What’s on the SAT? The test structure, section by section

How is the SAT test structured?

Each section starts with a module that mixes easy, medium and hard questions. How you do on it decides whether your second module is harder or easier on average. Your section score uses both modules.

Questions from every content area appear in every module. In Reading and Writing, questions that test similar skills are grouped together, then run from easiest to hardest. In Math, each module runs from easiest to hardest.

Reading and Writing: what it covers

Every question has its own short passage, 25 to 150 words long, from literature, history and social studies, the humanities or science. The questions fall into four areas: Craft and Structure (about 28%), Information and Ideas (about 26%), Standard English Conventions (about 26%) and Expression of Ideas (about 20%). So it tests reading, vocabulary in context, grammar and revising a text, all in one section.

Math: what it covers

About 70% of Math is algebra and advanced math, split evenly. Problem-solving and data analysis is about 15%, and geometry and trigonometry the other 15%. About 30% of questions are word problems set in science, social studies or a real-world situation. You can use a calculator on every question.

Question types

• Reading and Writing is all multiple choice.
• Math is mostly multiple choice. For some questions you type in your own answer instead.
• Within each module, questions run from easier to harder. Each module also has 2 pretest questions that don’t count, and you can’t tell which they are.

Is there an essay on the SAT?

Not on the weekend SAT. College Board dropped the optional SAT Essay in 2021. It’s only given in a few states that require it as part of SAT School Day. There’s no separate vocabulary test either. Vocabulary is tested through Words in Context questions in Reading and Writing.

Is the SAT offered in Spanish?

College Board’s SAT pages don’t list a Spanish-language version. What it does have for English learners is test directions translated into 18 languages, Spanish among them, and a list of approved word-to-word dictionaries.