What is on the SAT Exam?
There are four sections on the test:
- Reading Test
- Writing and Language Test
- Math Test - No Calculator
- Math Test - Calculator
How long is the SAT Exam?
Section
|
Time
|
No. of Questions
|
Reading
|
65 minutes
|
52
|
Writing
|
35 minutes
|
44
|
Math No Calculator
|
25 minutes
|
20
|
Math Calculator
|
55 minutes
|
38
|
The total duration of the test, without the breaks, is 3 hours or 180 minutes. You get two breaks on the test -
one for 5 minutes and the other for 10 minutes. Hence, the total duration of the test, including the breaks, is
3.25 hours or 195 minutes.
Question Types on SAT Exam
The Reading Test has a comprehension followed by multiple questions based on the passage.
These questions test on various skills such as Vocabulary, Inference, Finding the evidence and more. All
questions are Multiple-Choice with four answer choices.
The Writing Test has comprehensions that have some portions underlined. These underlined
portions test you on your Grammar and Editing skills. All questions are Multiple-Choice with four answer
choices.
The Math Test has questions on various math topics ranging from Algebra to Arithmetic to
Geometry to Complex Numbers. Most questions are Multiple-Choice with four answer choices. The Math
section also has some questions that are known as Student-Produced Response as they do not have any answer
choices.
Scoring on the SAT Exam
Section
|
Score Range
|
Reading
|
10 - 40
|
Writing
|
10 - 40
|
Math
|
200 - 800
|
You receive many scores on the test. Here is a sample score report.
(Image Source: https://www.piqosity.com/attachment/sat-score-report/feed/)
Let's understand each of the scores on the report:
- The total score: It ranges from 400 to 1600. This is what you hear from friends.
- Percentile: This number tells how you have done compared to the other test takers on the
same administration of the test. The percentile on the right (50th) tells you the performance compared to the
test takers from your country and the percentile on the left (41st) tells you the performance compared to all
the test takers across the globe.
- Section Scores: This is how you scored on the two categories: Verbal and Quant. The total
verbal score is the sum of the individual scores on the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test
multiplied by 10.
- Sectional Percentile: This number tells how you have done compared to the other test takers
on the same administration of the test for each section.
- Test Scores: Informs you about your performance on each individual test - Reading,
Writing, and Math
- Cross - test Scores: Each section on the SAT has cross-test questions on various sub
topics such as Science, History, Grammar and many more. The Cross-Test Scores help you identify your specific
strengths and weaknesses in case you have to take another attempt.
- Website Link: This is where you can get more details about your scores such as the number
of questions you got incorrect or skipped.
Take SAT Diagnostic Test