SAT Exam info
What it is, what's tested, and how it's scored.
SAT exam details
The SAT is the most popular entrance exam for college admissions. Accepted by most colleges and universities, the SAT helps admission teams determine high school students' readiness for undergraduate studies and provides a standardized measure of comparison for all applicants.
The SAT is administered by the College Board, a non-profit organization that develops and administers standardized tests and study materials to prepare students for college.
The SAT is divided into two core sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. These sections test a student's ability to analyze complex passages, read and think critically, and solve multi-step mathematical problems. Along with your high school GPA, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation, your SAT score plays a major role in your college application.
The SAT exam is hosted by College Board and costs $68 to register. Participants have 2 hours and 14 minutes to answer 98 questions.
As of 2024, all SAT exams are distributed digitally. While the majority of questions are multiple-choice, some math problems require you to solve and answer the questions directly. You will have access to a digital calculator.
The Reading and Writing section presents short reading passages or passage pairs followed by a corresponding question. The section focuses on four content domains:
Craft and structure
Information and ideas
Standard English conventions
Expression of ideas
The Math section includes questions on four main areas crucial for college and career success:
Algebra
Advanced math
Problem-solving and data analysis
Geometry and trigonometry
The first module in each section contains questions of varying difficulty. The SAT's adaptive format means that the difficulty of the second module is determined by your performance on the first. A 10-minute break is allotted between the Reading/Writing and Math sections.
The College Board's SAT exam summary
Reading and Writing
54 questions
Two 32-minute modules (64 minutes total)
- Craft and structure: Tests understanding of vocabulary, text structure, and rhetorical devices.
- Information and ideas: Assesses ability to locate, interpret, and synthesize information from texts.
- Standard English conventions: Evaluates knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
- Expression of ideas: Tests ability to improve clarity, style, and effectiveness of written communication.
Math
44 questions
Two 35-minute modules (70 minutes total)
- Algebra I and II: Covers linear equations, quadratic equations, systems of equations, and polynomial functions.
- Advanced mathematics: Includes complex numbers, trigonometry, and advanced algebraic concepts.
- Problem solving and data analysis: Tests ability to interpret data, work with ratios and percentages, and solve real-world problems.
- Geometry and trigonometry: Covers geometric shapes, coordinate geometry, and trigonometric functions.
Achievable SAT content outline
1
SAT Reading and Writing
Provides a step-by-step overview of how to actively read SAT Reading and Writing passages and extract important information. Walks you through the four SAT content domains in detail: Information and Ideas, Craft and Structure, Expression of Ideas, and Standard English Conventions. What's covered: reading strategies, grammatical concepts, rhetorical synthesis, vocabulary in context, and more.
2
SAT Math
Helps students develop mastery over SAT math topics, which closely reflect what's taught in American high schools up to grade 11. Introduces the UnCLES Method (Understand, Clarify, Look, Establish, and Solve), a useful tool for working through intricate math problems. What's covered: algebra, geometry, advanced math, solving equations, analyzing data, and more.