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(Scholastic Aptitude Test) |
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I already took the old SAT, should I take the new one too?
You should check with each college to which you are applying.
Some colleges might accept scores from either the old or the
new SAT for students entering college in 2006. However, many
colleges will require the SAT with writing for students graduating
from high school in 2006.
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What does the SAT cost?
The fee for the SAT Reasoning Test is $41.50.
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Is the new SAT harder than the old one?
The new SAT will be different, not necessarily harder. Quantitative
comparisons in math have been eliminated. A few math questions
on the new SAT will cover some topics from what students learn
in their third year college preparatory math classes, including
concepts in Algebra II. However, the test will still measure
reasoning ability and problem- solving skills gained through
activities and learning in and out of school. Since few students
are exposed to analogies in their classrooms, the analogy
questions have been replaced with more critical reading passages.
With the addition of the writing section, students will have
the opportunity to demonstrate how they have learned to develop,
organize, and express their thoughts. |
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How much time do I have to complete the SAT?
The total testing time for the SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes.
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Can I bring something to eat or drink during the test?
Although for security reasons, neither food nor drinks can
be opened or consumed in the test room, you are encouraged
to bring snacks in a book bag on test day. These snacks are
easily stowed under desks or chairs in the test room and can
be consumed outside of the test room during breaks.
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What do SAT scores look like?
The SAT has three scores, each on the scale of 200 to 800.
Your score will include writing (W 200-800), mathematics (M
200-800), and critical reading (CR 200-800).Your math and
critical reading scores on the new SAT can be compared to
the math and verbal scores on the old test. This is something
colleges need for consistency in admissions requirements.
However, the SAT writing score is completely new. |
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What will I be asked to write about in the essay?
The essay question will ask you to develop a point of view
on an issue and support it with examples from your studies
and experience. You can answer the question successfully in
many different ways. You won't have to have any prior knowledge
about the topic to write an effective essay. However, you
will have to answer the essay assignment directly.
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Will colleges see my essay? How will they use the
new writing score?
A college will be able to view and print a copy of your essay
only if you sent an official score report to that college.
Different colleges will use your writing score in different
ways. Writing scores may be used for admissions decisions
and possibly for placement in English Composition or related
courses. However, for the first few years, some schools may
choose to use writing scores for research purposes only, and
not for decisions about admissions or placement.
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What about students with disabilities?
Students with disabilities, whose documentation has been validated
by the College Board, will receive testing accommodations.
Students with disabilities that necessitate the use of a computer
for writing will be able to do so for the essay portion of
the writing section.
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Is the SAT Subject Test in Writing still offered?
Because the SAT Reasoning Test now includes a writing section,
the Subject Test in Writing is no longer offered. The last
administration of the Subject Test in Writing was January
2005.
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What do the initials "SAT" mean?
Originally, SAT was an abbreviation for the Scholastic Aptitude
Test. In 1993, the test was renamed the SAT I: Reasoning Test.
At the same time, the former Achievement Tests were renamed
the SAT II: Subject Tests. In 2004, the numerals "I"
and "II" were dropped and the tests are now named
the SAT Reasoning Test (or just SAT) and SAT Subject Tests.
SAT is a simple and recognizable way of referring to the SAT
Reasoning Test. |
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What are the similarities and differences between
the SAT and the PSAT/NMSQT?
Both the SAT and the PSAT/NMSQT measure critical reading,
writing, and math reasoning skills. The PSAT/NMSQT contains
actual SAT questions, but it is designed to be slightly easier
than the SAT. The PSAT/NMSQT is two hours and 10 minutes,
whereas the SAT takes three hours and forty-five minutes.
The SAT is used for college admission, but PSAT/NMSQT scores
are not sent to colleges. The PSAT/NMSQT Score Report gives
you personalized feedback on areas in which you could improve,
along with specific advice on how to improve. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT
gives you a chance to qualify for scholarship and recognition
programs and is the best practice for the SAT. |
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Is it true that you get a 200 on the SAT just for
signing your name?
