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The SAT or Scholastic Aptitude Test is a standardized test frequently used in the United States of America for college admissions. Since its introduction in 1926, the SAT’s name and scoring have undergone several changes. It was first known as the Scholastic Assessment Test, now just called the SAT. The CollegeBoard is a private, non-profit corporation in the United States that devised and published the SAT. The Educational Testing Service, which up until recently also designed the SAT, administers it on behalf of the CollegeBoard. The test’s goal is to determine if students are college ready. If you’re just starting your SAT preparation, it is crucial to comprehend the SAT’s format, the subjects it covers, and how the exam functions. You will receive a solid foundation in this guide that will enable you to comprehend the test fully.
Why should I take
the SAT?
Taking the SAT is a great way to assess a student’s college and workforce readiness. Many students discover that their test results either support their high school grades or perhaps reveal strengths that go beyond what their grades indicate. Most students who responded to a survey said they wanted the opportunity to send test results to colleges and universities.
Who can take
the SAT?
The SAT can be taken by those fulfilling one of the below-intended objectives:
- Applying to a college or university’s undergraduate program – you may take the SAT on any weekend administration.
- Making an application for a scholarship, financial aid, or another program that includes taking a college entrance exam in the application process.
Your registration will be terminated if there is reason to believe you are not taking the SAT for its intended reasons. You will need to re-register for an administration where the SAT form is disclosed following the test. Additionally, College Board retains the authority to investigate and invalidate the SAT registration and/or results of anyone believed to have attempted to copy and/or distribute test content.
Registering for
the SAT?
For the SAT and SAT Subject Tests, you can register online at the CollegeBoard website or by mail using the form in the Student Registration Booklet. Simply request a copy of the booklet from your school counselor if you need to register on paper. Be prepared to pay the registration fee.
SAT Test Structure
& Sections
The SAT measures high school-level skills that you would probably need in college and beyond. If students choose to complete the optional essay, the full SAT will last 3 hours or 3 hours and 50 minutes. The test is separated into two required portions for scoring purposes: math and evidence-based reading and writing. On test day, however, you will have three different tests to take: Reading, Writing & Language, and Math, in that sequence.
The SAT’s primary components are as follows:
- Reading Test: 65 minutes, 52 questions
- Writing & Language Test: 35 minutes, 44 questions
- Two portions of the Math Test:
- 25 minutes, no calculator
- 55 minutes, 38 questions with the use of a calculator
You might be required to write the essay if you live in Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, or Oklahoma and are taking the SAT on a school day (50 minutes).
Here is a list of the subjects and types of questions students may expect in the SAT:
I. Reading Test
There are various passage types on the reading part of the SAT, and some fundamental abilities are needed for comprehension and analytical reading of any kind of material. The SAT Reading Test evaluates a student’s capacity to comprehend a wide range of materials akin to the reading they would encounter in college and their line of work.
The reading test’s questions are all related to a passage, a pair of passages, or a passage that includes one or more informational graphics, such as tables, charts, and graphs. Five passages with 10–11 questions each make up each reading test, for a total of 52 questions. Two “paired” shorter excerpts will be the subject of one of the five sets of questions. The stipulated time for completion of the test is 65 minutes. The reading section tests the students in three content areas as below:
U.S. and World Literature
This section includes works of prose fiction written by American and other modern and old authors. These works, written by well-known or lesser-known authors who were active in the eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, or twenty-first century, may be whole short tales or excerpts from novels and short stories.
History/Social Studies
Social Science and Founding Documents/Great Global Conversation materials can be found in the History/Social Studies category.
The Social Science subarea contains passages that discuss facts and concepts from anthropology, communication studies, economics, education, human geography, law, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology, as well as from each of its different subfields. There may be illustrations or pairs of passages in social science passages. Students will be tasked with analyzing the relationships between the paired excerpts or the visual to answer questions that ask them to do so.
Science
This includes sections that discuss data and concepts from Earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and its different subfields. Passages may touch on fresh discoveries, intriguing theories and speculations, and cutting-edge research techniques. Graphics or passage pairs are occasionally used in science passages. Students will be tasked with analyzing the relationships between the paired excerpts or the visual to answer questions that ask them to do so.
