SAT Syllabus

Section	Syllabus
English 1. Reading section 2. Writing and Language section	Vocabulary, Critical reading, sentence-level reading, Grammar, usage, and diction.
Maths section	Number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry; statistics, probability, and data analysis
Essay (Optional)	Written for a broad audience Argue a point Express subtle views on complex subjects Use logical reasoning and evidence to support claims Examine ideas, debates, or trends in the arts and sciences, or civic, cultural, or political life Always taken from published works

Reading test

The Reading Test 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 the Great Global Conversation they inspired. The U.S. Constitution or a speech by Nelson Mandela, for example.
A selection about economics, psychology, sociology, or some other social science.
Two science passages (or one passage and one passage pair) that examine foundational concepts and developments in Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics.

Writing Test

Questions on the Writing and Language Test measure a range of skills.

Command of Evidence

Questions that test command of evidence ask you to improve the way passages develop information and ideas. For instance, you might choose an answer that sharpens an argumentative claim or adds a relevant supporting detail.

Words in Context

Some questions ask you to improve word choice. You'll need to choose the best words to use based on the text surrounding them. Your goal will be to make a passage more precise or concise, or to improve syntax, style, or tone.
Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science You'll be asked to read passages about topics in history, social studies, and science with a critical eye and make editorial decisions that improve them.

Expression of Ideas

Some questions ask about a passage's organization and its impact. For instance, you will be asked which words or structural changes improve how well it makes its point and how well its sentences and paragraphs work together.

Standard English Conventions

This is about the building blocks of writing: sentence structure, usage, and punctuation. You'll be asked to change words, clauses, sentences, and punctuation. Some topics covered include verb tense, parallel construction, subject-verb agreement, and comma use.

Math Test

The Math Test will focus in depth on the three areas of math that play the biggest role in a wide range of college majors and careers:
Heart of Algebra, which focuses on the mastery of linear equations and systems.
Problem Solving and Data Analysis, which is about being quantitatively literate.
Passport to Advanced Math, which features questions that require the manipulation of complex equations.
The Math Test also draws on Additional Topics in Math, including the geometry and trigonometry most relevant to college and career readiness.

Measure of MATH test

Fluency The Math Test is a chance to show that you:
Carry out procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and strategically.
Solve problems quickly by identifying and using the most efficient solution approaches. This might involve solving a problem by inspection, finding a shortcut, or reorganizing the information you've been given.

Conceptual Understanding

You'll demonstrate your grasp of math concepts, operations, and relations. For instance, you might be asked to make connections between properties of linear equations, their graphs, and the contexts they represent.

Applications

These real-world problems ask you to analyse a situation, determine the essential elements required to solve the problem, represent the problem mathematically, and carry out a solution.

Calculator Use

Calculators are important tools, and to succeed after high school, you'll need to know how—and when—to use them. In the Math Test-Calculator portion of the test, you'll be able to focus on complex modelling and reasoning because your calculator can save you time.
However, the calculator is, like any tool, only as smart as the person using it. The Math Test includes some questions where it's better not to use a calculator, even though you're allowed to. In these cases, students who make use of structure or their ability to reason will probably finish before students who use a calculator.
The Math Test-No Calculator portion of the test makes it easier to assess your fluency in math and your understanding of some math concepts. It also tests well-learned technique and number sense.

Grid-In Questions

Although most of the questions on the Math Test are multiple choice, 22 percent are student-produced response questions, also known as grid-ins. Instead of choosing a correct answer from a list of options, you'll need to solve problems and enter your answers in the grids provided on the answer sheet.

Gridding-In Answers

Mark no more than one circle in any column.
Only answers indicated by filling in the circle will be scored (you won't receive credit for anything written in the boxes located above the circles).
It doesn't matter in which column you begin entering their answers; as long as the responses are recorded within the grid area, you'll receive credit.
The grid can hold only four decimal places and can only accommodate positive numbers and zero.
Unless a problem indicates otherwise, answers can be entered on the grid as a decimal or a fraction.
Fractions like do not need to be reduced to their lowest terms.
All mixed numbers need to be converted to improper fractions before being recorded in the grid.
If the answer is a repeating decimal, students must grid the most accurate value the grid will accommodate.

