The SATs can be one of the valuable assets in your application. The SAT is a standardised test comprising 2 sections – Reading & Writing and Mathematics – that you take to supplement your college application.
This test used to be a requirement made by many universities, with different schools expecting different SAT achievements from candidates. Top schools, such as the Ivy Leagues, filled their admissions with those which scored exceptionally well.
However, post COVID-19, many schools became ‘test-optional’, leaving it up to the candidate to decide if the test is worth taking and how much good it can do to their application.
Test Structure:
The SAT is structured in two sections: Reading & Writing and Mathematics. The test was recently turned digital (now being done on a computer in a testing center rather than on paper) and was redesigned to have its content cut down to consist of 98 questions across the two sections, with an allocated 2 hours and 14 minutes (from the previous 3 hours). The scale of the test is out of 1600, the maximum score in each section being a 800.
Reading & Writing
In the Reading & Writing Sections, you should expect to be given short reading passages, or passage pairs, on which you will be questioned. In this section there will be a total of 54 questions, spread equally across two modules. The questions will be multiple choice and you will have a total of 64 minutes to answer this section.
The questions fall within four categories:
Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas. The test, therefore, examines both your command of the English grammar, but also how good you are at comprehending information from a text.
Mathematics
The Math section is made up of 2 modules and tests 4 areas in math: Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry and Trigonometry. Around 75% of the questions are multiple choice questions, some set within contexts (like the word questions you would have in school). The rest of the questions require students to fill out their own answer.
To get more information on what particular math skills are tested, as well as all the official information about the test, be sure to check out the official College Board website where all of this information is provided in significant detail.
Test Preparation
Registration and Fees
After you decide to take the SAT, you next need to decide when you are going to take the test. The tests are conducted once a month or once every 2 months, so be sure you plan your other commitments accordingly. It is important you give yourself enough time to prepare for this test, so it is best you register for the test multiple months in advance.
If you are an international student, especially one who has never studied in a US curriculum, you need to consider the fact you will need a certain amount of time to learn how to answer SAT style questions as well as ensure you have all the skills the test features, even if they are not taught in your home curriculum. I would suggest no shorter than a 4 month preparation period, especially for those who need to score exceptionally well and are planning to go to excellent schools.
The fee for the SAT test is $68 and you can find information about testing centres near you on this link.
Preparation
To ace the SAT, you need to make sure you get to know the test well enough. In the test, you are likely to be tested on the skills and knowledge you already have. Yet, you might find it hard to achieve good results, most likely because you might not be familiar with the right way to answer the questions or are not yet able to quickly or effectively recognise what the question is asking from you.
The only way to overcome these issues is to practice! Before the test, you should take as many practice tests as possible. Some of these resources can be found online, including an official practice test issued by College Board on their new Bluebook (which you should save to be one of the final forms or revision) or using Khan Academy. You may also be able to purchase books or watch Youtube videos giving advice on how to do well in the test.
An alternative that can really ensure your score well is to hire a tutor. We can recommend several experienced tutors, so if you need help, you can contact us and we will get you in touch with them.
Unsure if the test is for you?
Choosing to do the SAT is one of the important decisions you will make in the process of college applications. There are many benefits to doing the SAT, but taking the test is a hassle and could be an unnecessary burden you do not want to add to the already stressful process of applications. To decide if this is the path you want to go to, it would be incredibly useful to consult a counsellor or a mentor.
