Frequently Asked Question
 Whom is the test designed for & what is the full form of SAT?
SAT is required for the admission into any bachelor's degree program.
Originally, SAT was an acronym for the Scholastic Aptitude Test. In 1993, the test was renamed the SAT I: Reasoning Test. At the same time, the former Achievement Tests were renamed the SAT II: Subject Tests. SAT has become a simple way of referring to the SAT I: Reasoning Test

What is SAT? Who Administers the SAT? When is the SAT held?

The SAT is a standardized test for college admission in the United States. The SAT is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the United States and is developed, published, and scored by the College Board.

In the early 1990s, the SAT consisted of six sections: Two math sections (scored together on a 200-800 scale), two verbal sections (scored together on a 200-800 scale), the Test of Standard Written English (scored on a 20-60+ scale), and an equating section. In 1994, the exam was modified, removing antonym questions, and adding math questions that were not multiple choices. The average score on the 1994 modification of the SAT I was usually around 1000 (500 on the verbal, 500 on the math). The most selective schools in the United States (for example, those in the Ivy League) typically had SAT averages exceeding 1400 on the old test.

Beginning with the March 12, 2005 administration of the exam, the SAT Reasoning Test was modified and lengthened. Changes included the removal of analogy questions from the Critical Reading (formerly Verbal) section and quantitative comparisons from the Math section, and the inclusion of a writing section (with an essay) based on the former SAT II Writing Subject Test. The Mathematics section was expanded to cover three years of high school mathematics.

Getting started to prepare for the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) can be intimidating. Our goal is to make the first step as easy for you as possible. To perform well on the SAT, you need to draw on a set of skills. The SAT is an important test. It's different from the tests that you're used to taking. On explicitly stated purpose of the SAT is to predict how students will perform academically as college freshmen. But the more practical purpose of the SAT is to help college admissions officers make acceptance decisions, because it provides a single, standardized means of comparison. The SAT is a predictable test and can be well prepared through practice.
 

What's the difference between the SAT and Subject Tests?

SAT I
The SAT measures the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. It assesses how well you analyze and solve problems. SAT scores are used for college admission purposes because the test predicts college success. The SAT I is a three-hour test that measures verbal and mathematical skills. SAT I scores are used for college admission purposes because the test predicts readiness for college work.
SAT II
The SAT II: Subject Tests are one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests in specific subjects. The Subject Tests measure knowledge or skills in a particular subject and your ability to apply that knowledge. Many colleges require or recommend one or more of the Subject Tests for admission or placement. The Subject Tests are one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests in specific subjects. Subject Tests measure knowledge or skills in a particular subject and your ability to apply that knowledge.
Most colleges require the SAT I for admission and many other schools require both the SAT I and SAT II: Subject Tests for admission purposes or placement. Additionally, some colleges require specific Subject Test tests while others allow you to choose which tests you take. It's best to check directly with the school.

Why do I have to take the SAT I and why is it required by so many colleges?

You may have to take the test because it is an admission requirement of the college you are interested in attending. Many colleges require the SAT I for admission because it is a standard way of measuring a student's ability to do college-level work. Because courses and grading standards vary widely from school to school, scores on standardized tests, like the SAT I, help colleges compare your academic achievements with those of students from different schools.
Colleges look at other things when making admission decisions -- like your high school record, essays, recommendations, interviews, and extracurricular activities. Your SAT I test score is just one of many tools that help colleges make admission decisions.

What is the test format for SAT I?

Each edition of the SAT I includes a Critical Reading, Math and Writing section.
The Critical Reading section includes:

• Content :Critical reading and sentence-level reading
• Item Types : 47 Reading comprehension questions ( including paragraph-length critical reading) and 19 sentence completion questions
• Time :70 min. (two 25-min. Critical Reading sections and one 20-min. Sentence Completion section)
• Score : 200-800

Mathematics Section includes:

• Content :Number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry; statistics, probability, and data analysis
• Item Types :45 standard multiple-choice questions and 10 student-produced response questions (Grid-in)
• Time :70 min. (two 25-min. sections and one 20-min. section)
• Score :200-800

Writing Section includes:

• Content : Grammar, usage, and word choice
• Item Types: 39 Multiple choice questions (35 min.) and 1 student-written essay (25 min.)
• Time: 60 min.
• Score : 200-800

What is the test order?

