SAT stands for Scholastic Aptitude Test. A private nonprofit organization of United Stated, College Board started the exam in 1926. Educational Testing Service conducts the exam on behalf of College Board. The exam is conducted worldwide is conducted seven times a year in the United States and six times though out the world. With around 1.7 million candidates, SAT is one of the eminent exams conducted over the world.
Why to Take the SAT Exam?
The exam aims the admissions in several colleges in United States. As the exam aims to assess the subject readiness for college, most of the colleges consider the score in SAT for admission process. SAT exam pattern modifies and updates with the contemporary requirements providing idea to the colleges upon skills they are expecting from students. It helps even the students to select the best fit college. The official SAT website provides the information of the range of SAT scores required by several colleges for the admission. It also provides the facility to get connected with scholarship opportunities.
SAT Exam Eligibility
Completion of high school is the general academic eligibility, though the eligibility criterion is not mentioned. Good knowledge of English is expected. Those who schooled at home are also eligible for the exam.
How to Apply SAT Exam
Online registration is one of the methods for applying for the exam. Get ready with scanned passport size photograph. The payment has to be made through online means. On choosing the test date and test center, student receives registration confirmation. Candidate has to take the print of admission ticket. Students can also register by mail.
SAT Exam Structure
SAT is conducted in two ways - SAT and SAT Subject Tests. For SAT Subjects Tests, the student has to select particular subject from the list provided. Students can take up to three subject test on the same exam date. Duration of exam is one hour. But SAT and SAT Subject Tests can’t be taken on the same day.
The major skills which are taught in the schooling are tested in SAT. Critical reading, writing and mathematics are the major sections in which the student is assessed. These three major sections further divided into three parts with sub sections. The score is considered in scales. The time to complete the test is 3 hours. From 2016, the essay is optional with additional 50 minutes to complete. There is negative marking for incorrect answer.
How to Prepare SAT Exam
The official website provides sample practice questions, practice tests for free. Even the study guide and online coaching are available. Apart from them many institutions offer long term and short term coaching. Even several publications have published study material books.
Divide the curriculum and practice all of the topics regularly. Spare equal time for concept understanding and practicing. Improving the speed can be attained only through thorough practice and continuous testing. Testing oneself with time limit is very useful.
Start as early as possible. It gives enough time to practice step by step which enables clear concept understanding.