About the SAT
What is on the SAT?
There are 3 main areas tested on the SAT: Math, Critical Reading, and Writing.
Math Sections:
- Two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section.
- 54 total questions (44 are multiple choice, 10 are student fill-in-the-grid questions).
- Covers Arithmetic, Algebra I, Geometry, and a little of Algebra II. No Trigonometry or Calculus.
- You may use a calculator, but it isn't necessary to solve most SAT Math problems.
Critical Reading Sections:
- Two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section.
- 67 total questions (48 Reading Comprehension and 19 Sentence Completions questions).
- Reading Comprehension tests understanding of both short (100-150 words) and long (up to 850 words) passages.
Writing Sections:
- One 10-minute section, a 25-minute section, and a 25 minute essay.
- 49 multiple choice questions (18 Finding Sentence Errors, 25 Improving Sentences, and 6 Improving Paragraphs).
- Covers grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, diction, and clarity.
- For the essay section, you will read a short paragraph and then write an essay with a main thesis and supporting details.
Experimental Section:
- One 25-minute section.
- Could test Math, Critical Reading, or Writing (but not the essay).
- This section does not count toward your score. It is only used to try out questions for future tests. Unfortunately, you can't just say "Ah, here's the fake section" and skip it, because it'll look just like the other real sections.