What is the SAT?

Today the SAT is used as an exam to assess college readiness and is used by college admissions offices. You can often find admitted students’ average SAT scores for the college you want to apply and that can be used as a good idea of the kind of scores they are looking for from applicants.

There are two sections: math and reading/writing. Each section has two modules. You can view and return to questions within a module.

The SAT is different from tests you may have taken in math or English class. For one, there is no pass or fail. The highest score you can get is 1600 and the lowest score you can get is 400 and the average is 1050. For another, now the SAT is digital and adaptive. This means the better you do, the harder the questions become. While most math tests your ability to apply a formula you learned the week before, on the SAT your understanding of mathematical concepts will be tested, not just your ability to execute procedures. While English tests evaluate your vocabulary and ability to paraphrase, on the SAT your grammar and your ability to synthesize and reason abstractly are tested. Depending on your education you may have been very successful in English and Math class, a straight A student even, and find yourself struggling on the SAT. This is common in fact, which is why there is an entire industry around SAT tutors, courses, boot camps, and Facebook groups aimed specifically at preparing students for the SAT.

You can find information about the structure of the test on Collegeboard.org.