About the SAT Test
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized college admissions test produced by the College Board that measures 3 core areas: Critical Reading, Writing, and Math. Your score on the SAT exam provides colleges and universities a metric they may use in determining your suitability in their institution. The current SAT Reasoning Test is administered 7 times a year in the U.S. and is generally scheduled on a Saturday. It takes three hours and forty-five minutes to finish, and costs about $50 ($81 International). Possible scores range from 600 to 2400, combining test results from three 800-point sections (Mathematics, Critical Reading, and Writing).
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Next Test
May 4
-19 Days Away
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Why is the SAT Important?
The SAT is actually required by many universities as part of the application process and is intended to assess a student's readiness for college. But there are other reasons why taking the test can help.
- A high SAT score can help a student stand out from a general pool of applicants
- Many popular scholarships require a minimum SAT score
- Many employers now ask for standardized test scores in addition to prior GPA
SAT Test Dates for 2012 & 2013
| Test Date | Tests Offered | Regular Registration Closes | Late Registration Closes | SAT Fees/Late Reg |
| October 6, 2012 | SAT and Subject Tests | September 7, 2012 | September 21, 2012 | $49/Late $75 |
| November 3, 2012 | SAT and Subject Tests | October 4, 2012 | October 19, 2012 | $49/Late $75 |
| December 1, 2012 | SAT and Subject Tests | November 1, 2012 | November 16, 2012 | $49/Late $75 |
| January 26, 2013 | SAT and Subject Tests | December 28, 2012 | January 11, 2013 | $49/Late $75 |
| March 9, 2013 | SAT | February 8, 2013 | February 22, 2013 | $49/Late $75 |
| May 4, 2013 | SAT and Subject Tests | April 5 , 2013 | April 19, 2013 | $49/Late $75 |
| June 1, 2013 | SAT and Subject Tests | May 2, 2013 | May 17, 2013 | $49/Late $75 |
The SAT Test Format and Content
| Test Length | Number of Questions | Possible Score | Type of Material |
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Critical Reading70 Minutes
One 20-minute section |
49 Passage-based reading
Tests your reading comprehension skills. These questions include summarization questions, figurative language questions, vocabulary questions, inference/extended reasoning questions, interpretation questions, and compare and contrast questions. |
800 points |
Multiple-Choice |
19 Sentence completion questions Tests your vocabulary, semantics, and skills in inference. |
Multiple-Choice |
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Math70 Minutes
One 20-minute section |
44 Multiple choice
Basic arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. |
800 points |
Multiple-Choice |
10 Student-produced responses
More arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. |
Grid-ins |
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Writing60 Minutes
One 10-minute section |
25 Improving Sentences
Tests you ability in grammar, sentence structure, word choice, and conventional written English. |
560 points |
Multiple-Choice |
18 Identifying sentence errors
Covers your ability to spot subject-verb agreement errors, pronoun errors, sentence structure errors, and common misuses of language. |
Multiple-Choice |
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6 Improving Paragraphs
Tests your ability correct subordination of ideas, correct coordination of ideas, correct use of transition, unity of paragraphs, coherence of paragraphs. |
Multiple-Choice |
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1 Essay
The SAT begins with an essay. You'll be asked to present and support a point of view on a specific issue. Because you have only 25 SAT, your essay is not expected to be polished - it is meant to be a first draft. |
240 points |
Written Essay |
