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.svg){kind=logo} Logo since 2017 | |
| Type | Computer-based standardized test |
|---|---|
| Developer / administrator | College Board, Educational Testing Service |
| Knowledge / skills tested | Writing, critical reading, mathematics |
| Purpose | Admission to undergraduate programs of universities or colleges |
| Year started | 1926 |
| Duration | 2 hours 14 minutes[1] |
| Score / grade range | Test scored on scale of 200–800, (in 10-point increments), on each of two sections (total 400–1600). Essay scored on scale of 2–8, in 1-point increments, on each of three criteria. |
| Offered | 7 times annually[a] |
| Countries / regions | Worldwide |
| Languages | English |
| Annual number of test takers |  Over 1.9 million high school graduates in the class of 2023[3] |
| Prerequisites / eligibility criteria | No official prerequisite. Intended for high school students. Fluency in English assumed. |
| Fee | US$60.00 to US$108.00, depending on country.[4] |
| Scores / grades used by | Most universities and colleges offering undergraduate programs in the U.S. |
| Website | sat |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Education in the United States |
|---|
| Summary |
| Issues |
| Levels of education |
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The SAT (/ˌɛsˌeɪˈtiː/ ess-ay-TEE) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Since its debut in 1926, its name and scoring have changed several times. For much of its history, it was called the Scholastic Aptitude Test and had two components, Verbal and Mathematical, each of which was scored on a range from 200 to 800. Later it was called the Scholastic Assessment Test, then the SAT I: Reasoning Test, then the SAT Reasoning Test, then simply the SAT.
The SAT is wholly owned, developed, and published by the College Board, a private, not-for-profit organization in the United States. It is administered on behalf of the College Board by the Educational Testing Service,[5] which until shortly before the 2016 redesign of the SAT developed the test and maintained a repository of items (test questions) as well.[6] The test is intended to assess students' readiness for college. Originally designed not to be aligned with high school curricula,[7] several adjustments were made for the version of the SAT introduced in 2016. College Board president David Coleman added that he wanted to make the test reflect more closely what students learn in high school with the new Common Core standards,[8] which have been adopted by the District of Columbia and many states.
Starting with the 2015–16 school year, the College Board began working with Khan Academy to provide free SAT preparation.[9] On January 19, 2021, the College Board announced the discontinuation of the optional essay section, as well as its SAT Subject Tests, after June 2021.[10][11] In January 2022, the College Board announced that the test would move from paper and pencil to a digital format. This change occurred in March 2023 for international test-takers and on March 9, 2024 in the U.S.[12][13]
While a considerable amount of research has been done on the SAT, many questions and misconceptions remain.[14][15] Outside of college admissions, the SAT is also used by researchers studying human intelligence in general and intellectual precociousness in particular,[16][17][18] and by some employers in the recruitment process.[19][20][21]
Function
The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors.[22] The College Board states that the SAT is intended to measure literacy, numeracy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college. They state that the SAT assesses how well the test-takers analyze and solve problems—skills they learned in school that they will need in college.
