SAT Reasoning Test

The SAT is widely used as an admissions test among U.S. colleges and universities. Some colleges outside of the U.S. also use the SAT as one of their admissions criteria. The SAT tests students' knowledge of subjects that are necessary for college success: reading, writing, and mathematics.


SAT Question Types

Section
Content
Time
Item Types
Score
Critical ReadingCritical reading and sentence-level reading70 min
- two 25-min sections
- one 20-min section		Reading comprehension, sentence completions, and paragraph-length critical reading200-800
Mathematics
Number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry; statistics, probability, and data analysis70 min
- two 25-min sections
- one 20-min section		Five-choice multiple-choice questions and student-produced responses200-800
Writing
Grammar, usage, and word choice60 minMultiple choice questions (35 min.) and student-written essay (25 min.)200-800
Unscored Section
This may be a critical reading, mathematics, or writing
25 min
Multiple-choice sectionNot included in total score


SAT Test Order

The SAT is comprised of 10 total testing sections and each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200 - 800.

  • Section 1: 25-minute essay

  • Sections 2 to 7: 25-minute sections

  • Sections 8 and 9: 20-minute sections

  • Last section: 10-minute multiple-choice writing section