On both levels, the test consists of two math sections, one verbal section, a reading section, and an essay. The verbal section has 60 questions and lasts 30 minutes. Both math sections are about 25 minutes and have 25 questions each. The reading section is 40 minutes long and has 40 questions. Students have 25 minutes to construct an essay.
The verbal sections include 30 synonym questions and 30 analogy questions. You will be asked both types of questions in multiple-choice form. This is a sample topic of a synonym question, in which you are required to select the answer that is most similar to the word given:
ASSIST:
a)Help
b)Praise
c)Reward
d)Slide
e)Complete
The correct answer is "A" considering that the word "assist" is most closely related to "help" in meaning. This is a sample topic for an analogy question in which you are required to select the option that agrees the most with the word or phrase:
Life is to Death as:
a) Friend is to enemy
b) Small is to little
c) Hand is to glove
d) None of the above
The correct answer is "a" because the relationship is the same as the relationship between the two words given in the example.
The mathematics section consists mostly of basic computation on the lower level and basic algebra and geometry on the upper level. More specific topics include but are not limited to: operations with fractions, radicals, areas of polygons, bar graphs, exponents, distance problems, equations, percentage problems, scientific notation, decimals, and plane geometry.
The reading section consists of about seven reading passages in which you are expected to identify the main idea, supporting details, inferred ideas, and other comprehension topics.
Although the essay portion of the exam is not scored, it is sent directly to the schools that you express interest in. You will be asked to disprove or support a topic statement by using historic events, personal experience, literature, or current events. The following is a list of statements that you will have to prove or disprove with supporting details:
- Actions speak louder than words
- All good things must come to an end
- Better safe than sorry
- Great minds think alike
- The pen is mightier than the sword
- Two heads are better than one