Digital SAT Test
Preparation

Overview of the Digital SAT®


 

In March of 2016, the SAT underwent its biggest change in 30 years. Our awesome research team closely monitored the changes to make sure counselors, parents, and students got the inside scoop. Here’s a brief overview of the test.





The SAT:  In-depth Details
 

SECTIONS

 2 sections
   • Math
   • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

SCORING

Total score (400–1600)

  • 2 section scores (200–800)

  • 3 test scores (10–40)

  • 7 sub-scores (1–15)

  • 2 cross-test scores

LENGTH OF TEST    
(WITHOUT BREAKS)

 3 hours (without essay) 
 3 hours, 50 minutes (with essay)

ANSWER CHOICES

 4 answer choices per question

INCORRECT ANSWER PENALTY

 No penalty for incorrect answers

FORMAT OF TEST

 Paper and pencil and a computer-based option

READING AND WRITING

  • Two tests:

    • Reading Test

    • Writing and Language Test

  • No more sentence completions; focus on words with multiple meanings

  • Passages will draw from significant historical or    scientific documents – may include informational  graphics, such as charts

  • The reading passages will include complex structure and  vocabulary

  • Passage-based grammar with punctuation

MATH

Focuses on:

  • Application-based, multi-step questions

  • Higher-level math, including trigonometry

  • One set of “extended-thinking” grid-in questions (worth 4 points)

  • Core math competencies (translating math into English and English into math)

  • A deep understanding of mathematical principles, such as building equation

CALCULATORS

  • Calculators are only allowed in the longer of the two math sections

THE ESSAY

  • The essay is optional (50 minutes, timed) 

  • Students will be provided a substantial passage (600–700 words)  and will be asked to analyze how the author built his argument

  • Students will need to understand the techniques, authors use to write persuasively


 
SAT is a trademark registered and owned by the College Board, which is not affi liated with, and does not endorse, this product [site].


 




You’ve prepared for this day, and it’s finally here: time to take the real SAT. Here’s how to study for the 
SAT, let’s go over what you need to know about test day with some last-minute SAT tips
 

SAT practice: THE NIGHT BEFORE THE TEST

1. Take it Easy
There are two ways you can mess this up. One is to go out, party, and stay up late. The other is to spend 
the night cramming! Whatever prep you do the night before the SAT will have very little effect on your 
score. You’re better off taking it easy. If you insist on studying the day before, limit it to 30 minutes. 
Otherwise, chill out and do something relaxing like watching your favorite TV show, hanging out at your 
friend’s home (but coming home at a reasonable hour), or going out for a walk. Yes, even playing video 
games the night before the SAT is highly recommended – just not more than an hour or so, though!
 
2. Pack Your Bag
It’s a good idea to pack your belongings the night before so you don’t risk forgetting something in the 
morning. Here’s what you have to bring: [could consider having pictures of these pop up, or having the 
speaker hold them up]
 
Admission Ticket – You can print out your admission ticket from the College Board website.
Photo ID – This can be a driver’s license, learner’s permit, passport, or school ID, for example.
#2 Pencils – We recommend you bring 5 pencils just in case. They should be regular, non-mechanical 
pencils, and make sure they’re sharpened!
Calculator – While calculators are not required, they are permitted and will be a big help on the calculator 
math section. Put in new batteries the night before the test. And here’s a few more things we recommend:
 
Watch – It’s a good idea to wear a watch. While testing rooms usually have a clock, sometimes they may 
not, or the clock may not be working. It’s best to wear your own watch so you can keep track of the time 
no matter what. Digital watches are fine, but just make sure they aren’t going to beep during the test. 
Keep in mind smart watches are not permitted.
Jacket – No matter what time of year you’re taking the test, it’s a good idea to dress in layers. The testing 
room could be cold or hot, and you want to make sure you’ll be comfortable.
Snack – You’ll get two breaks during the test, so it’s a good idea to bring a healthy snack to keep your 
energy going.
Small drink – Bring a small bottle of water or your preferred drink in case there isn’t a drinking fountain.
How about what not to bring? [put an X over these to show they’re not allowed. again you could put a 
photo or hold them up]
 
Cell Phone – It’s best to leave cell phones at home or in your car. If you have to bring your phone into 
the test center, it will need to be turned off and turned in to your proctor.
Any Other Electronics – Be sure to leave any smart watches or electronic fitness devices at home. 
Even if your intentions are good, the presence of electronic devices can not only 
invalidate your scores but also the scores of everybody else in the room.
Other Tools – Do not bring a highlighter, ruler, or any other tools unless you have testing 
accommodations specifically allowing them.
 
