About the SAT
The SAT is the basic qualification for admission to a North American university (United States and Canada) for a Bachelors degree. All students intent on attending a North American university are required to sit the SAT. Certain UK universities will consider SAT scores for entry requirements. The SAT is a standardized aptitude test which tests a student’s abilities in the English language and mathematics. The SAT consists of four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Mathematics (with calculator), Mathematics (no calculator). There is also an optional essay section, which most US Universities require. The examination lasts for three hours without the essay and three hours and fifty minutes with the essay.
Scoring
Each section is marked out of 800, with the lowest being 200. The scores from all the sections are added up and the examinee is given a grade out of 1600. The essay is marked separately.
Scoring-Results
What scores do I need? The answer to that question depends on which university you wish to apply to. If you are contemplating about applying to an IVY LEAGUE university, or one in the higher echelons then you should be looking for a minimum score of approximately 1350. If your native language is not English then you may be given a more flexible score as far as the Verbal section is concerned, though you will definitely need to take the TOEFL test and attain a score of at least 105/120; or alternatively an IELTS test with a commensurate score of 7/9.
Our results have been excellent with students attaining places at world-renowned universities such as Brown University, Georgetown University, University of California – Berkeley, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, New York University, and Columbia University, to name just a few of the recent destinations of the Tree Foundation Tutorial College students. As a student or parent it is most interesting and informative to learn from the experiences of previous students, and this can be arranged through the network of students who have graduated or are currently studying in the US or Canada.
Table of Synopsis
| Sections |
Structure |
Number of Questions |
Time Limit (minutes) |
Details |
| Reading |
Five passages (one after the other) |
52 |
65 |
Passages from historic or scientific texts-can include data tables or graphs |
| Writing and Language |
Passage-based punctuation and grammar corrections |
44 |
35 |
Sentence corrections include syntax, grammar, punctuation, context, style, meaning and coherence. |
| Mathematics |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Some Algebra |
58 |
80 |
Multi- step questions, set of extended thinking grid questions. |
| Essay |
Passage Analysis |
1 |
50 |
600-700 word passage provided and students asked to analyze writer’s methods and techniques of supporting an argument. |
The New SAT as of March 2016
As of March 2016, after a ten-year stint, the SAT examination as we know it will change for better or for worse. There will be less emphasis on memorizing long lists of words one may never have heard of and tactically leaving blanks when one is unsure of an answer since there will be no vocabulary section and no penalties for wrong answers. In the new SAT format, there will be four answer choices instead of five of prior SAT tests.
More specifically, there will be a Reading Test, a Writing and Language Test, a Mathematics Test and an Essay. Students will, of course, have to learn new words and enrich their vocabulary in order for them to better understand the texts and to write an essay of a high academic standard.
The Reading Test
Students will be required to read five passages and answer the accompanying multiple choice questions. The test will always include:
- One passage from a literature text.
- One passage, or a pair of passages, based on a US founding document, such as the US constitution or a speech by Martin Luther King for example.
- One passage based on a humanities subject, such as economics, psychology, sociology or another social science.
- Two natural science based passages, such as biology, chemistry, physics or Earth science.
Passages may include diagrams or tables of information that students will be asked questions on. Questions vary from finding the meaning of a word in context, to finding evidence in the passage to buttress a theory, examining hypotheses and considering implications.
The Writing and Language Test
Students will be given texts, parts of which will be underlined and will be subject to editing. There will be options to choose from in order to correct the underlined parts and the first option may be ‘no change’, which means that the sentence should remain as it is. Some questions include correcting the syntax, the grammar, the vocabulary or the punctuation of the phrase whereas others require that students pick the option that bests supports a claim or is in key with the tone of the passage. There may also be charts or tables provided in a particular passage, but they do not assume any prior mathematical knowledge.
The Mathematics Test
This section will include questions from three main areas of study such as Algebra (including linear equations and systems), Problem Solving and Data analysis (including quantitative analysis), and Advanced Maths (including manipulation of complex equations). The section may include a variety of questions from other topics such as trigonometry, geometry and more. The questions are designed to equip students with the skills they will need in college and in their later careers. Students will be allowed to use a calculator throughout the test, although some questions are designed in such a way that the use of calculator is not needed.
The Essay
Students will now have 50 minutes to complete the essay as opposed to 25, which was the time limit up until now. Although this section is optional, many Universities do require it. Students will not be given a prompt with which they will have to agree, disagree, or be asked to give a personal experience. They will be required to read a passage, explain how the writer explores the argument and use information from the text to support their claims. The passages provided vary but do have certain features in common. To begin with, they are argumentative and they are written for a wide audience, so do not expect to see jargon that is not explained. Also, the authors use elusive arguments in order to address complicated issues, including either political, artistic or civic debates. Finally, the texts used are always from published works.
