SAT EXAM

The Scholastic Assessment Test abbreviated as SAT is a standardized test required to be taken by students looking for admission to undergraduate schools. The College Board owns and conducts the SAT. It also specifies the SAT syllabus. Here is everything you need to know about the SAT syllabus.

SAT Syllabus

Most students fear the SAT, but if you have a fair idea of what this part of the SAT exam syllabus comprises, then you will be able to prepare for it effectively. Here are the details of syllabus of each section of SAT:

SAT Writing Syllabus

The questions in the writing section of the SAT syllabus will test your evidence-based reading and writing skills. The topics for the articles or write-ups are mainly focused on general topics that do not necessitate your prior knowledge of the subject. In fact, certain passages have supplementary graphs and charts to evaluate your imperative skills.

• You have to answer 44 MCQs (Multiple choice questions) in 4 passages in 35 minutes.
• The modes of writing can be narrative, argumentative and informative/explanatory.
• The passages revolve around topics like,
  1. Humanities
  2. Science
  3. Careers
  4. History & Arts
  5. Social Sciences
• You will be expected to answer certain questions pertaining to the passages, such as:
  1. Sentence structure, punctuation, verb tense, parallel construction, subject-verb agreement, grammar usage etc.
  2. Strengthen/weaken the argument
  3. Word choice for style, text or tone
  4. Structural changes to improve readability

SAT Reading Section Syllabus

The syllabus of the SAT Reading section focuses on evidence-based reading and writing. This test will focus mainly on your reading abilities.

• The exam pattern for the Reading section will have 52 multiple choices in 5 passages to finish in 65 minutes.
• Two passages will be from science fields
• One literary passage will be from Classics or contemporary texts of the USA or world literature.
• Texts on topics like dignity, human rights, freedom, etc
• Extracts from Economics, Sociology, Psychology, amongst others.
• You must answer by telling a story, giving an argument or explaining an experiment or study.
• The Type of Questions you will come across in SAT Reading
  1. The function a phrase serves in the passage.
  2. The style, tone, perspective, and attitude of the author.
  3. Analyzing data based on diagrams, charts, and graphs.
  4. The central theme or main idea of the passage.
  5. Inference of a phrase in a paragraph.
  6. Arguments or evidence that support the author’s stance.

SAT Math Syllabus

The math section of SAT is divided into 2 parts. One section is with a calculator and another section is solved without using a calculator.

• You need to answer a total of 58 questions in 80 minutes.
• 80% of questions are multiple-choice and 20% of them are grid-ins.
• For Math with a calculator: You have 30 MCQs and 8 grid-in questions
• Math without calculator has 15 MCQs (multiple choice questions) and 5 grid-in questions
• You will be provided with a set of formulas and references at the beginning of the SAT.

Type of Questions in SAT Math

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
• Unit conversion
• Ratio and Proportion
• Equation of line or curve using a scatter plot.
• 2-way tables to calculate conditional frequencies and conditional probabilities
• Association of variables or independence of events
• Estimation of a population parameter
• Calculation of mean, mode, median, range and standard deviation in statistics.
• Evaluation of reports to check the adequacy 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 equation or formula

The SAT is an essential exam for the undergraduate program abroad. To prepare for the SAT, you can buy online study material from the College Board during registration. Take practice tests. Download the Daily Practice Application to make practice part of your daily routine. Keep analyzing your practice tests scores regularly and work on the weak part more.