SAT English: Reading And Writing Exam
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the English portion of the SAT, or, as it is actually called, the Reading and Writing SAT, has anything to do with a test you are used to. Here you will not find a use of English or a listening. The Reading and Writing is a complex language skills test. We tell you its structure, the types of questions, what concepts are evaluated, the most significant changes introduced in the Digital SAT for Reading and Writing and considerations for solving the exam.
Table of Contents
SAT Reading and Writing Structure
The SAT Reading and Writing (R&W) exam is made up of 2 modules or sections that each contain 27 questions. That is to say, the Reading and Writing part consists of 54 questions for which you have 64 minutes of resolution time and for which you opt for a score of between 200 and 800 points.
The first module of R&W is common for all candidates as far as the level of difficulty is concerned. That is, the questions will not be exactly the same, but their level of complexity will be.
The second module depends on your resolution of the first. That is, depending on whether you pass a certain number of questions correct or not, you will be given the upper module or not. The upper module consists of more difficult questions, but also gives you higher scores for the same number of correct answers. If you want to learn more about the SAT score, we leave you the following link.
SAT Reading and Writing Question Types
Unlike what happens with the mathematics exam, in the Reading and Writing exam you will only find multiple choice questions. All questions consist of 4 options of which only one is correct. It is important that you remember that on the SAT, incorrect answers in the test type will not penalize your grade.
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Evaluated Concepts
It is important that you understand that the Reading and Writing portion of the SAT is not like the Cambridge English exams that you are most likely used to taking. Possibly, as a student, you will have taken knowledge of English as a foreign language tests, but the SAT evaluates advanced linguistic knowledge.
Remember that it is an exam designed to evaluate the linguistic skills of North American high school students, so an advanced level of English is taken for granted as a necessary requirement. After thousands of prepared students, we can guarantee that a good level of English is an exclusive condition. That is to say, a good level of English does not guarantee you a good Reading and Writing grade but a low level of English is a guarantee of absolute failure.
The Reading and Writing exam evaluates different linguistic aspects. The main categories, in order of importance, are:
- Vocabulary within a context
- “Rhetorical purpose”
- “Command of Evidence”
- Use of punctuation marks
- Transition terms
There are, between categories and subcategories, 28 elements. The above are the main ones but they are not the only ones. It is very important that if you want to be competitive in solving the SAT that you understand and master all the content categories evaluated in the Reading and Writing exam.
Significant Changes to the Digital SAT Reading and Writing
The Digital SAT has represented a significant change in the exam. Not only has the support on which you will take the exam been modified, but very significant structural changes have also been introduced. The main developments affecting the Reading and Writing Exam:
- There are no longer two exams: in the SAT paper there are 3 exams. The Reading one, the Writing one and the Math one. With the arrival of the Digital SAT, the structure has been simplified and Reading and Writing is evaluated in a single exam.
- The resolution times per question have been modified: The SAT paper times were 48 seconds per question for Writing and 75 seconds per question for Reading. On average for both exams on the SAT paper you had 62.5 seconds per question. The resolution times per question for the Digital SAT Reading and Writing are close to 72 seconds.
- The total number of questions has decreased: The SAT paper had 52 questions on the Reading Exam and 44 on the Writing Exam. The total number of questions for what was known as Evidence Based Reading and Writing was 96 questions. Currently, the Reading and Writing of the digital SAT has a total of 54 questions divided into 2 modules of 27 each.
- The structure of Reading has undergone drastic changes: there were 5 long passages of 500 to 700 words each and 10 questions had to be answered per passage. This forced reading times in English that were very difficult for non-natives to assume. Now you will be faced with single paragraphs of 100 to 150 words each with a single question to answer per paragraph.
SAT Reading and Writing Resolution
The SAT exam requires more than mere participation. It involves competing not only with oneself, but also with the millions of test takers each year. Keep in mind that the primary purpose of a standardized test is to rank all candidates, providing institutions with a benchmark for comparison. Adopt this mindset as you approach SAT math test preparation.
As for how to approach it, it is essential to divide it into:
- Proceso de preparación antes del examen:
- Organize your preparation logically: The SAT is not like getting your driving license. Simply taking the exams is insufficient without a solid understanding of the linguistic concepts that will be evaluated. Remember that the number of questions is unlimited, especially in the era we are heading towards, where machines can generate infinite combinations.
- Practice without rest: Although it may seem contradictory to the previous point, it is not. To build a solid foundation, it is necessary to deeply assimilate the concepts and practice them exhaustively. Keep in mind that every fraction of a second you beat the clock can make a significant difference in your final performance.
- Master some widely tested concepts: It is essential to know how to use punctuation marks correctly. For example, you should thoroughly understand the differences between periods, semicolons, colons, and hyphens. Additionally, you should also feel comfortable using transition words.
- Considerations for the day of the exam:
- If you feel there is anything else important in here add it:
- Don’t obsess over unanswered questions: Remember that each module of the Reading and Writing exam consists of 27 questions. You are not required to answer them in the order in which they appear. If you read a question and realize within the first 5 seconds that you don’t know the answer, bookmark it for later. The Bluebook allows you to bookmark questions to review again before completing the module.
- Know how to use the Bluebook: Solve at least one complete Reading and Writing exam using the Bluebook. You can’t afford any surprises on exam day.
- Decide how to manage your time: Keep in mind that a clock will appear on the screen.
You have the option to hide it or leave it visible. Before you start the exam, determine if having the watch will help you or penalize you based on your personality. If it doesn’t cause you stress, it can be a valuable tool.
However, if it may negatively impact your performance, hide me and enable it periodically.
