How the SAT examination is structure?

SAT exam structure comprises of two major sections – Evidence-based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section and Math and an optional essay section. Both these sections, EBRW and Math, are scored on a range of 200-800.  Even though it is optional, the SAT essay score is required by a number of colleges and universities during the SAT application process. The SAT Essay section score ranges from 2 to 8. 

• Both the sections of EBRW questions are of multiple-choice questions
• Maths section is divided into two sets of questions – one is to be attempted without using a calculator and one to be done with the help of a calculator
• Most of the Mathematics questions are MCQs; some questions are grid-ins wherein students must solve and fill in the answers on the bubble sheet
• The exam duration is of 3 hours. If attempting SAT with Essay then the duration is of 3 hours and 50 minutes.
• There is a time limit of 100 minutes to attempt EBRW section and 80 minutes for Maths section.

SAT Exam Pattern Highlights

The below table provides knowledge about the SAT exam structure. Candidates will get to know about the duration, number of questions, score range, and many more things.

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

The SAT examination structure of SAT EBRW part consists of reading and writing sections. 

SAT Reading Test

• There are 52 multiple choice questions in the 5 passages that the student needs to be attempted in 65 minutes
• One literary passage from the American or International work of fiction such as short stories or novels
• One passage or a pair of passages from the US founding documents or Great Global Conversation on topics like human dignity, freedom, and justice
• A selection of passages on sociology, economics, psychology, etc.
• Two passages are from the work of science
• The students are required to read the passage and answer the question in the form of a story or by making an argument or explaining a study or experiment

Types of Questions

The SAT EBRW questions are divided into five major categories:

Command and evidence: A total of 10 SAT reading questions that comprises command of evidence questions. These questions test the interpretation of data presented in the form of graphics, analysis of evidence, understanding the author’s use of evidence, and also producing a link between text and graphics.

Information and Ideas - This type of question focuses on searching for direct or implied information, finding passages that describe the information, analyzing main themes, identification of summarization, and also analyzing links between ideas.

Rhetoric - Questions asking about the meaning, style, or tone are conveyed by the author. The word choice questions are more focused on the effect than the definition. The text structure questions can be solved with structural strategies such as problem-solution techniques, cause and effect.

Synthesis - Questions asking to draw conclusions and make connections between two passages or between passages and informational graphs like tables, charts, and graphs, accompany some passages

Words in context – In the SAT exam question pattern, words in context question focuses on the advanced vocabulary. According to College Board, majorly the focus should be on ‘high-utility academic words and phrases.

SAT Writing and Language Test

• SAT language and writing test consists of 44 multiple choice questions in the 4 passages that should be attempted in 35 minutes
• Requires students to revise and edit the passages accordingly
• Topics covered are social science, career, science, history, and humanities
• The passage writing modes are narrative, argumentative, and informative or explanatory
• At least one passage on each of the above writing modes is given in the question paper

Types of Questions

SAT questions of writing and language are as follows:

Expression of Idea – This focuses on the improvement of the structure, organization, and how the idea is being articulated in the passage as well as the overall effectiveness of language. The organization is a part of the expression of ideas. Here the candidates will be asked to place a particular part of the passage in the correct place. This requires picking up clues from the given passage. The development questions focus on strengthening the passage by addition or elimination of information. Last but not the least, effective language use focuses on a correct, accurate, and concise text. 

Standard English Conventions - The SAT writing and language test focuses on the use of Standard English conventions like word choice, agreement, and conjugation. The second point is a sentence structure which focus on the identification of dependent and independent clauses, usage of transitions, and conjunctions.

SAT Mathematics

• SAT Maths comprises of two sub-parts - maths with calculator and maths without a calculator
• 58 questions are to be attempted in 80 minutes
• 80% of questions are multiple-choice while 20% are grid ins
• Maths with calculator has 30 multiple choice questions and 8 grid-in questions to solve
• Grid in questions require students to write the derived answers in the grids as provided in the bubble sheet
• Math without calculator has 15 multiple choice questions and 5 grid-in questions to solve
• A set of references and formula are provided at the beginning of the SAT test
• The questions are framed in real-life settings on topics from science, social science, and career contexts.

Math No-Calculator Section:

• The applicant is not allowed to use a calculator in the 25 minutes duration section that has 20 questions.
• Out of these 20 questions, 15 are multiple-choice questions and 5 are the Grid In questions.
• This section contains questions from all the four main areas except the data analysis and problem-solving.

Math with Calculator Section:

• Here, the student is allowed to use a calculator to answer the 38 questions in the given duration of 55 minutes.
• Of the 38 questions, 30 questions are multiple-choice and the remaining 8 are again the Grid-in questions.
• The student has to bring a calculator; scientific calculators and some graphing calculators are also allowed to solve this section; whereas a calculator in the mobile is not permitted.
• Though a calculator is allowed, not all the questions in this section require a calculator to solve them.

Type of Questions

The Maths sections of SAT exam paper pattern comprises of questions categories into three different areas of maths:

• Heart of Algebra - create, manipulate and solve algebraic equations like linear equations and systems
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis - interpret tables and graphs and solve problems in real-world situations using proportional reasoning, ratios, and percentages 
• Passport to Advanced Maths - Work on, manipulate and solve complex mathematical function and equations

Majorly comprised of questions from the above topics, the sections also have questions from the additional topics in maths which includes –

• Volume and Area
• Coordinate Geometry
• Basic Trigonometry

SAT Essay

• The essay is optional but is required by most of the colleges and universities to get a deeper insight into a student’s personality and his/her thought process
• You must pay charges additional to the basic SAT registration fee to take the Essay section
• Students are required to write an essay on the given topic based on a passage within 50 minutes
• Students must consider and explain how the author evidence, styling, and reasoning elements to make the passage convincing in their essays
• Three separate scores on a range of 2-8 is given
• The essay sections help students assess their skills in –
  • Reading - how well a student could comprehend the passage
  • Analysis - how well a student analyzed the author’s argument in the passage
  • Writing - how well a student could structure his/her response

Types of Questions

The passage for essay in every SAT varies, however, all the passage consists of the following points:

• The questions are written for a broad audience
• Argue a point
• Express subtle views on complex subjects
• Use evidence and logical reasoning to support claims
• Examine debates, ideas, or trends in the arts and sciences, cultural, civic, or political life
• Always taken from published works