SAT by Top careers & You (TCY) (www.TCYonline.com)
Posted by Illinious on 7/04/08

SAT
Despite numerous changes in the US university application
process, some truths remain the same — namely, you need to
ace your SAT if you plan to attend a top-notch university.
The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is designed to gauge
aspiring US undergraduates. It measures the ability of
candidates to solve problems and use reasoning skills at the
level necessary for US universities.
Most colleges and universities use the SAT as one indicator
of a student’s readiness to do university-level work. Other
criteria include class rank, marks (Grade Point Average),
extracurricular activities, personal essays and recommendations.
Starting in 1993, the SAT split into the SAT I: Reasoning
Test and the SAT II: Subject Tests. In general, universities
only require SAT I, but the most exclusive schools often
require two or more SAT II Subject Tests.
SAT is held seven times in a year in the USA, Puerto Rico,
and US Territories, and six times a year at over 650 other
overseas locations.
SAT I

SAT I is a three-hour test that measures verbal and
mathematical reasoning skills students have developed over
time, and skills they need to be successful at university.
Good SAT scores can help you gain admission to selective
schools and earn merit-based financial assistance.
The SAT I contains Verbal, Math and Writing components, each
worth one-third of the final score. There are three Verbal
sections, three Math sections and two Writing sections.
In addition, there is a 20 minute ‘dummy’ section, formally
called the Variable or Equation Section. This section does
not count towards your individual score; it is used to try
out new questions for the future editions of SAT. You won’t
know which section is the ‘dummy’, so try your hardest
throughout.
The first and last sections are always Writing, the first
being a 25-minute Writing Essay and the last a 10-minute
Multiple Choice writing section. Out of the remaining seven
sections, four are 25 minutes long each, and the other three
(including the dummy) are 20 minutes long each.

A systematic chart of the question types and number in each
section are listed below:
Section Types of questions Test Pattern No. of Questions
Focus Timing
Critical Reading (3 sections) Multiple choice questions
Reading Comprehension 48 Reading sentences and paragraphs 25
min, 25 min, 20 min
Sentence Completion 19
Writing (3 sections) Essay, Multiple choice
questions Identifying Errors 18 Grammar, Word Choice, Usage
25 min, 25 min,
10 min
Improving Sentences 25
Improving Paragraphs 6
Mathematics (3 sections) Multiple choice questions
Problem Solving Questions 44 Number and Operations, Algebra
& Functions, Geometry, Statistics, Data analysis &
Probability 25 min, 25 min, 20 min
Grid-in Questions 10

How to Crack SAT

1. Practice some hard and tricky questions based on the
application of the concepts especially in Math section.
Questions are not direct but involve some thinking to reach
to the answers.
2. Encircle all the easy questions. First do them and then
shift to lengthy questions.
3. Eliminate the wrong choices rather than finding the right
answer.
4. Don’t spend much time on a single question. If you are
unable to do, leave it and move to the next one. Question
left blank doesn’t deduct any mark but wrong ones do.
5. Always keep an eye on the ticking clock. Time is
precious. Spend it wisely.
6. Practice well on grammar. Reading will help a lot.


For more details, please visit www.tcyonline.com or write us
back at etutoring@tcyonline.com.

Top careers & You (TCY) provides one-on-one Live Online Math tutoring and homework help for grade K-12 as well as Math preparation for SAT & ACT test through its program ‘STEPS’