II. Writing and Language Test
The student’s ability to review and edit texts on a variety of topics is evaluated in the Writing & Language Test. The four texts in each Writing & Language Test include 11 questions each. Students will get 35 minutes to complete this section.
Students will need to read passages to analyze them and respond to the writing and language questions, even though this is not a “reading” test. But this time, they must read from the perspective of an editor or proofreader. Students will be asked questions to help them decide what should be altered to improve the passage’s effectiveness and the reader’s clarity.
Topics include science, humanities, and history/social studies, sometimes resembling brief academic essays, while those in careers may focus on a particular industry.
III. Math Test
The SAT Math Test gauges the student’s aptitude for using mathematical ideas and techniques to solve issues they could encounter in school and the workplace. One 55-minute segment with 38 questions (use of calculators OK) and one 25-minute section with 20 questions (calculators not permitted) will be presented.
The Math Test has questions that cover a range of abilities in three primary categories:
Heart of Algebra
Algebraic concepts are one of the four different categories of questions on the Math part of the SAT exam. These questions will test the student’s knowledge of and proficiency with linear equations, systems of linear equations, and inequalities.
Problem Solving and Data Analysis
There are questions on the SAT exam’s Math parts (calculator and non-calculator) that call for the use of problem-solving and data analysis abilities. Students must be ready because concepts cover this area of math in 17 out of the 58 math questions. They should concentrate and learn any concepts that may still be confusing or that they may have forgotten after receiving a variety of math training over months and years.
Students’ scores on these problems will contribute to their overall Math score on the SAT exam and will make up a portion of their “Problem Solving and Data Analysis” score.
Passport to Advanced Math
It concentrates on the difficult equations and functions frequently required in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers.
IV. The SAT Essay (Additional/Optional)
As you may already be aware, College Board no longer offers the SAT Essay as an option for weekend test dates. However, as part of their spring statewide assessment systems in several states, students may still be required to complete the SAT essay portion on test day.
If you reside in one of the states listed below, contact your school’s counseling office for more details regarding your spring SAT testing requirements.
The essay is a passage of between 650 and 750 words that makes up each SAT Essay, which students must read and then answer to. The SAT Essay will take 50 minutes to finish.
The essay is designed to evaluate a student’s capacity for argument analysis. To produce a powerful essay, students must concentrate on how the author develops and convinces an argument using facts, logic, and other rhetorical devices.
You will not have an essay component on the SAT if you do not reside in one of the states mentioned above.
SAT Score Components
The SAT is graded on a scale of 1,600. Students can assess their performance with the use of sub-scores and cross-section scores.
- The sum of their sectional grades determines a student’s overall grade. The maximum SAT composite score is 1,600, or 800+800. Typically, average scores hover around 1,000.
- Section scores are the individual results for the SAT reading/writing and math portions. A student’s overall score is determined by adding the scores from each category, each given on an 800-point scale.
- The optional essay will not affect your SAT score, which is not mandatory and only required by the list of states mentioned above. There will be a distinct section on the report for the essay scores.
Planning & Preparing
for the SAT
Before choosing a study strategy, students should consider their study preferences, SAT goals, and available resources. It is advised to begin one’s SAT preparation early. Students should have enough time to experiment with different study methods and become familiar with the test material for about three months before they sit for the test.
Which student skills are tested by the passages?
Preparing for the Writing and
Language Test
In addition to each passage, there are several questions. Students will think about how the paragraph may be changed to enhance the concepts being expressed for certain questions. Other questions will need them to think about how the piece may be altered to eliminate grammatical, usage, or punctuation issues. There may be one or more images (such as a table or graph) with a passage or a question that students should consider when they decide how to revise and modify it.
Students will be directed to a highlighted paragraph in some questions. Other questions may urge you to focus on a particular part of a piece or to consider the material. After reading each section, select the response to each question that most closely satisfies the requirements of standard written English or enhances the passage’s writing quality. Students should note that the “NO CHANGE” response is a frequent option. If you believe that leaving the pertinent section of the text alone is the wisest course of action, select that option.
