Using This Guide
We've created this guide to help you:
Become familiar with the test so that you're not surprised or confused on test day.
Learn the test directions. The directions for answering the questions in this booklet are the same as those on the actual test.
Review the sample questions. The more familiar you are with the question formats, the more comfortable you'll feel when you see similar questions on the actual test. In particular, be sure to practice writing answers to the student-produced response questions on the Math Test (see page 27). Find additional sample questions at sat.org.
Understand how the tests are scored. You get one point for each correct answer. Hard questions count the same as easier questions. You won't lose any points for guessing, so try to answer every question.
What the SAT Measures
The SAT® is focused on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education. It measures:
What you learn in high school.
What you need to succeed in college and career training
The same habits and choices that lead to success in school will help you get ready for the SAT. The best way to prepare for the test is to:
Take challenging courses.
Do your homework.
Prepare for tests and quizzes.
Ask and answer lots of questions
Connect to Opportunities in Higher Education
Each year millions of students take the SAT, and thousands of high school counselors and postsecondary admission officers worldwide use their scores to guide decisions in the college application process. The test that you'll take on test day is a challenging yet appropriate and fair assessment of what you know and can do. The questions you'll tackle focus on the knowledge and skills that the best available evidence indicates are essential for college and career readiness and success. We're committed to providing opportunities to help you reach your goals for college, career, and beyond.
Fee Waivers
Students who face financial barriers to taking the SAT can be granted College Board fee waivers through schools and authorized community-based organizations to cover the cost of testing. The College Board offers fee waivers
to qualified, lower-income students who want to take the SAT and SAT Subject Tests. They cover 100% of the registration fees for a single test date and unlimited score sends to colleges, universities, and scholarship programs. Each qualifying student can use up to two waivers for the SAT and up to two waivers for the SAT Subject Tests. SAT fee waivers also give first-time, domestic applicants CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® fee waivers.
What You Need to Know About
Taking the SAT
The College Board's Test Security and Fairness policies are designed to give every student a fair and equitable opportunity to demonstrate college readiness. They're also designed to prevent anyone from gaining an unfair advantage on SAT tests. Please contact us and download the pdf from the link above.