Everything You Need To Know About SAT Questions Per Section
The SAT is an enormously important test for high school students. Without a solid SAT (or ACT) score, you likely will not be able to get into your dream college. Yet, the breakdown of the exam is fairly simple. The test features just three sections—Reading, Writing/Language, and Math. In this guide, we explain how many questions appear per section, as well as the types of questions you can expect to see.
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Across all sections of the SAT, you will find 154 questions in total. In terms of format, all of the questions on the exam are multiple-choice. The test takes three hours to complete, not including breaks. With breaks, it is a little over three hours.
The SAT has two breaks, allowing students to refocus, go to the restroom, etc. There is a 10-minute break before the writing and language portion of the test, and a five-minute break after the first math section.
What Types of Questions Are On The SAT?
All of the problems on the SAT are intended to test a student’s knowledge and skills across reading comprehension, writing, language, and mathematics. Every student must answer a series of questions based on the provided passages that cover literature, historical documents, social sciences, and natural sciences.
The writing and language portion of the SAT includes questions on grammar, vocabulary in context, and editing skills, among others. The math sections cover algebra I and II, geometry, and some trigonometry.
How Many Math Questions Are On The SAT?
There are a total of 58 math questions on the SAT. However, it should be noted that these questions are broken out into two sections.
The first section features 20 questions, where no calculators are allowed, and there is a total time limit of 25 minutes. The second math section has 38 questions, and a calculator is allowed. This section needs to be finished within 55 minutes.
How Many Reading Questions Are On The SAT?
The reading section of the SAT has 52 multiple-choice questions. This section is (not surprisingly) meant to test a student’s reading comprehension.
All of these questions will be focused on the passages that have been provided. It’s important to carefully read the questions to ensure you are answering what’s actually being asked. That is critical.
How Many Writing/Language Questions Are On The SAT?
The writing/language section of the test has 44 questions. You will have 35 minutes to answer all of these multiple-choice questions. These problems focus on grammar, along with editing and vocabulary in context. It’s really important to have a firm grasp of grammar principles for those who want to do well on this portion.
FAQ
How many questions total are on the SAT?
Across all sections on the SAT, you will find 154 questions in total. All of these questions are multiple-choice.
How many math questions are on the SAT?
There are a total of 58 math questions on the SAT, broken into two sections. The first section has 20 questions where no calculators are allowed, and the second math section has 38 questions, where a calculator is allowed.
How many reading questions are on the SAT?
The reading section of the SAT has 52 multiple-choice questions. This section is meant to test a student’s reading comprehension.
Are calculators allowed on the SAT?
Yes and no. The math section of the SAT has one section where a calculator is allowed, and there is also a section where no calculator is allowed.
