SAT 101

Of all the hoops that students living in NJ must jump through while applying to college, taking the SAT is often the one that inspires most dread in students and parents. In truth, the SAT isn’t so scary, but to do well you’ll need to become well-versed in how the test works. (Unless, of course, you’d rather take the ACT—check out our ACT guide for more info on the SAT’s competitor test.) For everyone else, CATES Tutoring can cover the needs of northern NJ-based students living in Morristown, Madison, and Chatham with our comprehensive introduction to the SAT. Let’s get started!

Why Should New Jersey Students Take The SAT?

The SAT is a standardized test used in US college admissions. This exam originated in 1926 and is run by the College Board, a nonprofit that also offers the PSAT and Advanced Placement (AP) tests.

In theory, the SAT helps colleges to analyze a student’s readiness for college with a series of (mostly) multiple-choice questions that cover verbal reasoning, knowledge of the language, and mathematical proficiency. Because it measures students from across the nation and the world against a uniform scale, it provides New Jersey-based colleges with a quick way to compare students from different high schools and educational systems.

The SAT jockeys for position with the ACT, another college entrance exam that was introduced in 1959. Colleges in New Jersey and across the nation view the tests as equals, and students living near West Orange and Short Hills are free to choose the test with which they feel they can best demonstrate their ability. (Some students even choose to take both tests.)

Given their important role in the admissions process, SAT scores will shape a student’s entire application journey: they will decide which schools are realistic targets and might influence the amount of New Jersey state financial aid and scholarships for which the student is eligible.

What is the structure/format of the SAT?

The SAT consists of 154 questions, mostly multiple-choice, spread across 180 minutes and three test sections: Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. There is also an optional, 50-minute essay section. You can find a more detailed breakdown in the table below:

* On your test report, you will see the scores from the Reading and Writing and Language tests displayed as a single “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing” (EBRW) score.

SAT Section Details

SAT Reading

The Reading test measures three primary skill areas:

• Command of Evidence: Students living near Ridgewood and Saddle River must find evidence within a passage that best supports an answer or serves as the basis for a reasonable conclusion, to identify how authors use evidentiary support in claims, and to establish a relationship between an informational graphic and a paired passage
• Words in Context: Students will leverage context clues to work out which meaning of a word or phrase is being used and to decide how an author’s word choice influences meaning, style, and tone
• Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science: tests students’ ability to examine hypotheses, interpret data, and consider implications

All questions in the SAT Reading section are multiple-choice and based on passages. Some passages might be paired (for comparative questions), while others might feature graphs, charts, or informational graphics for students to interpret (but fear not: mathematical skills are not tested in the Reading).

The SAT Reading section always includes:

• One passage from a classic or contemporary work of U.S. or world literature
• One passage or a pair of passages from either a U.S. founding document or a text in what the College Board terms the “Great Global Conversation.” This can include almost any well-known humanistic text that explores issues such as freedom, equality, and government. Examples could include the Bill of Rights or a speech by Nelson Mandela.
• A passage from a social science such as economics, sociology, or psychology
• Two natural science passages that examine significant concepts in Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics

SAT Writing and Language

The Writing and Language test measures five primary skill areas:

• Command of Evidence: Students will improve the way passages develop information and ideas by, for example, sharpening an argumentative claim or adding a relevant supporting detail
• Words in Context: Students will improve word choices to make the passage more precise or concise, or to improve syntax, style, or tone
• Analysis in History/Social Studies and Science: Students will examine passages about topics in history, social studies, and science and make editorial decisions that improve them
• Expression of Ideas: Students will address a passage’s organization and its impact—for instance, which words or structural changes might improve how well a passage makes its point
• Standard English Conventions: Students will change words, clauses, sentences, and punctuation based on their knowledge of grammar, with topics including verb tense, parallel construction, subject-verb agreement, and comma use

All questions in the Writing and Language test are multiple-choice and based on passages. Some passages might feature graphs, charts, or informational graphics for students to interpret, but, as in the Reading test, no math is required.

Some questions in the Writing and Language test might require students to look closely at a single word or sentence, while others require reading the entire piece. The passages can range from arguments to nonfiction narratives and may cover careers, history, social studies, humanities, and science.

