the SAT exam, including its purpose, structure, and scoring system. Learn about the three main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Mathematics, and the optional Essay.