SAT Structure & Purpose
What are the two main sections of the Digital SAT?
Reading & Writing, and Math
What does a “vocabulary in context” question ask you to determine?
The meaning of a word based on how it’s used in the passage
Which passage type often includes characters, conflict, and emotions?
Literature
The scientist's findings helped advance understanding of climate patterns.
Variations of: to promote or further
Because many of the artifacts discovered at the excavation site lacked inscriptions or clear historical records, museum curators found them difficult to ______ and had to rely on contextual clues to form educated guesses about their original function.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A. preserve
B. display
C. identify
D. imitate
C. identify
How long is the Digital SAT (approximate total testing time)?
About 2 hours and 14 minutes
What is the main purpose of a “paired question” (Part A and Part B)?
part A asks for the answer; Part B asks for evidence supporting it
Which passage type typically includes arguments about government or society?
Historical or civic documents
The actor's performance was subtle, relying on small gestures rather than dramatic movements.
Variations of: delicate or understated
"Although automation has replaced some routine jobs, economists note that it has also created new industries and increased demand for workers with specialized skills."
Which claim would the author most likely support?
A. Automation only harms workers.
B. Automation has no effect on employment.
C. Automation can both eliminate and create employment opportunities.
D. Specialized skills are becoming unnecessary.
C. Automation can both eliminate and create employment opportunities
What scoring scale does the SAT use?
400–1600 composite score
What is the “main idea” of a passage?
The central point or overall message the author wants to convey
Which passage type usually includes experiments, data, or scientific explanations?
Science passages
The professor sought to challenge long-held assumptions about human behavior.
Variations of: to question or dispute
"Researchers found that communities with higher levels of civic participation—such as volunteering, attending public meetings, and voting—also tended to report higher levels of trust among residents and stronger perceptions of community well-being."
Which claim is best supported by the evidence?
A. Civic participation causes community well-being.
B. Trust among residents is unimportant.
C. Civic participation is associated with stronger communities.
D. Communities should require residents to volunteer.
C. Civic participation is associated with stronger communities
Why do colleges use SAT scores?
to evaluate academic readiness and compare applicants using a common measure
What does “author’s tone” refer to?
The writer’s attitude toward the subject
Which passage type focuses on human behavior, economics, or culture?
Social science passages
The historian noted that the king's power began to wane after years of political unrest.
Variations of: to decrease or weaken
The following text is from Thomas Hardy's 1874 novel Far from the Madding Crowd. The character Gabriel Oak is reflecting on his surroundings as night falls.
Gabriel had often observed the transformation of a familiar landscape at dusk, but never had the change seemed so sudden, or so complete. The fields, lately loud with the click of shears and voices, lay under a hush as if the earth had drawn in its breath. He stood still, listening for something more, something yet to be said by the silence.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
A. It contrasts the quiet of evening with the earlier noise of the day.
B. It introduces a question that the character will later try to resolve.
C. It establishes that Gabriel is uncertain about what he wants.
D. It describes the physical sensation of darkness setting in.
A. It contrasts the quiet of evening with the earlier noise of the day.
What is one major difference between the Digital SAT and the paper SAT?
The Digital SAT is adaptive, adjusting difficulty based on performance in each module
What is the best strategy for answering evidence‑based questions?
choose the answer in Part A first, then find the line(s) that directly support it
What is one common feature of science passages that helps you understand the author’s claim?
Use of evidence such as studies, data, or research findings
Although the findings appeared convincing at first, closer examination revealed several dubious assumptions.
Variations of: questionable or doubtful
The following text is from the 1924 poem “Cycle” by D’Arcy McNickle, who was a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
There shall be new roads wending,
A new beating of the drum–
Men’s eyes shall have fresh seeing,
Grey lives reprise their span–
But under the new sun’s being,
Completing what night began,
There’ll be the same backs bending,
The same sad feet shall drum–
When this night finds its ending
And day shall have come…
Which choice best states the purpose of the text?
A. To consider how the repetitiveness inherent in human life can be both rewarding and challenging
B. To question whether activities completed at one time of day are more memorable than those completed at another time of day
C. To refute the idea that joy is a more commonly experienced emotion than sadness is
D. To demonstrate how the experiences of individuals relate to the experiences of their communities
A. To consider how the repetitiveness inherent in human life can be both rewarding and challenging