SAT Math

The SAT Math section measures four primary skill areas:

• Heart of Algebra: tests students’ mastery of linear equations and systems
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis: tests students’ quantitative literacy
• Passport to Advanced Math: tests students’ ability to manipulate complex equations
• Additional Topics in Math: tests students’ understanding of concepts and skills within geometry, trigonometry, and pre-calculus

The SAT Math test has two subsections: Calculator and No Calculator. There’s no prize for guessing what these exams entail: on the Calculator section, you’re allowed to use a calculator that meet the College Board’s requirements (although using a calculator is not required, nor is it needed for every question), and on the No Calculator section, no calculators are permitted.

The majority of questions in the Math test are multiple-choice, but there are four “grid-in” questions on each subsection. For the grid-in questions, students have to calculate the answer themselves.

SAT Essay Option For New Jersey Students

The SAT essay is optional, but a few colleges do require it. Before you register for the SAT, you should check the essay policy at your schools of choice in New Jersey and out of state.

In the SAT essay, you’ll be asked to read a passage, explain how the author builds an argument to persuade a particular audience, and support your explanation with evidence from the passage.

For example, you might write about how the author uses facts or examples to support claims, how logic and reasoning are used to build an argument, or how stylistic and rhetorical techniques are used to strengthen the ideas expressed. Your essay will be purely analytical and you will not be asked to take a position or write about your personal experience.

You could be asked to write about a passage from a wide range of published sources. It will always argue a point and may examine ideas related to culture, arts, sciences, civics, or politics.

In your essay, you should aim to demonstrate three key skills:

• Reading: Demonstrate that you understand the passage’s central ideas and important details, including through effective use of textual evidence
  Analysis: Show that you understand how the author builds an argument through facts or examples, logic and reasoning, and stylistic or persuasive techniques
  Writing: Your essay should be focused, organized, and precise, and it should exemplify your ability to use correct English and make appropriate use of style and tone

How difficult is the SAT For New Jersey students?

We won’t pull any punches: for the vast majority of students, getting a top SAT score is no cinch. But know that it is absolutely possible for most to earn an excellent score with dedicated preparation and lots of practice. This holds true regardless of New Jersey students’ prior performance in school. Those with excellent grades will still need to put serious effort into preparation, and, with the right support, those who haven’t done quite so well in class can exceed expectations and earn impressive scores.

This is because the kind of smarts usually rewarded by New Jersey school midterms and finals are only one piece of the puzzle in successful SAT testing. Besides coming to grips with the “content”—in other words, the academic knowledge and concepts tested by the SAT—students need to learn and apply appropriate test-specific and question type-specific strategies, as well as hone their test-taking skills. At CATES, we call these elements the Three Skills of Successful Testers. You can learn more about each of the three skills below.

Content

By “content,” we mean the relevant academic knowledge, concepts, and skills in English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing that are tested by the SAT. While plenty of students can boost their scores with smart tactics (and a little luck), everyone must know the content covered on the exam, inside and out, to maximize their performance.

The College Board loosely aligns their test content with Common Core standards, so most topics should feel at least somewhat familiar to you, depending on your NJ based school’s curriculum.

Strategy

While knowing the content is an absolute must, students must also properly employ a testing strategy. “Strategy” refers to not only the tactics used to answer specific questions, but also the student’s personalized approach to the test as a whole: scoring, timing, and methods for choosing between two answer choices based on the conditions at play in the moment.

Every standardized test is an entity unto itself, testing similar material in ways different enough to influence a student’s strategy. The ideal approach to SAT Math, for example, differs from the best approach to ACT Math, despite many similarities in content. Students who understand how to read and respond to these differences stand poised to maximize their scores.

Test-Taking Skills for New Jersey Students

Even if you have mastered the content and testing strategy, you will not maximize your score if you cannot stay consistently focused and in control of your performance—for nearly four hours on the SAT. Enter the final skill of successful testers: test-taking skills. This refers to students’ proficiency in several areas related to executive functioning and emotional self-regulation, including time management, focus, endurance, carefulness, and trust.
These “soft” skills are just as critical to success as those related to content and strategy. Frequently, a student’s ability to develop strong test-taking skills is the deciding factor in whether they achieve their target score.

How does SAT scoring work?

Scores on the SAT are a little more complicated than students might be accustomed to on school assignments, so it’s worth knowing about the process.

Overview

Overall SAT scores range from 400 to 1600 in 10-point increments. This score comprises two section scores: one for Math and one for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW). Each section score can range from 200 to 800.

