ABOUT SAT
WHAT IS SAT?
The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admission in the United States. Introduced in 1926, its name and scoring have changed several times; originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, it was later called the Scholastic Assessment Test, then the SAT I: Reasoning Test, then the SAT Reasoning Test, and now, simply the SAT.
Owners of SAT: The SAT is owned and published by the College Board, a private, not-for-profit Corporation in the United States. It is developed and administered on behalf of the College Board by the Educational Testing Service. The test is intended to assess students’ readiness for college.
Purpose of SAT: SAT scores/grades are mostly used by Universities and Colleges in US offering Undergraduate programs.
On March 5, 2014, the College Board announced that a redesigned version of the SAT would be administered for the first time in 2016.The current SAT, introduced in 2016, takes three hours to finish, plus 50 minutes for the SAT with essay. Scores on the SAT range from 400 to 1600, combining test results from two 800-point sections: mathematics, and critical reading and writing. Taking the SAT, or its competitor, the ACT is required for freshman entry to most of the universities in the United States
TYPE OF TEST: It is a Paper and Pencil based standardized test.
Fees for SAT: As of 2017 costs US$45 (US$57 with the optional essay), excluding late fees, with additional processing fees if the SAT is taken outside the United States. (For Indian students it is $49 additional processing fees for SAT outside of US)
Link for fees details: Click Here (courtesy: collegeboard.com)
Redesign SAT: SAT has been redesigned for the first time in eleven years. The SAT test was redesigned in March 2016, while the PSAT launched in October, 2015. The test has been redesigned to more accurately assess student preparedness for the demands of collegiate academics. Old SAT was administered for the last time in January 2016, with some good news to students with no negative marking for wrong answers as Old SAT had few chinks in the armor for students especially getting negative marks ¼ for wrong answers.
REGISTRATION LINK FOR SAT: Click Here (courtesy: collegeboard.com)
With this Information, you will be able to analyze the requirement of SAT score in your preferred colleges. Good SAT score even helps in seeking scholarships and financial aids for the entire study program
Structural changes to the SAT with comparison to Old SAT
| OLD SAT scale 600-2400 | NEW SAT scale 400-1600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Sections | Three required sections Critical Reading : 200-800 Writing : 200-800 Math : 200-800 | Evidence-Based Reading and Writing : 200-800 Reading Test Writing and Language Test Math : 200-800 Essay (optional) |
| Essay Length | 25 minutes / required | 50 minutes / required |
| Essay Scoring | Scored as part of the writing section | Receives three scores (reading, analysis, and writing) ranging from 2-8. 1-4 points are given by 2 scorers (scores for each dimension are added) |
| Total Exam Time | Around 4 hours | 3 hours without essay 3 hours 50 minutes with essay |
| Scoring | Highest possible score is 2400, which includes essay | Total score (400–1600) 2 section scores (200–800) 3 test scores (10–40) 7 sub-scores (1–15) 2 cross-test scores |
| Calculator | Calculator permitted throughout Math section | Math section includes some no-calculator segments |
| Incorrect Answers | ¼ – point penalty for incorrect answers on multiple choice questions | No point deduction for incorrect answers |
| Testing Format | SAT delivered on paper only | SAT available with paper and pencil and college board announced that computer based test is forthcoming. |
CONTENT CHANGES IN SAT:
| Essay | Essay requires students to form their own argument. No fact based evidence is necessary | Essay is optional. Essay requires students to evaluate an existing argument through analysis and presentation of evidence (from the passage) |
| Verbal | Passage-based questions do not require students to show | Passage-based questions require student to be able to cite specific evidence in test to support answer choice (“new question type”) |
| work Students aren’t asked to identify evidence to support an answer | Students will be asked to locate evidence in a passage that best validates the answer to a previous question | |
| Reading passages draw from a limited number of academic disciplines | Reading passages focus on “Founding Documents” | |
| Vocabulary tested includes obscure words and meanings | Vocabulary tested relates to “relevant words in context”. Words are widely used in college and professional life and have multiple meanings depending on the context | |
| Critical Reading and Writing include no graphical information | Evidence-based Reading and Writing includes graphs and tables for science and social studies passages | |
| Math | Math section is a survey of varying levels of high school math | Math section focused on algebra, geometry, fundamentals and some advanced math concepts such as trigonometry |
TEST DATES AVAILABILITY, PLEASE CHECK THE LINK Click Here
Courtesy: Collegereadiness.collegeboard.org