3. Get a Good Night’s Sleep is a great SAT strategy
You’re probably tired after a week of school, so use that to your advantage! Hit the sack at a reasonable 
hour so you can be well-rested for test day – no video games or movie 
watching until 2am! Believe it or not, sleep plays a huge role in your memory and ability to perform 
academic tasks. The best thing you can do for your brain is to get plenty of 
sleep! However, don’t try to go to sleep too much earlier than usual, or you might have trouble 
falling asleep.
 
THE MORNING OF THE TEST: Other SAT strategies
1. Wake Up!
It’s a bad idea to roll out of bed and go straight to a 65-minute reading section. Instead, allow yourself 
plenty of time to get up and get ready before you have to leave. Once your 
alarm goes off, help yourself wake up completely by taking a shower. You want to be completely 
awake before you leave!
 
2. Get Your Heart Pumping
It’s a great idea to do a little exercise before you leave home on test day. Exercising gets your heart 
pumping, which in turn will send oxygen to your brain. The better shape your brain is in, the better you 
will do on the test! Consider doing 10-15 minutes of push-ups, jumping jacks, or any other exercise that 
will increase your heart rate.
 
3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
Reach for a bowl of oatmeal, fruit, or granola instead of a doughnut or sugary cereal. You won’t be able to 
eat another meal for at least five hours, and you don’t want to be distracted by your stomach growling 
during the test.
 
4. Stick with Your Routine
If you normally drink coffee or tea before school, it’s okay to have your usual amount before the test. 
However, if it’s not a normal part of your routine, don’t try it out on test day. Caffeine can affect people 
differently, and you don’t want to risk feeling sick or jittery. The same goes for energy drinks and any kind 
of medicine.
 
AT THE TESTING CENTER: More SAT Tips
1. Leave Early
Allow plenty of time to get to the testing center. If it’s somewhere you’ve never been before, it may be 
a good idea to drive there in the days before the test so you know where it is. Typically, you must arrive 
between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m. However, check your admission ticket to be sure. The testing center may 
be crowded, so allow enough time to park, if needed, and sign in.
 
2. The Proctor
Your testing room will have a proctor whose job it is to hand out and collect tests, keep track of time, 
and make sure all rules are being followed. Some proctors read every word of the instructions, while 
others breeze through them. It’s best to be familiar with the instructions for the test before going in so 
that this isn’t left to chance. Proctors often give 5-minute warnings near the end of every section, but 
this doesn’t always happen. That’s why it’s best to use your own watch. If you notice the proctor called 
time slightly early on a section, be sure to mention it so it doesn’t happen again on the next section.
 
3. Breaks
You’ll get a 10-minute break and a 5-minute break. Use them to your advantage! Don’t be the person 
who just sits in the testing room waiting for the test to start again. Go out in the hallway, go to the 
bathroom, get a drink of water, eat your snack, socialize with your friends (but don’t talk about the test). 
You want to come in feeling refreshed and ready to move on to the next section. Just like we 
recommended for before the test, even a little bit of movement from getting up and walking around will 
increase your blood flow and help your brain feel rejuvenated to get through the next portion of the test.
 
4. Cheating
This goes without saying, but don’t try to cheat! This includes going back to previous sections or moving 
ahead to the next section before you’re allowed to, as well as communicating with other students about 
the test. The College Board is extremely strict about security, so don’t do anything that could be 
perceived as attempting to cheat, either.
 
5. Testing Irregularities
You can expect that the testing room may not be the most comfortable environment. Chances are you 
will hear some noise, whether it is coughing, conversation in the hallway, buzzing lights, and so on. 
If the distraction becomes severe, report it to your proctor to see whether anything can be done. If 
anything dramatic happens that severely affects your concentration or timing of the test, you must 
report it to the proctor before you leave the site.
 
COMMON SAT MYTHS: how to study for the SAT
1. You get 400 points just for signing your name
Actually, it’s not possible to score lower than 200 in each section, so yes, the minimum is 400, but that’s 
really like a zero, not a bonus 400 points.
 
2. Fill in A, B, C, and D on each question for a perfect score
Any question that has more than one bubble filled in is counted wrong, so don’t try this!
 
