“What is it?”

SAT Skills Insight is a free tool to help you get a score that really shows your abilities. It identifies the types of skills that are tested on the SAT with sample test questions so that you can do your best if you’re taking the SAT for the first time, or if you got your SAT scores and are thinking, “I want to do better than that.”

Keep in mind that:

• The SAT shows how ready you are for college-level work.
• If you improve the skills needed for college, you can improve your SAT scores.
• You are likely to do better on the SAT if you’re more familiar with its content.

Taking the SAT shows colleges that you want to achieve more in life. SAT Skills Insight helps you figure out how to get where you want to go.

“How do I use it?”

You can improve your score by learning about and practicing the types of questions that are on the SAT. SAT Skills Insight is one of several tools that can help you understand how to succeed.

We’ve grouped the SAT scores into six “score bands” between 200 and 800. For each band, we provide examples of a typical student’s skills who scores within that band. The information is based on the performance of students who have taken the SAT.

For each section—critical reading, mathematics, and writing—look at the types of skills tested in each score band. Try to answer the sample questions to see how you do.

• If you feel the skills in a score band seem difficult or confusing, you may need to strengthen those areas.
• If you feel very comfortable with most of the skills, you may be able to improve your score by focusing on the skills in the next higher score band.
• Take a look at the score band just below yours and make sure that you have strong skills in all the areas listed.

“What do I do next?”

Make sure that you understand the meaning of each skill in a score band. Reviewing the bands below and above yours can help you to recognize differences between them.

• Use the Suggestions for Improvement as a resource to help you improve and move up to the next score band.
• Ask your teachers to help you work on any skills that may seem challenging.
• Go to the free SAT Preparation Center to try and improve your score—practice your skills by reviewing test questions, answers, and explanations.
• Get more familiar with the test; register for the next SAT.