The SATs are
standardized tests (formerly Scholastic Aptitude
Test and Scholastic Assessment
Test).
They are used by most colleges in the United States to make
admission decisions, which means that if you're an American
high-school student, or if you're thinking of studying abroad,
you'll need to get a good SAT score.
High SAT scores can also help you get
scholarships.The SATs are a big milestone in your quest for higher education, so it is highly important that you study and are well-prepared to write them. This is especially important since colleges get to see all previous scores, so although you can always retake the SATs, messing up once won't look good.
The mathematics sections include mostly multiple choice (so statistically, you have a decent chance of guessing) and grid-in questions. Calculators are allowed
The Critical Reading sections contain some sentence completion questions, and a lot of passages you have to read and answer questions about. This section focuses on testing your vocabulary.
The writing sections have a response essay, and also contains questions about sentence structure and grammar errors.
The level of material corresponds to a standard grade 12 level. Note that since the test is used by colleges and universities all over the United States, international students writing the SATs should generally not be at a disadvantage in terms of material. (One small exception is the fact that US happens to dislike the metric system, Celsius, and other logical measurement units, so you may have to brush up on that. They also tend to spell things differently, like color and colour)
Be aware that the SATs contain 10 sections- 3 of each of the 3 topics, and one "unscored" section, which is used to ensure the test is objective (you won't know which section is unscored, so you will have to write 10 sections). The first and last sections are never unscored though, and the first section always contains the essay question.
SAT scores are presented on a scale of multiples of 10 between 200 and 800 for each of the three topics, the higher the better. The maximum possible score is thus 2400.
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It Helped me a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!
yes! YOU CAN GET THE BEST INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP YOU TO PREPARE FOR YOUR SATs
I RATE IT 4 OUT OF 5
thanks a lot that was worthy info!!!!!!
itz pretty kool… but the info.. isnt in detail,,… but this helps a lot >>>>
<><><>it iz really good,but also give a tabled view of format<><><>
Hey manisha17, Krista already created a table outlining the format in detail! Check it out here. If you need any more info, start a discussion about it in our community.
Ok this lesson is good…..but i have heard there is a part in the SAT maths section in which calculator usage is not allowed….. is that so? If yes, then what part is it?
Calculators are allowed in all of the math sections. They’re not allowed on the reading and writing sections, for obvious reasons. You should be able to answer all SAT Math questions without using a calculator, because the calculations are fairly basic once you have them going, but a calculator does speed up the process significantly.
i m starter ………………………………but stiil i feel its dam cool
Glad you’re liking it on LearnHub Abhi! There’s tons of resources for SAT preparation here, so I look forward to seeing you around! If you have any questions, check out our discussions. :)
how to prepare for sat
Hi Kumarupvan and others,
I’ll try to give as much detail as I can in steps on how to prepare for the SAT.
1. Set a Dated Goal for when you’d like to write the SAT.
2. Create a Study Schedule
3. Know the Concepts
4. Practice Makes Perfect
5. Relax, sleep and absorb
6. Consult Others
This community is for YOU, make use of the tools and start your studies and future off right!
just i join this group i want to know more i think it is good
HEY!I love all the things thats happen around here!ITS GREAT!!!!But is there any specific way of getting better at the vocabulary…>???Please help!!!
Hi Nit323,
Glad to hear you are enjoying LearnHub!
To answer your question, I find that reading can expand one’s vocabulary base. Aside from your in-school reading materials, I’d encourage you to pick up a newspaper, novel, or even surf the Internet to explore different written work. I like to think that reading sparks creative writing.
Also, please visit LearnHub’s SAT Prep community for the world’s largest free online SAT question bank. There, you can access many tests and lessons that can help you with your vocabulary.
Hope that helps!
its superb!!
one doubt…….. i am from india and want to study in one of the top universities in us. now, if i get an excellent score in sat, will universities like mit and stanford give aid? what is the criterion for aid because i cant afford the exorbitant fees of top american universities
waiting for your reply,
thanks in advance
Hi there Pratyushnalam,
It’s great to hear that you are pursuing Post-secondary school in the U.S.!
