SAT is a standardized test widely used for Undergrad College admissions in the United States, a few other top colleges in other countries and in India. The paper-pencil test is administered by “The College Board” in the month of March, May, August, October and December in India. Here is the SAT Test structure:
| Sections | Test | Duration (Minutes) | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | Reading | 65 | 52 Multiple Choice |
| Writing and Language | 35 | 44 Multiple Choice | |
| Math | No Calculator | 25 | 15 Multiple Choice 5 Grid In |
| Yes Calculator | 55 | 30 Multiple Choice 8 Grid In |
The test clocks 3 hours (3 hours 15 minutes including breaks). There is a 10-minute break after the Reading section and a 5-minute break after the Math No-Calculator section. Following are the scores awarded by The College Board:
One Total Score: 400 – 1600, Sum of the two sectional scores.
Two Section Scores: 200 – 800 each in Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math.
Three Test Scores: 10 – 40 each in Reading, Writing and Language and Math.
Two Cross Test Scores: 10 – 40 in Analysis in History/Social Studies; and Analysis in Science
Seven Subscores: 1 – 15 in Words in Context; Command of Evidence; Expression of Ideas; Standard English Conventions; Heart of Algebra; Problem Solving and Data Analysis; and Passport to Advanced Mathematics.
Within each section, all questions contribute equally to your final score. The raw score of each section is converted to a scaled score. And there is no negative marking for wrong answers. The five best ways to study for the SAT Math section:
The SAT Math preparation starts with the knowledge of the SAT Math syllabus. The SAT Math measures in three areas:
The SAT Math questions from the above topics will appear as multiple choice or student-produced responses. It may appear under the calculator section or no calculator section.
After having the knowledge of the SAT Math syllabus, take a diagnostic test to understand the pattern of the SAT Math test and the challenges faced during the test. Several websites offer free SAT sectional tests as well as SAT full-length tests which are very similar to the real SAT. While you are preparing for the test, focus on your accuracy and practice for the techniques and not the score. Once mastered the techniques, the scores will improve automatically. Questions in Math are in rough order of difficulty.
SAT Math Question types
There are two types of questions in the Math section:
Now it’s time to analyze the test to find your weaknesses. One of the effective ways of analyzing the SAT Math paper is to prepare an error log table for each section.
Content Knowledge Errors: Find the number of questions you have got wrong because of lack of content knowledge. If you don’t know how to solve any question then make a note of that question before guessing it. This will help you to set the priority during preparation.
Errors due to Application of Techniques: Find the number of questions where you have the strong content knowledge but you got it wrong because you used the conventional way (time-consuming) of solving instead of using the prescribed technique.
Errors due to Carelessness/Trap Answer: Find the number of questions you got wrong because of misreading, calculation error, common mathematical errors, etc.
Errors due to Pacing: Find the number of questions you got wrong because you were running out of time on some questions.
According to the above analysis, set a goal before every test to practice your SAT Math topics where you need improvement and make a study plan accordingly and stick to it till you achieve your goal.
Now after knowing your strong and weak areas, prepare a study plan based on the time available to you. To prepare any study plan you need a reliable, standard and effective source of material to get your best possible score. Since the SAT is timed, so it is important to get the answers quickly and accurately. At Manya – The Princeton review, we offer the following materials:
Books List:
SAT Student Portal:
After analyzing the first test, revise the topics where you got more mistakes, before the next test. Work on only one or two weak areas before every test. In the initial stage of your SAT preparation, start with easy questions to learn concepts and identify faster and more accurate ways to answer questions, then gradually move on to the medium and hard level of questions for a particular topic. Use Process of Elimination (POE) and Ball Parking (approximation) to answer the question if you are stuck or running out of time on some questions.
After practicing selected topics, take another SAT mock test and check if your hit rate has improved on those topics. The gap between each test depends on the target set by you. Similarly, fix your content and strategy thereafter. Stick to the strategy you have prepared during the practice. Don’t change it every now and then.
Yes, you can appear for SAT any number of times.
Ideally twice. But not more than three times.
The College Board offers 8 free SAT tests for practice.
No. SAT tests only high school Math.
The SAT Math section tests Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis and Passport to Advanced Mathematics.
There are two types of questions in SAT Math: 1) Multiple Choice and 2) Grid In.
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Important Things to Know About SAT in 2024