The 25-minute essay will always be the first section of the SAT I, and the 10-minute multiple-choice writing section will always be the final section. The remaining six 25-minute sections can appear in any order, as can the two 20-minute sections. Test takers sitting next to each other in the same testing session may have test books with entirely different sections.
The 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 academically. Many colleges and universities use the SAT I as one indicator among others-class rank, high school GPA, extracurricular activities, personal essay, and teacher recommendations-of a student's readiness to do college-level work. SAT I scores are compared with the scores of other applicants, and the accepted scores at an institution, and can be used as a basis for awarding merit-based financial aid.
All of the SAT I is multiple-choice except for 10 student-produced response math questions. These questions ask you to fill in or "grid-in" your own answers using a special section of the answer sheet.

How often can I take the test & in all, how long does the test last?

You can take the test as many times as you want. Your score report shows your current test score, in addition to scores for up to six SAT I and six Subject Test administrations
The total testing time for the SAT I is 3 hours and 45 minutes.

SAT Test Centre in Nepal

When are SAT scores available?

Your official printed score report will be mailed to you, your high school, and to colleges and scholarship programs designated on your Registration Form about three weeks after the test. Some scores may take longer to report because of such problems as late receipt of answer sheets or inconsistent identification.
You may also get your SAT I scores with Scores by Phone. A $10 fee applies

Can I request for Additional Score Reports?

Extra score report to a college or scholarship program (in addition to four score reports included at no charge on the Registration or Correction Form) $ 9.00
In addition to the score reports you chose to send when you registered for the SAT, you can send scores to additional colleges and scholarship programs for $6.50 each by visiting SAT Status! You must have a user name and password to use this feature.

• Only score reports from completed and scored tests will be sent. You can only send scores that appear next to test dates on your SAT Status page. Scores from future tests for which you have registered, but have not yet completed, will not be included.
• Scores are mailed approximately three weeks after you submit your request.
• All available scores will be sent, including those from previous test administrations. You cannot send only your latest or highest SAT I scores, or separate scores for verbal or math, or only SAT I or only SAT II scores.
• Rush reporting is available for an additional $23. Rush scores are sent two business days after your request is received.

How Much time should I give on Each question?

SAT Test Time Management Tips

As you work, you should always be aware of where you are in the set. When working on the easy problems, you can generally trust your first impulse - the obvious answer tends to be right. As you get to the end of the set, you need to become more suspicious about your answer because they probably won't come easy. If they do, look at the problem again, because the obvious answer tends to be wrong.

To move through the test efficiently, you are allowed to skip around within each section. Do not spend too much time on any one question, even a hard one, until you've tried every question at least once.

There are some rules about how you can and can't allocate your test time:

* You are not allowed to jump back and forth between sections.
* You are not allowed to return to earlier sections to change answers.
* You are not allowed to spend more than the allotted time on any section.
* You can move around within a section.
* You can flip through your section at the beginning to see what type of questions you have.

What is SAT II and what subjects does it include?

Subject Tests, one-hour, mostly multiple-choice tests, measure how much students know about a particular academic subject and how well they can apply that knowledge.
The 22 Subject Tests include:

• Writing
• Literature
• U.S.History
• World History
• Biology/M
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Math Level IC,
• Math Level IIC
• French
• French with Listening
• German
• German with Listening
• Spanish
• Spanish with Listening
• Modern Hebrew
• Italian
• Latin
• Japanese with Listening
• Korean with Listening
• Chinese with Listening
• English Language Proficiency Test

What does my score report include?

SAT Reasoning Test
SAT scores are reported on a scale from 200 to 800, with additional sub scores reported for the essay (ranging from 2-12) and for multiple-choice writing questions (on a 20-to-80 scale). Your scores tell college admission staff how you did compared with other students who took the test. For example, if you scored close to the mean or average-about 500 on SAT critical reading and 500 on SAT math-admission staff would know that you scored as well as about half of the students who took the test.
SAT Subject Tests
Subject Test scores are reported on a scale from 200 to 800. Reading and listening sub scores are reported for all Language Tests with Listening, and a usage sub score is also reported for the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tests. Your scores tell college admission staff how you did compared with other students who took the test.

How and When Payment Is Due?

