SAT Guide: Registration, Types, and Test Pattern

The Scholastic Aptitude Test, also known as Scholastic Assessment Test, is the world’s most popular exam taken by high school students in order to take admission in undergraduate school. There are around 25,000 centres where SAT is conducted all around the world in 192 countries. The overall management of SAT is undertaken by an organisation called the College Board. However, the test is conducted by Education Test Service on behalf of the College Board. ETS also conducts other international exams like TOEFL, GRE, IELTS to name a few.

Students all around the world take this exam in order to take admission in overseas colleges. Even though SATs are primarily popular in the US and Canada, many other countries like the UK, Australia, Singapore, and some other countries have also started to finalise admissions based on the Scholastic Assessment Test scores. Indian students can enrol in undergraduate courses abroad with SAT scores. Indian students can get scholarships based on their good Scholastic Assessment Test scores, and some can even find full scholarships making education free for international students.

Types of SAT

There are two types of Scholastic Assessment Test conducted worldwide: SAT 1 and SAT 2

SAT 1

This is the general type of SAT for students from every background. It contains an English verbal section, a writing section, and a mathematical section. It is taken by most of the students looking forward to undergraduate study programs from abroad.

SAT 2

This exam is focused more on a particular specialization. It is generally given by the students when they want to apply for a specific program and want to showcase their specialisation/skills in that subject. There are 20 subjects in SAT 2, such as Science, Literature, History, Mathematics, etc. Students can choose one or more subjects depending on their requirements.

Registration Process

There are two types of registration procedures accepted by the College Board for SATs. Students can register online, which is the most common and fastest way to register. In order to register online, students would need to go to the College Board website and create a profile, thereby filling in basic and relative questions about themselves. After making a profile, students are required to choose their test type, SAT 1 or SAT2 (students can choose both), and a convenient slot for the examination. Once the student is done with the registration, the next step is to make a payment and print the admission ticket.

Another mode of registration is through the mail. This mode of registration is generally opted by a student when they are either less than 13 years old, enrolling through an SAT international agent, paying by cheque or money order, or any other thing. In order to register through mail, students are required to ask their school or College Board about the registration guideline booklet of SAT. This guide will contain a registration form along with an envelope. Students are required to register by filling the form and mail it along with the cheque or demand draft for the payment of the fee. If you are an Indian student, you can refer to USIEF, the local representative of the College Board in India.

Test Pattern: Scholastic Assessment Test

The overall Scholastic Assessment Test score is made up of the Evidence-based Reading & Writing score (200-800) and the Math score (400- 1600). (200-800). If you decide to take the Essay part, the test will last 4 hours and 5 minutes (with breaks).

1. Verbal:

The Reading and Writing and Language parts of the SAT Verbal, also known as Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, are made up of two components: reading and writing and language. Both of these parts contribute to the verbal score of 200-800. There are passage-based questions in both parts. While the Reading part responses are based on the material, the Writing and Language component assesses grammar, tone, and relevancy. Multiple choice questions with four response options are included in both parts.

2. Math:

There are 54 questions on the Scholastic Assessment TestMath sections, with 44 multiple-choice questions and 10 student-produced answer questions. Students must solve a problem and choose the best solution from the available options in the five-choice multiple-choice questions. Students must solve a problem and grid the proper solution in the student-created response questions, which does not give answer options. There are primarily four areas on which the SAT math section focuses on algebra and functions, statistics and probability, geometry and measurement, and number and operations.

3. Essay (Optional):

Even though this is an optional section, many colleges ask for this as well. This section checks the writing, reasoning, and understanding level of the student. A long passage is provided based on the arguments and reasoning given by the author on any particular topic. Students are required to express their opinion with proper logic and reason behind based on the passage given.