College Planning - Don't Just Wing It! SAT TESTING FACTS

SAT – BASELINE FACTS

The SAT is simply a standardized test that is used by different colleges and universities for college admissions.   It is owned, developed, and published by a non-profit organization called College Board.

Your student want to prepare for it just like any other test: study and practice the material and understand the format and rules.

Below are some of the most common questions asked by those preparing to take the SAT.  These should give you a base of knowledge about the test – and hopefully put your mind at ease and have your prospective SAT-taker knowing exactly what they will face.

What does the SAT measure?

The SAT consists of three sections that will each test a different aspect of your education. Each section is meant to measure your college readiness in these different subjects as well as your ability to apply the knowledge you have.

The Critical Reading Section (formally known as the “Verbal” section).  This part of the test includes questions pertaining to a student’s reading comprehension and their ability to make inferences and distinguish between different ideas. Students must read both long and short passages and then answer questions about them, so it’s important that your child feels confident with their knowledge of vocabulary.

The Mathematics section of the test. Students face both multiple choice and “grid-in” questions where the answer is written in by the test-taker.  Math problems include Algebra, Geometry, Number Theory, Percents and Statistics. It will test the students' ability to solve problems in all of these areas.  Students must apply mathematical concepts that have been learned throughout high school. They must also solve word problems and use their data skills to interpret charts, graphs, and tables.

The Writing section.   This section will test your student’s ability to clearly and effectively develop and communicate their own ideas. It also incorporates a student’s ability to connect grammar, content and all of the writing skills developed throughout their high school careers. An essay is expected in this section, as well as identifying sentence errors.  Test takers are given a prompt, and then they must write about it. The student’s ability to revise and edit, as well as their basic understanding of grammar and sentence structure, and finally their coherence are all taken into account.

How many students take the SAT every year?

The SAT is one of the most widely utilized standardized tests in the world. In the 2012 graduating class, over 1.66 million students had taken the SAT at least once during their high school career.  Don’t forget the students who take the test throughout the world in order to gain entry into U.S. colleges and Canadian Colleges.   In all, over 3 million students take the SAT every year in over 170 countries.

How many students achieve the highest possible score?

Each section of the test can receive a maximum score of 800. So with three test sections, the highest possible score a student can achieve on the SAT is a 2400.  This is no easy feat, to say the least.

Of those 1.66 million test takers in the U.S. last year, the highest number of students who scored an 800 on any single section was 11,494 on the mathematics section. And only 360 of those were able to achieve that 800 on all three sections.   For those keeping track that’s a .02% chance of a perfect score, but there is nothing wrong with dreaming big!

When is the SAT given?

The SAT is given only 7 times a year... so you absolutely have to plan ahead.   The test is held on one Saturday morning each month in October through January as well as March, May, and June. Test dates are widely published and easily found online.

The earlier you start on the College Planning Process the greater the chance for success.  Please remember that the environment is very competitive and many students will be working towards the goal of getting into the best college possible at the lowest possible cost. TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN HOW AN INDEPENDENT COLLEGE CONSULTANT CAN GIVE YOUR FAMILY THE EDGE THAT MOST STUDENTS DON'T HAVE - CALL FOR A FREE ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION.

Complete College Consulting Admission Update for 2013

My clients were accepted into 70% of the colleges they applied to.

My clients received merit aid from $32,000 to $148,000 over 4 years.

My clients received the most need-based financial aid possible.

College is too important & expensive to just “wing it”

Thanks

RON ROTENBERG

Independent College Consultant

COMPLETE COLLEGE CONSULTING

"Guidance through Admissions"

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