3. If you don’t know, guess C
Every answer choice appears about ¼ of the time on the test, so C isn’t any more likely to be correct 
than any other option. It is a good strategy to guess the same letter for all the questions you don’t have 
time to do. But it doesn’t matter which letter you choose since they all should appear about the same
 amount.
 
4. There is a “better” curve on certain SAT test dates throughout the year
We’ve checked, and there’s only a small difference in the scaled scores from test to test.
 
5. The SAT measures your intelligence
Nope. The only thing the SAT tests is how well you can take the SAT.
 
6. A great SAT score gets you into great schools
Standardized test scores are just one aspect of your college application. Every year, top colleges 
reject students with excellent SAT scores. Your transcript, recommendations, 
essays, and other parts of your application matter too!
 
NOW YOU’RE READY!
So try your best not to stress about the test. It’s just one part of your college application, and it doesn’t 
assess your intelligence or worth as a person. We hope you can go into the test feeling confident and 
well-prepared!

SAT®

With over 1.8 million test-takers per year, the SAT is the most well-known

The content on the SAT will be very similar to that which is on the ACT. The major difference is in how the concepts are tested and the steps students will have to take to solve problems correctly. Students will have to reason their way through this exam by tackling problems in a linear and sequential fashion. Your ability to process information quickly will be the key.
 

Changes You'll Love

Changes You Won't Love

• No penalty for wrong answers, so you don’t have to worry about losing points for wrong answers (Just    like on the ACT)
• Only 4 answer choices instead of 5 (Just like on the ACT)

• More familiar vocabulary, but you’ll need to know multiple definitions of those words

• Sayonara sentence completions!

• Questions require multiple steps to get an answer
• Reading passages include complex structure and vocabulary
• Foundational math skills are more important
• Reasoning and critical thinking skills are paramount
• You’ll have fewer but longer sections

 

Are My Scores Here Yet?

If you take the New SAT in March 2016, The College Board will hold scores from the test until after the May 2016 administration. That's a long and likely stressful waiting period for students to get their scores.
 

How Should I Prep for the SAT?

The SAT is still a timed pencil and paper test. Speed and accuracy count. Our Research and Development team are SAT experts. They have created world class content for our new courses and online resources to help students navigate these changes and be prepared on test day.

For more details on the changes coming in March, click Current/SAT Comparison.

Want advice from our test prep and college entrance experts? Click What Now? to get the most up to date information.

 SAT is a trademark registered and owned by the College Board, which is not affi liated with, and does not endorse, this product [site].

 

Colleges will accept either the SAT or ACT. So which should you take?
It's all about the numbers. Some students end up scoring substantially higher on the SAT- others do better on the ACT. The Princeton Review ME offers a free assessment to help you determine which test is best for you. 

 

Since the March 2016 redesign of the SAT, there are fewer differences between the SAT and ACT.  The 3 main differences are here:  

 

ACT questions tend to be more straightforward.
ACT questions are often easier to understand on a first read. On the SAT, you may need to spend time figuring out what you're being asked before you can start solving the problem. 

 

The ACT has a Science section, while the SAT does not.

You don't need to know anything about amoebas or chemical reactions for the ACT Science section. It is meant to test your reading and reasoning skills, based upon a given set of facts. But if science isn't your thing, the SAT might be a better fit.

   

The ACT requires you to work faster, while the SAT gives you more time.

Take a look at this graph below, which analyzes how much time you are given (on average) to answer a question on both tests:

 

SAT

Time

Questions

Minutes Per Question

Math

80 minutes

58 questions

1 minute

22 seconds

Reading

65 minutes

52 questions

1 minute

15 seconds

Writing and Language *

35 minutes

44 questions

47 seconds

 

 

ACT

Time

Questions

Minutes Per Question

Math

60 minutes

60 questions

1 minute

Reading

35 minutes

40 questions

52.5 seconds

English *

45 minutes

75 questions

36 seconds

Science

35 minutes

40 questions

52.5 seconds

 

* SAT Writing and Language is similar to the ACT English

 

 You can see that the ACT expects you to answer almost everything in less than a minute, while the SAT always gives you more time.

 

College admissions officers care about how you did on each section of the SAT. On the ACT, they're most concerned with your composite score. So if you're weak in one content area but strong in others, you could still end up with a very good ACT score.


 SAT is a trademark registered and owned by the College Board, which is not affi liated with, and does not endorse, this product [site].

 


Enquiry Now

Type the characters you see in the picture below