The SAT is one of the two most used standardized tests, along with the ACT, for students who are seeking admission to college undergraduate programs in the United States.
Founded in 1926 as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the SAT was originally designed to be used as more of an IQ test with the goal of trying to identify intelligent people who may not have had the chance to experience a quality education. In other words, the test was trying to identify talented, or bright, students without requiring them to demonstrate a mastery of course content, but instead used an approach that was more like an intelligence test.
Since those early days the SAT, which is administered by the College Board, has undergone some big changes, with two of the most significant revisions occurring in 2005 and 2016.
As part of the 2016 revisions, the SAT got rid of the guessing penalty. Previous to that, if you guessed and made a mistake on the SAT you were penalized. Other changes in 2016 included:
- In an effort to make it more attractive for states to use the SAT, the SAT became more aligned with the Common Core. In other words, the College Board wanted to make the SAT cover material that is more similar to what the schools are teaching in the classroom.
- Making the redesigned SAT very Algebra 2 focused on the Math section. By comparison, the math covered on the ACT is often more advanced, because there are more special topics math questions.
- Making the reading comprehension portion more advanced. They took portions from AP language exams, which the College Board also administers, and added them to the SAT. In fact, the reading level on the SAT is two years above the reading level on the ACT.
- Changing the scoring. Prior to 2005, the SAT scoring was out of 1,600, but it was changed to 2,400 in 2005. In 2016 the College Board changed the SAT’s scoring to make it out of 1,600 again.
If you hear people referring to the “Redesigned SAT,” they are referring to the 2016 version of the test (the current version).
SAT Scoring
So let’s go into what many people are most interested in, the SAT scoring. It is simple to understand if we break it down into smaller parts.
Section Scores
The SAT consists of two sections, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. Students will earn scores between 200 – 800 on each section.
Total Score
While each of the section scores are important, many people focus on their total score in conversations. For example, you will often hear people refer to their total score when they say something like, “I got 1,100 on my SAT.”
The total score is the sum of the two section scores. Since students can earn between 200-800 on each of their section scores, this means that the total score can range from 400-1,600.
In case you were wondering, the average total SAT score for the class of 2019 was 1059. To break it down further the mean score for the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section of the test was 531 and the mean score for the Math section was 528.
As you might expect, there is a little variation in average scores from year to year.
Test Scores
There are also 3 test scores. They cover Reading, Writing and Language, and Math with scores ranging between 10 and 40 for each. Some schools (not all) have requirements for students to earn certain scores in each of those test scores. This is a newer thing and, again, not all schools have this requirement.
Here is a table with information from the College Board that helps break down SAT scoring:
| SAT Score Reported | Info/Details | Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| Total Score | Sum of the two section scores. | 400-1,600 |
| Section Scores (2) | Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. | 200-800 |
| Test Scores (3) | Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. | 10-40 |
| SAT Essay scores (3) The SAT Essay is optional. | Reading, Analysis, and Writing. | 2-8 |
| Cross-test scores (2) | Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science. Based on selected questions in the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Tests. These scores show how well you use your skills to analyze texts and solve problems in these subject areas. | 10-40 |
| Subscores (7) | Reading and Writing and Language: Command of Evidence and Words in Context. Writing and Language: Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions. Math: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math. | 1-15 |
If you have already taken the SAT you can learn more about understanding your SAT score report in the following video:
When Is the SAT Offered?
The SAT is offered seven times per year, in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December. Students should plan to register at least six weeks in advance to avoid having to pay late fees and to make sure that they get their preferred testing location.
When Should You Take the SAT?
You may take the SAT any time starting freshman year of high school. However, most students take it for the first time in the spring of their junior year and possibly retake it in the fall of their senior year if they would like to try and improve their score.
Prior to taking the SAT for the first time, most students would benefit from doing a practice test. Seeing the results of the practice can help students better direct their test prep efforts as they prepare to take the actual SAT test for the first time.
Do I Need to Take the Optional Essay Portion Of the SAT?