In terms of Financial aid, different schools have varying conditions. For instance, you mentioned MIT. MIT offers quite a number of scholarships and grants. In fact, a good thing to note about MIT is that the institution promotes a single set of financial aid policies that apply to current as well as incoming students, regardless of citizenship or permanent residence.
MIT scholarships and fellowships are awarded based on academic merit and grants on financial need. Also, you’re automatically considered for MIT scholarships and federal grants when you apply for MIT undergraduate financial aid. That being said, if you’re interested in receiving a MIT scholarship for undergraduate study, you need to apply for MIT financial aid each year. Bear in mind, MIT awards all undergraduate financial aid on the basis of your family’s financial need, so if you qualify for financial aid, you’ll automatically be considered for an MIT scholarship.
As for Stanford, all undergraduate financial aid is based on need. Aid for financing graduate study is based on availability of funds and academic merit. The financial aid office takes into account many variables in the calculation of aid eligibility for international students, including differences in currency values, which make it difficult to say how any individual international student is going to be affected by these changes. Evaluation for international applications is a case-by-case basis; making each student unique.
Considering that the schools have different criteria for their student-aid programs, I’d suggest visiting the school’s financial aid page(s) and becoming familiar with application forms and policy credentials. In Stanford’s case, being that international students are based on individual cases, do not hesitate to contact the personnel at the schools for an early start at opening a student file.
I hope that answers your question. Good luck with your studies!
itz great !!!!
can u suggest any good books for sat’s preparaton mainly for english and math
Hello Adityawithlove,
Choosing the right SAT Prep book is often a matter of preference. If you find the material boring or too dense, it won’t matter how good it is because you’ll never read it. So my first recommendation would be to choose a book that’s written in a style appealing to you.
The second thing you should consider is what particular sections – Critical Reading, Writing, or Math – do you need the most help in. Unfortunately, I haven’t found any single source that is excellent in all three. However, there are a few books that are particularly good at one aspect or another of the test. The following books are known for being a good source in a specific area of SAT preparation:
1. The Official CollegeBoard SAT Study Guide – You should know by now that this is the single best source for practice tests. This is because the practice tests in this book are developed by the CollegeBoard, the organization that makes the SAT test. All other companies just try to mimic their practice tests after the ones in this book.
2. Princeton Review’s Cracking the SAT, 2008 ed. – Cracking the SAT is a classic SAT prep book that ranks among peoples’ favorites every year. This book is particularly good at teaching the concepts and test taking strategies.
3. Barron’s SAT 2400 – The Barron’s SAT prep materials are particularly good for advanced math students. If you’re scoring within the 700+ range on the math sections, this is the best book for additional practice as the questions in this book tend to be more difficult that the actual test problems.
4. Sparknotes Guide to the New SAT and PSAT – This book does a good job with the Writing Sections and a pretty good job overall. This study guide is the most enjoyable to read as the writers regularly make reference to pop culture and infuse a little bit of humor to otherwise dull material. They deserve credit for the effort.
5. Kaplan’s SAT 2008 Premiere Program – Kaplan is perhaps the best known company in the test prep industry. While this book is not spectacular in any particular aspect, it’s better than average in almost all aspects. As a bonus, this book also comes with a CD for those who prefer a more interactive learning experience.
6. The RocketReview Revolution Guide to the SAT – The author of this book, Adam Robinson, is one of the most respected people in the test prep industry. He’s actually the one who wrote the original Cracking the SAT book for Princeton Review. Only recently did he venture off to create his own test prep company. This book is very good for Critical Reading passages; if you have difficulty with the reading passages, definitely purchase this book.
There are tons more SAT prep material out there, but these are the best in the market. Again, I stress that what’s more important is what fits your learning style.
Good luck in preparing for the test.
There are SAT test preparation courses. I highly recommend taking one. The test format has changed lately and there are a lot of books that are not current.
I also recommend that if you are ESL that you take a speed reading course. Being able to read quickly and learning how to skim and scan is important for receiving a good score.
If math is not your strong suit than find a tutor or class that will address the areas within that field that you are most uncomfortable.
My suggestion is that you also do some relaxation exercises, sleep and eat well before taking the tests. Remember you can take this test more than once. Good Luck!
