THE SAT

By u p G r a d A b r oa d
 Index
Introduction 03-04

All About the SAT 05

• How the SAT helps colleges?
• How the SAT helps students?
• Who can take the SAT?

Registration Fee and Other Costs 06

SAT Format and Scoring 07-09

• What is a good SAT score?

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 10-12

• Reading test overview
• Tips for Reading Section
• Writing Test Overview
• Tips for Writing Section

Math 13-14
• Overview
• Tips

International SAT Dates and Deadlines 15

FAQs 16

About upGrad Abroad 17

 03

Introduction
SAT is a popular standardized test taken by students seeking admission to
undergraduate courses in the USA. It is held by the College Board, a private,
not-for-profit organization. It was first introduced in 1926 and has since evolved to be
relevant to the college admission process of today. It assesses students’ readiness for
college.

There have been many changes to the format of the exam. On January 19, 2021, the
College Board announced the discontinuation of the optional essay section, as well as its
SAT Subject Tests, after June 2021. Furthermore on January 25, 2022 it announced its
transition to Digital SAT. In November 2021, College Board piloted the digital SAT in the
U.S. and internationally; 80% of students responded that they found it to be less
stressful and 100% of educators reported having a positive experience. Students testing
outside the US will first take the digital SAT in Spring 2023.
 04

As per the recent changes in SAT:

The digital SAT will be short-

er—about two hours instead of
three for the current SAT, with
more time per question.

The digital test will feature short-

er reading passages with one
question tied to each, and passag-
es will reflect a wider range of
topics that represent the works
students read in college.

Calculators will be allowed for the

entire Math section as opposed to
selective calculator use earlier.

Students and educators will get

scores back in days, instead of
weeks.

The test will be adaptive i.e. the

test's difficulty will adapt to the
performance of the candidate;
getting harder or easier questions
following a correct or incorrect
answer respectively.

The test will be structured in two

sections: Reading & Writing and
Math.

The new SAT will be held at inter-

national locations, including
India, 7 times a year instead of the
current 5 times.

Students will have the conve-

nience of flagging questions and
coming back to them for review-
ing.
 05

All About the SAT

How does the SAT help colleges?

The SAT offers colleges a detailed profile of student skills and strengths, informing
strategic recruiting efforts and admissions decisions. Students who take the SAT
demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas that current research tells us are most
critical for college readiness and success. About two million students take the SAT
every year, and it's accepted at nearly all four-year colleges and universities in the U.S.

How does the SAT help students?

Just like the assessment helps colleges see how ready a candidate is for college, it also
helps students know how prepared you are for college and a career. As per the
College Board survey, more than 80% of students say they want the option to submit
test scores to colleges and universities.

Who can take the SAT?

The conducting body has not set any age limit or other criteria for test-takers.

Registration fee and other costs
The SAT registration fee is $60, plus the regional fee for your region. Thus, the SAT
registration cost for Indian students is $49. There are some additional costs to be kept
in mind too. They are as follows.
Service
Test center fee
Change test center
Cancel registration
Additional score reports $12 per report
Rush reports
Get scores by phone
Archived scores
06
Fee Details
$24 For test centres that charge a test
centre fee (none in India charge a
test centre fee).
$25 For changing your test center.
$25 For canceling your registration by
the change deadline.
Your first four score reports are
free if you order them by nine
days after the test date. Addition-
al reports or reports ordered
after that time incur this fee.
$31 If you need your SAT scores sent
faster than regular delivery, you
can order rush reporting for an
additional fee. Rush reports are
sent within 1–4 business days
(not counting holidays and week-
ends).
$15 per call Available at the same time as
online scores. You must pay by
credit card at the time of the call.
$31 Once you've left high school and
haven't tested for a year, College
Board archives your SAT test
Source: College Board
scores and responses to the SAT
Questionnaire. However, you can
request that older scores be sent
to you or to the colleges, universi-
ties, and scholarship programs of
your choice.
 07

SAT Format and Scoring

The revised SAT consists will now consist of two sections (1) the Reading and Writing
Test and (2) the Math Test.

