SAT Tutoring

Where will I take the SAT?

The SAT is administered at the same test centers that have traditionally offered the SAT. Students must bring their own devices (laptop/tablet), pre-loaded with the College Board’s Bluebook application.

The Format

The SAT is a section-adaptive test. While the questions in Module 1 of each section will be the same for every test taker (spanning a broad range of difficulty levels), the difficulty of Module 2 depends on your performance in Module 1. If you receive the easier version of Module 2, your final score will be restricted to a lower range.

Short Passages

The SAT has passages ranging from 25 to 150 words in length.

Reading and Writing Section

Two 32-minute modules with 27 questions each.

New Verbal Content

While the types of Reading and Writing questions featured on the SAT are somewhat similar to those on the old SAT, some new passage types have been introduced: poetry, drama, and literary nonfiction. For students who haven’t undergone preparation for the AP English Literature and Composition examination, these passage types could pose challenges.

There is also increased emphasis on vocabulary with a return to sentence completion questions.

The final questions within each R&W module will relate to a new type of passage: a bulleted list. These passages present a collection of points that were recorded during someone’s investigation of a subject. The test taker will be asked to pick an answer choice that achieves a particular goal.

Math Section

The math section of the SAT consists of two 35-minute modules with 22 questions each.

Calculator Usage

Students may use the built-in Desmos graphing calculator for every math question. They can also choose to bring their own graphing calculator.

Short Word Problems

Most math questions on the SAT will have fewer than 50 words.

Score Ranges

Total scores on the SAT range between 400 to 1600 points with each section ranging between 200 to 800 points.

Tips for the SAT:

Students can gain an advantage by understanding the order of question types. It is evident that an in-depth analysis of the passages in the initial section of each module is essential to understanding the Reading questions. However, the Writing questions in the later part of the module can generally be answered with a more cursory inspection of the text.
Before reading the specific text, it is beneficial for students to first look at the corresponding question. More often than not, the query will provide a center point for the reading that follows. This approach changes reading into a goal-centered and mindful practice.
It is also important for students to become knowledgeable about the usage of features like highlighting and note-taking that are available on the digital test platform. Having familiarity with these abilities is key, and it is vital to practice beforehand so as not to waste time during the exam.

Kenny Tan Test Prep offers one-on-one tutoring for the SAT. Schedule a free consultation today to find out how we can help you reach your full potential on the SAT!