There will be 4 passages in total, each of which has 11 questions. Below would be some typical questions post-reading the passages.
Excerpt of the passage:
Greek yogurt—a strained form of cultured yogurt—has grown enormously in popularity in the United States since it was first introduced in the country in the late 1980s. From 2011 to 2012 alone, sales of Greek yogurt in the US increased by 50 percent. The resulting increase in Greek yogurt production has forced those involved in the business to address the detrimental effects that the yogurt-making process may be having on the environment. Fortunately, farmers and others in the Greek yogurt business have found many methods of controlling and eliminating most environmental threats. Given these solutions as well as the many health benefits of the food, the advantages of Greek yogurt outdo the potential drawbacks of its production. [1] The main environmental problem caused by the production of Greek yogurt is the creation of acid whey as a by-product. [2] Because it requires up to four times more milk to make than conventional yogurt does, Greek yogurt produces larger amounts of acid whey, which is difficult to dispose of. [3] To address the problem of disposal, farmers have found a number of uses for acid whey. [4] They can add it to livestock feed as a protein supplement, and people can make their own [5]. [6] Though these conservation methods can be costly and time-consuming, they are well worth the effort. Nutritionists consider Greek yogurt to be a healthy food: it is an excellent source of calcium and protein, serves to be a digestive aid, and it contains few calories in its unsweetened low- and non-fat forms.
Sample Question 1
Which choice provides the most relevant detail?
- A) NO CHANGE
- B) supplement and convert it into gas to use as fuel in electricity production.
- C) supplement, while sweet whey is more desirable as a food additive for humans.
- D) supplement, which provides an important element of their diet.
Sample Question 2
The writer is considering deleting the underlined sentence. Should the writer do this?
- A) Yes, because it does not provide a transition from the previous paragraph.
- B) Yes, because it fails to support the main argument of the passage as introduced in the first paragraph.
- C) No, because it continues the explanation of how acid whey can be disposed of safely.
- D) No, because it sets up the argument in the paragraph for the benefits of Greek yogurt.
Sample Question 3
Which choice most accurately and effectively represents the information in the graph?
- A) NO CHANGE
- B) to 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
- C) to their lowest point on December 13.
- D) to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and stay there for months.
Sample Question 4
Which choice most effectively completes the sentence with relevant and accurate information based on the graph above?
- A) NO CHANGE
- B) 71 percent of respondents indicated that using a coworking space increased their creativity.
- C) respondents credited coworking spaces with giving them 74 percent of their ideas relating to business.
- D) respondents revealed that their ability to focus on their work improved by 12 percent in a coworking space.
Preparing for the Math Test
(No Calculator)
As is evident from the header, in the math test (no calculator), students would have to solve math questions without the help of a calculator. For questions 1 through 15, resolve each issue, select the best response from the list of options, and place a checkmark in the relevant space on your answer sheet. Solve the issue for questions 16 through 20, then enter your response in the grid on the solution sheet. For information on how to submit your answers in the grid, please see the instructions before question 16 (example given below). Any empty spot in your exam booklet may be used for scratch work. There would be a reference given about geometrical shapes as given below:
Sample Question 1
If (x – 1)/ 3 = k and k= 3, what is the value of x?
- A) 2
- B) 4
- C) 9
- D) 10
Sample Question 2
On Saturday afternoon, Armand sent m text messages each hour for 5 hours, and Tyrone sent p text messages each hour for 4 hours. Which of the following represents the total number of messages sent by Armand and Tyrone on Saturday afternoon?
- A) 9mp
- B) 20mp
- C) 5m +4p
- D) 4m +5p
Sample Question 3
Kathy is a repair technician for a phone company. Each week, she receives a batch of phones that need repairs. The number of phones that she has left to fix at the end of each day can be estimated with the equation P = 108 – 23d, where P is the number of phones left, and d is the number of days she has worked that week. What is the meaning of the value 108 in this equation?
- A) Kathy will complete the repairs within 108 days.
- B) Kathy starts each week with 108 phones to fix.
