SAT Information

SAT Quick Information

• The College Board administers the SAT
• The SAT tests general verbal and mathematical reasoning skills
• High school students take the exam generally during their junior spring semester or senior fall semester.
  • Nearly half of students taking these exams choose to take the exam more than once.
• The SAT is administered seven Saturdays each year (October, November, December, January, March, May, and June)

PSAT Quick Information

• College Board offers the PSAT, which includes the same types of verbal and math questions as the SAT plus writing skills questions like those on the SAT II: Subject Test in Writing. Because the questions are the same level of difficulty, PSAT practice questions can help you prepare for the SAT. Students generally take this exam during their sophomore and/or junior year, and the state of Indiana pays the test fee for Indiana students

SAT Tip Sheet

• The College Board Web site at www.collegeboard.com contains a variety of helpful information and test preparation hints, such as:
• Take the PSAT. It has the same kinds of questions as the SAT, but it’s a shorter test. Taking the PSAT as a sophomore or junior is a good way to practice and get feedback as you start planning for college and prepare for the SAT.
• Study the test directions for each question type ahead of time. Use the time you save to answer questions. Be sure to look over the answer sheet beforehand as well. The answer sheet has four pages and you will need to know what answers go in which section. See Taking the SAT I: Reasoning Test for a sample answer sheet.
• Answer easy questions first. You earn just as many points for an easy question as you do for a hard question. Questions of the same type are grouped together. Except for the critical reading questions, the easier questions are at the beginning of the section and the harder questions are at the end.
• Know how the test is scored. On the multiple-choice questions, you earn one point for each correct answer and lose a fraction of a point for a wrong answer, but you don’t gain or lose points if you do not answer a question. You don’t have to answer every question correctly to get a good score. You can get an average score by answering about half of the questions correctly and omitting the remaining questions.
• Guess smart. If you can rule out one or more answer choices for a multiple-choice question as definitely wrong, your chances of guessing the right answer improve. For math questions without answer choices, fill in your best guess since no points are subtracted for wrong answers as they are in all the other question types.

Study Tips and Preparation Materials

** If these study tips and preparation materials are not beneficial for you, please do not hesitate to come to the Counseling Office and meet with me (Mrs. Estevez) **

• There are several SAT preparation materials available through the College Board, including:
  • Publications: Taking the SAT I: Reasoning Test: Free booklet containing examples of each type of question, explanations of sample questions, helpful test-taking tips and strategies, a complete SAT practice test, scoring instructions, and a calendar of test dates. (Available in your school's guidance or principal's office or online at www.collegeboard.com)
  • 10 Real SATs: This book offers test-taking tips, strategies, practice questions, and 10 full- length actual SATs.
  • Practice Questions: Free review questions and explanations, including a full-length test. Be sure to take the practice exam under time-simulated conditions to decrease test anxiety and improve test-taking skills.
  • Mini-SAT: Free, timed online evaluation offering students real test questions with feedback on their performance, a predicted score, and a personal study plan.
  • SAT PrepPacks: sets of at least 25 real test questions in both Verbal and Math, with 6 packs for each section containing hints and analysis of test questions.
  • Online Resources:
    • www.collegeboard.com