Getting to Know the SAT
Question types, test directions, and approaches
The SAT is composed of three sections:
- Critical reading
- Mathematics
- Writing
Each section is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, with two writing subscores for multiple-choice sections and the essay.
Visit the student site to learn about the question types on the SAT. For each of the three sections, you'll find a list of question types, test directions, sample questions, and approaches. Much of this content also appears in the free Getting Ready for the SAT delivered to high schools. A math review is available for download and printing for students who have limited Internet access: SAT Program Mathematics Review.
Learn more by following these links to the student area of the site:
- Critical reading
- Sentence completion questions test vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure. (19 questions)
- Passage-based reading questions test comprehension of what is stated in or implied by the passage, not prior knowledge of the topic. (48 questions)
- Approaches
- Mathematics
- Multiple-choice questions (44 questions)
- Student-produced response questions appear without answer choices (students "grid in" the solution). (10 questions)
- Grid-in practice
- A review of the math concepts covered in this section
- Approaches
- Writing
- The SAT begins with a 25-minute essay.
- Improving sentences (25 questions)
- Identifying sentence errors (18 questions)
- Improving paragraphs (6 questions)
- Approaches