SAT Reasoning Test

The SAT Reasoning Test is an assessment of the critical thinking skills a student will require for success in college. It measures how well you analyze and solve problems —things you learnt in school that you are going to require in college. Normally, the SAT is taken by high school juniors and seniors.

Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200—800, with two writing sub-scores for multiple-choice and an essay. The SAT is administered seven times a year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a year in other countries.

SAT Question Types

The SAT test includes a Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing section, with a specific number of questions related to content.

Further, there is one 25-minute unscored section. This is called the variable or equating section and may either be a critical reading, mathematics, or writing multiple-choice section. This section does not count toward the final score. It is used to try out new questions for future editions of the SAT test and to make sure that scores on new editions of the SAT are comparable to scores on earlier editions of the test.

The 25-minute essay will always be the first section of the SAT test, and the 10-minute multiple-choice writing section will always be the final section. The rest of the six 25-minute sections may appear in any order, like the two 20-minute sections. Students sitting next to each other in the same testing session could end up with test books having entirely different sections.