A test that has so much influence over where you go to college is bound to be a bit scary—but how hard is the SAT, really? Despite its fearsome reputation, the SAT isn't as difficult as it seems. Overcoming the difficulties of the SAT is a matter of spending enough time studying areas that are tough for you and practicing questions that you might find confusing at first glance. Whether or not you find the SAT hard initially, this guide will give you the tools you need to surmount the test's challenges and come out on top. The SAT can be intimidating if you don't know much about it, but it's far from an insurmountable challenge if you prepare properly and understand the format of the test. The SAT covers concepts that are typically taught in the first two years of high school, with a few more advanced concepts sprinkled into the mix. That means if you take the SAT junior year, you probably won't run into anything that's completely unfamiliar to you. The main difficulty lies in understanding the specific way the SAT asks questions and accepting that it's much different from most in-class tests. The best way to overcome the challenges on the SAT is by preparing yourself for the types of questions that will be asked and becoming familiar with the way the test is structured. Again, the content of the SAT is almost certainly within your abilities. The key to acing it is to spend time getting cozy with the questions and fixing whatever mistakes you make on practice tests. In the next couple of sections, I'll give you a rundown of a few different factors that might make the SAT more or less challenging. I'll follow up these sections with a final list of tips on how to make the test easier for you. Here are a few factors that make the SAT a difficult test for many students. These include time pressure, challenging math concepts, difficult reading passages, and a high-stress environment. The SAT is a timed test, so even if you understand all the content, time pressure can lead to careless mistakes and excessive anxiety. On the SAT Reading section, for example, you'll have 65 minutes to answer 52 questions, which comes out to 75 seconds per question. This is without factoring in the time it will take to read the passages, too. That's why developing an efficient passage-reading strategy before you sit down to take the test is critical. On the Writing section, you have 35 minutes to answer 44 questions, which comes out to 48 seconds per question. All Writing questions are also passage-based, so you might have to spend some extra time reading in this section as well.
Is the SAT Hard? An Overview
4 Factors That Might Make the SAT Harder
Factor 1: Time Pressure
You won't have much time per question on the Math Calculator and No Calculator sections either, and it's easy to get stuck on problems that stump you. On the Math No Calculator section, you get 25 minutes to answer 20 questions, or 75 seconds per question. On the Calculator section, you get 55 minutes to answer 38 questions, or 87 seconds per question.
Because of these time constraints, a critical skill for the SAT is knowing when to move on if you find yourself struggling with a problem for too long.
Factor 2: Unfamiliar Math Concepts
Although the content on the SAT is unlikely to go far beyond the scope of what you've learned in your high school math classes, there might be some questions that ask about concepts that have since faded from your memory.
The test also has some slightly more advanced concepts, including basic trigonometry. If you feel shaky on any of the topics tested on SAT Math, you'll need to revisit them before you're ready to answer questions in a high-pressure testing environment.
Factor 3: Challenging Reading Passages
Passages on the SAT are all excerpts from real published texts (and at least one historical source text), so they're written at a fairly high level. You'll sometimes encounter language that's a bit old-fashioned and hard to understand.
If you're not a big reader, these passages might take a bit more effort to comprehend. You'll need to spend time practicing your passage-reading strategy before jumping into the test.
Factor 4: High Stress Levels
Finally, a major reason that the SAT is so hard for many students is that they get themselves super worked up about it. It's not hard to see why this happens: colleges do rely heavily on standardized test scores to judge potential applicants, so it sometimes seems like your whole future is riding on this one test. If you obsess too much over how critical it is to do well, you could end up with crippling test anxiety, leading to the opposite outcome.
Learning how to cope with the stress associated with the SAT might be the most important thing you can do to make the whole process more manageable.
Testing anxiety is serious. Maybe not as serious as my concerns about why this child is trapped in what appears to be some sort of burlap sack, but still.
4 Factors That Might Make the SAT Easier
There are also some aspects of the SAT that can make it seem like an easy test compared to some of the exams you've taken in your classes. Here are a few of the most prominent factors.
Factor 1: Predictable Structure and Types of Questions
The sections on the SAT are always arranged in the same order, which is as follows:
- Reading
- Writing and Language
- Math No Calculator
- Math Calculator
This means that you never have to worry about being thrown for a loop on test day regarding the fundamental format of the exam.
You can also predict the types of questions you'll encounter and how they'll be worded if you go through enough practice materials. The College Board writes questions in very specific ways that don't change significantly from test to test.
