“educational empowerment: we are our brother’s keeper!” sat study guide international director...

““Educational Empowerment: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper!”Educational Empowerment: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper!”

SAT Study GuideSAT Study Guide

International Director of EducationInternational Director of Education

Brother William L. Powell, Jr.Brother William L. Powell, Jr.Conclave 2009

New Orleans, Louisiana


SAT Reasoning TestSAT Reasoning Test

• The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you will need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors.

• Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200—800, with two writing sub-scores for multiple-choice and the essay. It is administered seven times a year.


SAT Question TypesSAT Question Types

• The SAT includes several different question types, including: a student- produced essay, multiple-choice questions, and student-produced responses (grid-ins).


The Un-scored SectionThe Un-scored Section

• In addition, there is one 25-minute section that is utilized to ensure that the SAT continues to be a fair and valid test. This is a common test development practice, but don't worry— this does not count towards your score.

• This may be a critical reading, mathematics, or

writing multiple-choice section. This un-scored section is used to try out new questions for future editions of the SAT.


The Critical Reading SectionThe Critical Reading Section

Time Content Item Types Score

70 min. (two 25-min. sections

and one 20-min.

section)

Critical reading and sentence-

level reading

Reading comprehension,

sentence completion and

paragraph-length critical reading

200-800


Critical ReadingCritical Reading

• The critical reading section, formerly known as the verbal section, includes short as well as long reading passages. Questions can be based on one, or sometimes two, reading passages. Some questions are not based on reading passages, but ask you to complete sentences.

• The critical reading section measures:– Sentence Completions – Passage-based Reading


Sentence Completion

• Sentence Completion questions measure your: – knowledge of

the meanings of words

– ability to understand how the different parts of a sentence fit logically together


Reading ComprehensionReading Comprehension• The following kinds of questions may be asked about

a passage: – Vocabulary in Context: These questions ask you to

determine the meanings of words from their context in the reading passage.

– Literal Comprehension: These questions assess your understanding of significant information directly stated in the passage.

– Extended Reasoning: These questions measure your ability to synthesize and analyze information, as well as to evaluate the assumptions made and the techniques used by the author. Most of the reading questions fall into this category. You may be asked to identify cause and effect, make inferences, recognize a main idea or an author's tone, and follow the logic of an analogy or an argument.


The Mathematics Section The Mathematics Section

Time Question Types

Score

70 min. (two 25-min. sections and one 20-min.

section)

Multiple-choice questions and

student-produced

responses

200-800


MathematicsMathematics

• The mathematics section of the SAT contains two types of questions:– Multiple-choice questions (44

questions) – Student-produced response

questions appear without answer choices. You'll use your answer sheet to "grid in” your solution. (10 questions)


MathematicsMathematics • The mathematics content level of the SAT includes

advanced topics. The following math concepts are covered on the test:

Number and Operations– Arithmetic word problems (including percent, ratio, and

proportion) – Properties of integers (even, odd, prime numbers,

divisibility, etc.) – Rational numbers – Logical reasoning – Sets (union, intersection, elements) – Counting techniques – Sequences and series (including exponential growth) – Elementary number theory


MathematicsMathematicsAlgebra and Functions

– Substitution and simplifying algebraic expressions – Properties of exponents – Algebraic word problems – Solutions of linear equations and

inequalities – Systems of equations and inequalities – Quadratic equations – Rational and radical equations – Equations of lines – Absolute value – Direct and inverse variation – Concepts of algebraic functions – Newly defined symbols based on commonly used operations


MathematicsMathematicsGeometry and Measurement

– Area and perimeter of a polygon – Area and circumference of a circle – Volume of a box, cube, and cylinder – Pythagorean Theorem and special

properties of isosceles, equilateral, and right triangles

– Properties of parallel and perpendicular lines – Coordinate geometry – Geometric visualization – Slope – Similarity – Transformations


The Writing Section The Writing Section Time Content Item Types Score

60 min. Grammar, usage, and

word choice

Multiple choice

questions (35 min.) and

student-written essay

(25 min.)

200-800


Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice• The multiple-choice writing questions measure

your ability to: – Improve sentences and paragraphs – Identify errors (such as diction, grammar, sentence

construction, subject-verb agreement, proper word usage, and wordiness)

• Try multiple-choice questions: – Identifying Sentence Errors – Improving Sentences – Improving Paragraphs


Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

The multiple-choice sections measure your ability to:– communicate ideas clearly and effectively – improve a piece of writing through revision and editing – recognize and identify sentence-level errors – understand grammatical elements and structures and

how they relate to each other in a sentence – recognize correctly formed grammatical structures – clearly express ideas through sentence-combining and

use of transitional words and phrases – improve coherence of ideas within and among

paragraphs


Short EssayShort Essay

• The short essay measures your ability to: – Organize and express ideas clearly – Develop and support the main idea – Use appropriate word choice and sentence structure

• You'll be asked to develop a point of a view on an issue, using reasoning and evidence — based on your own experiences, readings, or observations — to support your ideas.


Short EssayShort Essay

• The essay will be scored by trained high school and college teachers. Each reader will give the essay a score from 1 to 6 (6 is the highest score) based on the overall quality of the essay and your demonstration of writing competence.


Test-Taking Approaches Test-Taking Approaches

• Answer easy questions first. • Make educated guesses. • Skip questions that you really

can't answer. • Limit your time on any one

question. • Keep track of time. • Use your test booklet as scratch paper. • Mark the questions in your booklet that you skipped and

want to return to. • Check your answer sheet to make sure you are answering the

right question. • Make sure you use a No. 2 pencil.


William L. Powell Jr.William L. Powell Jr.International Director of EducationInternational Director of Education

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

For Further Information:For Further Information:Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Phone: 717-434-9516Phone: 717-434-9516

“educational empowerment: we are our brother’s keeper!” sat study guide international director...

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