Scoring

The SAT score range is 400-1600 for your total score, and 200-800 for each of your
two section scores i.e., Math and Evidence Based Reading and Writing (which includes
the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test) . The total score out of 1600 (as
well as your two section scores out of 800) corresponds to a percentile ranking.

SAT Score Reported Score Range Details

Total Score 400-1600 Sum of the 2 section scores

Section Scores (2) 200-800 • Evidence-Based Reading and

Writing
• Math

Test Scores (3) 10-40 • Reading

• Writing and Language
• Math

Cross Test Scores (2) 10-40 • Analysis in History/Social Studies

Based on Selective question in the • Analysis in Science
Reading Test, Writing and Language
Test, Math Test. These scores show
how well you use your skills to
analyze text and solve problem in
these subject areas

Subscores (7) 1-15 • Reading and Writing and Lan

guage: Command of Evidence
and Words in Context
• Writing and Language: Expression
of Ideas and Standard English
Conventions
• Math: Heart of Algebra, Problem
Solving and Data Analysis, and
Passport to Advanced Math
 08

Your SAT percentile tells you what percentage of students you scored the same as or
better than. So for example, if you got a 70th percentile score, you've scored better
than 70% of all test takers.

SAT Composite Score Percentile (2021)

(Out of 1600)

1600 99+

1550 99

1500 98

1450 96

1400 93

1350 90

1300 86

1250 81

1200 74

1150 67

1100 59

1050 51

1000 42

950 34

900 26

850 19

800 12

750 7

700 3

650 1

600 and below 1-

 09

What is a good SAT score?

As per College Board, the average SAT score in 2019 was 1050. Any score above that
would be above average. A score of 1350 would put you in the top 10% of test takers.
Lastly, it depends on the college what it considers a good score for an individual appli-
cant. The highly competitive Ivy League schools and other top universities accept high
scores for obvious reasons.
Here's a look at the combined 25th and 75th SAT percentiles in math and reading for
newly enrolled students in fall 2019 at the top National Universities, as ranked by US
News.

SCHOOL NAME 25TH PERCENTILE 75TH PERCENTILE FALL 2019 ACCEPTANCE

SAT SCORE SAT SCORE RATE

Princeton University 1460 1570 6%

Harvard University 1460 1570 5%

Columbia University 1450 1570 5%

Massachusetts Institute 1510 1570 7%

of Technology

Yale University 1460 1570 6%

Stanford University 1440 1570 4%

Source: US News and World Report
University of Chicago 1500 1570 6%

University of 1450 1560 8%

Pennsylvania

California Institute 1530 1560 6%

of Technology
Johns Hopkins 1470 1570 10%
University

Northwestern 1440 1550 9%

University
 10

Evidence-Based Reading
and Writing
The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section is composed of 2 tests that assess
different but related skills and knowledge.

Reading test overview

When you take the Reading Test, you’ll read passages and interpret informational
graphics. Then you’ll use what you’ve read to answer questions. Some questions
ask you to locate a piece of information or an idea stated directly. But you’ll also need
to understand what the author’s words or a graphic’s data imply. You’ll be asked
questions that require you to draw on the reading skills and knowledge needed most
to succeed in the subjects the passages are drawn from.

The Reading Test includes:

• 1 passage from a classic or contemporary work of U.S. or world literature.
• 1 passage or a pair of passages from either a U.S. founding document (such as an
essay by James Madison) or a text in the Great Global Conversation (such as a
speech by Nelson Mandela).
• 1 passage on a social science topic from a field such as economics, psychology, or
sociology.
• 2 science passages (or 1 passage and 1 passage pair) that examine foundational
concepts or recent developments in Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics.
• 2 passages accompanied by 1 or more informational graphics.
 11

Tips for Reading Test

To answer each question, consider what the pas-

sage or passages say directly, and use careful
reasoning to draw supportable inferences and con-
clusions from the passage(s).

Reading carefully is the key to finding the best

answer to each question.

Stay with a passage until you have answered as

many questions as you can before you proceed to
the next passage. Don’t jump from passage to pas-
sage.