Factor 2: No Memorization
You don't need to memorize a bunch of content to do well on the SAT. The Math section gives you most of the formulas you'll need to answer the questions. Moreover, questions in the Reading and Writing sections are based on reading comprehension and knowledge of basic grammar. So while it's certainly possible to study for the SAT, it's not the same kind of studying you'd do for other tests.
Factor 3: Almost All Multiple Choice
The SAT is much less labor intensive than a lot of tests you take in high school because it doesn't include any free-response questions in the main portion of the test. Everything is multiple choice except for the grid-in questions on the math sections, of which there are only 13 in total (five on the No Calculator section and eight on the Calculator section).
For the most part, all the answers to the questions are right there on the test if you know where to look.
Factor 4: No Guessing Penalty
There are no points deducted for incorrect answers on the SAT, so you don't have to worry about filling in an answer you aren't 100% sure about. If you truly can't decide between two choices or are totally stumped, just fill in a random bubble. Even if you get it wrong, it'll be no different than if you'd left the question blank, so it's in your best interest to give it a shot.
So many points!
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How to Make the SAT Easier for You: 4 Tips
Now that I've covered some of the fixed qualities of the SAT that might make it harder or easier, I'll give you some tips on how to tailor your approach to the test to make its challenges more manageable for you.
#1: Take Plenty of Practice Tests
This is the #1 thing you must do if you want the SAT to be a breeze for you. The main reason students end up confused and overwhelmed by the SAT is that they go into the test blind. When the questions are formatted in a way that's unexpected and unfamiliar, it throws them for a loop (especially with the time pressure)—and they think the test is impossibly hard.
If you take official SAT practice tests, you'll start to see that the content is well within your abilities. You just have to get used to reading efficiently, pacing yourself, and staying calm in the face of questions that initially confuse you.
#2: Learn to De-stress
Taking standardized tests is much easier if you avoid putting an enormous amount of pressure on yourself throughout the process. When you're so preoccupied with visions of the supposedly catastrophic consequences of failure, every question you skip will make you more anxious and less clear-headed.
Learning not to sabotage yourself in this way will make the test much easier. I'd suggest reading up on mindfulness techniques that you can use during the exam to bring yourself back down to earth if you get anxious.
#3: Use the Process of Elimination
Rather than viewing at all the answers for a question as possible options, take a look at them with an extremely critical eye. Try to find reasons to cross out answers that don't make sense or that aren't supported by concrete evidence in the passage. This is a big help, especially in the Reading section where it can be difficult to sort out the answers that are almost correct from the one answer that is completely correct.
#4: Examine and Correct Your Mistakes
You won't be able to fix all your problems just by taking a bunch of practice tests without further analysis. After each test, go over what you missed and figure out how you can avoid similar mistakes in the future. Try to also find other practice questions that test the same skills as the questions you missed so you can learn how to solve them correctly.
With each practice test, you should master more and more of the material until you reach a point at which none of the questions on the exam can stump you.
Don't get stumped. I know this is my second terrible image pun in one article, and I gotta say, I'm not sorry at all.
Bottom Line: Is the SAT Hard? Will It Be Hard for You?
Everyone has a different baseline level of comfort with the format and content of the SAT. In the end, though, the difficulty level of the test depends on how prepared you are for it. Be sure to take plenty of practice tests, address your mistakes meticulously, and learn strategies that can help you decrease your stress levels if test-taking anxiety is an issue for you.
If you do all these things, there's no stopping you from earning an awesome SAT score!
What's Next?
Thinking about getting a review book to guide your SAT prep? Read our reviews for the best SAT prep books released this year.
Should you start studying for the SAT now? Or is it OK to wait a little while? Learn more with our guide on how long you should study for the SAT based on your score goals.
Choosing the ideal test date for getting your feet wet on the SAT isn't always easy. Read this article for advice on deciding when to take the SAT for the first time.
Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:
Samantha Lindsay
About the Author
Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.
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FAQs
How many questions can you miss on the SAT reading to get a 700? ›
Math: 700 (miss at most around 11 questions) Reading: 25 (miss at most around 29 questions) Writing: 25 (miss at most around 23 questions)
How many questions can you miss on the SAT and still get a 1600? ›So your score for Evidence Based Reading and Writing section is 700. If you wish to get a perfect score of 1600 you cannot miss any question or mark it wrongly. Very occasionally SAT allows one wrong answer. The student needs to strive for perfection if he or she is aiming for perfect score of 1600.
