All About the SAT

The SAT has three testing areas (apart from an optional essay) split into four sections.

Section No. of Questions Time Limit Format
Reading Test 52 65 minutes Multiple choice
Writing & Language Test 44 35 minutes Multiple choice
Math Test (No calculator) 20 25 minutes Multiple choice and Student-produced Response (Grid-in)
Math Test (calculator) 38 55 minutes Multiple choice and Student-produced Response (Grid-in)
Essay (optional) 1 prompt 50 minutes Hand-written essay response

Section Subject of the Passages Context of the Passages Writing Mode of the Passage Skills Tested Length of Each Passage No. of Questions per Passage Specific Split of Questions






Reading
Test

History - US		 US Founding Document






  1. Articles
  2. Speeches
  3. Paired Passage (Science based)
  4. Informational Graphic






  1. Information & Ideas
  2. Rhetoric
  3. Synthesis






500 to 750 words






10 or 11






Command of Evidence: 2 per passage;
Words in Context: 2 per passage
The Great Global Conversation


Social Studies		 Economy
Sociology
Psychology
Political Science

Science (Foundational & Recent Advances)		 Earth Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics

Literature - US/World		 Classic
Recent Fiction

Section Subject of the Passages Context of the Passages Writing Mode of the Passage Skills Tested Length of Each Passage No. of Questions per Passage Specific Split of Questions







Writing & Language Test

Humanities		 Fine arts




  1. Non-fiction narrative
  2. Informative / Explanatory
  3. Argument
  4. Informational Graphic




  1. Expression of Ideas
  2. Standard English Conventions




400 to 450 words




11




Expression of Ideas: 6 per passage (including Words in Context: 2, Command of Evidence: 2);
Standard English Conventions: 5 per passage
Film
Music
Literature


History/Social Sciences		 Anthropology
Archealogy
Economics
Psychology

Science (Foundational & Recent Advances)		 Earth Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics

Section Area Concepts Tested Specific Split of Questions










Math Test

Heart of Algebra
  1. Linear Equations,
  2. FunctionsSystem of Linear Equations / Inequations
  1. 19 of the 58 questions (33%) on the Math Test
  2. Both MCQ and SPR questions
  3. Both calculator and no-calculator based questions



Problem Solving & Data Analysis
  1. Ratio, Proportion, Percentage & Applications
  2. Probability & Statistics
  3. Interpreting Data & Relationships

  1. 17 of the 58 questions (29%) on the Math Test
  2. Both MCQ and SPR questions
  3. Calculator based questions




Passport to Advanced Math
  1. Polynomials, Functions & System of Equations
  2. Exponential Functions & Complex Equations
  3. Graphical Representation of Functions

  1. 16 of the 58 questions (28%) on the Math Test
  2. Both MCQ and SPR questions
  3. Both calculator and no-calculator based questions



Additional Topics
  1. Plane Geometry & Solids
  2. Coordinate Geometry
  3. Trigonometry
  4. Complex Numbers
  1. 6 of the 58 questions (approx 10%) on the Math Test
  2. Both MCQ and SPR questions
  3. Both calculator and no-calculator based questions
  4. Many geometry formulas are provided on the SAT Math Test in the Reference section of the directions.

Section No. of Questions Time Limit Format
Essay (optional) 1 prompt 50 minutes Hand-written essay response

The Essay Task

This section will be the last part of the test, after the four sections have been tested.

A passage (of length about the same as the longest passage in the Reading Test) in the form of an argument is given. The student needs to analyse the given argument and explain how the author build the argument to persuade the audience. The student is NOT to take a stance on the issue.

The student response is evaluated on three parameters:

  1. Reading
  2. Analysis
  3. Writing

The Essay task is scored separately from the other sections.

Each essay is scored by two raters, who will each assign a score on a scale of 1 to 4 (numeral increments) on the above three parameters. These scores will be added to arrive at a final score on a range of 2 to 8.

A Word of Caution

Though the SAT Essay is ‘optional’, some colleges ‘Require’ the SAT Essay score, while some ‘Recommend’ students taking the Essay part of the SAT. So, before you decide on attempting this part of the SAT, double check the SAT Essay Policy of the colleges you plan to apply to.

Click here to check SAT Essay Policies of Colleges and Scholarship Providers.