SAT Exam Syllabus and How to Prepare for it

The Scholastic Assessment Test or SAT is a standardized test used by most US universities for their admissions process. The SAT evaluates an applicant based on their skills in mathematics, evidence-based reading, and writing. One must have a clear understanding of the SAT exam pattern and the SAT exam syllabus before preparing for the test.

Around 2.9 million students take the SAT every year with hopes of gaining admission into universities in the US. Aspiring students need to gather all they can from the official SAT websites and gather details like the SAT test syllabus, SAT question paper formats, and SAT Exam subjects. You will have an edge if you start early, observe your strengths, work on your weak areas, and set a timeline for yourself. Taking the full-length practice tests online will help you analyze your performance and assess the effort required to attain your target score.

Understanding the SAT exam pattern

The structure of the SAT Exam breaks into two broad categories of evidence-based reading & writing and mathematics. Besides, there is also an optional essay writing section which is required by some universities in their application process. Should you choose to appear for the optional section, the test allows you four hours and five minutes to finish, including breaks. 

You will have a better understanding of the SAT exam pattern and SAT exam subjects from the following table:

Description of SAT Exam Sections

Updates for SAT Syllabus 

According to the latest update on SAT syllabus 2022, SAT Subjects and the SAT optional Essay have been discontinued which has now reduced the duration of the exam by 50 minutes. The exam is now only of 3-hr duration. 

Type of SAT exams

It is of two types, the SAT General Exam, and the SAT Subject Exam. The first one is standard for those seeking admission at an American university. However, some universities require students to take the SAT Subject Test.

1. The SAT General Test measures the general readiness of aspirants applying to a college and their ability to solve basic problems in language and mathematics. SAT test syllabus assesses the candidates' written, verbal, and mathematical skills and is generally used by undergraduate colleges for admissions.

2. The SAT Subject Test aims to assess students based on their skills in specific subjects that they choose as their specialization. SAT subject test syllabus judges the takers’ proficiency in individual subjects in the streams of science, mathematics, and languages. Colleges use SAT subject tests for admission and course placements. The duration of the assessment is 1 hour and students are scored on the scale of 200 to 800. Colleges may also exempt students from certain college requirements like a first-year composition class or foreign language if they have a good SAT Subject Test score. 

A Comprehensive Explanation of SAT Exam Syllabus for Indian students 

1. Evidence-based Reading and Writing

This is where your proficiency in English is tested, and you are scored between 200 and 800. You must have command over the standard usage of the language and be able to express complex ideas. You will be required to read and interpret the concepts provided to you, establish the intentions of the author, and offer meaningful insights. 

a) The Reading part of this section is 65 minutes long and has 52 multiple-choice questions based on five passages. The passages may be individual or paired with infographics such as tables or charts. They are drawn from literature, social studies, history, or science. Focus on developing a clear understanding of the passages. The questions will be of three types: factual, rhetoric, or synthetic. The factual questions will have a direct or indirect reference from the main concept of the passage, rhetoric questions will require you to debate the tone and meaning, and the synthetic questions will need you to establish relationships between the ideas in the passage or draw conclusions from the additional graphics and information.

b) The Writing part is for 35 minutes. It has 44 multiple-choice questions which have to be answered based on four passages. This section will test your ability to analyze the body of the passage and rectify errors. This means that you need to have superior knowledge of grammar, spelling, and general construction of sentences. You will also have to identify misinterpreted graphical data, back it up with supporting details, and add relevant matter to sharpen the argument. The passages you will find in this section will be of four kinds: narrative, argumentative, informative, and explanatory.

2. SAT Mathematics section

This 80-minute-long section, comprising 58 questions to evaluate your mathematical reasoning. The score range is between 200 to 800 and has 80% of the questions in a multiple-choice format. The remainder is in grid-in questions where you will have to answer by circling appropriate numbers after solving the problems. The SAT Math section can be further broken into a ‘no calculator’ and a ‘calculator’ segment, where there are 15 multiple-choices plus 5 grid-ins and 30 multiple-choices plus 8 grid-ins respectively. You will also have access to formulas before you begin to answer this section for reference. 

This section of the SAT is divided into four primary categories:

a) Heart of Algebra asking you to create and solve algebraic equations.

b) Problem Solving and Data Analysis requiring you to answer questions with ratios, proportional reasoning, and data interpretation.

c) Passport to Advanced Math challenging you to solve complicated equations and functions of mathematics.

d) Additional Topics including questions about geometry, trigonometry, and area & volume.

3. Essay (optional) 

The New SAT has a 50-minute-long optional essay writing section. Although optional, it makes your SAT appear more complete and helps universities judge you better. You will be presented with a body of text and asked to analyze the intention of the author in terms of the techniques used by them. You will be expected to support your comprehension with relevant evidence and examples.

Difference between SAT Mathematics Level 1 and Level 2

Mathematics level 1 is structured for students who had two years of algebra along with a year of geometry, whereas mathematics Level 2 targets students who have covered precalculus and trigonometry in their senior secondary education.

The exposure and the quality of teaching in the US are considered among the best in the world. The SAT is your first step in that direction and a good score will increase your chances of admission at an American university. You should invest a good amount of time to prepare. Use the internet to your advantage and learn about all the tricks and tips. You will find a great deal about these tests from the experiences of the students who have appeared for them in the past. You need to have a good grasp of the SAT exam subjects and the SAT question paper pattern before you commit your time and resources to take the test. You will find a wide range of information about your quest to study abroad on upGrad.