Words of Wiz-dom-The SAT ALWAYS has ten sections. That is part of the standardization or predictability of the test.
“Wiz-dom” on the General Structure
Reading (3 Sections)
Time:
- Two 25-minute sections
- One 20-minute section
Format:
The structure of the three reading sections is very predictable (standardized). Knowing the following will help you pace yourself.
Section A:
- 5 Sentence Completion
- 2 Short Passages (4)
- 2 Medium Passages (15)
Section B:
- 6 Sentence Completion
- Long or Paired (13)
Section C:
- 8 Sentence Completion
- 2 Short Passages (4)
- Long or Paired (1)
Section Organization:
The Sections A, B and C that are detailed above can come in any order
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Section Organization
Math (3 Sections)
Time:
- Two 25-minute sections
- One 20-minute section
Format:
- Multiple Choice (44)
- Fill-in-the-Blank (10)
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Time and Format
Section A:
20 Multiple-Choice Questions
Section B:
8 Multiple-Choice and 10 Fill-in-the-Blank (Student-Produced Response)
Section C:
16 Multiple-Choice
Sections A and B can come in either order but C is always last.
Content: (based on Demystifying the SAT chapters)
- Arithmetic (approximately 30%)
- Algebra (approximately 25%)
- Geometry (approximately 20%)
- Miscellaneous Math (approximately 25%)
Section Organization
- 20 Multiple Choice
- 8 Multiple Choice / 10 Fill-in-the-Blank
(Either of the above two sections can be first.)
- 16 Multiple Choice (always the last section)
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Section Organization
Experimental (Unscored) Section (1 Section)
- 25 Minutes
- Math, Reading, or Writing (Multiple-Choice)
- Why/What
- Unpredictable
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Experimental Section
Words of “Wiz-dom”-Use the scoring procedures (also predictable) to raise your score.
Raw Score = Number correct adjusted for number wrong
- Every Correct Answer = 1 point
- Wrong Multiple Choice = -1/4 point
- Wrong Fill-in-the-Blank = 0 points (no penalty)
- Blank = 0 points (doesn’t help or hurt)
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Raw Score
Is Guessing Penalized or Rewarded?
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Guessing
Percentile Score= Percent of other test takers you outscored
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Percentile Score
Scaled Score = Comparison to “Norm Group” based on your Raw Score.
- 200 to 800 on Math, Reading, and Writing Sections
- Approximately 495 = Reading Average
- Approximately 515 = Math Average
- Approximately 490 = Writing Average
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Scaled Score
Questions Organized from Easy to Hard
- Within question format (All math, Sentence Completion, and Writing Multiple-Choice)
- The exceptions are Reading Passage and 6 Passage Related Writing Multiple-Choice questions.
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Questions Organized from Easy to Hard
Words of “Wiz-dom”- You don’t need to get nearly the same percentage on the test that you do in school to get an equivalent score. An average score on the test equates to approximately 50% of the possible points. There’s no way in school that you get an average grade if you get less than 50% correct! The point is you can miss and skip a lot of questions and still get a decent score. If you get stumped, keep moving. There are points waiting to found somewhere else. Set a target score.
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Set a Target Score
Your target score: Reading ________ Math _______ Writing _______
Total _________
Look at a scaled score chart for a released test. Using that chart and the target score you established, how many points do you need?
Reading:___________Math:___________Writing:__________
Keep in mind this is not the number right. It is the number of points after the adjustment for wrong answers is made.
So what percentage do you need to get correct?
Reading Points/67 = ______________%
Math Points/54 = _______________%
Writing (Multiple-Choice)/49 = __________%
Words of “Wiz-dom” on Your Target Score
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