How many questions can I get wrong in SAT Math to get 750? ›Typically, if you get 0-1 wrong answers on the Math section you score a perfect 800. If you miss 1-3 questions, you lose 10 points and score a 790. If you miss 10 questions, you can expect a Math section score in the 680-710 range. Missing 20 on this section would result in a score of around 600.
How many questions can you miss on the SAT for a 1400? ›For Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, you can skip/answer incorrectly on average 9 questions on the writing portion and 12 questions on the reading portion. For Math, you can skip/answer incorrectly on average 17 questions between the calculator and no-calculator sections.
How many questions can you miss on the SAT to get a 1500? ›So, start answering the questions which you find easy. To get 1500 SAT, you need to get at least 48 right out of 52 in the Reading section. 41 right out of 44 in the Language section and 55 right out of 58 in the Maths section.
Is a 490 on reading SAT good? ›490 SAT Score Standings
Out of the 2.13 million test-takers, 2131958 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 15 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 1483 schools with this score.
Should I Retake The SAT With a 1300 Score? The only reason to consider retaking the SAT after earning a 1300 score is if you have your sights set on a very selective or elite school, such as those in the Ivy League.
Do you have to get every question right to get a 36? ›Based on the ACT practice tests, most sections require you to miss 0 questions to receive a score of 36. However, in the Math section, you might be able to miss 1 question and still receive a 36. Receiving a score of 35 most often entails missing 1–3 questions in each section.
How hard is it to get a 1350 on the SAT? ›A 1350 SAT score falls at the 91st percentile, meaning that you scored higher than 91% of all test takers.
How rare is a 800 SAT math? ›Really easy. Here are a few examples from schools. For Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Caltech, and even less selective schools like Carnegie Mellon, the 75th percentile SAT Math score is an 800. That means at least 25% of all students at these schools have an 800 in SAT Math.
How rare is a perfect Math SAT score? ›
A perfect score is possible with enough purposeful studying and practice. That said, those who get a perfect SAT only take up 1% of all test-takers.
Is 480 on Math SAT bad? ›SAT scores reflect a sliding scale of academic skills, so defining a “bad” score is a little subjective. The SAT College and Career-Readiness Benchmarks are used by many state schools as minimum scores: 480 for the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and 530 for the Math section.
What is a good SAT score for Ivy League? ›Ideal SAT Score for Ivy League Colleges
A good average aim should be 75 percentile or an SAT score of 1580 (out of 1600). But the main goal should be to earn scores that exceed the majority of applicants.
An 1100 SAT falls in the 58th percentile, meaning that a score of 1100 is better than 58% of all other 2 million-odd test takers.
Which SAT practice test is the hardest? ›It depends on the student, but a consensus claims that Practice Test #3 could be the most difficult for a first-time SAT taker. It would help if you went over each practice test and ranked which one is hardest, so you can spend more time dealing with those before heading to the easier ones.
How rare is a 1500 SAT? ›A 1500 puts you in nearly the 95th percentile of all 1.7 million test takers.
Is 1500 SAT good for Harvard? ›A 1500 SAT score is good for Harvard, but a score closer to 1580 (the 75th percentile) will make you a more competitive applicant.
Is 1500 a good SAT score for Ivy League? ›For the Ivy League, competitive scores range between 1500-1550. For other highly competitive schools, it's above 1400. 1300 and above will make you a competitive applicant for most other public universities and private universities.
What is the minimum SAT score for Harvard? › What is an 80% on the SAT? ›So if you got an 80th percentile score, you scored better than 80% of all other test takers. Remember that your percentile is different from a test score out of 100. A test score represents the number of questions you got right, and a percentile refers to the number of test-takers you performed better than.
Is 930 a bad SAT score? ›
Unfortunately, 930 is not a good SAT score. In reality, it's a weak score that will keep you from achieving your college admissions goals. Although you're still outperforming the majority of test takers, it's still not enough to get you into the top schools in the country.
Is there a downside to taking the SAT multiple times? ›It does not hurt to take the SAT multiple times. Colleges cannot see how many times you have taken the SAT. However, writing the SAT is a stressful and time-consuming endeavor, so it's important to know how many times are right for you.
Do colleges see how many SAT attempts? ›Yes, colleges can see how frequently you take the test if they want to, but Colleges won't turn up their noses if you've taken the exam two or more. What colleges care about are the top scores that they see. This shows that you're serious about your studies and are willing to put in your studies' time and effort.
