The SAT at a Glance
Like the ACT, the SAT is a nationally administered, standardized paper-and-pencil test that helps colleges evaluate candidates. All colleges now accept scores from the SAT and ACT interchangably. This means you'll have the opportunity to decide on which test you'll perform better. And in many cases, students prepare for and take both exams. Is the SAT or ACT is better for you?
Generally, you'll take the SAT for the first time in the spring of your junior year. This allows you enough time to re-take the test during the fall of your senior year if you're not satisfied with your score.
The Anatomy of the SAT
The SAT lasts 3 hours and 45 minutes and tests your critical thinking skills, as well as your ability to analyze and solve problems in math, critical reading, and writing. The 25-minute essay will always be the first section you see, and the 10-minute multiple-choice writing section will always be the last. The other sections can appear in any order.
| Section | Length | Question Types |
| Critical Reading | Two 25 Minute Sections One 20 Minute Section |
19 Sentence Completions 48 Reading Comprehension |
| Math | Two 25 Minute Sections One 10 Minute Section |
44 Multiple-Choice 10 Grid-Ins |
| Writing | One 25-Minute Section One 10-Minute Section One 25-Minute Essay |
18 Identifying Sentence Errors 25 Improving Sentences 6 Improving Paragraphs |
| Experimental | One 25-Minute Section | Can be Critical Reading, Math, or Writing. Does not count towards your score |