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SAT Reading & Writing: Key Strategies

80 cards · 🇺🇸 English

Essential knowledge, strategies, and test format for SAT college admission test

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What does SAT stand for?

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1What does SAT stand for?
Originally 'Scholastic Aptitude Test,' later 'Scholastic Assessment Test,' then 'SAT I: Reasoning Test,' then 'SAT Reasoning Test.' Since 2016, it simply stands for SAT.
2When did the SAT first debut?
1926.
3Who owns and develops the SAT?
The College Board, which administers it through the Educational Testing Service.
4What two sections make up the current SAT?
Reading and Writing, and Mathematics.
5What is the score range for the SAT?
400 to 1600 total (combining two sections each scored 200–800).
6How long does the digital SAT take?
2 hours and 14 minutes (plus a 10-minute break between sections).
7When did the SAT switch from paper to digital format?
March 2023 for international students; March 2024 for U.S. students.
8What is the digital SAT delivered on?
A computer program called Bluebook.
9Is the digital SAT adaptive?
Yes - it customizes questions based on how students perform on earlier questions.
10How many times per year is the SAT offered?
Eight times: in August, September, October, November, December, March, May, and June.
11How much does the SAT cost in 2024?
US$68 (plus additional fees if testing outside the United States).
12Are calculators allowed on the SAT math section?
Yes, on all math questions. A Desmos-based calculator is built into the software, or students may use an approved physical calculator.
13What is the typical SAT testing population?
High school juniors (11th grade) and seniors (12th grade).
14How many students took the SAT in the class of 2025?
Over 2,004,965 high school graduates.
15What was the average Reading and Writing score in 2025?
521.
16What was the average Math score in 2025?
508.
17What is the 50th percentile SAT score typically?
About 1050–1100 (around 151 on the old scale).
18What is the 90th percentile SAT score typically?
Around 1350–1400 (about 165 on the old scale).
19What is the 99th percentile SAT score typically?
About 1520–1550 (around 173 on the old scale).
20What percentile is a perfect 1600 SAT score?
99+ percentile.
21When were SAT Subject Tests discontinued?
After June 2021.
22What were SAT Subject Tests originally called?
SAT Achievement Tests (until 1993), then SAT II: Subject Tests (until 2005).
23Was the SAT originally designed to align with high school curricula?
No - but several adjustments were made for the 2016 version to better align with Common Core standards.
24How effective are expensive SAT prep courses?
They do not offer significant improvements on performance, and neither do elite secondary schools.
25What is the SAT primarily intended to measure?
Literacy, numeracy, and writing skills needed for academic success in college.
26What type of test is the SAT?
A norm-referenced test intended to yield scores that follow a bell curve distribution among test-takers.
27What does the College Board claim about the SAT combined with GPA?
That it provides a better indicator of college success than high school grades alone, as measured by college freshman GPA.
28How many questions are on the Reading and Writing section?
54 questions (27 per module, two modules total).
29How long is each Reading and Writing module?
32 minutes per module (64 minutes total).
30What format are Reading and Writing questions?
Short reading passages (25–150 words) followed by a single multiple-choice question.