ESSAY

SAT Essay Measures
Reading: A successful essay shows that you understood the passage, including the interplay of central ideas and important details. It also shows an effective use of textual evidence.
Analysis: A successful essay shows your understanding of how the author builds an argument by: Examining the author's use of evidence, reasoning, and other stylistic and persuasive techniques Supporting and developing claims with well-chosen evidence from the passage
Writing: A successful essay is focused, organized, and precise, with an appropriate style and tone that varies sentence structure and follows the conventions of standard written English.

SAT Subject Test Syllabus:

Mathematics level 1

Number and operations (10-14%)

Operations, ratio and proportion, complex numbers, counting, elementary number theory, matrices, sequence

Algebra and functions (38-42%)

Expressions, equations, inequalities, representation and modeling, properties of functions (linear, polynomial, rational, exponential)

Geometry and measurement (38%-42%)

Plane Euclidean
Coordinate: Lines, parabolas, circles, symmetry, transformations
Three-dimensional: Solids, surface area and volume (cylinders, cones, pyramids, spheres, prisms)
Trigonometry: Right triangles, identities

Data analysis, statistics, and probability (8%-12%)

Mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range, graphs and plots, least squares regression (linear), probability

Mathematics level 2

Number and operations (10% - 14%)

Operations, ratio and proportion, complex numbers, counting, elementary number theory, matrices, sequences, series, vectors

Algebra and functions (48%-52%)

Expressions, equations, inequalities, representation and modeling, properties of functions (linear, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, inverse trigonometric, periodic, piecewise, recursive, parametric)

Geometry and measurement (48%-52%)

Coordinate: Lines, parabolas, circles, ellipses, hyperbolas, symmetry, transformations, polar coordinates
Three-dimensional: Solids, surface area and volume (cylinders, cones, pyramids, spheres, prisms), coordinates in three dimensions
Trigonometry: Right triangles, identities, radian measure, law of cosines, law of sines, equations, double angle formulas

Data analysis, statistics, and probability (8% - 12%)

Mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range, standard deviation, graphs and plots, least squares regression (linear, quadratic, exponential), probability

Biology

Cellular and molecular biology

Cell structure and organization, mitosis, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, enzymes, biosynthesis, biological chemistry

Ecology

Energy flow, nutrient cycles, populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes, conservation biology, biodiversity, effects of human intervention

Genetics

Meiosis, Mendelian genetics, inheritance patterns, molecular genetics, population genetics

Organismal biology

Structure, function, and development of organisms (with emphasis on plants and animals), animal behavior

Evolution and diversity

Origin of life, evidence of evolution, patterns of evolution, natural selection, speciation, classification and diversity of organisms

Chemistry

Structure of matter

Atomic Structure, including experimental evidence of atomic structure, quantum numbers and energy levels (orbitals), electron configurations, periodic trends
Molecular Structure, including Lewis structures, three-dimensional molecular shapes, polarity
Bonding, including ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds, relationships of bonding to properties and structures; intermolecular forces such as hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole forces, dispersion (London) forces

States of matter

Gases, including the kinetic molecular theory, gas law relationships, molar volumes, density, and stoichiometry
Liquids and Solids, including intermolecular forces in liquids and solids, types of solids, phase changes, and phase diagrams
Solutions, including molarity and percent by mass concentrations, solution preparation and stoichiometry, factors affecting solubility of solids, liquids, and gases, qualitative aspects of colligative properties

Reaction types

Acids and Bases, including Brønsted-Lowry theory, strong and weak acids and bases, pH, titrations, indicators
Oxidation-Reduction, including recognition of oxidation-reduction reactions, combustion, oxidation numbers, use of activity series
Precipitation, including basic solubility rules

Stoichiometry

Mole Concept, including molar mass, Avogadro's number, empirical and molecular formulas
Chemical Equations, including the balancing of equations, stoichiometric calculations, percent yield, and limiting reactants

Equilibrium and reaction rates

Equilibrium Systems, including factors affecting position of equilibrium (LeChâtelier's principle) in gaseous and aqueous systems, equilibrium constants, and equilibrium expressions
Rates of Reactions, including factors affecting reaction rates, potential energy diagrams, activation energies