Theoretically speaking, if you just sign your name and don't
complete the answer sheet, you would get a score of 200. That's
because we don't report scores that are lower than 200. In
reality, if we received an answer sheet with no answers, it
would be considered an automatic request to cancel scores
and no scores would be reported.
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Are some SAT tests more difficult than other ones?
All editions of the SAT are developed using the same test
specifications. Even if there are tiny differences in difficulty
from test to test, a statistical process called "equating"
ensures that a score for a test taken on one date or at one
place is equivalent to a score for a test taken on another
date or in another place. The rumors that the SAT in one month,
say in October, is easier, are false.
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Are all SAT questions multiple-choice?
All of the SAT is multiple-choice except for the 25-minute
written essay and 10 student- produced response math questions,
which ask you to fill in or "grid-in" your own answers
using a special section of the answer sheet.
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What's the difference between the SAT and Subject
Tests?
The SAT measures the critical thinking skills you'll need
for academic success in college. It assesses how well you
analyze and solve problems. SAT scores are used for college
admission purposes because the test predicts college success.
The Subject Tests are one-hour, primarily multiple-choice
tests in specific subjects. Subject Tests measure knowledge
or skills in a particular subject and your ability to apply
that knowledge. |
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How many times can you take the test?
You can take the test as many times as you want. Your score
report shows your current test score, in addition to scores
for up to six SAT and six Subject Test administrations.
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What do my SAT scores tell college admission staff
about me?
Your SAT scores can tell admission staff how you compare with
other students who took the test. That's because all scores
are reported on the 200-to-800 scale. For example, if your
scores are about 500 on each section, which is the mean (average)
score, college admission staff would know you scored about
as well as half of the students who took the test.
The SAT is the best independent, standardized measure of a
student's college readiness. It is standardized across all
students, schools, and states, providing a common and objective
scale for comparison. High school grades are a very useful
indicator of how students perform in college, yet there is
great variation in grading standards and course rigor within
and across high schools.
Remember, too, that the SAT is only one of a number of factors
that colleges consider when making admission decisions. Other
factors, like your high school record, essays, recommendations,
interviews, and extracurricular activities, also play a role
in admission decisions.
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Why does the SAT have the kinds of questions that
it does?
The SAT was designed with questions that reflect or show your
reasoning abilities, not just the amount of information you've
accumulated during school. As an example, many math items
can be answered by using complex equations, but they can also
be answered correctly if you can reason through the problem.
Reading passages don't just test that you can read but require
extended reasoning in order to answer the questions related
to the passage. This means that you have to be able to make
inferences, assumptions, and interpretations based on the
passage provided, in order to understand what the author is
trying to say. |
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Why don't the questions on the SAT ask about the things
I'm learning in my high school courses?
The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking
skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT
assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills
that you develop over years of schooling and in your outside
reading and study. The test is designed to allow you to demonstrate
your abilities in these areas regardless of the particular
type of instruction you've received or textbooks you've used.
These important abilities—understanding and analyzing
written material, drawing inferences, differentiating shades
of meaning, drawing conclusions, and solving math problems—are
necessary for success in college and life in general. This
doesn't mean that the SAT is irrelevant to your course work,
however; the SAT is closely aligned with the type of skills
being taught in the classroom and necessary for college success.
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Who comes up with questions on the SAT or Subject
Tests?
Test development committees comprised of educators and subject-matter
experts determine the test specifications and the types of
questions that are asked, including topics and areas that
should be covered. Internal test developers write the questions,
which are then submitted to another test committee, made up
of high school and college faculty and administrators, which
reviews the test questions and makes recommendations for improving
them, if needed. Some test questions are also submitted by
high school and college teachers from around the country. |
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Why can't I have more time to take the SAT?
Much
effort is made to ensure that most students are given enough
time to attempt every question on the test. But even if more
time were given, not all students would be able to answer
all the questions.
Studies are done to find out whether most students have enough
time to attempt to answer all the questions in each test section.
These studies show that time limits are appropriate if all
students taking the test answer 75 percent of the questions
in each section and if 80 percent reach the last question
in the section. Based on studies like these, the time limits
are appropriate for the majority of students.
Students with Disabilities may request extended time for taking
the SAT. |
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