- C) Kathy repairs phones at a rate of 108 per hour.
- D) Kathy repairs phones at a rate of 108 per day.
Sample Question 4
b = 2.35 + 0.25x
c = 1.75 + 0.40x
In the equations above, b and c represent the price per pound, in dollars, of beef and chicken, respectively, x weeks after July 1 last summer. What was the price per pound of beef when it was equal to the price per pound of chicken?
- A) $2.60
- B) $2.85
- C) $2.95
- D) $3.35
For questions 16 to 20, students need to solve the problem and enter their answer in the grid, as in the below example.
Note: mixed numbers such as 3½ must be gridded as 3.5 or 7/2. Also, if you obtain a decimal answer with more digits than the grid can accommodate, it may be either rounded or truncated, but it must fill the entire grid.
Preparing for the Math Test
(with Calculator)
In this section, as the header suggests, the use of a calculator is permitted. As with the no calculator section, reference to geometrical figures is also given in this section. Students should read the notes of the section very carefully before answering the questions. Also, please refer to the directions before question 31 on how to enter your answers in the grid. For scratch work, students may use the available space in the test booklet. And filling up the grid for decimal answers remains the same as discussed above with examples.
Sample Question 1
If 16 + 4x is 10 more than 14, what is the value of 8x?
- A) 2
- B) 6
- C) 16
- D) 80
Sample Question 2
If y = kx, where k is a constant, and y = 24 when x = 6, what is the value of y when x = 5?
- A) 6
- B) 15
- C) 20
- D) 23
Sample Question 3
In the figure above, lines A and m are parallel and lines s and t are parallel. If the measure of ∠1 is 35°, what is the measure of ∠2?
- A) 35°
- B) 55°
- C) 70°
- D) 145°
Sample Question 4
The number of rooftops with solar panel installations in 5 cities is shown in the graph above. If the total number of installations is 27,500, what is an appropriate label for the vertical axis of the graph?
- A) Number of installations (in ten’s)
- B) Number of installations (in hundreds)
- C) Number of installations (in thousands)
- D) Number of installations (in tens of thousands)
Sample Question 5
The graph above displays the total cost C, in dollars, of renting a boat for h hours.
What does the C-intercept represent in the graph?
- A) The initial cost of renting the boat
- B) The total number of boats rented
- C) The total number of hours the boat is rented
- D) The increase in cost to rent the boat for each additional hour
Planning & Preparing
for the SAT
Before choosing a study strategy, students should consider their study preferences, SAT goals, and available resources. It is advised to begin one’s SAT preparation early. Students should have enough time to experiment with different study methods and become familiar with the test material for about three months before they sit for the test.
Preparing for the
Reading Test
Following each set of passages is a list of questions. Choose the best response to each question after reading each text or pair, considering what is said or inferred therein as well as any supporting images such as a table or graph.
What are the different Passage Types?
U.S. and World Literature: The reading test passages generally divulge the U.S. and world literature. This typically has one passage and 10 questions delving into it.
History/Social Studies: The next section of the reading test generally divulges History and social studies and might contain 2 passages or a single passage and 1 paired passage set with 10 to 11 questions each.
Science: The third or the final section deals with science. This also might contain 2 passages, or a single passage and 1 paired passage set with 10 to 11 questions each.
Which student skills are tested by the passages?
Information Interpretation and Ideas: In this section, students are tested on close reading, determining central ideas and themes, and tested with citing textual evidence for their understanding.
Summarizing: In this section, students are tested for their understanding of relationships and interpretation of words and phrases in context.
Rhetoric: In this section, students are assessed on their ability to evaluate word choice, the overall text structure, part-to-whole linkages, point of view, purpose, and arguments in this section.
There will be an excerpt of a sample passage given below. Students must answer questions on it.
Excerpt of the passage: Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.
Sample Question 1: Understanding the theme or the idea.
Which choice best describes what happens in the passage?
- A) One character argues with another character who intrudes on her home.
- B) One character receives a surprising request from another character.
- C) One character reminisces about choices she has made over the years.
- D) One character criticizes another character for pursuing an unexpected course of action.
