Introduction to the SAT

SAT Score- just one factor colleges look at Also look at – Academic record (grades) – Involvement in school activities – Application essay – Letters of recommendation

When do I take the SAT? Students usually take the SAT once in the spring of their junior year Again in the fall of their senior year Sat.collegeboard.org/register

How is the Test Organized? 3 sections – Critical Reading – Writing – Math Eight Types of Questions in Each Section 3hrs and 45 minutes total

How is the SAT Scored? Multiple choice questions: – One point for each question answered correctly – For each question answered incorrectly, ¼ point is subtracted from the total number of correct answers – No points added or subtracted for unanswered questions

Ready4College Website Content How much time does the whole SAT take? How much are you penalized if you get a multiple-choice question wrong?

How is the SAT Scored? Student-produced response questions in the mathematics section: – Nothing is subtracted for wrong answers The Essay: receives a score of 2 to 12. Must be legible (or you could get a 0!) Score Range for each section:

Pop Quiz What is the score range for each section of the SAT? The SAT has 3 sections, so what is the highest score you can earn for the whole test?

Critical Reading Section 19 sentence completion questions 48 Passage-based reading questions 67 questions total 70 minutes total (two 25-minutes sections and one 20-minute section

The Writing Section 18 Identifying Sentence errors questions 25 improving sentences questions 6 improving paragraphs questions 1 Essay Total Questions: 49 + Essay 60 minutes total (one 25-minute essay, one 25-minute multiple-choice section, and one 10-minute multiple-choice section)

The Mathematics Section 44 Multiple Choice Questions 10 Student-produced response (grid-ins) 54 total questions 70 minutes total (two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section) Table 1.1 – Page 5

Ready4College Website Content How many sections does the SAT have? What are those sections? What do we know about each section?

How do I study for the SAT? Come to this class, Saturday practice sessions, and… The Official SAT Study Guide – Take home and practice on your own! The College Board Official SAT Question of the Day Book Owners’ Area: Enter your answers online PSAT – Oakland Tech in October – Take Junior year Ask Counselor

Strategies during the test -Read and think carefully Use your test booklet – Mark each question that you don’t answer so you can easily find it again – Draw a line through each choice as you eliminate it (POE) – Mark sections, sentences, or words in reading passages – Check your answer sheet regularly to make sure you are in the right place!

More Strategies Skip questions that are hard and return to them later Answer the easy ones first If you are not 100% sure, but you can eliminate one answer choice, then make an educated guess Example 1, 2 and 3: Page 16-17

Other Strategies Think Positively Stay Focused Concentrate on your own progress Keep the Test in Perspective!

Ready4College Website Content What are some helpful strategies to use during the SAT? Page 14-19