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Wyatt's Notes — Qualifications

Introduction to SAT Notes

Overview

The SAT, administered by the College Board, is a standardised test widely used for undergraduate admissions in the United States. Since 2024 the SAT has been delivered exclusively in a digital format at test centres. The exam is scored on a 400-1600 scale, combining two section scores: Reading & Writing and Mathematics.

The digital SAT uses a multistage adaptive (MST) model. Each section is split into two modules; your performance on the first module determines the difficulty of the second. This means stronger students see harder questions and can demonstrate mastery at a higher level.

Test Structure

SectionModulesQuestions per ModuleTime per ModuleTotal Time
Reading & WritingModule 1 + Module 22732 minutes64 minutes
MathematicsModule 1 + Module 22235 minutes70 minutes

Total: 98 questions, 134 minutes (~2 hours 14 minutes).

The test also includes a short break between the Reading & Writing and Mathematics sections.

Scoring

  • Each section is scored on a 200-800 scale.
  • The composite score is the sum: 400-1600.
  • Questions within each module are weighted equally — there is no penalty for guessing (rights-only scoring).
  • The adaptive algorithm adjusts the difficulty of Module 2 based on Module 1 performance, which determines the score range available in that section.

Adaptive Model

  1. Module 1 (Routing) — A mix of easy, medium, and hard questions across all content domains.
  2. Module 2 (Operational) — Difficulty is set based on Module 1 performance:
    • If you performed well in Module 1, Module 2 presents harder questions with a higher score ceiling.
    • If Module 1 performance was lower, Module 2 presents easier questions with a lower ceiling.

This means every question matters — a strong Module 1 performance unlocks the harder (and higher-scoring) Module 2.

Sections Covered

Reading & Writing

The Reading & Writing section tests comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and logical reasoning through discrete passage-based questions. Questions are grouped by passage rather than by skill type. See Reading & Writing for full notes.

Mathematics

The Mathematics section covers algebra, advanced math, geometry, trigonometry, and data analysis. A calculator is permitted throughout the entire section. See Mathematics for full notes.

Registration

  • Registration is handled through the College Board website: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org
  • The SAT is in most cases offered seven times per year (March, May, June, August, October, November, December) in the US, and fewer dates internationally.
  • Registration in most cases opens about 4-5 weeks before the test date.
  • Fee waivers are available for eligible students in the US.

How to Use These Notes

These notes are written with the rigour of an undergraduate textbook, but targeted at the SAT Syllabus. Every definition is precise, every strategy is justified, and every formula is derived (or its derivation is sketched with enough detail for you to complete it).

The goal is not just exam preparation — it is to build the deep mathematical, scientific, literary, And logical intuition that makes exam questions feel like applications of things you truly understand.

  1. Read the theory first. Each section builds on previous ones. Start with Reading & Writing and then Mathematics.
  2. Work through the strategies. Don’t skip them — understanding why a strategy works is what separates top scorers from the rest.
  3. Attempt the problem sets. Each topic includes multi-step problems that test deep understanding, not just recall.
  4. Use the common pitfalls sections. These highlight the errors that students make year after year.

Study Plan

12-Week Timeline

WeekFocusTime Commitment
1-2Diagnostic test + review weak areas8-10 hrs/week
3-6Core content review (RW + Math)6-8 hrs/week
7-8Targeted practice on weak domains6-8 hrs/week
9-10Full-length practice tests (timed)4-6 hrs/week
11Review errors + targeted drill4-6 hrs/week
12Final practice test + light review2-4 hrs/week

Weekly Routine

  • 2 sessions of Reading & Writing practice (30-45 minutes each)
  • 2 sessions of Mathematics practice (30-45 minutes each)
  • 1 full-section timed practice (64 minutes RW or 70 minutes Math, alternating weeks)
  • 1 review session analysing mistakes from the week

Official Resources