Sample Question 2: Interpretation of graph.
The authors most likely use the examples in lines 1 to 9 of the passage (“Every… showers”) to highlight the
- A) regularity with which people shop for gifts.
- B) recent increase in the amount of money spent on gifts.
- C) anxiety gift shopping causes consumers.
- D) several special occasions involving gift-giving.
Sample Question 3: Interpretation of data.
According to the table, which of the following pairs of base percentages in sea urchin DNA provides evidence in support of the answer to the previous question?
- A) 17.3% and 17.7%
- B) 17.3% and 32.1%
- C) 17.3% and 32.8%
- D) 17.7% and 32.8%
Excerpt of the passage:
Close at hand is a bridge over the River Thames, an admirable vantage ground for us to make a survey. The river flows beneath; barges pass, laden with timber, bursting with corn; there on one side are the domes and spires of the city; on the other, Westminster and the Houses of Parliament. It is a place to stand on by the hour, dreaming. But not now. Now we are pressed for time. Now we are here to consider facts; now we must fix our eyes upon the procession—the procession of the sons of educated men.
Typical questions pertaining to the passages as above would be like below:
Sample Question 4: Understanding the summary.
The central claim of the passage is that
- A) educated women to face a decision about how to engage with existing institutions.
- B) women can have positions of influence in English society only if they give up some of their traditional roles.
- C) the male monopoly on power in English society has had grave and continuing effects.
- D) the entry of educated women into positions of power traditionally held by men will transform those positions.
Preparing for the Writing and
Language Test
In addition to each passage, there are several questions. Students will think about how the paragraph may be changed to enhance the concepts being expressed for certain questions. Other questions will need them to think about how the piece may be altered to eliminate grammatical, usage, or punctuation issues. There may be one or more images (such as a table or graph) with a passage or a question that students should consider when they decide how to revise and modify it.
Students will be directed to a highlighted paragraph in some questions. Other questions may urge you to focus on a particular part of a piece or to consider the material. After reading each section, select the response to each question that most closely satisfies the requirements of standard written English or enhances the passage’s writing quality. Students should note that the “NO CHANGE” response is a frequent option. If you believe that leaving the pertinent section of the text alone is the wisest course of action, select that option.
There will be 4 passages in total, each of which has 11 questions. Below would be some typical questions post-reading the passages.
Excerpt of the passage:
Greek yogurt—a strained form of cultured yogurt—has grown enormously in popularity in the United States since it was first introduced in the country in the late 1980s. From 2011 to 2012 alone, sales of Greek yogurt in the US increased by 50 percent. The resulting increase in Greek yogurt production has forced those involved in the business to address the detrimental effects that the yogurt-making process may be having on the environment. Fortunately, farmers and others in the Greek yogurt business have found many methods of controlling and eliminating most environmental threats. Given these solutions as well as the many health benefits of the food, the advantages of Greek yogurt outdo the potential drawbacks of its production. [1] The main environmental problem caused by the production of Greek yogurt is the creation of acid whey as a by-product. [2] Because it requires up to four times more milk to make than conventional yogurt does, Greek yogurt produces larger amounts of acid whey, which is difficult to dispose of. [3] To address the problem of disposal, farmers have found a number of uses for acid whey. [4] They can add it to livestock feed as a protein supplement, and people can make their own [5]. [6] Though these conservation methods can be costly and time-consuming, they are well worth the effort. Nutritionists consider Greek yogurt to be a healthy food: it is an excellent source of calcium and protein, serves to be a digestive aid, and it contains few calories in its unsweetened low- and non-fat forms.
Sample Question 1
Which choice provides the most relevant detail?
- A) NO CHANGE
- B) supplement and convert it into gas to use as fuel in electricity production.
- C) supplement, while sweet whey is more desirable as a food additive for humans.
- D) supplement, which provides an important element of their diet.
Sample Question 2
The writer is considering deleting the underlined sentence. Should the writer do this?
- A) Yes, because it does not provide a transition from the previous paragraph.
- B) Yes, because it fails to support the main argument of the passage as introduced in the first paragraph.
