Are you taking the SAT soon but aren't sure what to expect? Not to worry! This guide will give you an in-depth look at the SAT syllabus and what to expect on the exam.
For each section of the SAT, I'll explain the format of the section, the types of questions you'll see, and the skills it tests. At the end of this guide, I'll also go over the top tips you need to know when preparing for the SAT to help you achieve your highest score.
This guide is fully updated for the digital SAT!
Overview of the SAT
Before we start looking in-depth at the SAT syllabus, let's first get a broad overview of what the digital SAT covers. There are two main sections on the SAT: SAT Reading and Writing and SAT Math. Each of these sections is broken into two modules. More information about each section is available in the chart below.
|
Section
|
Number of Questions
|
Minutes Given
|
|
Reading and Writing
(Module 1) |
27
|
32
|
|
Reading and Writing
(Module 2) |
27
|
32
|
|
Math (Module 1)
|
22
|
35
|
|
Math (Module 20
|
22
|
35
|
|
Total
|
98
|
2 hours, 14 minutes
|
As you can see, the entire SAT Reading and Writing section lasts 64 minutes, and the entire SAT Math section lasts 70 minutes. The SAT sections will always go in this order: both Reading and Writing modules, then a ten-minute break, then the two Math modules.
Below, for each section of the SAT, I'll explain what subjects it covers.
SAT Reading and Writing
|
Number of Questions |
Minutes Given |
Time Per Question |
|
54 |
64 |
1 minute and 11 seconds |
On the digital SAT, the Reading and Writing section lasts 64 minutes and contains 54 questions. Each question is based on a passage, and there will only be question following each passage. Each passage ranges from 25-150 words.
The digital SAT features a greater range of topics, tones, and styles than the analog test, with more questions stemming from the humanities and a few poetry questions added (often by authors from the early 1900s and before).
All questions on SAT Reading and Writing are multiple choice with four answer choices. There are four main topics you'll be tested on in this section, each with a subset of question types, for a total of 11 question types. We go over each below and include a sample question from Khan Academy.
Information and Ideas Questions
These questions measure comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills. They also measure your ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information and ideas from texts and informational graphics (tables, bar graphs, and line graphs).
There are four types of Information and Ideas questions:
Command of Evidence (Textual)
These questions will introduce a claim and ask you to identify the piece of evidence from the passage that most strongly supports that claim.
(The correct answer is C.)
Command of Evidence (Quantitative)
These questions will contain a graph or table. They'll provide some context and ask you to complete a sentence by using the data from the graph/table.
(The correct answer is A.)
Central Ideas and Details
These questions will ask you to identify the main idea of a passage or answer a specific question based on the passage.
(The correct answer is D.)
Inferences
These questions will include an incomplete passage and ask you to select the answer choice that most logically completes the passage.
(The correct answer is D.)
Craft and Structure Questions
Craft and structure questions measure the comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning skills needed to understand and use high-utility words and phrases in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and make connections between topically related texts.
There are three types of Craft and Structure questions on the SAT:
Words in Context
These questions ask for the most logical and precise word/phrase in a given context
(The correct answer is C.)
Text Structure and Purpose
These questions ask you to identify the main purpose or overall structure of the passage.
(The correct answer is C.)
Cross-Text Connections
These questions will contain two passages. You'll be asked to compare the points of view of the authors of the two passages.
(The correct answer is D.)
Expression of Ideas Questions
Expression of Ideas questions measure the ability to revise texts to improve the effectiveness of written expression and to meet specific rhetorical goals.
There are two types of Expression of Ideas questions on the SAT:
Transitions
These questions ask you to select the most logical transition word or phrase to connect information and ideas within a passage.
(The correct answer is C.)
Rhetorical Synthesis
These questions include a series of bulleted notes and ask you to use relevant information from the notes to answer the question.
(The correct answer is C.)
Standard English Conventions Questions
Standard English Conventions questions measure the ability to edit text to conform to core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.
There are two types of Standard English Conventions questions on the SAT:
Boundaries
These questions contain a passage with a blank and ask you to complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. They focus on how phrases, clauses, and sentences are linked together in written English.
(The correct answer is C.)
Form, Structure, and Sense
These questions contain a passage with a blank and ask you to complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. They focus on the rules surrounding various parts of speech (nouns, verbs, etc.) and their usage.
(The correct answer is B.)
SAT Math
|
Number of Questions |
Minutes Given |
Time per Question |
|
|
SAT Math |
77 |
70 |
1 minute and 35 seconds |
Format
On the digital SAT, Math will be 70 minutes long and 44 questions, divided equally between two modules, and you can use a calculator on the entire section. There will be 33 multiple-choice questions and 11 grid-in questions.
