Scholastic Aptitude Test(SAT)
The SAT is a paper-based standardized test and started in the year 1926. It is widely used for college admissions in the United States. It is owned and published by the College Board, a private Non-profit Organization in the United States. It is developed and administered on behalf of the College Board by the Educational Testing Service. The test is intended to assess a student's readiness for College.
The SAT is typically taken by High School Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. The College Board states that SAT measures Literacy and Writing Skills that are needed for Academic success in College. The SAT assesses how well the test takers analyze and solve problems – skills they learned in school that they will need in college. The use of the SAT in combination with High School Grade Point Average (GPA) provides a better indicator of success in College than High School Grades alone, as measured by College Freshman GPA.
There are substantial differences in Funding, Curricula, Grading, and Difficulty among U.S. Secondary Schools due to U.S. Federalism, Local Control, and the Prevalence of Private, Distance, and Home Schooled Students.
Since 2007, all 4 year colleges and universities in the United States that require a test as part of an application for admission will accept either the SAT or ACT, and hundreds of colleges and universities do not require any standardized test scores at all for admission.
SAT Test structure
Total testing time is 3 hours and 45 minutes
Section |
Total testing time and breakdown |
Number of questions and types |
Contents/skills covered |
Critical Reading |
70 Minutes (One 20 minutes section and two 25 minutes section) |
19 Sentence completion questions |
vocabulary and ability to comprehend the logic of complex sentences |
48 Reading Passage questions |
reading and interpreting what is implied by or stated in a passage |
Math |
70 Minutes (One 20 minutes section and two 25 minutes section) |
44 Multiple-Choice Questions |
number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability |
10 Student- Produced Response Questions |
number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability |
Writing |
60 minutes (one 25-min essay, one 25-min section, and one 10-min section) |
1 Essay |
Writing skills |
25 Improving sentences questions |
Grammar and usage |
18 Identifying sentence error questions |
Grammar and usage |
6 Improving Paragraphs Questions |
writing and revising |
Note: Each SAT test includes an unscored 25-min multiple-choice Critical Reading, Math, or Writing section that does not contribute to a student’s score.
The SAT is composed of 10 sections: a 25-minute essay, six 25-minute sections, two 20-minute sections, and one 10-minute section. The breakdown of each section can be found in the table above. Please note that the information above is for the current version of the SAT that will be administered through January of 2016.
New SAT
The SAT is changing in March 2016.
On 5th March 2014, the College Board announced that a redesigned version of the SAT would be administered for the first time in 2016. The exam will revert to the 1600-point scale, the essay will be optional, and students will have 3 hours to take the exam plus 50 additional minutes to complete the essay, the removal of penalty will be implemented for wrong answers (rights-only scoring).
KEY CHANGES
Focus of test will move from reasoning-based to content-based, and have two main sections (Math & Evidence-Based Reading and Writing). Major changes to content include an increased focus on higher level math, inclusion of a no-calculator math section, focus on evidence-based reading, all passage-based writing questions, and an optional essay section.
SCORING
The two sections will be scored on a scale from 200-800, with a composite score of 1600 calculated by adding the sections together. There will be additional sub scores and insight scores available, and the optional essay will not count towards the overall score. Most of the questions on the except for the essay and the grid-in math responses, are multiple choice; all multiple-choice questions have five answer choices, one of which is correct.
Age limit
There is no age limit to take the SAT. Ideally you should be in High School.
Score card
Section |
Minimum Score required |
Negative marking |
Validity |
2400 Total score |
1800 above is usually a good score |
Partial -1/4 in all MOQs |
Not more than 5 years |
Students receive their online score reports approximately 3 weeks after test administration (6 weeks for mailed, paper scores).
Test Location and dates
The SAT is offered 7 times a year in the United States; in October, November, December, January, March (or April, alternating), May, and June. The test is typically offered on the first Saturday of the month for the November, December, May, and June administrations.
In other countries, the SAT is offered on the same dates as in the United States except for the first spring test date (i.e., March or April), which is not offered. The test was taken by 1,672,395 High School Graduates in the Class of 2014.
In India, Nearest Test location: Bhopal & Hyderabad
Candidates wishing to take the test may register online at the College Board's website, by mail, or by telephone, at least three weeks before the test date.
Fees structure
SAT Training at KRITARTHA Academy |
Value |
GST |
Total |
INR 25,000 |
INR 4,500 |
INR 29,500 |
Exam fees |
USD 52 at USA Outside USA: With essay: USD 54.5 Without essay: USD 43 Excluding late fees etc depending on the country This is indicative only |
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