Understanding the SAT
Understand the SAT
As Kentucky transitions to the SAT as its statewide accountability assessment, higher education institutions will begin seeing SAT results from Kentucky students across the state. The SAT measures the knowledge and skills students are learning in school—those most strongly linked to college and career readiness.
For nearly a century, the SAT has been used successfully to help colleges assess student preparedness and predict success when combined with factors like high school GPA. In the class of 2024, more than 2 million students took the SAT, using their scores to demonstrate readiness and connect with colleges across the country.
With Kentucky students now participating in the SAT statewide, institutions will benefit from consistent, reliable measures that support both admissions and placement decisions—helping ensure students are well prepared for success on your campus.
Format, Content, and Scoring
The digital SAT Suite provides Kentucky students with a modern, fair, and research-based assessment experience that focuses on what matters most for college success.
Format
The digital SAT includes two sections—Reading and Writing and Math—and takes just over two hours to complete. Each section is divided into two modules. The first module contains a range of question difficulties; the second adapts based on a student’s performance in the first, allowing for a more personalized and precise measure of readiness.
Students take the test using College Board’s secure Bluebook™ app, which runs on school-managed Chromebooks, Windows or Mac laptops, or iPads. For weekend test takers without a device, College Board provides loaner devices to ensure equitable access.
Content
The Reading and Writing section focuses on students’ ability to interpret, use, and communicate information effectively. Questions fall within four domains:
- Craft and Structure
- Information and Ideas
- Standard English Conventions
- Expression of Ideas
The Math section measures skills most essential to college and career success, covering:
- Algebra
- Advanced Math
- Problem-Solving and Data Analysis
- Geometry and Trigonometry
About one-third of SAT Math questions are presented in real-world or academic contexts, asking students to apply mathematical reasoning to science, social studies, or everyday scenarios.
Scoring
SAT scores provide meaningful insight into student learning and readiness. Students receive:
- A Total Score (400–1600)
- Section Scores for Reading and Writing, and Math (200–800 each)
The test’s adaptive design—used in other major national assessments—ensures accuracy and fairness for all students, regardless of which second module they see. Every Kentucky student will have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their strengths.