SAT Digital Exam includes two sections – Reading and Writing (RW) and Math. There is an optional essay section as well, but it is advised that all students take the optional section, because, it is demanded by colleges at the time of the application process.
RW and Math sections are scored on a range of 200-800.
The SAT Essay is scored on a range of 2-8. The total duration of the test without the Essay section is 3 hours and 15 minutes including breaks. The Essay section is of 50 minutes.
Questions in the SAT are multiple-choice, for most of the time, however, in some of the math questions you need to jot down the answer rather than select from multiple choices. There is no negative marking, so, if you’re not sure of the answer, it’s better to guess than leave the question.
One can take the SAT on paper-pencil test or on the computer-based new digital format. Know, the differences here.
| SAT Paper-Pencil Test | Digital SAT Test |
| 3 Hours and 15 minutes | 2 hours and 14 min. |
| 100 minutes for the reading and writing section. | 64 minutes for the reading and writing section. |
| Reading has five passages with 52 questions (65 min).
Writing and language have four passages with 44 questions (35 min). |
Reading and writing are combined into one section (54 multiple-choice questions). Each includes short passages and may contain informational graphics. |
| The math section test length is 80 minutes. | The digital sat math test length is 70 minutes. |
SAT READING
The SAT Reading section has 65 minutes to complete 52 multi-choice questions. All the questions come from 5 evidence-based passages, and examiners are asked to analyse the information in the given passages before answering the questions. Passage can be 500-700 words in length.
Passages can either be in paragraphs or coupled with diagrams. The scope of passages are generally literature, social science, economics, psychology, sociology and history.
3 categories of SAT Reading:
- Factual questions derived from the core context of the passage.
- Rhetoric questions are made to understand tone and style conveyed in the passage.
- Synthesis questions are based on drawing a conclusion or connecting the plots between diagrams.
SAT Writing and Language
SAT writing section comprise 35 minutes where 44 multi-choice questions based on 4 passages are given. The SAT’s writing section, targets examiners ability to analyse and edit a piece of content given in the passage. Students are required to edit the passage, spot and rectify errors, sharpen the sentences, and correct any misinterpretation in the graphical content.
Similarly, the diagram writing covers graphs, charts and info graphics based on below given topics:
- History
- Science
- Career
- Social Studies
- Humanities
SAT – Mathematics Section
The SAT Mathematics section covers 80 minutes time with comprises 58 questions to answers. Among all questions 75% are multiple-choice and in other 25% of questions students must solve problems and jot down answers. When compared to other sections of the SAT Exam, the Math section is specially designed to assess candidates’ knowledge in math concepts and the ability to apply those to solve real-time problems.
