What's the SAT, exactly?

Hi there! I'm curious about the SAT and its role in college admissions. Can somebody please explain what the SAT is, and how important it is for the admission process? Thank you!

Hello! The SAT is a standardized test used by many colleges and universities in the United States to assess a student's academic readiness for college. It is administered by the College Board, a non-profit organization that develops and manages various educational tests and programs. As of Spring 2024, the SAT has become fully digital and consists of two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math.

In the Reading and Writing section, you will find two 32-minute modules with a total of 54 questions that test your comprehension and analysis of passages from various subject areas, as well as your understanding of grammar and usage rules.

In the Math section, there are two 35-minute modules with a total of 44 questions, which assess your problem-solving abilities in algebra, geometry, and data analysis.

In the digital format, you have 71 seconds per question in the Reading and Writing modules and 96 seconds per question in the Math modules. The total duration of the digital SAT is 134 minutes, encompassing 98 questions.

The role of the SAT in college admissions varies depending on the institution. Some colleges require or strongly recommend that applicants submit their SAT scores, while others have adopted test-optional or test-blind policies. Test-optional means that you can choose whether to include your SAT scores in your application, and test-blind means that SAT scores will not be considered at all.

As for the importance of your SAT score in the admission process, it generally carries significant weight for schools that still require or recommend submission of scores, as it is often used to gauge a student's college readiness and can be a determining factor in scholarship eligibility.

However, keep in mind that most colleges and universities use a holistic approach to admissions, which means they consider other aspects of your application, such as your academic performance in high school, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and application essays, in addition to your SAT scores. It's essential to focus on these other components to strengthen your overall application and increase your chances of admission.

To prepare for the SAT, it's a good idea to take practice tests, use study guides, and attend SAT prep classes if available. Ensure to practice time management, as the digital format has specific time constraints per question. Lastly, familiarize yourself with the format and content of the exam by using resources like the Bluebook™ app, which allows you to preview the digital SAT and take a full-length practice test. Good luck!