The SAT is a standardized test used by many colleges and universities for admission. The test is intended to measure a high school student’s preparedness for college. The SAT test was redesigned for the first time in eleven years in March 2016. The test was redesigned to more accurately assess student preparedness for the demands of collegiate academics.
SAT FORMAT AND TEST DATES
WHAT IS THE SAT?
SAT FORMAT
The SAT is a 3 hour 50 minute exam (including an optional essay which takes 50 minutes), consisting of five sections: Reading, Writing, Math (with calculator), and Math (no calculator).
| SAT Test Section | # of Questions and Types | Content | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVIDENCE-BASED READING & WRITING |
Reading 52 standard multiple-choice Writing 44 standard multiple-choice |
Relevant words in context (Reading, Writing) Command of evidence (Reading, Writing) Expression of ideas (Writing) Standard English conventions (Writing) |
100 minutes Reading One 65-minute section Writing One 35-minute section |
| MATHEMATICS | 45 standard multiple-choice 13 student-produced response |
The heart of algebra Passport to advanced math Problem solving & data analysis |
80 minutes One 25-minute section (no calculator) One 55-minute section (calculator allowed) |
| ESSAY* | 1 evidence-based essay | Analyzing a source | 50 minutes One 50-minute essay |
The SAT is a paper-based test administered at schools and sites around the country on select dates throughout the year. Students are allowed to take the test as many times as they want; most universities will only look at the highest score or the super-score (a combination of the highest sections). However, since the scoring format changed in 2016, schools may tweak their policies accordingly. For more accurate information, please contact individual universities to confirm their score acceptance policy.
*The SAT Essay is only available in states where it’s required for accountability purposes.
SAT SCORING/GUESSING PENALTY
College Board does not deduct any points for an incorrect question. This means that you should not leave any questions blank on the test. With the sections being quite long, pacing and timing are crucial. Your tutor will help you master these skills.
The SAT scoring model has become more complex, providing a more detailed analysis and breakdown of students’ scores. Area scores, each scored out of 800, are combined to create a composite score for a maximum possible score of 1600. For a more detailed breakdown of what each score means, please see the table below.
| Score Type | Score Range | Details |
|---|---|---|
| COMPOSITE SCORE | 400-1600 | This score is the sum of the two area scores |
| AREA SCORES Evidence-based reading & writing Math |
200-800 | The Evidence-based reading and writing score is the sum of the Reading test score and Writing & Language test score |
| TEST SCORES Reading Writing & Language Math |
10-40 | These scores tell you how you performed on individual test sections |
| ESSAY (scored separately) |
6-24 | The essay is scored in three categories: Reading, Analysis, and Writing Each category is scored from 2-8 |
| CROSS-TEST SCORES History/Social Studies Science |
10-40 | These scores reflect your performance, categorized by the context of each question Questions may span different test sections. |
| SUBSCORES Relevant words in context (R, W&L) Command of evidence (R, W&L) Expression of ideas (W&L) Standard English convention (W&L) Heart of algebra (M) Passport to advanced mathematics (M) Problem solving & data analysis (M) |
1-15 | These 7 subscores will tell you how you did on specific question types or content. Some subscores pull questions from multiple tests. R – Reading test W&L – Writing & Language test M – Math test |
ORDER OF DIFFICULTY
Only the math sections are loosely based on order of difficulty for both the multiple choice and student-produced response questions. Depending on your performance, your tutor can use order of difficulty to choose the pacing and test-taking strategies that will help you achieve your highest possible score.
SAT TEST DATES
Below are anticipated test dates for the SAT’s 2023-2024 season. Check out our 2023-2024 downloadable flyer of dates here: Official SAT Test Dates. Please be advised these dates are subject to change. To view College Board’s official release of test dates, please reference this link.
| 2023-2024 Test Dates | Registration Deadline | Late Registration Deadline | Online Score Release * |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 26, 2023 | July 28, 2023 | By web/phone: August 15, 2023 | September 8, 2023 |
| October 7, 2023 | September 8, 2023 | By web/phone: September 26, 2023 | October 20, 2023 |
| November 4, 2023 | October 6, 2023 | By web/phone: October 24, 2023 | November 17, 2023 |
| December 2, 2023 | November 2, 2023 | By web/phone: November 21, 2023 | December 15, 2023 |
| March 9, 2024 | February 8, 2024 | By web/phone: February 26, 2024 | March 22, 2024** |
| May 4, 2024 | April 5, 2024 | By web/phone: April 23, 2024 | May 17, 2024** |
| June 1, 2024 | May 2, 2024 | By web/phone: May 25, 2024 | June 14, 2024** |
* These dates are when multiple-choice scores will be first posted online. Complete scores are typically released within a week of these dates.
**Digital SAT scores will be available online via your College Board account portal. College Board hasn’t released specific dates yet, but scores will likely be available within 2 weeks of the test.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Don’t stop here! Check out our blog for new posts about preparing for the SAT. Below are a few posts you may find useful.
HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR TARGET SCORE
Though it’s tempting to simply say you want to score “as high as possible” on your college admissions exam, a target score will help you determine how much of your limited time and energy you devote to test preparations. So how should you determine you target score? There are several factors to consider… READ MORE
WHEN TO START STUDYING FOR THE SAT
You’ve probably heard the solid advice that you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to prepare for college admissions tests. But when is the right time to prep for the SAT or ACT? Here are some thoughts to consider… READ MORE
FIVE TEST-TAKING SECRETS FOR THE SAT
So you’ve taken a class, or even had a private tutor help you prepare for your test. Is there anything else you can do? While private tutoring remains the most efficient way to improve your score… READ MORE
