Examining the SAT
By Alexander M.
SAT Exam By zimmytws from Getty Images Pro; Created in Canva
The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is a College Board test that is used for admissions into colleges and universities around the world. This test consists of four individual sections split into two halves with one going over English and the other going over math. The SAT has a 1600 point scale with each individual section counting for 400 points. The English half consists of a reading part and a writing and language section, while the math half contains a mental math portion and a calculator math section (Khan Academy). Each of these sections are unique and go over different topics and concepts. While this article will focus on the layout of the SAT, information regarding when a student should prepare for the SAT and learn its importance can be found in the Preparing for the SAT article in the December 2023 publication (coming soon).
The reading section of the SAT is 65 minutes long and contains 52 questions (Khan Academy). These questions analyze four given passages in this section. These passages, as well as the ones in the writing and language portion of the test, go over a variety of different topics from different works of literature to social studies (Khan Academy). This section of the SAT is filled with many challenging questions regarding each passage and its use of vocabulary.
The writing and language section of the SAT is 35 minutes long and contains 44 questions (Khan Academy). These questions primarily focus on the use of proper grammar and punctuation in four given passages. This section of the SAT is the only portion of the SAT with more questions than the number of minutes assigned for the section, so it is crucial to be efficient while working, since one has less than 50 seconds to complete each question on average.
The first section of math is 25 minutes long and contains 15 multiple choice questions and five free response questions. Even though this is a math section, students are not able to use a calculator during this portion of the test (Khan Academy). This section of the SAT is filled with basic algebra problems that focus on manipulating variables to find a solution, understanding basic algebra concepts, and analyzing graphs.
The final math section of the SAT is 55 minutes long and contains 30 multiple choice questions and eight free response questions (Khan Academy). The multiple-choice questions found in this section focus on understanding general algebra concepts, analyzing graphs, knowing basic geometry, and calculating answers from given data. The eight free response questions located in this section include word problems and questions related to angles and radicals.
Overall, the SAT is an extremely important test for college applications across the globe. This test has four unique sections that go over a variety of topics and ideas. These sections are split into two halves with one analyzing passages and grammar concepts while the other focuses on math concepts. These different sections and the different topics they cover ensure that whoever takes the test is a knowledgeable, well-rounded student.
To learn more about preparing for the SAT, read the article below:
Preparing for the SAT
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Alexander M. lives in Georgia, USA, with his parents and younger sister. He has been a student at NorthStar for a year and is just starting to write for the Navigator. He likes to play Minecraft with his friends and plays for the different esports teams here at NorthStar Academy.