Scoring
The total score is out of 1600. There are two section scores out of 800, three test scores out of 40, seven sub-scores out of 15 and two cross test scores.
Click here in order to view full sample tests from the Collegeboard.
FAQ
When do I have to start preparing for the exam? 
As the SAT is unlike any other examination you have taken before, you are advised to begin preparation at least four months before the exam no matter how advanced your language skills are. This will give you the chance to enhance your reading skills, practice writing essays and perfect your grammar.
How many times can I take the exam?
It is advised that you take the SAT examination 2-3 times to ensure the best possible results, but no more as Universities will not be impressed if you have taken the exam more than 3 times. However, there is no restriction as to how many times you can sit the examination.
How do I register for the SAT exam?
In order to register and book an examination date, you must visit www.collegeboard.org and create an account. Select the date you wish to apply for and follow the steps. Be sure to have a credit/debit card and your passport or identity card handy as you will need them. You must also have a recent photograph on your pc/phone/tablet in order to upload when the time comes.
What is the SAT point scale?
The SAT is out of 2400. Each of the three sections is out 800.
How long is the exam?
The SAT examination lasts for 3 hours and 45 minutes, but can last up to 4 hours with the breaks included.
How much does it cost to register for the SAT?
The cost is 55 US dollars, plus an extra 33-42 US dollars if you are an international student.
How long does it take for the SAT results to come out?
It takes approximately three weeks for the SAT scores to be available on the Collegeboard website.
Can I send my SAT scores to Universities?
Yes. There is an option Collegeboard website that allows you to send your scores to any University you choose to.
Important links
By far the most important site for the SAT is the Collegeboard’s official website (www.collegeboard.com). These are the people who administer the SAT in the US and all round the world. It is a large site with lots of information, tips, and sample questions and tests. This is also where you will book your tests, send your scores and search for your potential colleges. We recommend that you register and set up an account at the Collegeboard at the earliest opportunity and make the most of the multifarious information on the site.
Practice materials – Recommended textbooks
There is nothing like the real thing. The best practice materials are past examinations published by the examination board themselves. As the SAT is changing this year, 2016, it is recommended that you acquire the latest SAT Official Guide from the Collegeboard.
SAT vs ACT
The SAT reasoning test & the ACT
Many will know and have heard of the SAT and the ACT tests. These tests can literally make or break your application to a college or university in the US. These tests constitute one of the most important criteria that you, as a prospective candidate, are judged. If you attain the results then the world is your oyster; otherwise all the doors may close very rapidly. The fact is that you have to score high in the ACT and/or the SAT to secure your future place at a great US university. It certainly is not easy and that is why the Tree Foundation Tutorial College is here to guide you. We have tutored hundreds of students over the last 15 years to the very best universities in the US. Let us guide you to the college of your dreams.
A little more about the distinction between the ACT and SAT tests
In essence there are not many differences between the two tests: both examine you on your knowledge of mathematics and the English language. The salient difference is that the ACT has a Science section whereas the SAT Reasoning Test does not. Over the last few years the ACT has been in ascent, perhaps due to its more spherical nature, examining the prospective test candidate on his/her mathematical, linguistic, and scientific competences rather than just his/her mathematical and linguistic competences, in the case of the SAT. In the ACT there is more emphasis on time management – you have to be extremely fast and efficient to succeed.
How are the ACT and SAT examinations scored?
The ACT is scored out of 36. The SAT is scored out of 1600. To give you a more objective appraisal of the scores, an Ivy university will be expecting at least 30/36 in the ACT or 1350/1600 in the SAT. If one looks at the scoring algorithms of the respective tests one will discover that the scoring is certainly not a linear relationship; at the high end one’s score drops extremely rapidly with just a few mistakes. We at the Tree Foundation Tutorial College will make absolutely sure that your examination technique is refined to optimise your very best score. You simply have to get your examination technique honed to perfection: that is what the Tree Foundation Tutorial College is here to assist you with.
For details concerning the two tests please see the table below:
| ACT |
SAT |
| 4 Sections |
4 Sections |
| English, Mathematics, Reading, Science |
Mathematics (calculator/no calculator), Writing, Reading |
| Essay (optional) |
Essay (optional) |
| No penalty for wrong answers |
No penalty for wrong answers |