The College Board also claims that the SAT, in combination with high school grade point average (GPA), provides a better indicator of success in college than high school grades alone, as measured by college freshman GPA. Various studies conducted over the lifetime of the SAT show a statistically significant increase in correlation of high school grades and college freshman grades when the SAT is factored in.[23] The predictive validity and powers of the SAT are topics of research in psychometrics.[14]
The SAT is a norm-referenced test intended to yield scores that follow a bell curve distribution among test-takers. To achieve this distribution, test designers include challenging multiple-choice questions with plausible but incorrect options, known as "distractors", exclude questions that a majority of students answer correctly, and impose tight time constraints during the examination.[24]
There are substantial differences in funding, curricula, grading, and difficulty among U.S. secondary schools due to U.S. federalism, local control, and the prevalence of private, distance, and home schooled students. SAT (and ACT) scores are intended to supplement the secondary school record and help admission officers put local data—such as course work, grades, and class rank—in a national perspective.[25]
Historically, the SAT was more widely used by students living in coastal states and the ACT was more widely used by students in the Midwest and South; in recent years, however, an increasing number of students on the East and West coasts have been taking the ACT.[26][27] Since 2007, all four-year colleges and universities in the United States that require a test as part of an application for admission will accept either the SAT or ACT, and as of Fall 2022, over 1400 four-year colleges and universities do not require any standardized test scores at all for admission, though some of them are applying this policy only temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic.[28][29]
The SAT takes three hours to finish and as of 2022[update] costs US$60.00, excluding late fees, with additional processing fees if the SAT is taken outside the United States.[30] Scores on the SAT range from 400 to 1600, combining test results from two 200-to-800-point sections: the Mathematics section and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. Although taking the SAT, or its competitor the ACT, is required for freshman entry to many colleges and universities in the United States,[31] during the late 2010s, many institutions made these entrance exams optional,[32][33][34] but this did not stop the students from attempting to achieve high scores[35] as they and their parents are skeptical of what "optional" means in this context.[36][37] In fact, the test-taking population was increasing steadily.[38] And while this may have resulted in a long-term decline in scores,[38][39][40] experts cautioned against using this to gauge the scholastic levels of the entire U.S. population.[40]
Structure
The SAT has two main sections, namely Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW, normally known as the "English" portion of the test) and the Math section. These are both further broken down into four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Math (no calculator), and Math (calculator allowed). Until the summer of 2021, the test taker was also optionally able to write an essay which, in that case, is the fifth test section. (The essay was dropped after June 2021, except in a few states and school districts.[41]) The total time for the scored portion of the SAT is three hours (or three hours and fifty minutes if the optional essay section was taken). Some test takers who are not taking the essay may also have a fifth section, which is used, at least in part, for the pretesting of questions that may appear on future administrations of the SAT. (These questions are not included in the computation of the SAT score.)
Two section scores result from taking the SAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. Section scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 800, and each section score is a multiple of ten. A total score for the SAT is calculated by adding the two section scores, resulting in total scores that range from 400 to 1600. In addition to the two section scores, three "test" scores on a scale of 10 to 40 are reported, one for each of Reading, Writing and Language, and Math, with increment of 1 for Reading / Writing and Language, and 0.5 for Math. There are also two cross-test scores that each range from 10 to 40 points: Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science.[42] The essay, if taken, was scored separately from the two section scores.[43] Two people score each essay by each awarding 1 to 4 points in each of three categories: Reading, Analysis, and Writing.[44] These two scores from the different examiners are then combined to give a total score from 2 to 8 points per category. Though sometimes people quote their essay score out of 24, the College Board themselves do not combine the different categories to give one essay score, instead giving a score for each category.
There is no penalty or negative marking for guessing on the SAT: scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly. The optional essay was last featured in the June 2021 administration.[10][11] College Board said it discontinued the essay section because "there are other ways for students to demonstrate their mastery of essay writing," including the test's reading and writing portion.[10][11] It also acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic had played a role in the change, accelerating 'a process already underway'.[11]
Reading Test
The Reading Test of the SAT contains one section of 52 questions and a time limit of 65 minutes.[43] All questions are multiple-choice and based on reading passages. Tables, graphs, and charts may accompany some passages, but no math is required to correctly answer the corresponding questions. There are five passages (up to two of which may be a pair of smaller passages) on the Reading Test and ten or eleven questions per passage or passage pair. SAT Reading passages draw from three main fields: history, social studies, and science. Each SAT Reading Test always includes: one passage from U.S. or world literature; one passage from either a U.S. founding document or a related text; one passage about economics, psychology, sociology, or another social science; and, two science passages. Answers to all of the questions are based only on the content stated in or implied by the passage or passage pair.[45]
The Reading Test contributes (with the Writing and Language Test) to two subscores, each ranging from 1 to 15 points:[42]
- Command of Evidence
- Words in Context
Writing and Language Test
The Writing and Language Test of the SAT is made up of one section with 44 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 35 minutes.[43] As with the Reading Test, all questions are based on reading passages which may be accompanied by tables, graphs, and charts. The test taker will be asked to read the passages and suggest corrections or improvements for the contents underlined. Reading passages on this test range in content from topic arguments to nonfiction narratives in a variety of subjects. The skills being evaluated include: increasing the clarity of argument; improving word choice; improving analysis of topics in social studies and science; changing sentence or word structure to increase organizational quality and impact of writing; and, fixing or improving sentence structure, word usage, and punctuation.[46]
The Writing and Language Test reports two subscores, each ranging from 1 to 15 points:[42]
- Expression of Ideas
- Standard English Conventions
Mathematics
The mathematics portion of the SAT is divided into two sections: Math Test – No Calculator and Math Test – Calculator. In total, the SAT math test is 80 minutes long and includes 58 questions: 45 multiple choice questions and 13 grid-in questions.[47] The multiple choice questions have four possible answers; the grid-in questions are free response and require the test taker to provide an answer.
