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Table of Contents

SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test
Overview

The SAT is published by CollegeBoard and administered typically to juniors and seniors in high
school. Many colleges and universities require that applicants take the SAT as part of their
admissions processes. The SAT is a four hour test that measures the critical thinking skills
students need for academic success in college. Two subtests are given: (a) Math and (b)
Evidence-based Reading & Writing.

Prior to 2017, the SAT had three subtests, each with a maximum score of 800 points; perfect
scores on all three subtests resulted in a combined score of 2400. In the spring of 2016,
CollegeBoard changed the format of the SAT reducing to two subtests, combining the reading
and writing components. Each subtest in the revised SAT still received 800 points for a
combined total of 1600 points.

Former SAT Scoring Structure
Total Score (600-2400)
Critical Reading (200-800) Writing (200-800) Math (200-800)
1
1
1
33 % of Total Score 33 % of Total Score 33 % of Total Score
3 3 3

Revised SAT Scoring Structure
Total Score (400-1600)
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (200-800)
50% of Total Score Math (200-800)
Reading Writing 50% of Total Score
25% of Total Score 25% of Total Score

To help prepare our students for the SAT, the district provides students with user accounts for
Naviance, a college and career planning software. This program includes SAT test taking tips
and practice tests for students. Starting in the winter of 2017, students were also offered an
opportunity to take face-to-face SAT preparation courses on campus, due to a partnership with a
local services provider. Students are also able to make use of free open source preparation
classes through the Khan Academy online. Providing families with options to meet their
students’ needs through various formats of instruction was a goal of the District. In addition, the
district administers the PSAT, a preliminary SAT, to juniors. Some of our students choose to
take the PSAT as sophomores. While PDE does not include SAT scores as part of the SPP
calculation, it does include participation in the PSAT test.

In the pages that follow are SAT test results for the last five years in the former testing format for
Math, Critical Reading, and Writing and the first two years of the new testing format with results
in Math and Evidence-based Reading & Writing for Pine-Richland School District,
Pennsylvania, and the Total Group. Total Group refers to all students both nationally and

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