SAT

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About the SAT

The SAT is a 3-hour long exam taken by high school students (typically juniors and seniors) as part of the college admissions process. It is offered throughout the year and can be taken on multiple occasions. Although the current format is the traditional paper-and-pencil format, the SAT will undergo its most drastic change in 2024 and switch to a computer-only format.

Scoring

The test is divided into two scored sections: Evidence Based Reading and Writing (which I like to just call English for short) and Math. The English is scored from 200-800. The Reading and Writing sections contribute equally to the overall English score. Math is also scored from 200-800, giving a maximum possible score of 1600 - the Holy Grail for SAT test takers.

Unlike older editions of the SAT, there is no penalty for incorrect guesses. Since the multiple choice is all 4-choice, NEVER leave any question blank. At worst, you have a 25% chance of getting it correct!

Section Breakdown

The current paper-and-pencil SAT format is still in effect for students graduating in 2023 and 2024 and consists of the following four sections:

Reading

This is a 65 minute section with 52 questions. The format is four-choice multiple choice. There are a total of 5 passages with 10-11 questions per passage. The passage genres include a literary narrative, two science passages, one social science passage, and one history passage.

Writing

This is a 35 minute section with 44 questions. The format is four-choice multiple choice. There are a total of 4 passages with 11 questions per passage. Your task is to become the "editor" of each passage, improving the grammar, logic, and expression of ideas.

Math- no calculator

This is a 25 minute section with 20 questions. No calculator is allowed in this section. The format is 15 four-choice multiple choice questions, followed by 5 student-response questions. Content is heavy on algebra, along with some pre-algebra concepts (conversions, percents, ratios, proportions, probability, and averages), problem solving and data analysis, and some more advanced algebra 2 topics (complex numbers, trigonometry, and various functions, including quadratic, polynomial, and exponential).

Math- with calculator

This is a 55 minute section with 38 questions. Calculators are allowed in this section. The format is 30 four-choice multiple choice questions, followed by 8 student-response questions. Content is the same as the previous, but the questions tend to be longer with more information to process.

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SAT Resources

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The Cornerstone Approach

The videos below are just a small sample of the many strategies that can be used to attack even the hardest SAT questions. And these strategies are extremely effective! But strategies can only get you so far. That’s why I balance the lessons with just the right blend of strategies, test-taking techniques, and content. The lessons are always fine-tuned to address YOUR specific needs - no one else’s! At the outset of the program, I’ll already have done a thorough analysis of your previous SAT score report, or an intake diagnostic SAT at our tutoring center. Based on that analysis, I’ll know what specific areas we need to focus on so that we can maximize your score and not waste time reviewing stuff you already know!

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Since 1999, Cornerstone Test Prep and Tutoring has helped over 4,000 students in the Greater Boston area master the SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, GRE, and GMAT. I can help you, too.

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