SAT Question and Section Formats

Most SAT questions are in multiple choice format. An approximate description of the questions and format of the test is as follows:

SAT Test Format – Approximately Four Hours

The SAT is a paper based, standardized (everybody gets the same questions) test.

It is composed of:

– seven twenty-five minute sections
– two twenty minute sections
– one ten minute section

The test will last almost four hours.

SAT Question Formats By Topic

Math – 70 Minutes – Two 25 minute sections and one 20 minute section
Score 200 – 800
– Multiple choice – Problem Solving
– Non-multiple choice – student produced responses

You may want to check out this SAT Math Refresher.

Reading – 70 Minutes – Two 25 minute sections and one 20 minute section
Score 200 – 800

– Multiple choice – Passage-based Reading
– Multiple choice – Passage-based Comparative Reading
– Multiple choice – Passage Completion

Writing – 60 Minutes – One 25 minute writing, one 25 minute and one 10 minute
Score – 200 – 800

– Multiple choice – Identifying sentence errors
– Multiple choice – Improving sentences
– Multiple choice – Improving paragraphs
– Non-multiple choice – Written essay

Calculators are allowed.