Introduction: What is the SAT?

The basics.

The SAT exam is the biggest college admissions test in the U.S. by number of takers (over 2 million a year). It is a multiple-choice, computer-based test designed and administered by the College Board. College Board is a not-for-profit membership organization who also run the PSAT/NMSQT and AP (Advanced Placement) exams.

For many universities, you are required to submit your SAT score as part of your application. Some universities have become test-optional in the last decade, especially around COVID, though this trend has been reversing with the advent of AI.

The exam is designed to assess students’ readiness for college. While some argue that it reduces college applicants down to a single number, it is perhaps a necessary evil:

1. It is useful for admissions officers to be able to compare massive amounts of applicants.
2. High schools vary wildly in grading standards, course offerings, and grade inflation, so GPAs aren’t always directly comparable. While SATs (with adjustments for socioeconomic background) are.
3. Combining SAT/ACT scores with high school GPA predicts college academic success better than high school GPA alone.
4. When evaluated in context, test scores help low-income students get into college.

Overall, the higher you score on the SAT, the more doors will be open to you in terms of college (and even scholarships!).

So, the SAT can set you up for big things, and that pressure can sometimes feel overwhelming. Do not fret. The SAT is NOT an IQ test. Your score can improve… a lot. Once you demystify how the test is built, that anxiety you feel will start to fade. SAT once stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test, it officially no longer stands for anything, as “aptitude” implies natural ability. As we know at Kinnu, scoring well on the SAT has very little to do with natural ability and a lot to do with practice, practice, practice.