Learn about the sections of the SAT and the skills that will be tested.
SAT Test (154 items total)
Passages
Information and Ideas (21–26 items)
Rhetoric (10–16 items)
Synthesis (10–16 items)
Passages
Expression of Ideas (24 items)
Standard English Conventions (20 items)
Heart of Algebra (19 items)
Problem Solving and Data Analysis (17 items)
Passport to Advanced Math (16 items)
Additional Topics in Math (6 items)
Across all required components of the SAT, students are asked to apply their reading, writing, language, and math knowledge and skills as well as careful reasoning to answer questions and solve problems situated in life, Earth, space, and physical science contexts.
Student performance on these science-context questions contributes to a cross-test score called Analysis in Science. (A parallel Analysis in History/Social Studies cross-test score is derived in similar fashion.)
While questions contributing to the Analysis in Science cross-test score do not directly assess students' knowledge of science content, they do require students to perform types of analysis and reasoning frequently required in postsecondary science course work. Skills assessed include:
For more details, view the SAT test specifications (.pdf/3.12MB).