The (Digital) SAT
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Reading & Writing Module 1
27 questions | 32 minutes
(1 minute, 11 seconds per question)
The first verbal module of the SAT tests students’ reading abilities and understanding of fundamental grammatical rules of the English language. Graphical/spreadsheet analysis skills are also tested, to a more limited degree. This first module will be of medium difficulty, and the level of difficulty of the student’s second verbal module will depend on performance on the first.
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Reading & Writing Module 2
27 questions | 32 minutes
(1 minute, 11 seconds per question)
For those who have performed “well” on the first module, the second module may comprise substantially more difficult questions, including those written with abstruse scientific terms and/or higher-level vocabulary, including potentially anachronistic turns of phrases used in historical documents and English literature.
Students should not be intimidated by the initially mind-boggling “look” of these passages, and instead continually focus on the answer choices at hand, and the best way to distinguish the most correct answer.
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Math Module 1
22 quesions | 35 minutes
(1 minute, 36 seconds per question)
After a 10-minute break following the verbal sections, students begin the math portion of the SAT.
The first math module will comprise questions of middling difficulty. Students should focus and pay close attention to detail to gain points on every question, even if not particularly difficult. Success on this first section will determine progress into the more challenging second math module that will pave the way for higher score ranges.
Students should make ample use of the appropriate graphic calculator throughout the entire math section of the SAT.
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Math Module 2
22 questions | 35 minutes
(1 minute, 36 seconds per question)
If the student successfully traverses the first math module, the second module will contain some significantly more difficult problems, including a few select problems reserved for those with particularly high dexterity in mathematical problem-solving. Students should not consider these problems as significant obstacles to achieve a high score on the SAT.
For those students aiming for a perfect score, it will be important to be prepared for the few particularly tough math questions that require practice with creative problem-solving techniques.
A controversial… mainstay
There has been few topics as hotly debated in recent news media as the SAT, whether it should be mandatory, and whether it is a good measure of “scholastic aptitude” as it has purported to be since 1926.
The SAT has come a long way since its WWI beginnings as a way for the US Army to identify recruits with potential to become officers. Prior to the advent of the SAT, Ivy League schools recruited almost exclusively from a network of the nation’s elite boarding schools.
While the test is not perfect, we believe that it is a highly important piece of the college application, regardless of a school’s stated testing policy. Students who do not submit scores are depriving themselves of a way to show colleges an undisputed datapoint attesting to their intellectual fortitude and promise. With dedicated effort, anyone, regardless of race or socioeconomic background, can earn a score that will open the doors of academic and economic opportunity.
Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss how we can help your child achieve the SAT score that he/she truly deserves.
Invest in your education.
But is the SAT just about getting into college? There is nothing that develops grit, responsibility, and mental stamina as sticking through a course of test prep. Taking on an additional academic activity on top of a heavy course load may be a lot to ask for any student, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
The test may have its flaws, but the fundamental skills tested on the SAT: elementary algebra, English grammar, and reading comprehension, to name a few, will be cornerstones of any student’s future academic and professional career.
The true confidence arrived at through resolving any persistent issues that have come up during elementary, middle, or high school education through dedicated study of the SAT will help lay the groundwork for a student’s success in college and beyond.
Contact us know to see how we can help your child build a brighter future.