- C) No, because it continues the explanation of how acid whey can be disposed of safely.
- D) No, because it sets up the argument in the paragraph for the benefits of Greek yogurt.
Sample Question 3
Which choice most accurately and effectively represents the information in the graph?
- A) NO CHANGE
- B) to 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
- C) to their lowest point on December 13.
- D) to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and stay there for months.
Sample Question 4
Which choice most effectively completes the sentence with relevant and accurate information based on the graph above?
- A) NO CHANGE
- B) 71 percent of respondents indicated that using a coworking space increased their creativity.
- C) respondents credited coworking spaces with giving them 74 percent of their ideas relating to business.
- D) respondents revealed that their ability to focus on their work improved by 12 percent in a coworking space.
Preparing for the Math Test
(No Calculator)
As is evident from the header, in the math test (no calculator), students would have to solve math questions without the help of a calculator. For questions 1 through 15, resolve each issue, select the best response from the list of options, and place a checkmark in the relevant space on your answer sheet. Solve the issue for questions 16 through 20, then enter your response in the grid on the solution sheet. For information on how to submit your answers in the grid, please see the instructions before question 16 (example given below). Any empty spot in your exam booklet may be used for scratch work. There would be a reference given about geometrical shapes as given below:
Sample Question 1
If (x – 1)/ 3 = k and k= 3, what is the value of x?
- A) 2
- B) 4
- C) 9
- D) 10
Sample Question 2
On Saturday afternoon, Armand sent m text messages each hour for 5 hours, and Tyrone sent p text messages each hour for 4 hours. Which of the following represents the total number of messages sent by Armand and Tyrone on Saturday afternoon?
- A) 9mp
- B) 20mp
- C) 5m +4p
- D) 4m +5p
Sample Question 3
Kathy is a repair technician for a phone company. Each week, she receives a batch of phones that need repairs. The number of phones that she has left to fix at the end of each day can be estimated with the equation P = 108 – 23d, where P is the number of phones left, and d is the number of days she has worked that week. What is the meaning of the value 108 in this equation?
- A) Kathy will complete the repairs within 108 days.
- B) Kathy starts each week with 108 phones to fix.
- C) Kathy repairs phones at a rate of 108 per hour.
- D) Kathy repairs phones at a rate of 108 per day.
Sample Question 4
b = 2.35 + 0.25x
c = 1.75 + 0.40x
In the equations above, b and c represent the price per pound, in dollars, of beef and chicken, respectively, x weeks after July 1 last summer. What was the price per pound of beef when it was equal to the price per pound of chicken?
- A) $2.60
- B) $2.85
- C) $2.95
- D) $3.35
For questions 16 to 20, students need to solve the problem and enter their answer in the grid, as in the below example.
Note: mixed numbers such as 3½ must be gridded as 3.5 or 7/2. Also, if you obtain a decimal answer with more digits than the grid can accommodate, it may be either rounded or truncated, but it must fill the entire grid.
Preparing for the Math Test
(with Calculator)
In this section, as the header suggests, the use of a calculator is permitted. As with the no calculator section, reference to geometrical figures is also given in this section. Students should read the notes of the section very carefully before answering the questions. Also, please refer to the directions before question 31 on how to enter your answers in the grid. For scratch work, students may use the available space in the test booklet. And filling up the grid for decimal answers remains the same as discussed above with examples.
Sample Question 1
If 16 + 4x is 10 more than 14, what is the value of 8x?
- A) 2
- B) 6
- C) 16
- D) 80
Sample Question 2
If y = kx, where k is a constant, and y = 24 when x = 6, what is the value of y when x = 5?
- A) 6
- B) 15
- C) 20
- D) 23
Sample Question 3
In the figure above, lines A and m are parallel and lines s and t are parallel. If the measure of ∠1 is 35°, what is the measure of ∠2?
- A) 35°
- B) 55°
- C) 70°
- D) 145°
Sample Question 4
The number of rooftops with solar panel installations in 5 cities is shown in the graph above. If the total number of installations is 27,500, what is an appropriate label for the vertical axis of the graph?
