The SAT test first appeared in 1926, but with different names, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test and the Scholastic Assessment Test. In the end, it was decided to call it the SAT test by the College Board.
In 2016, the SAT underwent a major restructuring, part of which focused on changing the test scale from 2400 points to just 1600 points. The test that contains 2400 points was called the old SAT test.
What is the SAT test? and Why is it important? This we will discuss in detail through this New Horizons article. Keep reading
What is the SAT test? and Why is it important? The SAT is an abbreviation for “Scholastic Assessment Test”, which is a standardized test for admission to higher education institutions in the United States. It aims to test a student's readiness for university admission through a standardized test for all applicants to determine their abilities and skills.
It also reviews their high school grades, letters of recommendation, motivation letter, and resume.
This helps the college board decide whether to accept the student.
What is the SAT test? and Why is it important? The SAT is administered by the College Board, a private, non-profit organization founded in 1899 as the “College Entrance Examination Board”, to increase access to higher education.
Registration for the SAT test is done through the following steps:
Go to the website and fill in your personal information, such as your name, nationality, date of birth, country of residence, and the university you wish to study at. Make sure your information is correct.
Search for the SAT section. The test is often administered several times a year. Choose the date and location that suits you. You can also choose the type of test, whether it is paper or digital.
You will then be redirected to the registration completion page.
Fill in all the required information, including your contact information, school, and educational background.
You may request special testing arrangements (if you have special needs or religious requirements).
Next comes the fee payment stage. You can find out the SAT test fees on the website. You can also pay using direct debit cards, PayPal, or a money transfer. You must ensure that the payment process is completed successfully.
After completing the registration process and paying the fees, you will receive an email confirming your reservation, the date and location of the SAT test.
If you have chosen the paper-based test, a printed admission ticket will be sent to you. If you do not receive one, you can obtain it through your account on the College Board website.
You should prepare well for the test by reviewing practice questions. You can also obtain resources and study materials from the College Board website to help you prepare for the test.
These are all the steps of applying and registering for the self-test.
You must review the data you entered and ensure that it is correct before moving on to the next step.
The SAT test is administered in the United States after high school and before the new academic year. Students can retake the test if they fail or wish to achieve higher scores.
Applications are accepted in (August, October, November, December, March, May, and June).
For international students taking the SAT exam outside the United States, it will be according to the date set by each university, but in accordance with the test dates in the United States.
Applications will be submitted on the following dates (October, December, March, May).
What is the SAT test? and Why is it important? The SAT test questions are divided into three main sections that can determine the student’s skills and abilities and the extent of their compatibility with the university education stage.
These sections are:
The SAT Reading section aims to assess a student's ability to read, understand, and extract information from long texts.
These texts may be related to history, novels, science, or other fields.
The types of questions in the reading test include
Inferential Reading, which requires the student to infer from the text based on his or her understanding of the text and the information contained within it.
Vocabulary comprehension questions that assess the student's understanding of the phrases and vocabulary contained in the texts.
Evidence-based questions in which the student must cite parts of the text to support his answer, which demonstrates the extent of his understanding of the text as a whole so that he can cite and provide evidence for his answer.
This section of the test is concerned with analyzing the student’s ability to understand the Arabic language correctly, as well as the rules of writing and its various styles. It includes shorter texts in addition to completing writing tasks.
Types of questions in this section
Sentence improvement,
the student is asked to modify the sentence in terms of grammar, style, and usage.
Improving the passages, the student is asked to improve the passage so that it becomes clearer and more coherent.
Sentence comprehension questions, this question asks the student questions related to the student’s ability to understand complex sentences and their structure.
Writing an essay, students are asked to write an essay that demonstrates the student's ability to write an essay with an argument supported by evidence.
This section of the test is designed to determine a student's ability to solve mathematical problems. It covers basic mathematics, including algebra, geometry, data analysis, mathematical concepts, and more.
Types of questions in this section
Multiple-choice questions, in which the student must select one correct answer from among several options.
