2006 SAT/ACT TEST BREAKDOWN: What's Up With the New Tests?
SAT
Beginning with the class of 2006, students opting to take the SAT will be required to take the new SAT Reasoning Test. This exam was first administered March 12, 2005, but was optional through the end of the year.
Check out the new format - we've simplified it for you - so you know what to expect.
THE BASICS
- The SAT Reasoning Test is marginally more difficult, to deter the rising number of perfect scores.
- New score: 2400. Each section is scored on a scale of 200-800 (scores are always a multiple of 10).
- Total length: 3 hours, 45 minutes
- Consists of math, critical reading and writing (includes an essay)
- Total sections: 10 – 3 math, 3 reading, 3 writing, and 1 equating section that can be any of the three sections, does not count toward your score, is used only to test questions for future exams and compares the difficulty level of each exam
- Each question now has five answer choices.
1. MATHEMATICS SECTION
- 70 minutes
- New content covers three years of high school
- Includes material such as exponential growth, absolute value and functional notation. Quantitative comparisons have been eliminated.
- Greater emphasis on linear functions, manipulations with exponents and properties of tangent lines
- Each correct answer equals 1 raw point added; no points are deducted for wrong answers. Final score is the total of raw points.
2. WRITING SECTION
- 60 minutes (35-minute multiple choice section and 25-minute written essay)
- Multiple-choice material includes grammar usage, word choice and short essay.
- Written essay helps close the gap between the highest and midrange scores; tests the writing ability of each student in a personal manner; and measures a student's ability to organize and express ideas clearly, develop and support a main idea, and use appropriate word choice and sentence structure.
- In the essay, you must develop and support a point of view on an issue, using reasoning and evidence based on your own experience.
- Essay is scored from 1-6 (6 is the highest) by high school/college teachers trained in the reasoning test.
3. CRITICAL READING SECTION (formerly the verbal section)
- Two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section
- Tests critical reading and sentence-level reading skills through short reading passages, and sentencecompletion and passage-based reading questions
- Analogies have been eliminated.
SAT SUBJECT TEST (formerly the SAT II)
- 20 multiple-choice tests in individual subjects
- Students take certain tests if required by the college(s) to which they're applying.
- Students can take up to three tests on one test day (each test takes one hour).
- Subject Test is administered almost all the same dates as the SAT Reasoning Test.
- Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800.
- 20 Subject Tests include:
- English literature
- History and social studies (U.S. history, formerly American history and social studies; and world history)
- Mathematics (Math Level 1, formerly Math IC; Math level 2, formerly Math IIC)
- Science (biology E/M – ecological/ molecular; chemistry; physics)
- Languages (Chinese, French, German, Spanish, modern Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Korean)
- Discontinued Subject Tests in January 2005: Writing and English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT)
TEST REGISTRATION FOR SAT
The test is administered seven times a year. You must register at least three weeks before test date. Late registration is available, but you might not get the testing center and date you want. If you miss the late registration deadline, you can sometimes take the SAT as a standby – it never hurts to ask.
On test day, you can take the SAT Reasoning Test or up to three SAT Subject Tests. March test date: SAT Reasoning only. Sunday testing is available to those who are unable to attend Saturday due to a religious observance.
Registration bulletins are available at school counseling offices
- Includes registration form, return envelope, test dates, registration deadlines, fees, instructions, test center codes and other registration-related information
- Student should include check or money order made out to: The College Board
Phone
- 609.771.7600 (Not available for first-time test takers)
Online
- www.collegeboard.com
- Allows test takers to print SAT admission ticket, view SAT scores, and send SAT scores to colleges and universities
- Can choose test date and test center
- Immediate registration confirmation; there's no guarantee you'll get into your first-choice test center. It's based on space and testing materials available.
ACT
Also beginning in 2006, some colleges will require the ACT Plus Writing test rather than the ACT. Be sure to check with each school before taking your ACT.
The basics:
- ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36.
- ACT Plus Writing is scored on a scale of 2-20.
English
- Measures standard written and rhetorical skills
- 75 questions
- 45 minutes reading
Mathematics
- Measures skills acquired through 12th grade
- 60 questions
- 60 minutes
Reading
- Measures comprehension
- 40 questions
- 35 minutes
Science
- Measures interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning and problem solving skills required in the natural sciences
- 40 questions
- 35 minutes
Optional Writing Test
- Measures skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses
- 30 minutes
- Measures individual’s critical thinking skills, analytical skills and ability to problem-solve
What to bring on test day
- Yourself: Arrive at test center on test day at 7:45 a.m.
- Registration form, sealed in envelope, with payment (check, money order or credit card)
- Additional fee of $35
- Two No. 2 pencils with good erasers
- Admission ticket
- Picture ID (school ID, drivers license, passport, etc.)
- A sweater (testing rooms usually are chilly!)
- An acceptable calculator (four-function, scientific or graphing calculator – bring spare batteries just in case!)
- Food and drink allowed if stored in book bag under desk; must be consumed outside test room during breaks
What not to bring on test day
- Cellular phone or pager
- Portable electronic devices (iPod, camera, etc.)
- A watch with an audible alarm
- Notes, scratch paper, books, dictionaries
- Compass, protractor, ruler or any other aid