SAT Center
What is an SAT
Scholastic Aptitude Test is a standardized test meant to show schools how prepared you are for college by measuring key skills like reading comprehension, computational ability, and clarity of expression . As a lot of students take the test, it also provides schools with data about how you compare to your peers nationwide.
You will almost certainly need to take the SAT or ACT if y ou’re applying to any colleges or universities within the United States, since most require you to submit test scores with y our application. Depending on where you want to apply, your score can account for as much as 50% of the admission decision, so a strong standardized test score is vital. Furthermore, these scores play can play a critical role in scholarship opportunities and offerings.
What does the SAT Cover?
The SAT has ten sections: the first is always the essay, followed by two reading, two math, one writing, and one experimental section of 25 min each (in a random order), and then one 20-min reading, one 20-min math, and one 10-min writing section. The test is mostly multiple choice, with the exception of the essay at the beginning of the test and 10 grid-in questions in one of the 25-minute math sections. The following chart breaks down the format of the test. Click the links for more depth on what material each section covers.
| Topic Area | Sections | Total Number of Questions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Reading | 2 25-min section 1 20-min section |
48 Page Based 19 sentence completion |
|
| Math | 2 25-min section 1 20 min-section |
44 Multiple Questions 10 grid-ins |
|
| Writing | 1 25-min essay 1 25-min section 1 10min section |
25 Improving Sentences 18 Identifiying Sentence Errors 6 Improving Paragraphs |
When Should You Take the SAT?
The ideal time to take your SAT’s is within your Lower 6th year or the May sit within your Upper 6th Year this will give you time to take it again before you are in dire need of the results for university applications. Traditionally university applications are undertaken in your last year of school especially if you have aspirations for a scholarship
Critical Thinking Workshops
The SAT emphasizes higher-level logical and reasoning skills. The Reading and Writing questions are now entirely passage-based, giving more opportunities to test a deeper understanding of how the passage is logically constructed and to draw connections between different parts of the passage. The Math section emphasizes more practical, realistic scenarios and introduces multi-step problems. In Zimbabwe the education system is compounded with more recital, regurgitation and the ability to memorise and cram learning aspects. The SAT does the opposite, it desires that the student reason, analyse and give their perspective. So it is not about being good in Maths or English it is the ability to break these down and process.
As such students are taken through the aspect and understanding of critical thinking. These lessons allow students to put depth and thought into passages. To break them down logically and understand exactly what the question requires of them.
