Moving from high school to college can be a daunting task to many as college is a whole new setup with its own unique challenges. It requires a combination of skills and abilities to navigate through college. Both academic and social skills are very essential for potential college students.
SAT is widely known as the standardized test for college or university admission. Most of the colleges and universities of the United States are requiring the SAT score to the foreign students to get admission. It is for this reason that several exams such as SAT have been developed to test potential college students’ skills and abilities to determine their readiness for the college life. These exams test a wide range of areas but mostly, which reflect the high school students’ capabilities.
Many universities more so in North America and precisely in the United States will require potential college students to submit their SAT exams before they can proceed to apply for admission to the institutions. Several states in the United States like New Hampshire and Michigan require high school students to first take the SAT test before enrolling.
SAT Introduction
SAT is an exam that high school students wishing to join universities must undertake. The exam tests three key areas of writing, mathematics, and reading. The three sections are further divided into various sub-sections with each section having it is on score range. The exam is administered by the College Board.
This practice test is a way to show schools the level at which their students are and what skills they possess. This SAT exam can be a very crucial pointer when universities are making admission decisions. Not all universities require students to have their SAT grades. If you choose to sit for the SAT test, ensure you score highly to boost your chances of your application being considered.
Depending on the course a student will want to pursue, he or she can choose the SAT subject to sit for. At the moment, there are the SAT exams for subjects like History, Mathematics, Foreign languages, and Sciences.
SAT Exam Pattern
The SAT test has three areas namely mathematics, reading and writing. Each of the section has its own score range, topics, and time frame.
Mathematics
This section tests the student’s ability to solve mathematical problems within the high school level. It tests on mainly data analysis and algebra. It has two sub-sections namely the math with no calculator and the math with a calculator. Students who opt for a calculator use will do 37 questions within a time range of 80 minutes while those who opt for no use of a calculator will do 20 questions within 80 minutes.
Reading
This section tests the ability of students to read several passages and how they understand them. The passages are about the US literature and the US history. The students are given 65 minutes to complete this section to answer a total of 52 questions.
Writing
The writing section tests the student’s ability to read and express their arguments from different passages. The passages range from topics like history, careers, and literature. The students are required to answer a total of 44 questions within a time frame of 35 minutes.
Besides the three sections, one will also handle one essay question, which will not be graded. The section is optional for the students. In total, they will handle the SAT exam for about 4 hours.
SAT Scoring and Results
The students who fail the SAT exam will definitely have their admission chances reduced. A good SAT performance should be 1200 points and above out of 1600. As for the result, it will take roughly 4 to 5 week for it to be released. Once the results are out, the students can choose to withhold them or send them to their colleges of choice. The test is undertaken between October and June with the exam dates being very specific.
SAT Universities and Colleges
There are several universities that accept the SAT exam results within the United States. They include: Gannon University, University of South Dakota, New York Institute of Technology, Fontbonne University, Valparaiso University, Santa Clara University, California Lutheran University, University of Kentucky and the University of Idaho.
SAT Exam Tips
One will need to take this exam seriously as it will help them achieve the admission into the colleges. Good preparation for the SAT exam is very essential to boost chances of passing it. The students can choose either to study on their own or attend coaching classes.
The following tips should be helpful for you as you sit for your SAT exams:
Try to study routinely as this will help you cover a lot.
During the exam time just take your time to answer all questions appropriately. Ensure to counter-check your paper before submitting it.
Do not panic just tackle one question at a time.
Read the instructions carefully before attempting any section.
Ensure to use the HB pencil as it will make it easy for you to erase.
SAT Books
There are several SAT books that you can use to prepare for your practice test.
Official SAT Practice Tests – it has numerous tests that the candidates can get to attempt and gauge themselves. It covers numerous past test questions that have the ability to stimulate your brain in a way like no other.
SAT Prep Black Book, Second Edition – the book contains numerous SAT related questions, tests, and examples that will greatly benefit a student. The book is a bit complex but offers you the fundamental SAT concepts.
The Critical Reader: The Complete Guide to SAT Reading, Third Edition – this book is written by Erica Meltzer and it gives fundamental concepts of the SAT reading section. Readers will greatly be improved by this book.
Other books include: SAT Practice Sample Questions Math Prep Book, The Critical Reader: The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar, Fourth Edition and Barron’s SAT Prep Book.
SAT Websites
For those who love to be online most of the time, there are a number of great websites to check for some good SAT practice.
College Board website – this official SAT website offers a good array of a SAT-related content ranging from videos, practice test, and work out our examples.
The Critical Reader blog – this blog website by Erica Meltzer is a good information hub that contains useful SAT information on the various SAT sections such as Reading and Essay writing.
Khan Academy – this website is a big one since it has a vast information base on all SAT related information. It contains a wide array of videos, practice tests, examples, and tips.
SAT Resources
There are several SAT resources that you could use for your exam preparation.
PrepAway – is a good platform for you to carry out your SAT practice since it contains numerous SAT tests. It also contains a downloadable SAT content for offline use.
McGraw-Hill – this is also a good resource point for the SAT students because it has a wide variety of content to learn from.
The Princeton Review – this resource offers the SAT candidates with online SAT practice tests which after doing one will receive a score report and summary of how to improve.
Conclusion
Any exam can be very daunting and energy draining hence it requires the candidate to relax his or her mind. In addition, during the test ensure you answer one question at a time in a flowing manner as this will allow your mind to think properly and you will remember things quite easily.
