The New SAT Reasoning Test
The SAT was revised in 2006 to contain 3 subjects
Math
Writing
Critical Reading
Each is worth 800 points for a total of 2400.
Old SAT New SAT
Class of 2005 Class of 2006 and beyond
Top Score: 1600 Top Score: 2400
Time: 3 hours Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Verbal Section Critical Reading Section
Sentence Completions Sentence Completions
Critical Reading Critical Reading
Analogies Paragraph length CR passages
Math Section Math Section
Algebra I Algebra I and Algebra II
Geometry Geometry
Quantitative Comparisons
Writing Section
Essay
Grammar Usage
Who Changed the test and Why?
In February 2001, University of California considered dropping the SAT as an entrance exam for all UC campuses
The College Board responded by altering the SAT to satisfy the UC system
The New Writing Exam
You will begin the SAT by being asked to write an essay and later to correct grammar
Possible essay topics:
-We learn more from failure than we do from success
-The grass is always greener on the other side
-Freedom is never truly free
You'll have 25 minutes to write your essay, but the grader will only spend 90 seconds scoring it
You will need to follow the scoring formula and utilize literature and history to get a high score. You will also be given sentences to find/fix errors, such as:
-The runner did well on their race
This sentence is common in everyday speech, but is not grammatically correct
"runner" is singular, while"their" is plural. It should read: The runner did well on his/her race.
The Math Exam
Quantitative Comparisons have been eliminated.
The Reading Exam
The Verbal section will change its name to Critical Reading and includes paragraph length critical reading questions.
Analogies have been eliminated!
SAT Layout
The SAT contains 10 sections:
3 Math, 3 Reading, 3 Writing and 1 Experimental. The following chart helps you understand the timing on the SAT:
Math:
One 25 minute section with 20 Multiple Choice questions
One 25 minute section with 18 questions:
8 Multiple Choice questions
10 Grid-In questions
One 20 minute section with 16 Multiple Choice questions
Critical Reading:
One 25 minute section with 24 questions:
8 Sentence Completions
4 Short Critical Reading Passage questions
12 Critical Reading questions from 1 passage
One 25 minute section with 24 questions:
5 Sentence Completions
4 Short Critical Reading Passage questions
15 Critical Reading questions from 2 distinct passages
One 20 minute section with 19 questions:
6 Sentence Completions
13 Critical Reading questions from 2 related passage
4-5questions relating to Passage 1
4-5questions relating to Passage 2
2-4questions asking you to compare/contrast the two passages
Writing:
One 25 minute section with 1 Essay
One 25 minute section with 35 questions:
11 Improving Sentences questions
18 Identifying Sentence Errors questions
6 Improving Paragraphs questions
One 10 minute section with 14 Improving Sentences questions
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