SAT Quantitative Basics!
Here's all the basics you need to know about the SAT Quantitative sections!
Number of Questions
There are 3 Quantitative sections on the SAT
Section 1: 24 multiple choice (25 minutes)
Section 2: 8 multiple choice, 10 grid-in (25 minutes)
Section 3: 16 multiple choice (20 minutes)
GRAND TOTAL: 48 multiple choice and 10 grid-in, or 58 in all
Although these three sections may come before or after writing or critical reading sections, they will always be given in this order.
Scoring
Your Quantitative score will be measured on a scale of 200 to 800.
This scaled score is derived from your RAW SCORE. Your raw score is based on your actual answers.
• For every wrong answer in multiple choice, you get 1/4 of a point subtracted from your raw score. That means that there IS a penalty for guessing in multiple choice.
• For every wrong answer in grid-in, nothing is subtracted.
• For every omitted answer of either variety, nothing is subtracted from your raw score - but it isn't added either!
Important lesson from this: Never skip a grid-in! There's no penalty for answering one wrong, and therefore NO penalty for guessing. Take a chance and do your best here. When you arrive at your second 25-minute Quantitative section, do your grid-ins first, regardless of where they appear in the section.
Test-Taking Information
*YES* you can, and SHOULD, use a calculator!
By calculator, we DON'T mean:
- Your cell phone
- Your watch
- Your PDA
- Your laptop or tablet computer
- Your electronic dictionary/Amazon Kindle
Calculators can be a simple, four-function calculator, a scientific calculator, or a graphing calculator. If you have a large, bright, or angled display, you're still OK, but you may be seated somewhere inconspicuous.
Calculators cannot make noise, and you can't share them during the test.
ONLY OLD-SCHOOL WOODEN PENCILS are allowed. Why? The College Board has not made an announcement with a reason, but that still means that your mechanical pencil will get confiscated, along with your pens.
Types of Questions:
There are four main areas of mathematics that the SAT Quantitative section includes:
1. Arithmetical operations and properties: Think square roots and sequences, number lines and factorization.
2. A**ebra: Basically all kind of equations and inequalities that include variables, as well as absolute value.
3. Geometry: Shapes, measurements, but NO TRIGONOMETRY, or PROOFS
4. Graphs, Statistics, Probability: You need to read data charts correctly, use averages, and do basic probability.
If you want to ask about any of these question types, feel free to use this forum!
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