All about the S.A.T.

1. VEA Online
Briana Songer
2014

2. A broad
range of
content
High stakes
An essay in 25
minutes
Rigidly timed

3. Know the
STRATEGIES
Know the TEST
Know the CONTENT
application
of content
knowledge
to the test
instruction
of concepts
and skills

4. Sections Timing Question Type and (#)
http://www.collegeboard.com/newsat/
Critical
Reading
200-800
points
Two 25-min. sections
Sentence Completions (19)
One 20-min. section Reading Comprehension (48)
Mathematics
Two 25-min. sections Multiple-Choice (44)
One 20-min. section Grid-ins (10)
Writing
One 25-min. section Identifying Sentence Errors (18)
Improving Sentences (25)
Improving Paragraphs (6)
One 10-min. section
One 25-min. essay
Experimental One 25-min. section
• Questions assess either Critical
Reading, Math, or Writing
• Does not count toward score

5. Raw Score
• Students receive 1 point for every correct answer.
• For every incorrect answer to a MC question, they lose
1/4 point.
• There is no guessing penalty for grid-in questions.
Scaled Score
• Each section is scored 200-800. (Critical Reading,
Writing, Mathematics)
• The maximum score is 2400.
• The average score is 1500.

6. What happens if a student guesses on five questions?
Result:
no gain, no loss.
But if we could eliminate a few answers each time…

7.  norm-referenced vs. criterion-referenced
SAT Distribution Curve
200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Section Score

8. 200 400 500 600 800

9. Student
Introduction
Provides a brief introduction to the SAT
Unit 1 Reading Comprehension
Unit 2 Sentence Completions
MPT Mini Practice Test: Critical Reading
Unit 3 Grammar and Usage
MPT Mini Practice Test: Grammar and Usage
Unit 4 Essay
MPT Mini Practice Test: Essay
Appendix SAT Grammar & Vocabulary in a Nutshell

10. Read each statement and use your knowledge of
what you know about the S.A.T. at this time to
choose the correct answer. Choose true or false. If
false, explain why.
1. You can type your response during the essay
section of the S.A.T.
2. Answering a multiple choice question correctly
earns one point.
3. One point is subtracted for answering a
multiple choice question incorrectly.
4. All questions in the Critical Reading and
Writing Section are multiple choice.
5. ¼ of a point is subtracted for every mistake
made in the essay section.

11. 6. The Critical Reading Section mainly tests
vocabulary.
7. Test takers are allowed to write in the S.A.T.
test booklet.
8. The writing portion of the S.A.T. is divided
into three, 60-minute sections.
9. Questions in the S.A.T. Critical Reading
Section are all arranged in order of difficulty.
10. You must have prior knowledge of the
subjects of reading comprehension passages to
answer the questions correctly.

12. Congratulations.!
You are finished with the introduction.
Now you are ready to start learning some strategies.