- A) Number of installations (in ten’s)
- B) Number of installations (in hundreds)
- C) Number of installations (in thousands)
- D) Number of installations (in tens of thousands)
Sample Question 5
The graph above displays the total cost C, in dollars, of renting a boat for h hours.
What does the C-intercept represent in the graph?
- A) The initial cost of renting the boat
- B) The total number of boats rented
- C) The total number of hours the boat is rented
- D) The increase in cost to rent the boat for each additional hour
Tips to Prepare for
the SAT
Here are a few tips for preparing well for the SAT:
Know your strengths: Before choosing a study strategy, you should take your study preferences, SAT goals, and available resources into account. It is advised to begin your SAT preparation early and have enough time to experiment with different study methods to become familiar with the test material for about three months before you sit for the test.
Take as many full practice tests as possible, but at least two: It is advised to take at least one fully timed practice test at the start and one at the end of your study period. It is also recommended that you take at least one practice exam on paper, just like the actual SAT, to get used to the format. A full-length practice test gives you a realistic idea of how lengthy the actual thing will be and where you will likely feel tired or stuck in your mind.
Acquire and build general skills: Combine your SAT preparation with some general skill development. To get ready for the reading test, read and summarize lengthy articles and scientific studies. To be prepared for the optional essay, read essays or editorials, and pay attention to how the author develops their arguments. These methods might not be sufficient, but there is no surer way to strengthen your skill and deepen your understanding than to use what you have learned.
Sleep well before the exams: It is true what everyone says—a good night’s sleep can make a difference. You should ensure that you get a whole night’s sleep (at least 8 hours) the night before the test by going to bed early. The week before the test, it could be beneficial to go to bed a little earlier each night so that going to bed early on Friday feels natural. On Saturday, get an early start, so you have plenty of time to prepare mentally for the SAT. Also, eat a substantial, healthy breakfast so you will not be bothered by hunger pangs while taking the test.
Attempt all to score more: Students are awarded one point for each accurate response. Attempt to answer every question even if you are unsure of the right response because you do not lose points for incorrect responses.
Also, remember to prepare all your materials in advance. You must have a valid photo ID and a printed copy of your SAT registration to enter the testing room, and No. 2 pencils and a calculator. The more you can do to feel ready and rested before the SAT, the easier it will be for you to concentrate and do well on the exam.
FAQs on the
SAT
When can students register for the digital SAT?
Students will be able to register for the first digital SAT administrations at international test centers starting in fall 2023. CollegeBoard will share more information about registration and administration dates later this year.
How will students take the digital SAT?
Students will take the SAT on a laptop or tablet, using a custom-built digital exam application that they will download in advance of test day.
Are SAT scores very important?
Every school has a different policy on the importance of SAT scores. When making their admissions decisions, colleges and universities also consider applicants’ high school grade point average, academic records, letters of reference, interviews, and personal essays. Additionally, almost all schools and institutions in the United States accept ACT results in place of SAT scores. You should speak with the admissions departments of the colleges you want to apply to for more detailed information regarding the significance of your results.
What is a good timeframe to prep for the SAT?
Anything between 5 to 12 weeks is considered good prepping time for SAT exams.
Which college should I choose, public or private?
Public institutions, usually referred to as state and community colleges, are typically less expensive than private colleges. To make college accessible for as many people as possible, public universities get money from the states in which they are located. The funding for private institutions is different; therefore, they must rely more on tuition, endowments, and other non-public sources of income. Although private universities are often more expensive than public colleges, they may also provide smaller class sizes as well as grants and scholarships that are not offered at public institutions. Money (scholarships and financial assistance) and your choice of major are often the two factors that determine which school you will attend or even where you will focus your search.
SAT Resources
A host of free information is available online for preparing for the SAT. But the problem with that information is that it is scattered and not organized. If you are a very motivated, well-organized, and initiated student, you can make a study course for yourself to prepare yourself well for the test. But if you are not, then you might as well get enrolled in a professional tutoring course for the test or buy a test-prep guide. Here are some useful resources for students interested in taking the SAT:
SAT Study Apps/Online Practice
If you have an SAT prep app on your phone or tablet, you can conveniently study for the SAT wherever you are, whether that’s at home, school, or at a boring family function. Also, studying on an app is more enjoyable and interactive for some students than using a traditional SAT prep book. Note that while most SAT prep apps are free, some do cost money to use them.
