SAT

There are two types of SAT Exams:

• SAT : Reasoning Test
• SAT 1SAT : Subject Test

The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. It was first introduced in 1926, and its name and scoring have changed several times, being originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, then the Scholastic Assessment Test, then the SAT Reasoning Test and now simply the SAT.

The SAT is owned and published by the College Board, a private, non- profit organization in the United States. It is developed and administered on behalf of the College Board by the Educational Testing Service. The test is intended to assess a student’s readiness for the college.

SAT Reasoning Test or SAT 1

A standardized test, SAT measures Verbal, Mathematical and Writing Skills. The test intends to primarily aid Undergraduate Schools to assess the potential of the applicants for advanced study. Universities in the US ask for SAT 1 score while inviting applications from prospective students for higher studies.

The SAT tests your Critical Thinking Skills as well as your ability to analyze and solve problems in Math, critical reading and writing. Those three, with an experimental section (which doesn’t count towards your score), make up the four SAT sections.

TEST Pattern

The Test lasts for 3 hr. 45minutes. Possible scores on the SAT range from 600 to 2400, combining test results from three 800- point sections: Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing.

SAT consists of three major sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing. Each section receives a score on the scale of 200-800. All Scores are multiples of 10. Total scores are calculated by adding up scores of three sections. Each major section is divided in to three parts. There are 10 major sub- sections, including an additional 25- minute experimental section.The experimental section is used to normalize question for future administrations of the SAT and does not count towards the final score. The questions range from easy, medium, and hard depending on the scoring from the experimental sections. Easier questions typically appear closer to the beginning of the section while handed questions are toward the end in certain sections. This is not true for every section ( the critical reading section is in chronological order) but it is the rule of the thumb mainly for Maths, Grammar and the 10 sentence – completion in the reading sections.

SAT Subject Tests

SAT Subject Tests include more than 20 different tests focusing on specific disciplines such as, English, history and social sciences, mathematics, physical sciences and foreign languages. Each subject test lasts 1 hour and consists entirely of multiple choice questions.The SAT subject tests are designed to measure what do you know about a particular subject. Sure, the critical reading and thinking skills play a part; but the main purpose of the Subject Tests is to determine exactly what you know about maths, history, chemistry and so on.

How are they used?

Schools that require SATs feel that they are an important indicator of your ability to succeed in college. They use your scores to help make decision about admission and placements. Like the SAT, SAT Subject Test provides schools with a standard measure of academic performance, which they use to compare you to applicants of various High schools and different educational backgrounds. This information helps them to decide whether you have the academic ability to handle their curriculum.

Your scores may also be used to decide what course of study is appropriate for you, once you have been admitted for example a low score on Math level 1 Test , may require you to go for remedial Maths course. On the contrary, a high score in the Chemistry test may exempt you from an introductory science course.