SAT is one of the most standardized tests in the world and can be taken for admission in any field or course for colleges in the US. This exam is run by the non-profit organization called College Board which is also responsible for conduction other college entrance examinations such as AP and PSAT. This examination was derived from old Army IQ tests and contains topics related to mathematics, writing and reading.
Exam Pattern for SAT Exam
The primary goal of this test is to show how schools are able to prepare their students for their lives in college and to test their skills such as reading comprehension, clarity of expression, and critical thinking.
Exam Syllabus
The SAT Examination includes three topics that students have to deal with. These include the three major subject-based sections which are further divided into individual sections based on the type of questions being asked in them. The Mathematics and Critical Reading Sections comprise of two sets of 25-minute sections as well as one section of 20 minutes. The Writing Section consists of one 10-minute section and a 25-minute section along with an optional essay section that lasts 25 minutes. The essay does not affect a candidate’s score on the exam however many universities require it to judge the personality of the student and decide if they will fit in well in the university or not.
Exam Preparation
The scoring in the SAT Exam 2020 is very uncomplicated and can be between 600 points and 2400 points. The individual subjects have scores between 200 and 800. While there are several guide books available for preparation in the market, the official guidebook by College Board is the best one for preparing with. This article will supplement your self-studying by helping you strategize the ideal study strategy.
How to Prepare for the SAT
As you may already see by now, the SAT isn’t a big deal or a difficult exam to clear. Especially for students in India with good English skills. Some tips that will help you perform marvelously in the exam are:
- Set a Target for yourself which is achievable, and yet enough to get you in your dream college.
- Assess your Current Score or Base Score. This will help you know where you stand right now, and which changes you would need to make your preparation even better.
- Calculate your Time for solving the test. You should take an average of a minute and a half per question to be able to finish the exam on time.
- Choose a Date for your test so you have a deadline for giving the test.
- Collect your study material such as the Guidebook, your old school books, English Grammar Book, and a Thesaurus.
Test Pattern
The SAT Examination occurs in two types – General Test and Subject Test. On one hand, the general exam is extremely common and can help you get admission in most universities, while the subject tests allow you to flaunt your skills in your subject of choice. This article deals with the General Test and not the subject tests.
SAT Examination Syllabus for Reading/Writing Section
The Reading Section is one of the most balanced section of the test. It consists of comprehension type passages of 10 to 12 questions for each passage. The primary focus of this is to assess the skills of a student and see whether the understanding and implementation of language are strong or not. Your goal as a student would be to know the meanings of the various words used in the subject and also whether its associated variations are being used or not.
The writing section has four passages with 10-11 questions for each passage. Students are tested for their grammar and writing ability in this section, and are meant to spot the passage for errors and choose better alternatives for the text.
In order to ace this section, a student needs to conduct daily practice involving several questions of each type. It is also advised to spend time in reading the thesaurus to improve vocabulary and know the importance of connecting words.
SAT Exam Syllabus for Mathematics
The mathematics section has various different topics of math that you may have studied at schools such as Algebra and functions for 25 minutes, Geometry for 20 minutes, and Probability and Data Analytics for 20 minutes. In all, you will have to solve 54 questions of which 44 will be multiple-choice questions. The other 10 will require you to find the answer without the use of a calculator.
You are advised to do your best in every section, and the only way to achieve that is to study and practice regularly. This is the only way to understand where you are weak and what needs improvement. There is no secret to clearing this section overnight, and neither is it advised. Work hard, and you will definitely clear it.
The SAT Exam ESSAY
The optional essay section is meant to test all your reading and writing skills. For this, students are required to write an analysis of the hint provided. It is usually something based on personal experience, but could also be a topic you need to take a stand on. This essay needs to be somewhere between 600 to 700 words and have perfect grammar, with precise writing logic.
By following the above tips, you can ensure success in the SAT Examination. You need to be sure to answer questions only when you are certain of the answer as there is negative marking for wrong answers. A good way to practice would be to try out the official SAT Mock Tests on the website of the College Board. Also, you can visit our website for any other queries related to SAT or any other exam.
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