Introduction: New Content, New Format 5

Table of Contents

SAT Reading Test

The SAT Reading test is designed to evaluate proficiency in literary analysis and
reading comprehension. Passages in this portion of the SAT cover a wide range of
literary styles, as well as a multitude of different content areas, while questions focus on
interpretation and inference based on the given prose.

SAT Reading Test Snapshot

• Part of Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section score (along with SAT
Writing and Language)
• 52 questions (all passage-based)
• 65 minutes
• 4 stand-alone passages, 1 paired passage
• Question themes: Main idea, evidence, word meaning in context, authorial
choice and style, interpretation of data (graphs, charts, tables)
• Content basis in literary analysis
• Involved subscores: Command of Evidence, Words in Context, Analysis in
History/Social Science, Analysis in Science

Passages

• 1 Classical or Contemporary Literature

• 1 Historic Document or Speech (may be paired passage)
• 1 Social Science (may be paired passage)
• 2 Natural Science (may be paired passage)

The SAT Reading test consists of five passages, each with a distinct area of content
coverage. There will be one excerpt of classical or contemporary literature, one excerpt
of an historically relevant document or dictation, one passage related to social science
(economics, psychology, sociology, etc.), and two passages related to natural sciences
(biology, chemistry, case studies, etc.). One of the five given passages will be a paired
passage, meaning that the given excerpt is divided between two separate sources and the
questions address aspects of comparison and connection between the content of the two
sources. Only one of the five passages will be a paired passage, and it will always be either
the historical document, social science, or science passage; passages on classical literature
will never be paired.

Questions about the passages fall into three general categories: Information and Ideas,
Rhetoric and Passage Construction, and Synthesis. It is important to note that, while
these distinctions can help shape your approach to a particular question, all questions on
the SAT Reading test will be based in conceptual understanding, reading comprehension,
and literary analysis. The SAT Reading test will never ask for grammatical corrections or
critique of prose; these topics are addressed on the SAT Writing and Language test.

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