You won’t need to take the optional essay portion of the SAT unless some of the colleges you are considering require it as part of the admissions application. While some colleges require the essay and others don’t, there is a third group of colleges that will recommend you take it. You should strongly consider taking the optional essay even if the school(s) you are looking at only recommend it.
So you really need to check to see if the schools you are considering will want you to take the essay before registering for the SAT. If you are unsure of which schools you will be applying to you definitely want to take the essay. That way you will be prepared no matter, which schools you end up applying to.
How to Register For the SAT?
You can sign up for the SAT at http://collegeboard.org/register.
We said this in the previous section, but we will say it again because it is important to remember… Students should plan on registering for the SAT at least six weeks in advance so they can avoid paying late fees and to make sure they get their preferred test location.
What to Expect
As mentioned earlier, the SAT consists of two sections, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math.
The breakdown of the test is as follows:
| Section | Sub-Section | Total Testing Time & Breakdown | Number of Questions & Types | Content/Skills Covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence-Based Reading & Writing | Reading | 65 Minutes | 52 | reading and vocabulary in context |
| Writing | 35 Minutes | 44 | grammar and usage | |
Math | 80 minutes; 1 55-minute calculator-optional section and 1 25-minute no-calculator section | 58 | heart of algebra, problem solving & data analysis, passport to advanced math, additional topics (geometry, trigonometry and pre-calculus) | |
The total testing time without the optional essay is 3 hours. If you take the optional essay it will take an additional 50 minutes.
You should also expect to have one 10-minute and one five-minute break during the test, which are the only times you will be able to eat or drink.
How to Prepare For the SAT?
Most people benefit from taking a practice SAT. Not only does it give you a feel for what the test is like, but the results can point you in the direction of what you can improve or what you need to work on going forward.
You don’t have to prepare for the SAT strictly on your own. Many people will hire a tutor or test prep company to help them get ready and improve their results.
How Much Does It Cost to Take the SAT?
To sign up or register for an SAT, you will have to pay a registration fee. Other charges may also apply for US test-takers.
As of 2020, the test fees for the SAT are:
- SAT without the optional essay costs $52 (a fee waiver is available)
- SAT with the optional essay costs $68 (a fee waiver is available)
When signing up for your SAT, you can select up to four colleges where you want to send your score reports to for free. You can always add more colleges later for an extra fee, which is currently $12 per school in 2020.
As you might expect, fees change a little every few years.
What About the SAT Subject Tests? Do I Need to Take the SAT Subject Tests?
Many students don’t need to take the SAT Subject Tests, but depending on what colleges they are interested in attending, some students may need to take them. Many competitive colleges require them while other schools recommend them. So you really need to check with the admissions offices at the colleges you are thinking of applying to.
What Is the SAT Subject Test?
The SAT Subject Tests are college admission exams on specific subjects. There are 20 SAT Subject Tests in the five general subject areas of English, history, languages, mathematics, and science. Each test takes an hour to complete. They are all multiple-choice and are scores range from 200–800. You can learn more about the SAT Subject Tests here.
It is worth noting that you can’t take the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests on the same day. The SAT Subject Tests require a separate registration. Furthermore, not all SAT Subject Tests are offered on each test date, so you really need to plan ahead.
Here is a helpful video that talks about when the best times might be to take the SAT Subject Tests:
Final Thoughts
Depending on where you live, the SAT or ACT could be the more common test in your area. Some high schools might offer their students a chance to take the SAT or ACT or free, which is how one test can become more common than the other in certain areas. Ultimately, most college admissions offices will take either test.
If you take a practice SAT and knock it out of the park you might stick with the SAT and spend your time doing some SAT prep to take that. However, if you struggled with the SAT you might want to try giving the ACT a try. While most students do similarly on both tests, some students do better one or the other, and many students like one test over the other.
Taking a practice test for both the SAT and ACT is probably a good idea. After that, you can prepare for the test that you did better on or like best. In the end, the choice you make is about what is best for YOU.
