SAT Exam Syllabus

The SAT is neither a test of academic excellence, nor a test of intelligence, nor a test of aptitude. It only tests you on some Math and English topics that are covered in high school. To achieve a high score, it is critical to analyse each section and its question types in order to comprehend the content and skills required for the SAT exam syllabus.

The SAT is a computer-based test developed to assess the verbal and mathematical skills of the students aspiring to study abroad, especially in the USA.

Moreover, the SAT is considered easier than JEE mains in terms of syllabus, stress level, and acceptance rate, and has a larger number of candidates giving the exam globally.

Highlights of SAT Exam 2023

SAT Test Syllabus

The three areas of the SAT Exam—Critical Reading, Writing, and Math—assess a student’s readiness for admission to colleges abroad.

SAT Verbal Syllabus (Reading and Writing)

The Reading and Writing section of the SAT measures a student’s career and college readiness. This section assesses a student’s ability to use evidence, a strong indicator of college readiness and success, in the key areas of language, comprehension, and rhetoric.

The Reading and Writing section consists of multiple-choice questions that require them to read text, understand it, and apply that information and understanding in answering the questions. It also required the students to analyze the craft and structure of texts, revise the text to enhance the rhetorical expressions, and edit texts to have them adhere to the standard English conventions.

The section contains two equal-length modules of 32 minutes and 25 questions each. In addition, it also includes two pre-test or experimental questions. Each module is separately timed, and students can move backward and forward among questions in a given module before time runs out.

The Reading aspect of the SAT Reading and Writing tests how well you ‘interpret, synthesize, and use evidence from a wide range of sources. In addition to questions about the texts, it will also have questions that require you to interpret accompanying tables, charts, and graphs.

What matters is how carefully you analyze the texts and answer the questions based on what you have read. Consistent timed practice with reliable material and taking full-length tests are ways in which you can improve your scores. Just reading and comprehending do not get your points.

The SAT does not ask questions that require you to know obscure and uncommon words. Vocabulary in Context questions will ask about words from the passage. These are often common, familiar words used in unusual ways or with their secondary, less common meanings. You need to develop habits and skills to use clues from the context to figure out what the words mean.

However, improving your vocabulary should be part of your SAT preparation as this will help you understand the passages better and answer the questions more easily.

The Writing aspect of the SAT Reading and Writing covers four major skills areas: Command of Evidence, Words in Context, Expression of Ideas, and Standard English Conventions. These questions test your knowledge of grammar and punctuation and the effective use of language.

Fortunately, SAT tests you on just a handful of common grammar rules. By mastering those rules and having a systematic approach you can ace these questions with ease. Definitions of rules are not tested; what is tested is the correction and identification of errors.

Some grammar concepts and rules that you will need to know are subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, parallelism, and modifiers. Quite a few questions will test your knowledge of punctuation and the linking of phrases and clauses.

Quick Overview Of The SAT Reading and Writing Test Syllabus

SAT Math Syllabus

The Math section of the SAT measures a student’s ability to use mathematical knowledge for effective problem-solving in real-world situations. The section is made up of two sections.

The Math section contains two equal-length modules of 35 minutes and 20 questions each. In addition, it also includes two pre-test or experimental questions. Each module is separately timed, and students can move backward and forward among questions in a given module before time runs out.

For most of the SAT Math section, you need to know 6th to 10th Grade math covering arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics, and basic trigonometry. Some Advanced Math and “Additional Math” concepts will involve Quadratic and Exponential functions and Geometric and Trigonometric concepts.

The SAT Math does not test Imaginary or complex numbers. Student-Produced Responses can now be negative (and in that case include an extra digit). Also, there are no question sets with common info—every question is now discrete.

Very often on the SAT, a math question is hard not because it tests a hard concept; it is hard because most students get it wrong. Therefore, careful reading and a systematic approach can get you a great score.

The test writers often include a few traps in the question wording or in the answer choices in such a way that if you don’t read carefully, you are likely to fall for those traps. Therefore, knowing the test is more important than just studying academic content. That’s why we at Manya – The Princeton Review believe that the SAT just tests “how good you are at taking the SAT”.

Quick Overview of the SAT Math Test Syllabus

The Math Test Focuses on Three Core Areas

Algebra

Linear inequalities in two variables and their systems, graphical representation of linear function, Linear equations with rational coefficients, system of linear equations.

Problem Solving and Data Analysis

Association of variables or independence of events; estimation of a population parameter; range and standard deviation in statistics; evaluation of reports to check appropriateness of data collection methods, calculation of mean, median, mode, Percentages; ratio and proportion; unit conversion; equation of line or curve using a scatter plot; two-way tables to calculate conditional frequencies and conditional probabilities.

Advanced Math

Multiplication and division of polynomial equations, zeros and factors of polynomials, non-linear relationship between two variables, function notation, isolation of a variable by rearrangement of formula or equation, Quadratic equations with rational coefficients, addition, subtraction.