The optional essay is evaluated separately and doesn’t factor into the overall score. Essays are assigned separate scores from 2–8 in each of three areas: reading, analysis, and writing (for a maximum overall score of 24).

Scaled Scores

Be aware that your primary SAT scores are scaled scores. This means that the score isn’t simply the number or percentage of questions you got correct. Instead, the number of answers you got correct in each section—your raw score—is converted to a scaled score using a conversion table that is unique to each individual SAT test. This means that, for example, getting 42 questions correct on the Math test might earn a scaled score of 640 on one test and 620 on another.

Why does the College Board do this? It’s all to ensure that no matter which version of the test you take—some may have slightly easier or more difficult questions—your score accurately represents your ability. Colleges can use this to make a fair comparison with students who took different versions of the test.

Raw Scores

Your raw scores are simply how many questions you answered correctly in each section. Raw scores from the Reading and the Writing and Language tests are combined before being converted into a single Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) scaled score. Points are not deducted for incorrect or omitted answers, so it is always better to guess if you are unsure of the correct answer.

Cross-Test Scores

The SAT also reports “cross-test scores” for Analysis in Science and Analysis in History/Social Studies. Essentially, these cross-test scores describe how well you did on science-related questions and history/social studies-related questions from across the entire test. Your performance in each of these areas is tallied up and converted into a single score ranging from 10 to 40.

For instance, you might encounter science-related passages in the Reading and Writing and Language sections and be asked to interpret results from a science experiment in the Math section. Your performance on these questions would form the basis for your Analysis in Science cross-test score.

Subscores

Finally, your SAT score report will include “subscores” for each test section. Subscores show admissions officers your achievement for certain skills or content areas within a section. In total, there are seven subscores (listed below) and each is graded on a scale from 1 to 15.

Reading Subscores

• Command of Evidence
• Words in Context

Writing and Language Subscores

• Expression of Ideas
• Standard English Conventions

Math Subscores

• Heart of Algebra
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis
• Passport to Advanced Math

Superscoring

Superscoring is the process by which some colleges consider your highest section scores across all the dates you took the SAT. NJ -based and out of state colleges that practice superscoring use your best section scores to form the highest possible overall score, even if those section scores came from different test dates.

For instance, imagine that you took the March SAT and scored 720 in the Math section and 690 in EBRW (producing an overall score of 1,410). You then took the exam again in June and scored 700 in the Math section and 730 in EBRW (producing an overall score of 1,430). Colleges that superscore would combine your March Math score and your June EBRW score to give you a higher overall score of 1,450.

Not all colleges practice superscoring (and some may superscore score in slightly different ways). You can usually find NJ and out of state schools’ superscoring policies on their admissions websites.

Score Choice

In most cases, College Board will send all your available scores to the colleges you listed as score recipients. That’s all well and good—until you have an off day (it happens!). Students in this situation are naturally concerned that any outlying low scores could be a red flag for admissions officers.

To make this a little less stressful for students, the College Board introduced Score Choice, a service that allows you to choose which score reports get sent out and which ones don’t. Students living in Hoboken and Franklin Lakes can choose to send reports by test date (or by individual test for SAT Subject Tests), but not by individual section. So if you received a perfect 800 in EBRW but fell asleep in the Math, you’re out of luck!

Be aware that not all colleges participate in Score Choice. Several schools, including Yale, Georgetown, UPenn, and the UC system, require students to send scores from all sittings of the SAT. If your first-choice school is in New Jersey, try to find their Score Choice policies usually located on their admissions websites.

How will colleges use my score?

Colleges leverage your SAT score primarily to assess your readiness for college and to compare you against students from different high schools and educational systems in New Jersey and across the nation. Test scores are typically the second most important factor in admissions decisions, after academics (meaning both your grades and the rigor of your classes).

To have a realistic shot of admission at a particular college, your SAT score should fall between the 25th and 75th percentiles of scorers in the college’s incoming freshman class. For example, the 25th–75th percentile range for Stanford’s Class of 2022 was 1420–1570. Therefore, to have a shot at admission—in terms of SAT scores, at least—you should aim for a score comfortably above 1420.

Scholarships For New Jersey Students

Many NJ-based and out-of-state colleges use test scores—alone or together with other characteristics and achievements—to award merit-based scholarships and financial aid.