Thermochemistry

Including conservation of energy, calorimetry and specific heats, enthalpy (heat) changes associated with phase changes and chemical reactions, heating and cooling curves, entropy

Descriptive chemistry

Including common elements, nomenclature of ions and compounds, periodic trends in chemical and physical properties of the elements, reactivity of elements and prediction of products of chemical reactions, examples of simple organic compounds and compounds of environmental concern

Laboratory

Including knowledge of laboratory equipment, measurements, procedures, observations, safety, calculations, data analysis, interpretation of graphical data, drawing conclusions from observations and data

Physics

Mechanics (36%-42%)

Kinematics, such as velocity, acceleration, motion in one dimension, and motion of projectiles
Dynamics, such as force, Newton's laws, statics, and friction
Energy and momentum, such as potential and kinetic energy, work, power, impulse, and conservation laws
Circular motion, such as uniform circular motion and centripetal force
Simple harmonic motion, such as mass on a spring and the pendulum
Gravity, such as the law of gravitation, orbits, and Kepler's laws

Electricity and magnetism (18%-24%)

Electric fields, forces, and potentials, such as Coulomb's law, induced charge, field and potential of groups of point charges, and charged particles in electric fields
Capacitance, such as parallel-plate capacitors and time-varying behavior in charging/ discharging
Circuit elements and DC circuits, such as resistors, light bulbs, series and parallel networks, Ohm's law, and Joule's law
Magnetism, such as permanent magnets, fields caused by currents, particles in magnetic fields, Faraday's law, and Lenz's law

Waves and optics (15%-19%)

General wave properties, such as wave speed, frequency, wavelength, superposition, standing wave diffraction, and Doppler effect
Reflection and refraction, such as Snell's law and changes in wavelength and speed
Ray optics, such as image formation using pinholes, mirrors, and lenses
Physical optics, such as single-slit diffraction, double-slit interference, polarization, and color

Heat and thermodynamics (6%-11%)

Thermal properties, such as temperature, heat transfer, specific and latent heats, and thermal expansions
Laws of thermodynamics, such as first and second laws, internal energy, entropy, and heat engine efficiency

Modern physics (6%-11%)

Quantum phenomena, such as photons and photoelectric effect
Atomic, such as the Rutherford and Bohr models, atomic energy levels, and atomic spectra
Nuclear and particle physics, such as radioactivity, nuclear reactions, and fundamental particles
Relativity, such as time dilation, length contraction, and mass-energy equivalence

Miscellaneous (4-9%)

General, such as history of physics and general questions that overlap several major topics
Analytical skills, such as graphical analysis, measurement, and math skills
Contemporary physics, such as astrophysics, superconductivity, and chaos theory

English

American literature (40-50%)

Written by authors from the United States

English literature (40-50%)

Written by British authors

Other literature written in English (0-10%)

Past tests have included writers from India, Ireland, Canada, and the Caribbean

Chronology

Renaissance and 17th century (30%)
18th and 19th centuries (30%)
20th century (40%)

Genres

Prose passages (40-50%)

Primarily excerpts from fiction and essays

Poetry (40-50%)

Primarily entire poems, although some selections are excerpted from longer works

Drama and other (0-10%)

History

U.S. History Subject Test- Social science concepts, methods, and generalization are incorporated into this material.
Political history
Economic history
Social history
Intellectual and cultural history
Foreign policy
Periods
Pre-Columbian history to 1789 (20%)
1790 to 1898 (40%)
1899 to the present (40%)

World History Subject Test

Chronological material

Prehistory and civilizations to the year 500 Common Era (C.E.) (25%)
1500 to 1900 C.E. (25%)
Post-1900 C.E. (20%)
Cross-chronological (10%)

Geographical material

Global or comparative (25%)
Europe (25%)
Africa (10%)
Southwest Asia (10%)
South and Southeast Asia (10%)
East Asia (10%)
The Americas (excluding the United States) (10%)

Language

Spanish:

Vocabulary and structure (33%)
Paragraph completion (33%)
Reading comprehension (33%)

