About CollegeBoard SAT
SAT Overview
- The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student’s readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants.
- The SAT is a standardized test that assesses a student’s skills in four core areas: Reading, Writing & Language, Math, and Essay (optional).
- Students of all 4 years form 9th-12th grade take the SAT so that they can submit their scores to colleges as part of the college application process. Usually 11th and 12th grade students take the SAT.
- SAT scores are valid for 5 years, from the date that they are taken.
SAT Topics Tested
The SAT tests skills taught in high school classrooms include: reading, writing, and math. A student’s knowledge and skills in these subjects are important for success in college and beyond.
- The critical reading section includes reading passages and sentence completions.
- The writing section includes a short essay and multiple-choice questions on identifying errors and improving grammar and usage.
- The mathematics section includes topics like arithmetic operations, algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability.