Cool, i knew about the sat in more details. sometimes i get a headache but i realize everytime that i better get goin’ Lets go people! to the college!!:)
Great attitude! The SAT may seem intimidating at first, but once you start studying for it you’ll realize it’s not that bad at all. Good luck!
can anyone please tell me how much scholarship can we get after writing SAT . i’m a poor student so i can’t afford much money, so that i can write this test …..please……….
There is a fee-waiver system for underpriviledged students who wish to write the SAT, but unfortunately it’s only for US citizens. International students must pay the normal fee to write the test.
Getting a high score on the SAT can help you find great scholarships, but it doesn’t guarantee it. You have to apply for scholarships yourself, and they’ll be based on more than just SAT, including things like your grades from high school, your community involvement and leadership activities, extracurriculars, and more. To find out more about potential scholarshpis, including ones that are specific for international students, feel free to use the resources in our scholarship community.
sir i want to know about how much scholarship i can get after getting good score in SAT
Dear Karthik, please go through this lesson to get the scholarship information.
What’s a scholarship and how do I get one?.
Also join our Scholarships and Financial Aid Community
PLASE HELP ME HOW TO DO THIS. HOW TO STUDY SAT . HOW I PREPARE FOR SAT EXAMS.
Dear MJOYHALDAR, if you go through the discussions on this page you will find that your query is already answered. So I request you to go through the discussions on this page.
Also please go through the lessons in SAT Prep Community to get a fair idea of how to go ahead with the preparation for SAT
yeah there is good but in lesser weightage
Hi there actually i’m having a very big problem with maths n i don’t know what to do with maths . i wanna clear the sat and do an undergrad course from usa so can you please help me
thanx a lot
kartik
hi there actually i’m having a big problem with sat maths , so can you please tell me how can i clear the sat and do an undergrad course from the states ?
and i’ve heard that before doing the course of your choice you must do a standardized course for 2 years in any university in usa is that true ?
please help me with maths
thanx a lot kartik
Hi there Soodkartik,
I’m glad to see you’re eager in studying in the U.S.! However to gain admission, you will need to take and score well on your SAT.
Being aware that math is your weakness, if the first step towards seeking extra assistance and making an effort to improve. I highly encourage you to join LearnHub’s SAT Prep community. This venue offers many math lessons. You will be able to grab information on all kinds of math-related subjects. Please take the time to research and read up on our resources available.
The beauty about math is that, it is universal. There’s always a correct answer. Math is a subject that requires practice and time. With a solid investment of time and patience, I’m sure you’ll be able to do well.
Secondly as an undergraduate student, programs, especially in their first and second year courses will require you to take standardized courses. Generally, they are introductory courses that will set the stage and hash out basic knowledge for courses in your upper years.
I hope that answers your questions.
Good Luck!
gud..but my vocab is weak…..u think i shud still give sat a try
Hi there Yasha,
I’m glad you found this lesson to be helpful!
In regards to your question, I personally would not subject myself to not taking the SATs just because I am not as strong as I could be in one area. That said, that is just how I feel.
Take your weakness as a green light towards improving your English. LearnHub’s SAT Prep community provides an abundance of vocabulary lessons and tests to help you prepare and expand your vocabulary base.
As an aside, I find that reading is a helpful tool in which you can learn more words and writing styles.
You never know until you try. Trust your judgment. I’m sure you’ll make the right move.
Good Luck!
It’s Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
studyingthis123- I would agree with you on the high school point. The curriculum in the US tends to be at a different level than other countries, so those coming abroad to high school may find themselves in an easy position. However, it’s important to strengthen your English skills, because I personally know of a lot of international students who go abroad and find they have trouble with the language (vocabulary, spelling and grammar especially).
As well, for those who want to just do an undergrad degree in the US (go straight to college, not high school), an SAT would be required, and in that case working on English is especially important, but the math section also counts. Going over practice material is best in terms of finding out the level of difficulty.
can you pls give me the date when the date when next SAT is going to be held and when i would have to register for it?
Hi,
Since the available test dates depend upon your location it is not possible to give you the next available test dates. In India, the next SAT exam is in the month of June and I am sure you may not be able to sit for this as the registration for this may be closed by now. All you have to do is, go to the official SAT website register an account in the website. Once you register a free account you will be able to find the next available test date and register for the same.
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