- The Math Test – No Calculator section has 20 questions (15 multiple choice and 5 grid-in) and lasts 25 minutes.
- The Math Test – Calculator section has 38 questions (30 multiple choice and 8 grid-in) and lasts 55 minutes.
Several scores are provided to the test taker for the math test. A subscore (on a scale of 1 to 15) is reported for each of three categories of math content:
- "Heart of Algebra" (linear equations, systems of linear equations, and linear functions)
- "Problem Solving and Data Analysis" (statistics, modeling, and problem-solving skills)
- "Passport to Advanced Math" (non-linear expressions, radicals, exponentials and other topics that form the basis of more advanced math).
A test score for the math test is reported on a scale of 10 to 40, with an increment of 0.5, and a section score (equal to the test score multiplied by 20) is reported on a scale of 200 to 800.[48][49][50]
Calculator use
All scientific and most graphing calculators, including Computer Algebra System (CAS) calculators, are permitted on the SAT Math – Calculator section only. However, with the change to the Digital SAT during 2023 and 2024, a graphing calculator may be used throughout the entire test and is accessible through the test application. [51] All four-function calculators are allowed as well; however, these devices are not recommended. All mobile phone and smartphone calculators, calculators with typewriter-like (QWERTY) keyboards, laptops and other portable computers, and calculators capable of accessing the Internet are not permitted.[52][53]
Research was conducted by the College Board to study the effect of calculator use on SAT I: Reasoning Test math scores. The study found that performance on the math section was associated with the extent of calculator use: those using calculators on about one third to one half of the items averaged higher scores than those using calculators more or less frequently. However, the effect was "more likely to have been the result of able students using calculators differently than less able students rather than calculator use per se."[54] There is some evidence that the frequent use of a calculator in school outside of the testing situation has a positive effect on test performance compared to those who do not use calculators in school.[55]
Style of questions
Most of the questions on the SAT, except for the grid-in math responses, are multiple choice; all multiple-choice questions have four answer choices, one of which is correct. Thirteen of the questions on the math portion of the SAT (about 22% of all the math questions) are not multiple choice.[56] They instead require the test taker to bubble in a number in a four-column grid.
All questions on each section of the SAT are weighted equally. For each correct answer, one raw point is added.[57] No points are deducted for incorrect answers. The final score is derived from the raw score; the precise conversion chart varies between test administrations.
| Section | Average score 2023 (200–800)[3] | Time (minutes) | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 508 | 25 + 55 = 80 | Number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry; statistics, probability, and data analysis |
| Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 520 | 65 + 35 = 100 | Vocabulary, Critical reading, sentence-level reading, Grammar, usage, and diction |
Logistics
Frequency
The SAT is offered seven times a year in the United States: in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. For international students SAT is offered four times a year: in October, December, March and May (2020 exception: To cover worldwide May cancelation, an additional September exam was introduced, and August was made available to international test-takers as well). The test is typically offered on the first Saturday of the month for the October, November, December, May, and June administrations.[58][59] The test was taken by 1,913,742 high school graduates in the class of 2023.[3]
Candidates wishing to take the test may register online at the College Board's website or by mail at least three weeks before the test date.
