SAT Test Structure
SAT TEST – OVERVIEW
• The SAT is a standard college entrance exam that measures skills in math, reading, and writing.
• The first section is always a written essay, which takes 25 minutes, and the last section is always a multiple-choice writing section, which takes 10 minutes.
• The other parts of the test — six 25-minute sections and two 20-minute sections — can appear in any order.
• One of the 25-minute sections (you won't know which) will not count toward your score; it is used to try out questions for future SAT testing.
• Total test time is 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Section Type of Questions Length
Reading (3 sections) 19 Sentence Completions 48 Reading Comprehension 67 Total Questions 70 minutes
Writing (3 sections) 49 Grammar 1 Essay 49 Total Questions + Essay 60 minutes
Math (3 sections) 44 Multiple-choice 10 Grid-ins 54 Total Questions 70 minutes
Experimental Reading, Writing, or Math 25 minutes
1. The SAT Critical Reading sections present you with reading comprehension questions about full-length and paragraph-length passages. They also include sentence completions.
2. The SAT Writing sections include multiple-choice questions on grammar, usage, word choice, and organization. The essay section asks you to respond to a prompt by developing a point of view supported by clear, well-organized ideas based on your experience and observations.
3. The SAT Math sections include multiple-choice questions and grid-in questions, which require you to generate a response. Topics include: numbers and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; and statistics, probability, and data analysis.
SAT scores
• Each section (Critical Reading, Writing, and Math) is scored on a scale of 200 to 800.
• Essays, a sub-section of Writing, are graded on a scale of 2 to 12.
• Overall SAT scores can range from 600 to 2400.
• The SAT is a standard college entrance exam that measures skills in math, reading, and writing.
• The first section is always a written essay, which takes 25 minutes, and the last section is always a multiple-choice writing section, which takes 10 minutes.
• The other parts of the test — six 25-minute sections and two 20-minute sections — can appear in any order.
• One of the 25-minute sections (you won't know which) will not count toward your score; it is used to try out questions for future SAT testing.
• Total test time is 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Section Type of Questions Length
Reading (3 sections) 19 Sentence Completions 48 Reading Comprehension 67 Total Questions 70 minutes
Writing (3 sections) 49 Grammar 1 Essay 49 Total Questions + Essay 60 minutes
Math (3 sections) 44 Multiple-choice 10 Grid-ins 54 Total Questions 70 minutes
Experimental Reading, Writing, or Math 25 minutes
1. The SAT Critical Reading sections present you with reading comprehension questions about full-length and paragraph-length passages. They also include sentence completions.
2. The SAT Writing sections include multiple-choice questions on grammar, usage, word choice, and organization. The essay section asks you to respond to a prompt by developing a point of view supported by clear, well-organized ideas based on your experience and observations.
3. The SAT Math sections include multiple-choice questions and grid-in questions, which require you to generate a response. Topics include: numbers and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; and statistics, probability, and data analysis.
SAT scores
• Each section (Critical Reading, Writing, and Math) is scored on a scale of 200 to 800.
• Essays, a sub-section of Writing, are graded on a scale of 2 to 12.
• Overall SAT scores can range from 600 to 2400.