Free Study Guides for the

SAT Exam

The Essay part of the SAT exam is now optional, but you will probably want to take it at least once since many colleges require a writing score for admission decisions. This is because a large portion of your college success will involve your ability to produce the written word and colleges want to know if you can do this in an effective manner. Consider the information in this study guide as you prepare to write on test day.

Since the SAT assesses math skills covering nearly all your years of education, there is a lot to study, if only to reassure yourself that you remember all that math. This study guide goes over all the tested skills in the four areas of math covered by the test and gives examples of the types of questions you might see on the test. You can use it to guide your SAT math preparation.

The SAT exam Reading section contains several types of passages and there are some skills that are basic for comprehension and analytical reading of any sort of text. There are also particular skills that are useful in reading a scientific passage that would not be needed when reading literature. We will cover all types of reading skills needed for this section of the SAT exam in this study guide.

The SAT exam Reading and Writing section assesses both reading and writing skills. You will see only one question for each short passage. The passages vary in type and content. You’ll need to be able to read and comprehend different styles of writing and be comfortable with both fiction and nonfiction material. It will also be necessary to evaluate writing of all sorts and determine how it can best be changed to make the passage more effective and to make it extremely clear to the reader. Use this study guide to review your reading and writing skills.

Even though this is not a “reading” test, you will need to read passages in order to evaluate them and answer the Writing and Language questions. This time, though, you will be reading with the eye of a proofreader or editor. Questions will ask you to determine how something can best be changed to make the passage more effective and to make it extremely clear to the reader. This study guide will tell you the types of things you will be asked to do in this section of the SAT exam so you can practice needed skills before test day.