The fee for the SAT Reasoning Test is $41.50. You can register through mail or online.
Your admission ticket confirms that you are registered to take a test on a specified date, at a specified test center. You will need to bring the ticket with you to the test center for admittance
You will only receive an Admission Ticket/Correction Form by mail if you registered by paper
When you register online, you need to print out your Admission Ticket and bring it with you to the test center on test day.
Your admission ticket is also your correction form. You can make changes directly on the online admission ticket. You can also add, change, or delete the college and scholarship program codes you designated to receive your scores.
No matter how you register to take the test, you can go online and print out your ticket and/or make corrections online.
When you see your Admission Ticket, check to make sure that all information, including high school code, is correct. You can make any necessary changes online, even if you registered by mail.
If you cannot make corrections online, and you receive your Correction Form by mail (attached to the Admission Ticket), you should make changes on the Correction Form and return it by mail before the test date. But hold on to your Admission Ticket-you'll need it to be admitted to the test center!

What are the test fee and preferred mode of its payment?

SAT Reasoning Test $83.50
SAT Subject Tests (add the $17.00 Basic Registration Fee to the total fee for the Subject Tests):
Language Tests with Listening $18.00
All other Subject Tests $ 8.00
Services Fee
Late registration fee $20.00
Standby testing fee $35.00
Change test, test date, or test center fee $19.00
Scores by Web Free
Scores by Phone $10.00

Is there any extra fee for Rescheduling?

If you have already registered for a test and want to change the test center, test date, or which test you registered to take, call us no later than the Wednesday that is two-and-a-half weeks before the test date. You must speak with a customer service representative:
When you call, be ready to tell the customer service representative your registration number and test date, your social security number, and the credit card number and expiration date.
Fees

There is a $19 fee to change your test, test date, or test center (plus any adjustments for the test fees). A Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover is required.

What is the procedure to change the test centre, date and to change the test?

Test Centre change
If your first-choice test center is not listed on your Admission Ticket, chances are the center you requested when you registered was full and you were assigned to the next closest available test center.
Test Date Change
If necessary, you can change your test date. Once the change is made, another Admission Ticket will be sent to you. If you miss the deadline for making a change, you can still try to make the change on the day of the test. Go early to the test center of your choice and explain the situation to the test supervisor. If space and materials are available, you will be admitted before standbys.
Test Change
You can change your test from SAT Reasoning Test to SAT Subject Tests or from SAT Subject Tests to SAT Reasoning Test.
Note: If you want to substitute Subject Tests, you should do that at the test center. You may substitute any Subject Tests offered except the Language Tests with Listening.
You cannot change to a Listening Test on test day because test centers do not have extra cassette tapes. If you want to change to a listening test or from one listening test to another, you must do so by the late registration deadline.

What is the mode of exam for SAT II?
It is a Paper-Based Test.

What rules do I have to observe During the Test?

SAT Reasoning Test
You will get a short break at the end of each hour of testing time. You must work within each section of the SAT only for the time allotted. You are not permitted to go back to a section once that section has ended. Nor are you permitted to start the next section if you finish a section early.
The testing supervisor will guide you through the testing process and provide all the necessary instructions.
SAT Subject Tests
Each Subject Test is about one hour long. If you are only taking one or two Subject Tests, you may leave the test center after your final test is finished.
You may work on only one test during each testing hour. You will get a short break at the end of each hour of testing time. You can take up to three Subject Tests on one test date.
You can change your mind on test day about which Subject Test you want to take. You may substitute a Subject Test (other than a listening test), or add Subject Tests (other than a listening test) on test day.
The testing supervisor will guide you through the testing process and provide all the necessary instructions.
Standby Testing
If you miss the late registration deadline, there's still a chance you can sometimes take the SAT as a standby. Test centers accept standbys on a first-come, first-serve basis only if they have enough space, testing materials, and staff-so there is no guarantee that you'll be admitted to the test.

What If I am Absent or want to Reschedule my Test?

If you are absent on the test day and you wish to test on another date, call Customer Service at 1-609-771-7600 (TTY: 1-609-882-4118). If you do not wish to test on another date, your test and registration fees (including fees for services such as telephone re-registration) are nonrefundable. No reports will be sent.
The fee is $19 to change your test, test date, or test center.
If you do not want to change your test date and would like to request a refund for any additional score reports, Question-and-Answer Service, and Student Answer Service, write a letter and send it within 2 months after the test date to:
College Board
SAT Candidate Refunds
P.O. Box 6200
Princeton, NJ08541-6200
Indicate the test date for which you registered and include identification information

What things do I have to carry on the day of the test?

Carry your Admission Ticket with you to the test center on test day.