What you need to know about the new SAT exam syllabus

The majority of US universities employ the Scholastic Assessment Test, also known as the SAT, for their admissions. An applicant's aptitude for Math, Evidence-based Reading, and Writing is assessed by the SAT. Before beginning test preparation, it is essential to have a firm grasp of the SAT exam syllabus and format.

The SAT is taken by about 3 million students annually to gain admission to US universities. Candidates should be familiar with the sat exam syllabus, question paper forms, and exam topics. Reading, Writing and Mathematics make up the three important components of the test.

Highlights

Exam Name	SAT Exam
Conducted By	College Board for International Candidate
Exam Type	For Bachelors
Sections	3 (Reading, Writing, and Maths)
Number of Questions	154
Duration	180 Minutes
Score Range	400- 1600
Language	English
Mode of Exam	Pen-Paper
Negative Marking	No

SAT Reading

SAT Reading is a portion of the SAT's evidence-based Reading and Writing section. There will be 52 questions in this section. It consists of a total of 5 passages, and each includes 10–11 questions.

Each question has four potential responses. The reading comprehension test is intended to evaluate a candidate's comprehension of written text. It includes the candidate’s understanding of various situations and the vocabulary used.

The SAT has three parts devoted to critical reading.

• Sentence completions - 25 minutes.

• Reading comprehension - 25 minutes

• Paragraph-length critical reading - 20 minutes

One pair of texts that you must read together and four standalone passages make up the Reading test's five passages. 500–750 words are allocated to each passage. The following categories of documents are where the passages are taken from.

• One passage each from sociology, social science, psychology, or economics.

• Two passages each from physics, chemistry, biology, or earth science.

• One passage from a work of fiction.

• One or two passages each from the US constitution and the history of the US

SAT Writing

The writing test for sat exam syllabus consists of multiple-choice questions and you need to read passages and identify and correct errors. In the 35-minute test there will be 44 multiple-choice questions, along with 4 texts.

There will be 11 multiple-choice questions for each 400–450 word passage. This section will test the candidate's knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. There are three parts to SAT writing.

• Essay section - 25 mins

• Multiple choice sections - 10 mins and 25 mins

 

Writing and Language topics can be from

History/Social Studies, Humanities, Careers, Science, and Language can all be used as sources for writing and language passages.

SAT Math Syllabus

The SAT Math test is divided into two sections. One test is using a calculator and another is without a calculator. There are 20 questions on the Math Test without a Calculator and 38 on the math test with a Calculator, both of which have time limits of 25 minutes and 55 minutes, respectively.

The SAT has three Math parts.

• Algebra and functions - 25 minutes

• Geometry statistics - 20 minutes

• Data analysis and probability - 20 minutes

The Math Test concentrates on several math topics.

• Focus on linear equations and systems

• Data analysis and problem-solving on quantitative data

• Advanced math focuses on complex system manipulation

The Math test contains trigonometry and geometry as well. While the majority of the questions are multiple-choice, nearly 22% of them require test-takers to provide a solution. Scores on the math test range from 200 to 800.

Understanding the SAT Exam Pattern 

Evidence-based reading, writing, and mathematics make up the three main sections of the SAT exam course. It is based on the courses that students have already completed in their years of academic study. The following table will help students better grasp the sat exam syllabus format and topics:

Sections	Questions	Duration	Score range
Reading	52 multiple-choice questions	65 minutes	200-800
Writing	44 multiple-choice questions	35 minutes	Calculated with Reading section
Mathematics	38 (With 8 Grid-in) 20 (With 5 Grid-in)	With calculator- 55 minutes No calculator- 25 minutes	200-800
Total		180 minutes	400-1600

Writing	This section consists of 11 questions, and the candidates have to rectify the errors. After rectifying the errors, they have to replace the sentences with correct alternatives.
Reading	This section has 11 questions, and it is based on reading passages. It is to test the ability of the candidate to comprehend the written test.
Mathematics	Candidates are required to answer 58 questions in 80 minutes in this section. Mostly, the questions are related to Geometry, Algebra, Probability, and Statistics.

How to prepare for sat exam?

Although there are numerous ways to get ready for the SAT, here are the top 5 ways to prepare for the test:

• Determine your desired SAT score based on the colleges you plan to apply to. Several websites allow you to check the percentage rate.

• Do a full-length test every one to two weeks within a 3-hour window. The essay should also be practiced as much as possible (only if required by the university, as it is optional). A great way to expand your vocabulary is to read paragraphs and newspapers.

• It will take you a lot of time to prepare to raise your score. It will take 20 hours to raise it by 50–100 points and 80 hours to raise it by 200–300 points. It may take 150+ hours to raise it by 300–500 points. Depending on how much time you have, these hours should be evenly covered in a few weeks.

• The day before the test, simply relax and sit down. It's true that the advice is challenging to implement. But resist the impulse to read more because doing so would just make you feel more uneasy and nervous.

• If you have skipped a lot of questions and don't have time to solve them, pick any answers you think are right. The SAT does not contain the proper marking for wrong responses, thus, speculating could be a wise choice.

Final Thoughts

The exposure and standard of education in the US are among the best in the world. A high score on the SAT is the first step in that direction. A high score will improve the student's chances of being admitted to an American university. For that to happen, you need to have a thorough understanding of sat exam syllabus.

Students should devote a significant amount of time to preparing. Utilize the internet to your advantage and become familiar with all the tricks and tips. The experiences of the students who have taken these exams in the past will provide you with a wealth of information about them. Be confident and face the exam with ease without any confusion.