Can I get into Harvard with a 1300 SAT? ›Harvard applicants with a combined SAT score of 1300-1400 and an average GPA of 3.5-4.0 have a better chance of being accepted to Harvard University.
Has anyone ever gotten a 1 on the ACT? ›The absolute minimum ACT score you can get is a 1, although this is very unlikely to happen. You might be more worried about getting a score high enough to get into college.
Is a 32 ACT good enough for Ivy League? ›98th percentile: A 32 ACT score is above the national average. This score is excellent for most Ivy League universities. So if you are wondering, 'is 32 a good ACT score' to get into any of the highly selective Ivy League colleges, you should know that this score is sufficient to stand out among your competitors.
Will a 36 ACT get you into Harvard? ›There's no absolute ACT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 33 to have a chance at being considered.
Can I get into an Ivy League with a 1400 SAT? ›One of the only reasons to consider retaking the SAT would be if you're interested in attending institutions that are very selective or in the Ivy League. While a 1400 makes you eligible to apply to places such as Harvard, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania, it won't make you a competitive candidate.
How rare is a 1450 SAT? ›A score of 1450 on the SAT is considered a very good score, placing the test-taker in the 97th percentile of all students who took the SAT. This means that out of the 2.13 million test-takers, only 61064 scored the same or higher than a score of 1450.
How rare is a 1400 SAT? ›What Percentile is 1400 on SAT? A 1400 SAT score places you in the top 95th percentile of all students taking the SAT.
Is a 440 on the Math SAT bad? ›
440 SAT Score Standings
Out of the 2.13 million test-takers, 2135126 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 13 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 1485 schools with this score.
Linear equations and inequalities and their graphs and systems. Problem Solving and Data Analysis: 29% of test, 17 questions. Ratios, proportions, percentages, and units; analyzing graphical data, probabilities, and statistics. Passport to Advanced Math: 28% of test, 16 questions.
What is the lowest possible SAT math score? ›What Is the Lowest SAT Score? On the Redesigned SAT, the lowest possible score is a 400: 200 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 200 on Math.
What did Elon Musk score on SAT? ›Elon Musk reacts to GPT-4 scoring 93% on SAT exams.
What did Mark Zuckerberg get on the SAT? ›Mark Zuckerberg.
The founder of Facebook scored the perfect 1600 on the SAT and attended Harvard University. There's no surprise there on the score or prestigious university!
Will Smith: The actor said in his Biography channel profile that he scored 1600 on his SATs, too. But instead of moving on to higher education, he pursued a career in music before scoring his iconic small-screen role as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”... and the rest is history.
What is the average first time SAT score? ›...
Average SAT Score.
| SAT Composite Score Range | Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| 1500-1550 | 99 to 99+ |
| 1450-1500 | 97 to 99 |
| 1400-1450 | 94 to 97 |
| 1350-1400 | 91 to 94 |
The 1390 SAT percentile is on the 92nd percentile which means you performed in the top 8% of test takers. Considering that millions of students take the SAT each year, that's a really good achievement. So, then, why is a 1390 SAT score only considered average?
Should I retake a 1370 SAT? ›A 1370 SAT score will preclude you from getting into more selective schools such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Brown, and others of the same caliber. However, it'll put you in the running for Georgia Tech, Boston University, Claremont McKenna, University of Virginia, and Reed.
What is the lowest SAT Ivy League? ›Generally speaking, you need a minimum ACT score of 31 to get into an Ivy League School. The minimum score is 32 at a few of these schools, including Harvard and Yale. The minimum SAT score to get into an Ivy League school ranges from 690 to 730 for the reading section and from 700 to 730 for the math section.
Will a 1600 SAT get me into an Ivy? ›
However, a perfect score is an even better goal. An SAT score of 1600 could help you get into an Ivy League school and even win a full-ride scholarship. You may think that only students with genius-level IQs can score a 1600. The truth, however, is that anyone can get a perfect score if they put in enough work.
What's the easiest Ivy League school to get into? ›Cornell is considered the "easiest" Ivy League to get into because it has the highest Ivy League acceptance rate.
Can I get into an Ivy League with a 1100 SAT? ›It is unlikely to get accepted into an Ivy League school with a 1100 SAT score, but it is not impossible. Ivy League schools do not have any requirements for SAT scores. However, because Ivy League schools are so competitive, you need an exceptional SAT score to get accepted.
How much can you improve your SAT score in 2 months? ›But in brief, when preparing alone, you should plan on an average improvement of 50 points per month. So, for example, if you need to gain 200 points, you should plan to prep for 4 months. This guide will show you how to determine exactly how much time you personally should plan to spend studying for the SAT test.