The same is true for many other foundations and private organizations that award college scholarships. Make sure to do your research when it comes to your local NJ high school’s scholarships that are awarded before graduation. Think of it as another reason to put some real effort into your SAT prep—it can pay dividends – literally!

Placement and Support

Beyond admissions and scholarships, some colleges also use SAT scores to place students in classes that are at the right level. Your 790 in EBRW might allow you to place out of an introductory writing course, for example.

Scores may also be used to identify students who would benefit from specific advisors or academic support in college.

What is a good SAT score?

It all depends on who you are and what you’re aiming for. In 2019, the average SAT scores in the United States were as follows:

• EBRW: 531
• Math: 528
• Total: 1059

Anything above average is, well, pretty good—especially for a first or diagnostic test! But what really counts as a “good” score is ultimately determined by your college goals. You want your score to fall comfortably within the 25th–75th percentile range of scorers at your schools of choice (this is sometimes called the interquartile range or the “middle 50%”). Most schools publish this information on their admissions websites and it is also available through US News & World Report’s paid College Compass tool.

Do New Jersey students need to take the SAT?

Definitely maybe… There are a few factors to consider when deciding whether you need to take the SAT: where you live, whether you plan to apply to college, and which NJ based colleges you will apply to such as Rutgers, Montclair State University, Princeton, or Ramapo College of New Jersey. It’s also worth looking into whether or not you’d be better off taking the ACT.

Firstly, some states require all students to take the SAT as a precondition for completing high school. This applies whether or not the student plans to attend college.

States that require the SAT

• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Illinois
• Maine
• Michigan
• New Hampshire

Other states require that students take either the SAT or ACT.

States that require either the SAT or ACT

• Idaho
• Ohio
• Tennessee

The second factor is whether or not you plan to apply to college. If you don’t, and if you don’t live in one of the states mentioned above, then there is no need to take the SAT.

The third factor is which colleges you plan to apply to. Some schools are “test-optional,” meaning that students do not need to submit any standardized test scores to apply. Test-optional schools include UChicago, Wesleyan, Smith, Bowdoin, and Bryn Mawr. So, if you don’t live in a state that requires the SAT and you plan to apply only to test-optional schools, you can get away without taking the SAT.

Finally, you might decide that the ACT is a better fit. All schools that require a standardized entrance exam accept both the SAT and ACT and view the tests as equals. So, if you don’t live in a state that requires the SAT, you’re free to take only the ACT, no matter which schools you’re applying to.

When should New Jersey students take the SAT?

You should take your first SAT exam no later than the fall of junior year. Assuming that you—like the vast majority of SAT-takers—don’t quite hit your target scores the first time around, take the SAT a second time in the spring of your junior year. This will leave you plenty of time to take a third test over summer and a fourth in senior fall, if necessary.

This might seem like overkill, but the truth is that most students who earn top SAT scores take the test at least twice, and often three or even four times. Each time you take the exam, you’ll feel a little more comfortable with the experience, and you’ll have a little more practice in applying the right testing strategies at the right time—and it will show in your scores.

Starting the SAT prep process early brings other advantages, as well:

1. Starting early diffuses the process. Preparation is more effective (and less likely to drive students and parents insane) when it happens in small, regular chunks.
2. It allows the student to earn scores earlier in high school and provides space for more work on school assignments and college applications.
3. By starting testing early, you’ll benefit from early score information, allowing for a more targeted school search process, which helps to organize college trips and manage travel budgets.
4. An early start to test-taking allows the student to adapt their preparation (e.g. different tutor, attempt a different approach, switch to a different test, extra attention on a specific content area) with enough time to do so while still feeling confident and in control of the process.
5. Most importantly, starting early helps the student feel ahead of the game and makes the entire process of college applications more manageable.

How do I register for the SAT in NJ, and how much does it cost?

You can register online for the SAT at the College Board website. Be sure to keep your login information safe, since you’ll use the same College Board account to access your scores and send them to schools.

For US students, taking the SAT costs $49.50 for the standard SAT or $64.50 for the SAT with Essay. Fee waivers are available for low-income students (to get one, you’ll need to speak to your guidance counselor or a representative of an authorized community-based organization). And depending on where you live, your state might pick up the tab for your first SAT test:

States that pay for the SAT

• New Hampshire
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Maine
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Washington, D.C.

