Ease Into Prep with an SAT^® Question of the Day

The SAT is composed of two sections: Reading & Writing and Math, which will test you on different content areas:

Reading & Writing	Math
Information & Ideas Craft & Structures Expression of Ideas Standard English Conventions	Algebra Advanced Math Problem-Solving & Data Analysis Geometry & Trigonometry

Each subject on the SAT has two timed modules. The first module has a mix of easy, medium, and hard difficulty levels. The second module will be, on average, easier or harder, depending on your performance on the first module.

The SAT math section can be challenging and is specifically designed to test your ability to apply high school math concepts and formulas in algebra, data analysis, advanced math, problem-solving, and other topics, such as geometry and trigonometry. Many of the formulas are provided during the test, and a graphing calculator is built into the test interface, or you may use your own approved calculator.

Whether the SAT or the ACT is more challenging for you depends on your existing knowledge and test-taking skills. Try taking both practice tests and see how you do.

“C” is not the best guess answer on the SAT. Every answer choice on the SAT has a 25% chance of being correct. Statistically speaking, every letter has the same likelihood of being correct. The best way to guess on Test Day is by using a "Letter of the Day." This is a single letter that you choose to use on every single question you guess. By using the same letter every time you guess, you'll gain a statistical advantage. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, and you only earn points for correct answers.

There is no penalty for skipping SAT questions, and it’s recommended that you answer every question - even if you have to make an educated guess in order to maximize your score.

The 99th percentile on the SAT refers to an SAT score that is higher than 99% of all scores earned by test-takers. A 99th percentile score on the SAT is a score of at least 1450. Earning this score is a huge accomplishment and means you will have a very high SAT score compared to other SAT test-takers.

Yes, in some cases a high SAT score can help your college application stand out from the competition, but it’s not guaranteed. If you still have time, try to raise your grades to increase your GPA in addition to earning a good score on the SAT.

The lowest score possible on the SAT is a score of 400.

Each college will have a different SAT score requirement, and some institutions do not have any score requirements for being admitted. The best way to determine your school's SAT score requirement is to visit their admissions website.

Here are some ways to quickly raise your SAT score:

1. Make sure you understand the test format and subject matter
2. Use practice tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses and focus on improving the skills needed to answer the type of questions you missed most often
3. Thoroughly review answer explanations from your practice tests
4. Hire a tutor

Test-takers generally take 2-3 practice SAT tests prior to an official test, depending on a number of factors:

• The score you get on your first practice test
• Your target score goal
• Your level of comfort with the test format

Kaplan recommends practicing until you're scoring close to your target score, then taking the official SAT.