Your scores on the SAT help colleges evaluate your academic skills and your readiness for college-level instruction compared to other students. While important, your SAT score is just one factor that colleges consider.

What's Tested on the SAT

The SAT tests the knowledge and skills you've gained in high school as well as your ability to interpret information and support your conclusions. It includes three sections:

The SAT tests the knowledge and skills you've gained in high school as well as your ability to interpret information and support your conclusions. Most of the questions are multiple choice. The test includes three sections:

• The Reading Test – 65 minutes and 52 questions

• The Writing and Language Test – 35 minutes and 44 questions

• The Math Test - 80 minutes and 58 questions

The SAT Math Section

The Math section tests your ability to apply math in different situations. It covers a range of math practices that students are most likely to encounter in college and in many careers. It's divided into three areas: "Heart of Algebra," which includes linear equations and systems; "Problem Solving and Data Analysis," which tests your quantitative skills; and "Passport to Advanced Math," which features complex equations. Most math questions will be multiple choice, but about 20 percent will require you to calculate your answer and write it on the answer sheet instead of selecting an answer from a list. A calculator is prohibited on one part of the test.

The SAT Reading and Writing Section

This section includes two tests: the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test. All questions are multiple choice and may include informational graphics, such as tables, graphs, and charts.

On the Reading Test, you will read and interpret five long passages drawn from works of literary fiction, U.S. and international history, social science, and science. You will be asked to support some of your answers by citing evidence from the passage, analyze vocabulary words using context clues, examine hypotheses, and interpret data.

On the Writing and Language Test, you will improve written passages using your knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, and punctuation. The passages will discuss a range of topics, including careers, history, social studies, and science. You'll be asked to better express the ideas and events in the passages and improve the way the information is developed and supported by evidence.

How the SAT Is Scored

You will earn points for each correct answer; there is no penalty for incorrect or blank answers. The highest total score possible is 1600. Your Total Score is the sum of your scores on the Math and Evidence Based Reading and Writing sections. But more scores will appear on your score report – subscores and cross-test scores – that reveal your performance on different parts of the test and give colleges more insight into your academic strengths.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE SAT

One of the best ways to prepare is to take timed practice tests and study sample questions. The College Board offers testing tips and free practice tests on khanacademy.org. Many inexpensive or free online test prep resources are available, as well as books. For additional testing tips see Tips to Improve Your SAT and ACT Scores.

WHEN TO TAKE THE SAT

It's a good idea to take the SAT for the first time in the spring of your junior year. This will give you time to take it again in the fall of your senior year. Be sure to confirm the last possible date you can take the test with the colleges you are applying to.

SENDING YOUR SCORES TO COLLEGES

When you register for the SAT, you can choose up to four colleges to receive your scores at no cost. After you have taken the test, you can send scores to more colleges for a fee. Fee waivers are available, based on income.

Make sure that you understand a college's score-use policies. Some require all your scores from every test. Others will accept only your best combined score from a single test date. The easiest path is to send all of your scores to all of your colleges.

SOME COLLEGES DON'T REQUIRE TEST SCORES

An increasing number of colleges and universities do not require the SAT or ACT for admission. For a listing of these schools, visit fairtest.org.