Test Format:
Time 3 hours and 45 minutes long, but plan for 4 hours and 30 mins. Most sections are 25 minutes in length.
Sections:
Writing:
The essay is incorporated into your writing score and is considered one of the writing sections. All writing sections will test your knowledge of grammar.
- The Essay
- Identifying Sentence Errors
- Improving Sentences
- Improving Paragraphs
Critical Reading:
Critical reading sections test your ability to make inferences and conclusions based on both short and long passages (from one paragraph to a few). In sentence completion questions, this ability is measured by the placement of words in blank spaces in a passage. This is where SAT vocab comes in. Many words that you will encounter on this section of the SAT are ones you have never seen before, or are not sure of the definition of. We will go over ways to make educated guesses for definitions, and methods for studying vocab.
- Sentence Completion
- Short Reading Comprehension
- Long Reading Comprehension
Math:
Questions in the math sections of the SAT are arranged in order of difficulty. The easiest questions are at the beginning and the hardest are near the end. Subjects covered include geometry, algebra, numbers and operations, statistics, probability, and data analysis. You will not be tested on pre-calc, calculus, or other advanced math such as writing proofs. You will be allowed to use a calculator. Additionally, formulas for the area of a circle and similar will be provided on the test. You do not loose any points for getting a grid-in wrong. You should always fill in an answer for a grid in question.
- Multiple Choice Problems
- Grid-ins / Student Produced Responses
Sample Test Format
| Section | Time | Type of Questions |
| Essay | 25 min | Long-form essay |
| break | 5 min | – |
| Math | 25 min | Multiple choice and student-produced responses |
| Critical Reading | 25 min | Multiple choice |
| Break | 5 min | – |
| Writing | 10 min | Multiple choice (improving sentences) |
| Experimental | 25 min | (could be any question type) |
| break | 5 min | – |
| Math | 25 min | Multiple choice and student-produced responses |
| Critical Reading | 20 min | Multiple choice |
| break | 5 min | – |
| Writing | 25 min | Multiple choice |
| Math | 20 min | Multiple choice |
| Critical Reading | 25 min | Multiple choice |
Scoring:
Each section (Math, Critical Reading, and Writing) is scored between 200 and 800 points. The three scores are added together to make a total score out of 2400. These are the scaled scores.
(note: some colleges allow you to combine sections from multiple tests into a super score. So if you took the SAT twice you can take your best score for the math section and your best critical reading and combine them for the score you submit)
For each correct answer, you receive one point. For each wrong answer, ¼ of a point is subtracted from your score. No points are lost for questions that are left blank. These additions and subtractions apply to the raw scores.
Test Strategies:
1. To Answer or Not to Answer aka the Rule of Two (From Kaplan):
If you can narrow your answer choices down to two or fewer options, answer the question. If you cannot, skip.
2. Skip and Come Back (From the Zen of SAT):
Within the section you are working on, you can answer the questions in any order you like. The Zen of SAT suggests that if you find yourself spending more time than you feel comfortable with on a problem you should skip it for the moment and return after a few problems. The key here is after a few problems (no more than five questions). Don’t wait until the end of the section to go back. Give the question another try when you can still remember what the question is about.
3. Make a Mental Section Road Map:
Plan ahead for the section. Include time to flip through the section at the beginning and time to go back at the end.
4. Time Per Question:
Calculate the average amount of time you have per question in each section. This way you have a standard to see if you are outstaying your welcome on any one question.
5. Learn the Directions Before the Test:
The directions for each section will always be the same. If you read and understand the directions for each section before you take the test, you can save time on test day.
6. Pick your Answer Before you look at the Options:
With multiple choice questions, some of the answer choices can be distracting or make you second guess what the answer is. This strategy is especially helpful for the math sections. Ignore the answer choices initially while you pick your answer to the problem. Then look for your answer among those provided.
7. Read the Questions Before the Passage:
In the critical reading sections, you can save time by looking at the questions before reading the passage. Then you know what to look for in the passage, or even better which parts to read and which to just skim.
Time management during test day:
You are not allowed to bring a cell phone into the actual SAT, so don’t rely on it for timing your SAT prep. You can bring a watch or a small clock that can lie flat on a table and won’t make noise. It’s good to get into the practice of timing your practice tests. During the actual SAT, the proctor won’t necessarily tell you when there are ten minutes left, or when you are half way through a section. You have to make your own plan and keep track of the time.
Overview of how to prepare:
College Coached 