SAT 101

sat 101

Preparing for the SAT!

You will hopefully be taking the SAT in the near future. This test is a critical part of your college journey, so we're here to help you plan to get your best score possible!

Many Michigan juniors take the SAT in mid-April. Check with your counselor to see when test day’s scheduled at your high school.

Now, let’s begin breaking down the SAT.

WHAT's on the test

The SAT has three required sections and one optional one:

A 65-minute reading section
A 35-minute writing and English language section
An 80-minute math section, with parts where you can use a calculator and parts where you can’t
Depending on where you take it, a 50-minute essay question

The reading and writing sections are scored together out of 800 points, and the math section is also 800 points. This means the highest score you can get is 1600.

Since it’s optional, the essay section is scored separately, based on your reading, analysis, and writing skills.

what's the difference

We want to clarify one question you may have: do you need the SAT, ACT, or both? Colleges will accept either, but they have different characteristics that may make one a better fit for you. Take a look at the drop downs below to learn more about the specifics of each test!

The SAT

Three sections (Math, Writing and English, Reading) with an optional essay
Test is scored out of 1600 (800 points for Math and 800 points for Writing and English/Reading)
Questions focused more on real-life situations and problem solving
From past tests, students who feel stronger in math may score higher on the SAT because the test focuses more on problem-solving
Accommodations for students with disabilities provided for students with documented needs
English Language Learner accommodations only provided when taken in school, not on weekend test dates

The ACT

Four sections (Math, English, Science, and Reading) with an optional essay
Test is scored out of 36 (an average of all four main sections)
Questions are easier to decipher but may be longer
From past tests, students who feel stronger in English may score higher on the ACT because test focuses more on understanding the questions
Accommodations for students with disabilities provided for students with documented needs
English Language Learner accommodations provided on weekend test dates

what's your sat plan?

Now, you most likely have a lot of homework, activities, and chores going on right now, so why should you study for the SAT?

Well, you wouldn’t go to a big game, meet, or concert without practicing first, would you? Practicing just six hours for the SAT has been shown to improve students' scores by an average of 100 points.

We now know the importance of practicing for the SAT, so what are some good strategies?

Make a Khan Academy Account

Khan Academy is a great place for SAT prep resources and full practice tests to take before the real deal in April. Using a PSAT score (if you have one) from your College Board account, Khan Academy personalizes practice questions based on what you're good at and what you need to work on. You can create an account linked to your PSAT here.

If you haven’t haven’t checked your PSAT score yet, you can also create your College Board account here.

Callout: You may already have a College Board account (especially if you took an AP test), so double check before you create a second one. Also, make sure you match your information to what you used when you took the PSAT. If you have questions, make sure to talk to your counselor or adviser!

No PSAT score? No worries. Khan Academy works just fine without it. You’ll just need to take a quiz or two so Khan Academy knows what you need to work on.

Make a Schedule

To add more structure to your study time, we recommend setting a goal of how much to study for each week. You can set aside a specific time to work, but with a busy schedule, it may be more helpful to have an hour goal and slip some time in each day when you're free.

For example: let’s say you have 4 weeks until your SAT date and you want to practice at least 6 hours before it. As a goal, you should try to practice 1.5 hours each week. This could mean studying 30 minutes every other day or maybe 30 minutes on a weekday and 1 hour on a weekend. Whatever works best for your schedule!

For an easy way to practice a little each day, you might even check out downloading the Khan Academy app on your phone for some on-the-go practice.

Make Time to Take the Test

Taking a full practice test is your best bet to find out how you’ll do on test day. Luckily, there are a bunch of practice tests on College Board and Khan Academy with answers and explanations.

Set aside a few hours on a weekend and try one of them out. Treat it like a real test: make sure it’s as silent as possible, with no electronic devices and limited breaks. See what trips you up, and check out what score you get for a good idea of what to practice.

Make it Fun!

Practice doesn't always have to be boring. While you should run through a practice test at least once under realistic test day conditions, that doesn’t mean you can't put on some of your favorite music or podcasts to help motivate you to spend more time on your SAT!

You can do it!

As you work on preparing for the SAT (or the ACT, if you decide to take it), make sure you talk about your battle plan with your counselor or adviser, especially since we’re going to be talking about your college list very soon.

Easy tasks you can start today!

Link your College Board account to Khan Academy
- Make sure that your studying in Khan Academy is specific to you by linking your College Board account before starting your practice problems.
Set a goal for what score you want on the SAT
- Setting a target score now gives you something to aim for. A score of 1010 is considered “college ready”—can you aim higher than that?
Take a practice SAT test on Khan Academy
- Before you start studying, take a full practice test on Khan Academy. This is a great way to see how close to your target score you are, and give you an idea what you need to practice.

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