The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you’ll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems – skills you learned in school that you will need in college.
Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800, and the writing section will contain two sub-scores. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors.

SAT Question Types
Each edition of the SAT includes a Critical Reading, Math, and Writing section, with a specific number of questions related to content.
The Critical Reading Section
The critical reading section, formerly known as the verbal section, will include short reading passages along with the existing long reading passages. Analogies have been eliminated, but sentence-completion questions and passage-based reading questions remain.

The Mathematics Section
The SAT will include expanded math topics, such as exponential growth, absolute value, and functional notation, and place greater emphasis on such other topics as linear functions, manipulations with exponents, and properties of tangent lines.   Important skills formerly measured in the quantitative comparison format, such as estimation and number sense, will continue to be measured through the multiple choice and student response (grid-in) questions.  Can I use a calculator? Students can use a four-function, scientific or graphing calculator. The College Board recommends that students use a calculator at least at the scientific level for the SAT, although it’s still possible to solve every question without a calculator.
The Math Section has two types of questions: Multiple Choice and Student
–Produced Response Questions.

The Writing Section
Short Essay – The short essay measures your ability to:
- Organize and express ideas clearly
- Develop and support the main idea
- Use appropriate word choice and sentence structure
You’ll be asked to develop a point of a view on an issue, using reasoning and evidence – based on your own experiences, readings, or observations – to support your ideas.   The essay will be scored by trained high school and college teachers. Each reader will give the essay a score from 1 to 6 (6 is the highest score) based on the overall quality of the essay and your demonstration of writing competence.
Multiple-Choice – The multiple-choice writing questions measure your ability to:
- Improve sentences and paragraphs
- Identify errors (such as diction, grammar, sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, proper word usage, and wordiness.

SAT SUBJECT TESTS:

Subject Tests (formerly SAT II: Subject Tests) are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge.   Students take the Subject Tests to demonstrate to colleges their mastery of specific subjects like English, history, mathematics, science, and language. The tests are independent of any particular textbook or method of instruction. The tests content evolves to reflect current trends in high school curricula, but the types of questions change little from year to year.   Some colleges use the Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Used in combination with other background information (your high school record, scores from other tests like the SAT Reasoning Test, teacher recommendations, etc.), they provide a dependable measure of your academic achievement and are a good predictor of future performance.
Some colleges specify the Subject Tests they require for admission or placement; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take. Check the requirements of the colleges where you might apply before deciding which test, if any, you will need to take.