Types of Questions
Multiple Choice
The majority of questions on SAT Math, 75%, will be your standard multiple-choice questions where you're presented with a problem and have to choose the best answer from four answer choices.
Here's a sample multiple-choice question:
The correct answer is A.
Grid In
On SAT Math, 25% of questions will be grid-ins. On these questions, instead of choosing the correct answer from a list of options, you'll have to solve the problem and enter your own answer on the computer.
Here's a sample grid-in question:
The correct answer is 12.
Skills Tested
SAT Math covers 24 main topics, within four main subject areas. Over half of the questions will be on algebra, while roughly 15% of the questions will focus on Additional Topics such as geometry and trigonometry.
Basic Algebra
- Linear functions
- Single variable equations
- Systems of linear equations
- Absolute value
Advanced Algebra
- Manipulating polynomials
- Quadratic equations
- Dividing polynomials
- Exponential functions
- Function notation
- Solving exponential equations
- Systems of equations with nonlinear equations
Problem Solving and Data Analysis
- Ratios and proportions
- Scatterplots and graphs
- Categorical data and probabilities
- Experimental interpretation
- Median, median, mode, standard deviation
Additional Topics
- Coordinate geometry - lines and slopes
- Coordinate geometry - nonlinear functions
- Geometry - circles
- Geometry - lines and angles
- Geometry - solid geometry
- Geometry - triangles and polygons
- Trigonometry
- Complex numbers
How to Use This SAT Syllabus
Now you're an expert on the SAT syllabus, but how does this information help you? First, knowing what's on the SAT will make you feel more comfortable on exam day. You'll know the format, content, and types of questions you'll be asked. This can help you feel more prepared and help reduce test anxiety.
Second, understanding the SAT syllabus can significantly help with your SAT studying. When you know what subjects are tested on the SAT, you'll know what to focus on during your preparation, and you're less likely to skip material you should know or study material that won't be on the test.
Additionally, when you take practice tests and are looking to see where you got most of your answers wrong, you can easily pinpoint which area(s) you should work on. Maybe your SAT Math score was lower than you wanted it to be, but where exactly were you making mistakes? Did you get all the algebra questions correct but struggled with geometry? Then you can focus primarily on studying geometry questions. Knowing what's tested on the SAT will help you pinpoint the areas where you need to improve and increase the effectiveness of your studying.
How to Prepare for the SAT
Knowing the SAT syllabus will help you become more comfortable and familiar with the exam, which will likely help your score. Follow these three additional tips to be sure you're getting the most out of your SAT prep.
Create a Study Plan
Before you begin in-depth preparation for the SAT, you'll want to create a study plan. A study schedule can help you know when you're supposed to be studying and can keep you on track. Setting aside a regular time to study each day or week, such as weekdays from 8:00-9:30 or Sundays from 12:00-4:00, will make it easier to study because you'll know ahead of time when you should be studying and can fit the rest of your schedule around it.
You should include regular goals in your study schedule that you hope to meet, such as, "I want to understand how to answer geometry questions by the end of the weekend," or "I want to raise my math score ten points by the end of the month." Setting these goals can help encourage you to study and ensure you are on track to meet your goal scores.
Use High-Quality Study Materials
Your studying is only going to be as effective as the prep materials you use, so be sure to use the right materials for you. A high-quality prep book can be one of the best resources you use. Check out some of the best SAT prep books here. A good prep book will effectively explain the content tested on the exam, have high-quality practice questions similar to those on the real SAT, and include full-length practice exams (discussed more below).
Take Complete Practice Exams
During your studying, you'll want to take at least one (and ideally at least three to four) complete practice SATs. Taking complete practice SATs is important because it gives you the most realistic idea of what the real SAT will be like.
You'll learn how taking a test for several hours affects you and if you get tired and distracted towards the later sections. Also, after you score your exam, you'll have a good idea of how well you'd do on the actual SAT, and you can use this information to identify which areas you should focus on for future studying.
Be sure to take your SAT under realistic testing conditions. That means take the test all in one sitting, timed, and with minimal distractions. Try to use official practice tests since they'll be the closest to the real SAT. We have links to several free and official SAT practice tests you can use.
Conclusion
Knowing the SAT syllabus will help you know what to expect for the test and how to prepare. Each of the two main sections of the SAT covers multiple subject areas and contains several question types.
To prepare for the SAT, be sure to create a study plan early on, use high-quality study materials, and take full-length practice tests to get a good idea of the progress you've made.
What's Next?
Wondering what a good SAT score is? Learn how to set a score goal based on the schools you want to get into.
Thinking about using Khan Academy for SAT prep? Khan Academy can be a great resource if you know how to use it correctly. Read our guide to learn how to make the best use of Khan Academy!
Want to learn more about the digital SAT? We have a complete guide to the digital SAT that goes over exactly what changed, what stayed the same, and how it affects you.