International students pay the same registration fee as US students, plus a Non-US Regional Fee that ranges from $43 to $53 depending on the country. On top of that, certain international test centers in Hong Kong, Israel, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam also charge an additional $24 fee.

Should New Jersey students take the SAT or ACT?

The short answer? Take whichever test you’ll do best on! For students who struggle with timing on exams or are stronger in math/science topics, the SAT is often a better fit. Conversely, if time management isn’t an issue and you tend to be stronger in English and the humanities, the ACT might be a better fit.

Ultimately, there’s no better way to determine your test fit than to take a diagnostic mock test in each and compare your performance. Some prep companies even offer a single SAT vs. ACT diagnostic test so you can get your test fit recommendation in a single sitting. You should also consider if your top-pick university requires that you take one test over the other and be sure to do your research on your NJ based school’s requirements as well.

For an in-depth explainer on this question, read our SAT vs. ACT guide.

How should NJ students prepare for the SAT?

Getting ready for the SAT can feel overwhelming for both students and parents. Good planning is key to staying on track, and we can’t overstate the importance of starting early. With this in mind, here’s how we recommend that families living in Fort Lee, Alpine, and Demarest structure their SAT preparation process:

1. Decide whether you will take the SAT or ACT

It’s worth taking some time at the start of this process to figure out which test will provide you with the best opportunity to demonstrate your ability to colleges.

2. Take a full diagnostic mock test

Your first diagnostic test will provide invaluable guidance as you plan the rest of your prep. Don’t get too hung up on your diagnostic score—it’s only a starting point. The real value of a diagnostic test is in helping you to identify the areas of content, strategy, and test-taking skill where you need to focus your study.

Try to take your diagnostic as early as possible. This will give you plenty of time to brush up on any content areas where your knowledge is weaker and allow you to seek external support if needed. You can register for a mock test with CATES – where your first test is free!

3. Decide if you want to seek the help of a tutor, learning specialist, or other education professionals

To maximize your SAT potential, smart, personalized support from a test prep professional can be truly invaluable. At CATES, we frequently help students living in New Jersey towns like Maplewood, Teaneck, and Edison increase their SAT scores by 400 points or more. For a little perspective, that’s the difference between the average SAT score at Princeton, the #1 ranked school in the nation, and SUNY Albany, which is ranked 140th.

Students who think they may wish to self-prepare for the SAT should invest in high-quality exercises and practice tests (as a starting point, we recommend College Board’s official study guide), as well as find some more strategic guidance on the preparation process. For the latter, we recommend CATES founder Chris Ajemian’s insight-packed guide to help maximize your SAT score, Great Expectations. You can purchase the ebook on Apple Books or buy the paperback on Amazon.

4. Set your target score

Setting a target score helps to focus your mind on a concrete end goal. In coordination with your diagnostic test results, your target score will inform your study schedule going forward. Having a target score in mind is also helpful as you narrow down your list of school choices.

5. Build your prep action plan

For the best results, your prep should be guided by a clear, structured, and comprehensive action plan. This plan should cover everything New Jersey students need to learn and practice (including content, strategy, and test-taking skills) and build in regularly scheduled mock tests.

Commit to a study schedule, and be sure to spread your prep out. Believe us, cramming for the SAT is never a good idea. Instead, design a consistent prep schedule based on the amount of time you have left before the test. For instance, if your action plan includes 60 hours of prep time and you have 10 weeks before the test, you might plan to spend an hour on SAT prep six days per week. Add it to your calendar and honor your commitment—you’ll thank yourself later!

Our free 50-Step SAT Prep Roadmap is a great starting point as you begin to create your own personalized action plan.

6. Stay focused and follow through

A study plan is only as good as your willingness to stick to it. Successful SAT prep requires dedication and self-discipline, even from the brightest students. If you need help sticking with your study schedule, consider finding an SAT study partner, asking your parents to help you stay on track, or working with one of CATES’ tutors. Proudly serving students in towns throughout New Jersey – such as Millburn, Chatham, Morristown, Newark, New Brunswick, and Paramus – CATES Tutoring can help students achieve their test prep goals.

Have any questions about preparing for the SAT? Feel free to book a no-obligation initial consultation with CATES. Dial (212) 359-4208 to connect with our team of tutors.