The Khan Academy (App Store | Google Play)
A section of the Khan Academy SAT prep website is available through the Khan Academy SAT prep app. Due to its partnership with the CollegeBoard, the Khan Academy app has been designated as the official SAT preparation app. This comes very highly recommended.
Magoosh SAT Exam Prep & Practice ( App Store | Google Play)
This software is produced by the well-known test preparation firm Magoosh. This implies the learning materials on this app will be of high quality. This program has a neat, user-friendly layout, which is unquestionably beneficial. Additionally, they provide video courses that you may utilize if you want a little more assistance with your arithmetic, reading, or writing assignments. You can keep tabs on your advancement with the app. This is highly recommended.
SAT Test Prep Practice (App Store | Google Play)
This SAT app’s free edition comes with 300 practice questions; but if you pay $0.99, you’ll also gain access to a sample SAT, extra flashcards, and 24/7 support. This app has the finest user interface of any on our list and offers a ton of authentic Math practice problems.
SAT Tutoring Courses
Students who wish to rank in the top 1% of test takers should apply to Princeton’s top tier. If getting into Ivy League colleges is your objective, this is a perfect tier to make sure you do, as this high score is necessary. What is included in this premium bundle is listed below:
- Tutoring services at the top percentile that are tailored to a student’s requirements.
- The student’s mentor is a committed tutor manager.
- It gives students more real classroom training hours.
The SAT coursework from PrepScholar is well-designed and executed. Their use of the “repeat until mastered” method in particular converts pupils’ shortcomings into strengths. Additionally, the vast amounts of practice questions mixed with the instructive text and video courses create a powerful study aid. All things considered, the PrepScholar SAT curriculum is effective and will virtually always meet the needs of all students.
Kaplan has been preparing students for the SAT for decades and is widely recognized as the king of test preparation. They have typically had considerable success doing this. They provide a ton of tools and study materials along with their tutoring packages, and their instructors are unquestionable of the highest caliber. Every year, hundreds of high school students who aspire to attend college who utilized Kaplan SAT prep get scores in the top percentile of all test takers.
SAT Prep Books
Future college students may experience significant stress while they prepare for the SAT. You want to succeed, but you are unsure of what to anticipate or even how to get ready. The good news is that there are a ton of helpful test preparation books available to assist you in learning the abilities, strategies, and tactics required to obtain a high score and broaden your selection of schools and institutions. Here are a few of the best available books:
The creators of the test itself have solely developed and approved this study manual. Because of this, the practice questions you will see are quite like the ones you will get on the actual test. Additionally, in-depth explanations of why the correct responses are accurate are provided therein. The book offers explanations for how to answer the essay question as well as walkthroughs for each quiz, test, and question.
Kaplan’s SAT Prep Plus, one of the most comprehensive study guides available, provides a thorough introduction to the test, its methodology, and the kind of questions you may anticipate in each of the three test portions. In addition to thorough sections on the topic study, it provides a wide selection of practice questions and five comprehensive practice examinations.
SAT Prep Black Book Second Edition
The SAT Prep Black Book Second Edition has earned its spot among the top SAT prep books by being stuffed with intelligent information, tactics, tips, and techniques. It offers a comprehensive look into the test, from its layout to the kinds of questions you could get and the justifications behind its inclusion. The organization and structure of the test are also covered in length, along with other nuggets like how to avoid trick questions and the rationale behind them.
Barron’s SAT Study Guide can satisfy your need for practice tests. Between the book’s covers are four comprehensive practice examinations, and two more are available online. This implies that you will have plenty of time and opportunity to practice taking the exam and answering questions correctly. This manual also includes a diagnostic test that will help you familiarize yourself with the SAT’s operation, enabling you to concentrate on your areas of weakness to strengthen and prepare you for the exam.