* Reading and Writing: This section assesses your reading comprehension skills and your ability to write effectively. It includes:
* Reading: Passages from various fields (literature, history, social studies, science) followed by multiple-choice questions testing comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills.
* Writing and Language: Passages with various grammatical, stylistic, and rhetorical errors. You'll choose the best way to fix them or identify effective sentence structures and word choices.
* Math: This section tests your mathematical reasoning abilities. It includes:
* Math (No Calculator): Focuses on problem-solving skills without the use of a calculator.
* Math (Calculator): Allows the use of a calculator and includes more complex problems and applications of math concepts. Both sections cover algebra, geometry, data analysis, and advanced math concepts depending on the level of the question.
In addition to these sections, the SAT also includes an optional essay. This essay is a separate section and is not required by all colleges. It requires you to read a passage and then write an essay analyzing the author's argument and reasoning. Many colleges do not require, or even consider, the essay score.
The SAT is scored out of 1600 (800 for Reading and Writing, 800 for Math), with the essay score reported separately if taken. The scoring is based on the number of correct answers; there is no penalty for incorrect answers.