Sentence completion questions, in which the student must fill in the blank with a numeric answer.
Problem-solving questions The student is given a mathematical problem and must analyze it and find the solution.
The SAT takes a specific, standardized format to ensure that all students have a consistent testing experience.
The writing section consists of 52 questions and is given no more than 65 minutes.
The writing and analysis section consists of 44 questions in 35 minutes.
The mathematics section includes 58 questions in 80 minutes.
The duration of the test is three hours. If the student chooses to take the essay part of the test, an additional 50 minutes will be added.
SAT scores are calculated on a scale of 400 to 1600. Each section is scored separately, ranging from 200 to 800. This means that the reading, writing, and analysis sections are scored from 200 to 800, and the math section is scored from 200 to 800. Students receive a separate score for each section, and then the two sections are combined to obtain the final score.
There is no set number of times a student can retake the SAT to improve their score.
The college board allows students to retake the test, but they must wait until the next exam date. It should be noted that the essay test is optional and does not affect the student's overall score. However, some universities require students to pass the essay test as part of the SAT exam.
Students can submit their individual positive scores or submit the entire test result as a way to highlight their best performance.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for the SAT test
After knowing What is the SAT test? and Why is it important? You should know Üniversities that require the SAT test for admission.
Many universities now require a SAT score for admission, especially American universities, many universities in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and some other universities, such as
Orta Doğu Technical University
Boğaz Ece University
Marmara University
Istanbul University
Hacettepe University
Istanbul University of Technology
Gazi University
Yıldız University of Technology
Read more: Top 10 Private Universities In Turkey
When we speak about What is the SAT test? and Why is it important? We should mention SAT test cost which is as the following:
The SAT test costs $50.
An additional $65 is added for the optional essay test.
If the test is taken outside the United States, an additional $50 is added.
Additional fees may apply for late registration, rescheduling, and phone-delivered test scores.
We can know more about What is the SAT test? and Why is it important? by explaining the difference between the SAT and YOS tests.
The SAT and YÖS are two standardized tests designed to determine a student's ability to advance to higher education. However, they differ in purpose, content, format, and recognition. We will devote a separate title to each to clarify these differences.
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SAT test |
YÖS test |
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|
Content |
The SAT includes questions to assess a student's skills in reading, writing, analysis, and mathematics. Each test has a set of multiple-choice or multiple-choice questions. |
The YÖS assesses a student's ability and skills across a broader range of subjects, expanding to include tests in English, science, history, chemistry, and physics. It includes multiple-choice questions in addition to open-ended questions. |
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Format |
The SAT test is divided into three sections ( reading, writing, analysis, and mathematics). There is also an optional essay section, which is completed in a paper form. You can also register for the SAT test in a digital form. |
The YÖS test is divided into four sections (English language test, mathematics, humanities, and natural sciences). There is no essay section. |
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Purpose |
The SAT is required for admission to universities in the United States. |
The YÖS is required for admission to universities in Türkiye and may be required for admission to some universities in Europe and Asia. |
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Recognition |
The SAT is widely accepted by American universities. |
The YÖS is only accepted by Turkish universities. It may not be recognized by most higher education institutions. |
Read more: Advantages of studying in Turkey
Contact us now for more information about studying in Turkey.
We can conclude our article about What is the SAT test? and Why is it important? with a question that may come to the mind of the student, which
We can say that it is mandatory in many universities in the United States of America, and some universities require passing the SAT test to accept the student, while others do not require the SAT test or anything else.
The student must carefully check the university’s requirements and whether this test is required or not.
The importance of the SAT test comes from verifying the student’s abilities and skills that are compatible with the higher education stage.
Answering this question is different. It is a test like any other test. With good preparation, study, organizing time and effort, and allocating extra time to weak points, it can be passed.
The time allowed for a student to take the SAT exam is three hours. If the student chooses the optional essay, an additional 65 minutes are added to it.