Fees
As of 2022, the SAT costs US$60.00, plus additional fees if testing outside the United States.[30] The College Board makes fee waivers available for low-income students. Additional fees apply for late registration, standby testing, registration changes, scores by telephone, and extra score reports (beyond the four provided for free).
Accommodation for candidates with disabilities
Students with verifiable disabilities, including physical and learning disabilities, are eligible to take the SAT with accommodations. The standard time increase for students requiring additional time due to learning disabilities or physical handicaps is time + 50%; time + 100% is also offered.
Change from paper-based to digital
In January 2022, College Board announced that the SAT would change from paper-based to digital (computer-based).[12] International (non-U.S.) testing centers began using the digital format on March 11, 2023. The December 2023 SAT was the last SAT test offered on paper. The switch to the digital format occurred on March 9, 2024 in the U.S.[60] The digital SAT takes about an hour less to do than the paper-based test (two hours vs. three). It is administered in an official test center, as before, but the students use their own testing devices (a portable computer or tablet). If a student cannot bring his or her own device, one can be requested from College Board.[61] Before the test, College Board's "Bluebook" app must have been successfully installed on the testing device.[62]
The new test is a adaptive, meaning that students have two modules per section (reading/writing and math), with the second module being adaptive to the demonstrated level based on the results from the first module. On the reading and writing sections, the questions will have shorter passages for each question. On the math sections, the word problems will be more concise. Students have a ten minute break after the first two English modules and before the two math modules. A timer is built into the testing software and will automatically begin once the student finishes the second English module. New tools such as a question flagger, a timer, and an integrated graphing calculator are included in the new test as well.[63]
Scaled scores and percentiles
Students receive their online score reports approximately two to three weeks after test administration (longer for mailed, paper scores).[64] Included in the report is the total score (the sum of the two section scores, with each section graded on a scale of 200–800) and three subscores (in reading, writing, and analysis, each on a scale of 2–8) for the optional essay.[65] Students may also receive, for an additional fee, various score verification services, including (for select test administrations) the Question and Answer Service, which provides the test questions, the student's answers, the correct answers, and the type and difficulty of each question.[66]
In addition, students receive two percentile scores, each of which is defined by the College Board as the percentage of students in a comparison group with equal or lower test scores. One of the percentiles, called the "Nationally Representative Sample Percentile", uses as a comparison group all 11th and 12th graders in the United States, regardless of whether or not they took the SAT. This percentile is theoretical and is derived using methods of statistical inference. The second percentile, called the "SAT User Percentile", uses actual scores from a comparison group of recent United States students that took the SAT. For example, for the school year 2019–2020, the SAT User Percentile was based on the test scores of students in the graduating classes of 2018 and 2019 who took the SAT (specifically, the 2016 revision) during high school. Students receive both types of percentiles for their total score as well as their section scores.[65]
Percentiles for total scores (2022)
| Score, 400–1600 scale | SAT User | Nationally representative sample |
|---|---|---|
| 1600 | 99+ | 99+ |
| 1550 | 99 | 99+ |
| 1500 | 98 | 99 |
| 1450 | 96 | 99 |
| 1400 | 93 | 97 |
| 1350 | 90 | 94 |
| 1300 | 86 | 91 |
| 1250 | 81 | 86 |
| 1200 | 75 | 81 |
| 1150 | 68 | 74 |
| 1100 | 60 | 67 |
| 1050 | 51 | 58 |
| 1000 | 43 | 48 |
| 950 | 35 | 38 |
| 900 | 27 | 29 |
| 850 | 19 | 21 |
| 800 | 13 | 14 |