SAT or Scholastic Assessment Test was started in 1926. It is a standardised test used for taking admissions into the colleges of the united states. Earlier it was known as Scholastic Aptitude Test. College board, a non-profit organisation based in the US, undertakes this exam. Apart from the US, SAT is also accepted by some Canadian, European and Australian colleges.
Visit http://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat for further information.
SAT Reading
Comprising of reading comprehension, every passage under this section has 10-11 questions. Having a total of 5 passages of varying lengths, this section aims to evaluate your ability to comprehend written text, understand the meaning of words in different contexts, and their associated terms with implied meanings.
SAT Writing
It has 4 passages with 10-11 questions each, and you are expected to find errors, rephrase, and rewrite highlighted sentences with alternative text, amongst others. It focuses on assessing the candidate’s understanding of vocabulary as well as grammar.
SAT Mathematics
Constituted two sub-sections divided into the 25-minute section provided with no calculator and a 55-minute section with a calculator allowed. It has 58 questions spread across varied basics of mathematics such as algebra, statistics, geometry, arithmetic, probability, data interpretation, and problem-solving questions.
SAT Essay (Optional)
This section aims to analyse one’s quality of writing and English comprehension. It has an essay question (650-700 words) focusing on an issue and asking the candidate to take a stance on one side of the topic. Ensure you keep your analysis limited to the given data with a precise explanation. You must avoid elaborating upon personal opinions.
Mathematics Syllabus-
- Algebra
- Graphical representation of the linear function
- Linear equations with rational coefficients
- Linear inequalities in two variables and their systems
- System of linear equations (with no solution, infinite or finite solutions) Data Analysis & Problem Solving
- Percentages
- Ratio and Proportion
- Unit conversion
- Equation of line or curve using a scatterplot
- Two-way tables to calculate conditional frequencies and conditional probabilities
- Association of variables or independence of events
- Estimation of a population parameter
- Calculation of mean, median, mode, range and standard deviation in statistics
- Evaluation of reports to check the appropriateness of data collection methods Advanced Math
- Quadratic equations with rational coefficients
- Determining the form of an expression
- Polynomial equations (subtraction, multiplication, addition and division)
- Zeros and factors of polynomials
- Non-linear relationship between two variables
- Function notation
- Isolation of a variable by rearrangement of formula or equation.
Preparation tips-
Reading Tips-
Skimming-
It would be best if you skimmed the passage not to waste your time and still get a sense of the passage’s main ideas. So now you will ask how to skim?
When skimming a passage, you have to read the first and last paragraph of the passage. This is how you will get the main idea of the passage.
Read the questions first-
Skipping the passage altogether can be an effective strategy. While reading the passage afterwards, you will be able to find the short answers easily. Focus on the main idea later.
Fetch the direct evidence-
No matter what the question is, it will always be backed up by logical deductions from the pieces of evidence present in the passage. So, try to fetch the direct evidence.
Look for nouns/pronouns-
The passage will contain many complex sentences. You need to be careful here because pronouns may confuse you a bit. Keep track in mind which pronoun refers to which noun.
Math Tips-
Re-solve the questions you missed-
Try to solve the problem yourself before you look for the answer explanation, as this is how the process will stick in your mind.
Read the question carefully-
The question asked in SAT are indirect and not easy. Therefore, you need to comprehend the question before you start solving it completely.
Get comfortable with the variables-
Many questions don’t give explicit values but have only variables. So you must know how changing a variable would alter the result of the equation.
Writing tips-
Have a good hold on Grammar-
It will be beneficial if you can memorize the basic grammar rules to reduce confusion. It is not always right what looks “right” to you in grammar. So, to excel in writing, you must know basic grammar rules.
Subject-Verb agreement
This can really give you a hard time if you do not know the rules. So practice as many of them as possible.
Find out the style-
Every passage is different. Therefore, you must know the styles in which the passage is drafted and answer in the same style.
Essay tips-
Analyze before writing-
Essays in SAT ask you to analyze an argument presented in a passage because they want to gauge if you have fully grasped the point and can write a clear explanation. Therefore, analyze before you start writing.
Make a blueprint in your mind-
You will be provided 50 minutes for the essay. Spend 10-15 minutes to understand what the author is saying so that you can outline the crux of it and then start writing.