Is 1150 a bad SAT score? ›The average national SAT score is between 1050 and 1100 every year (on purpose), putting an 1150 at an above-average 67th percentile — that's a score to be proud of! It means that you scored higher than 67% of all other test takers.
Which SAT time is easiest? ›According to our research and a meta-study of analyses: there's no such thing as an 'easy' test date for the SAT or ACT. Though it sounds simplistic, the easiest time to take the SAT test is when you feel most prepared.
Does the SAT get harder every month? ›While you might have heard that taking the SAT during certain months can yield better results curve-wise, the truth is that this exam is equally difficult at all times of the year.
What part of SAT is easiest to improve? ›If you're trying to boost your SAT Reading/Writing and Language score, the Writing and Language section is the easiest to tackle. With a few SAT Writing and Language strategies, you'll be on your way to a much higher score.
Is a 700 on the reading SAT good? ›700 SAT Score Standings
Out of the 2.13 million test-takers, 2070569 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 19 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 1479 schools with this score.
| Section Score Range | SAT EBRW Percentiles | SAT Math Percentiles |
|---|---|---|
| 680-700 | 91 to 93 | 89 to 91 |
| 660-680 | 87 to 91 | 86 to 89 |
| 640-660 | 83 to 87 | 83 to 86 |
| 620-640 | 78 to 83 | 79 to 83 |
What percent is 700 on SAT? ›
The SAT is scored out of a maximum of 1600 and a minimum of 400, meaning your 700 score represents 44% of the total possible points. If a 700 does not meet the requirements of your preferred college, you might want to consider enrolling in a test prep course to potentially enhance your score.
Is 700 reading a good SAT score? ›Unfortunately, 700 is not a good SAT score. In reality, it's a weak score that will keep you from achieving your college admissions goals. Although you're still outperforming the majority of test takers, it's still not enough to get you into the top schools in the country.
Is 1150 a good SAT score? ›The average national SAT score is between 1050 and 1100 every year (on purpose), putting an 1150 at an above-average 67th percentile — that's a score to be proud of! It means that you scored higher than 67% of all other test takers.
Is 930 a good SAT score? ›Unfortunately, 930 is not a good SAT score. In reality, it's a weak score that will keep you from achieving your college admissions goals. Although you're still outperforming the majority of test takers, it's still not enough to get you into the top schools in the country.
Is 510 on reading SAT good? ›The top 10% of test takers tend to earn between 660 and 800 in Evidence Based Reading and Writing and above 680 in Math. To be considered competitive, the score has to be between 650 and 690 in Reading and Writing and 610 to 670 in Math. Above average is 510 to 580 in Reading and Writing and 520 to 600 in Math.
What SAT score do you need for Ivy League? ›| School | SAT Middle 50% Scores | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | 1450-1540 | 8.7% |
| Dartmouth College | 1440-1560* | 6.2% |
| Harvard University | 1460-1580* | 5.0% |
| Princeton University | 1450-1570 | 4.4% |
Harvard University's SAT scores for admitted students range from 1480 - 1580, with an average score of 1530. Although SAT scores are optional, we recommend that students aim for a good SAT score of at least 1530 to be competitive in the admissions process at Harvard University.
What is a top 1% SAT score? ›| Composite Score (Out of 1600) | Percentile Rank |
|---|---|
| 770 | 5 |
| 650 | 1 |
| 640 | <1 |
| 400 | <1 |
...
SAT Score Distribution.
| SAT Composite Score Range | Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| 1100-1150 | 59 to 67 |
| 1050-1100 | 51 to 59 |
| 1000-1050 | 42 to 51 |
| 950-1000 | 34 to 42 |
| College/University | SAT Scores for Middle 50% of First-Year Students | Weight Given to Standardized Test Scores in Admissions Process |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | 740-790 M | Required |
| Princeton University | 710-770 R | Considered if submitted |
| 750-800 M | ||
| Stanford University | 700-770 R | Considered if submitted |
Is 560 a good Math SAT score? ›
Your SAT score, which ranges from 400 to 1600, is the sum of your two section scores: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW). Each section uses a scale of 200-800 in 10-point increments. A good score on Math or EBRW, then, would be around 600.
How to improve SAT Math from 700 to 800? ›- master the types of questions that the SAT tests, like the one above.
- draw on the correct concepts you already know to solve the questions.
- practice on a lot of questions so you learn from your mistakes.