SAT 411

What does the SAT Test?

The SAT tests the skills you’re learning in school: reading, writing and math. Your strength in these subjects is important for success in college and throughout your life.

The reading section includes reading passages and sentence completions.

The writing section includes a short essay and multiple-choice questions on identifying errors and improving grammar and usage.

The math section includes questions on arithmetic operations, algebra, geometry, statistics and probability.

What is a good SAT score?

So what is a good SAT score? The exam consists of three parts: Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing. The scores from each section can range from 200 to 800, so the best possible total score is 2400.

The average score for each section is roughly 500, so the average total score is about 1500.

For the 1.65 million test-takers in the class of 2011, the mean scores were 497 critical reading, 514 math, and 489 reading.

Average SAT scores (top schools) East Side

Harvard Critical Reading: 690 - 790 Mathematics: 700 - 800 Writing: 690 - 790 MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Critical Reading: 670 - 770 Mathematics: 740 - 800 Writing: 680 - 770

Average SAT scores (top schools)

Stanford Critical Reading: 670 - 770 Mathematics: 690 - 780 Writing: 680 - 780 UCLA Critical Reading: 570 - 680 Mathematics: 610 - 740 Writing: 580 - 710

How Can I do my best on the SAT

The best way to get ready for the SAT is to take challenging courses, study hard, and read and write in and outside of the classroom.

Cramming and short-term prep can’t substitute for hard work in school. The PSAT/NMSQT® is one of the best ways to begin preparing for the SAT, because it covers the same subjects under timed conditions.

It does help to become familiar and comfortable with the test format and question types.

How Important is the SAT in College Admission

The SAT is just one factor among many that colleges use to get to know you better. It’s part of a comprehensive admission process that also takes into account your high school academics, extracurricular activities, recommendations, personal essay and other factors.

Every college and university uses a different combination of criteria for admission. Research the schools you’re interested in using College Search to understand their unique admission policies.

How is the SAT Scored

Each section of your SAT (critical reading, mathematics and writing) will be scored on a 200- to 800-point scale, for a possible total of 2400. You’ll also get two “subscores” on the writing section: a multiple-choice score from 20 to 80, and an essay score from 2 to 12.

But how do you get these scores? Two steps happen before you see a final score.

First, we figure out your raw score by: Adding points for correct answers. Subtracting a fraction of a point for wrong answers. Remember: Questions that you skipped don’t count either for or against

your score, and points aren’t taken away for wrong answers on the math questions where you needed to enter the answer into a grid.

Then we take your raw score and turn it into a scaled score. This is where the score of 200–800 points comes from, and it is done through a statistical process called “equating.” This process makes it possible to compare your score with the scores of other students who took alternative versions of the test, and to your own scores on previous tests.

How long does the SAT take?

The SAT is made up of 10 sections:A 25-minute essay Six 25-minute sections (mathematics, critical

reading and writing) Two 20-minute sections (mathematics,

critical reading and writing) A 10-minute multiple-choice writing section Total test time: 3 hours and 45 minutesYou’ll also get three short breaks during the

testing, so don’t forget to bring a snack!

When Should I take the SAT

Most students take the SAT during the spring of their junior year of high school. Many students choose to take the SAT a second time in the fall of their senior year after becoming familiar with the test day experience

How Many Times Should I take the SAT

Most students take the SAT once or twice. We don’t recommend taking it more than twice because there’s no evidence that taking the SAT multiple times significantly changes your score.

What is the unscored section of the test?

Each SAT exam includes an extra 25-minute critical reading, mathematics or writing multiple-choice section that doesn’t count toward your score.

This section is where we try out new questions to make sure that future exams are fair for students from different backgrounds. It also helps us make sure that scores from students taking future exams can be compared to scores from students who took earlier versions of the test.