Test Structure

Content Overview

SOURCE: All content in this section (Content Overview) is taken directly from the college board. I didn’t write any of this, in other words, nor would I want to pretend I did. To read the full document, click the link below:

digital-sat-test-spec-overview.pdf

Reading & Writing Content

Domains Tested

From the College Board

Questions on the Reading and Writing Section represent one of four content domains:

• Craft and Structure: Measures the comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning skills and knowledge needed to understand and use high-utility words and phrases in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and make connections between topically related texts.
• Information and Ideas: Measures comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills and knowledge and the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information and ideas from texts and informational graphics (tables, bar graphs, and line graphs)
• Standard English Conventions: Measures the ability to edit texts to conform to core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.
• Expression of Ideas: Measures the ability to revise texts to improve the effectiveness of written expression and to meet specific rhetorical goals

Questions from all four domains appear in each Reading and Writing test module, beginning with Craft and Structure questions and then continuing through Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas questions. Questions within the Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, and Expression of Ideas content domains that test similar skills and knowledge are grouped together to reduce the need for context switching and arranged from easiest to hardest. This makes it easier for students to budget their time and allows each test taker the best opportunity to show what they know and can do. Questions in the Standard English Conventions content domain are arranged from easiest to hardest regardless of which specific convention is being tested. Table 2 provides a breakdown of question distribution by content domain.

Domain Distribution

Content Domain	Domain Description	Sub-domain	# Questions
Craft & Structure	Students will use comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning skills and knowledge to understand and use high-utility words and phrases in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and make connections between topically related texts.	Words in Context, Text Structure and Purpose, Cross-Text Connections	≈28% 13-15 questions
Information & Ideas	Students will use comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills and knowledge and the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information and ideas from texts and informational graphics.	Central Ideas and Details, Command of Evidence - Textual - Quantitative Inferences	≈26% 12-14 questions
Standard English Conventions	Students will use editing skills and knowledge to make text conform to core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.	Boundaries Form, Structure, and Sense	≈26% 11-15 questions
Expression of Ideas	Students will use the ability to revise texts to improve the effectiveness of written expression and to meet specific rhetorical goals.	Rhetorical Synthesis Transitions	≈20% 8-12 questions

Math Content

Domains Tested

From The College Board:

Questions on the Math section represent one of four content domains:

• Algebra: Measures the ability to analyze, fluently solve, and create linear equations and inequalities as well as analyze and fluently solve equations and systems of equations using multiple techniques
• Advanced Math: Measures skills and knowledge central for progression to more advanced math courses, including demonstrating an understanding of absolute value, quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational, radical, and other nonlinear equations
• Problem-Solving and Data Analysis: Measures the ability to apply quantitative reasoning about ratios, rates, and proportional relationships; understand and apply unit rate; and analyze and interpret one- and two-variable data
• Geometry and Trigonometry: Measures the ability to solve problems that focus on area and volume; angles, triangles, and trigonometry; and circles (NOTE: PSAT 8/9 doesn’t include trigonometry questions.

Questions from all four content domains appear in each test module. Across each module, questions are arranged from easiest to hardest, allowing each test taker the best opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do. Table 3 provides an overview of the question distribution by content domain.

Domain Distribution

Content Domain	Domain Description	Sub-domain	# Questions
Algebra	Students will analyze, fluently solve, and create linear equations and inequalities as well as analyze and fluently solve equations and systems of equations using multiple techniques.	Linear equations in one variable Linear equations in two variables Linear functions Systems of two linear equations in two variables Linear inequalities in one or two variables	≈35% 13-15 questions
Advanced Math	Students will demonstrate the ability to progress to more advanced math courses, including demonstrating an understanding of absolute value, quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational, radical, and other nonlinear equations.	Equivalent expressions Nonlinear equations in one variable and systems of equations in two variables Nonlinear functions	≈35% 13-15 questions
Problem Solving and Data Analysis	Students will apply quantitative reasoning about ratios, rates, and proportional relationships; understand and apply unit rate; and analyze and interpret one- and two-variable data.	Ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and units Percentages Conditional probability Inference from sample statistics and margin of error Evaluating statistical claims: observational studies and experiments	≈15% 5-7 questions
Geometry and Trigonometry	Students will solve problems that focus on area and volume; angles, triangles, and trigonometry; and circles.	Area and volume Lines, angles, and triangles Right triangles and trigonometry Circles	≈15% 5-7 questions

Structure

The SAT is now adaptive, meaning that the difficulty of the questions changes depending on your performance. The test follows what’s called a multi-stage adaptive model: all students are given the same first module, which includes a broad mix of questions; depending on how well a student does on this first module, the second module will either consist of slightly easier or slightly harder questions.

In the SAT students take a total of four modules: two in Reading & Writing, and two in Math, as shown in the table below:

Module	Difficulty	Questions	Mins	Note
1. Reading & Writing	standard	27	32	All test-takers receive the same questions for this section.
2. Reading & Writing	adapted	27	32	Test-takers receive different questions based on their performance in section 1. In other words, the better you do in section 1, the harder the questions are in section 2.
3. Math	standard	22	35	All test-takers receive the same questions for this section.
4. Math	adapted	22	35	Test-takers receive different questions based on their performance in section 3. In other words, the better you do in section 3, the harder the questions are in section 4.

Scoring

Section & Combined Scoring

	Raw score	Scaled score
Reading & Writing	out of 54	out of 800
Math	out of 44	out of 800
COMBINED		out of 1600

Score Conversion

In the past, the College Board provided score conversion tables, which allowed students to see how raw scores were mapped to scaled scores. With the new format, this is no longer the case, and the relationship between raw scores and scaled scores is not entirely clear. With the information we have, however, the scoring system appears to be similar: one question equates to roughly 5 - 10 points for mid-level scores, and to roughly 10 - 20 points for higher level scores.

Check out the scoring documents at the following link for more detail. While these documents don’t directly show how the digital format is scored, they do allow you to score paper-based versions of the new SAT.

Score conversions for paper-based versions of the new digital test

Testing Calendar

I do my best to keep everything up to date, but if you want to be sure you're getting the latest info, click this link to see official test dates and deadlines for registration / changes.

Scheduled

SAT Test Date*	Registration Deadline*	Deadline for Registration, Changes, and Regular Cancellation
Mar 9, 2024	Feb 23, 2024	Feb 27, 2024
May 4, 2024	Apr 19, 2024	April 23, 2024
June 1, 2024	May 16, 2024	May 21, 2024

Anticipated

Test Date
August 24, 2024
October 5, 2024
November 2, 2024
December 7, 2024

For more information on test dates and deadlines, visit this link:

International SAT Dates and Deadlines