The SAT Test

College Preparation
	The SAT Test

The SAT Reasoning Test (SAT) is a test that many colleges use in their evaluation of students for admission. Your SAT score is an important factor in addition to your high school GPA when you apply for colleges. The SAT test is given by the College Board several times a year (January, March, May, June, October, and December).  You can take it as many times as you wish, but most students take the test two or three times.  If you take the test before ninth grade, your SAT score won't count for college applications. If, for some reason, you need a SAT score before ninth grade, please feel free to take the test. We suggest that students take the SAT test for the first time in the spring of their junior year of high school after taking several practice exams. After significant review and additional practice over summer break, students should take the SAT test for the second time in October of their senior year of high school. The highest score for the SAT essay is 12 on 0-12 scale. Your SAT essay is scored by two people, each of whom score your essay on a scale of 0-6, and the sum of their scores is your essay score.  If their scores differ by more than one point, a third reader scores your essay and the two closest scores are used for your essay score. The College Board SAT sample test booklets have example essays with scores of 3, 4, 5, and 6 on a 0-6 scale, 6 being the highest score.  However, on the College Board SAT official score report, your essay will be scaled on a 0-12 scale. So pay attention when you receive a score report from the College Board or from other resources. The SAT test takes 3 hours and 45 minutes without breaks and is divided into 10 sections which include Reading Comprehension, Writing (including the essay), and Math.  One of the sections is an experimental section which does not count towards your score.  However, you will not know which section is the experimental section, so answer each section carefully and seriously.    Sample Structure of SAT*   Section Length Content 1. Writing 25 Minutes Essay 2. Critical Reading 25 Minutes Multiple-choice Sentence Completion and Reading Comprehension questions 3. Math 25 Minutes Multiple-choice math questions 4. Writing 25 Minutes Multiple-choice Improving Sentences and Improving Paragraphs questions 5. Math 25 minutes Multiple-choice math questions and Student-Produced Response (Grid-in) questions 6. Critical Reading 25 Minutes Multiple-choice Sentence Completion and Reading Comprehension questions 7. Experimental Section 25 Minutes Math, Writing, or Critical Reading 8. Math 20 Minutes Multiple-choice math questions 9. Critical Reading 20 Minutes Multiple-choice Sentence Completion and Reading Comprehension questions 10. Writing 10 Minutes Multiple-choice Improving Sentences questions *The actual structure of the SAT may vary from test to test.     Registering for the SAT   Students can register for the SAT Reasoning Test and the SAT II Subject Tests at www.collegeboard.com.    SAT Test Dates for 2010-2011     Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) Oct. 09, 2010* Sept.10, 2010 Sept. 24, 2010 Nov. 06, 2010 Oct. 8, 2010 Oct. 22 , 2010 Dec. 04, 2010 Nov. 5, 2010 Nov. 19, 2010 Jan. 22, 2011 Dec 23, 2011 Jan. 7 , 2011 Mar. 12, 2011 Feb. 11, 2011 Feb. 25, 2011 May 7, 2011 April 8, 2011 April 22, 2011 June 4, 2011 May 6, 2011 May 20, 2011 Please confirm all testing dates at: http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/register/test-dates

SAT Score-Use Practices   SAT Score-Use Practices (from www.collegeboard.com): Some colleges will consider the student's highest SAT score from a single test date while others may look at the student's highest section scores across all SAT test dates. SAT Score-Use Practices breaks down the specific policies of many schools. Please use it as a reference or call each college to confirm which practice they follow.