Remember that all questions are worth 1 point

regardless of the type or difficulty. You don’t lose
points for guessing wrong, so you should try to
answer each question as best you can.

Writing and Language Overview

The Writing and Language Test asks you to be an editor and improve passages that
were written especially for the test—and that include deliberate errors. Writing and
Language passages vary in complexity. The passages you’ll read will be informative/-
explanatory texts, nonfiction narratives, or arguments and will cover topics in the
areas of careers, history/social studies, the humanities, and science. One or more
passages will be accompanied by one or more informational graphics.
 12

Tips for the Writing and Language Test

Develop a habit of reading across

genres and content to be able to
tackle this section on SAT.

To answer questions, comprehend

the passage closely.

Rote recall of language rules isn’t

tested. The best answer to each
question represents how a writer
should develop, organize, and use
language in a multi paragraph
passage. You are demonstrating
that you can make context-based
improvements to the text.

The most common format for the

questions offers 3 alternatives to
an underlined portion of the pas-
sage along with the option of not
changing the passage’s original
wording. Remember to answer
these questions in the context of
the whole passage.

Stay with a passage until you have

answered as many questions as
you can before you proceed to the
next passage. Don’t jump from
passage to passage.

Since there is no negative marking

do not be afraid of taking the best
guess for questions you are unsure
of.
 13

Math Overview
The SAT Math questions test your ability to solve problems and use appropriate
approaches and tools strategically. The questions asked fall under four categories -
Number and Operations, Algebra and Functions, Geometry and Measurement, and
Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability.

Here is a look at SAT Math Syllabus.

Section Topics

Number and Operations
• Operations
• Ratio and Proportion
• Complex Numbers Counting
• Elementary Number Theory
• Matrices
• Sequences

Algebra and Functions
• Expressions
• Equations
• Inequalities Representation and
Modelling
• Properties of Functions -Linear,
Polynomial, Rational, Exponential

• Plane Euclidean/Measurement
Geometry and • Coordinate Geometry
Measurement • Trigonometry: Right Triangles
and Identities

• Mean
• Median
• Mode
Data Analysis, Statistics • Range
and Probability • Interquartile Range
• Graphs and Plots
• Least-squares Regression (linear)
• Probability
 14

Tips for the Math Test

Familiarize yourself with the format and types of

questions asked through mock tests.

Read the problem carefully to understand what it

wants you to solve.

Since there is no negative marking do not be afraid

of taking the best guess for questions you are
unsure of.

Try the elimination method for MCQ problems you

don’t know the correct answer to. Eliminate some of
the choices. It’s sometimes easier to find the wrong
answers than the correct one. On some questions,
you may even be able to eliminate all the incorrect
choices.

You don’t have to memorize formulas. Commonly

used formulas are provided with the test directions
at the beginning of each Math Test portion. Other
formulas that are needed are provided with the test
questions themselves. It’s up to you to decide which
formula is appropriate to a question.
 15

International SAT Dates

and Deadlines
The registration for 2022 SAT dates is open while registration for spring 2023 dates
will open in the fall of 2022.

SAT Test Date Deadline for Registration

Aug 27, 2022 Jul 29, 2022

Oct 1, 2022 Sep 2 2022

Dec 3, 2022 Nov 3, 2022

Mar 11, 2023 (Digital) Feb 24, 2023

May 6, 2023 (Digital) Apr 21, 2023

June 3, 2023 (Digital) May 19, 2023

*Source: As per College Board

 16

1. How many times one can take the test?

There is no cap on the number of SAT attempts.

2. What is the validity of the SAT score?

You can use the SAT score for a period of 5 years, from the day of the declaration
of your results, to seek admission.

3. How many times is the SAT conducted in a year?

As per the latest guidelines, the SAT will now be held at international locations,
including India, 7 times a year instead of the previous 5 times.

4. Who can take the SAT?

The conducting body has not set any age limit or other criteria for test-takers.

5. When will SAT go digital?

International SAT candidates testing outside the US will first take the digital SAT in
Spring 2023.
 17

About upGrad Abroad

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