Spanish with Listening

Listening section (40%)

Pictures Identify the sentence that most accurately describes what is presented in a photograph or what someone in the photograph might say
Rejoinders Identify a plausible continuation of a short conversation
Selections Answer comprehension questions based on more extensive listening selections

Reading section (60%)

Vocabulary and structure
Paragraph completion
Reading comprehension

French

Vocabulary in context (30%)
Structure (30%-40%)
Reading comprehension (30%-40%)

French with Listening

Listening section (35%)

Pictures, 8-12 questions Identify the sentence that most accurately describes what is presented in a picture or photograph.
Short dialogues, 6-12 questions Answer general content questions based on short dialogues or monologues.
Long dialogues, 10-15 questions Answer more specific questions based on longer dialogues or monologues

Reading section (65%)

Vocabulary, 16-20 questions
Structure, 16-20 questions
Reading comprehension, 20-25 questions

Chinese with Listening

Listening comprehension (33%)

Based on short spoken dialogues and narratives, primarily about everyday topics. Two different kinds of questions are used: (A) a spoken statement, question or exchange, followed by a choice of three possible responses (also spoken); (B) a spoken dialogue or monologue with a printed question or questions (in English) about what was said.

Usage (33%)

Requires structurally and logically correct completion of sentences. Questions are presented in four columns, allowing each question and its answer choices to be shown in four different ways of representing Chinese: traditional and simplified Chinese characters, and phonetic transcriptions in Pinyin romanization and the Chinese phonetic alphabet (Bopomofo). You choose the one that you are most familiar with.

Reading comprehension (33%)

Tests understanding of main and supporting ideas, themes, and the setting of passages. All passages are written in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters, while all questions are in English. Most questions deal with understanding of literal meaning although some inference questions may be included.

Italian

Vocabulary in context (30%)
Structure in context (grammar) (30%)
Reading comprehension (40%)

German

Vocabulary in context and structure in context (grammar) (50%)
Reading comprehension (50%)

German with listening

Listening section (35%)

Type One Contains short dialogues/monologues with one or two multiple choice questions. Dialogues/monologues, questions and answer choices are recorded. Questions are also printed in the test book.
Type Two Contains longer dialogues and monologues with several multiple-choice questions. Dialogues/monologues and questions are only recorded and not printed in the test book. Answer choices are not recorded; they appear only in the test book.

Reading section (65%)

Vocabulary in context
Structure in context (grammar)
Reading comprehension using authentic stimulus materials and passages

Mordern Hebrew

Vocabulary in context (30%)
Structure in context (grammar) (30%)
Reading comprehension using authentic stimulus materials and passages (40%)

Latin

Grammar and syntax (30%)

Derivatives (5%)

Translation and reading comprehension (65%)

The reading comprehension portion includes three to five reading passages and one or two poetry passages. A set of questions following a poetry passage always includes one question requiring you to scan the first four feet of a line of dactylic hexameter verse or to determine the number of elisions in a line.

Japanese with Listening

Listening comprehension (35%)
Based on short spoken dialogues and narratives, primarily about everyday topics

Usage (30%)

These questions require you to complete Japanese sentences in a way that is appropriate in terms of structure (grammar), vocabulary, and context. Usage questions are printed in two different ways of representing Japanese. On the left column, the Japanese is written in the most common type of Romanization (romaji), a modified Hepburn system. On the right column, the Japanese is presented in standard Japanese script with furigana for all kanji. You should choose the writing system you are familiar with and read only from that column on the test.

Reading comprehension (35%)

The reading comprehension questions are in English; the text is written in hiragana, katakana, and kanji without furigana.

Korean with Listening

Listening comprehension (35%)

Based on short spoken dialogues and narratives, primarily about everyday topics. All listening questions and their possible answers are in English.

Usage (30%)

Questions will be written entirely in Han'gŭl and require you to complete Korean sentences or phrases so that they are structurally and logically correct.

Reading comprehension (35%)

Questions are based on passages written entirely in Han'gŭl and require an understanding of the literal meaning. Some inference questions may be included. All reading comprehension questions are in English.

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