SAT Exam Pattern 2025 - Paper Pattern, Marking Scheme and No. of Questions

SAT Pattern 2025: The Digital SAT exam is designed into two sections as per the new SAT 2025 exam pattern which are Reading and Writing (RW) and Math. These sections are score on a range of 200-800, The Reading and Writing section is completely MCQ-based whereas Math section of the SAT pattern is 75% MCQ questions and 25% of the questions are based on student-produced responses. The overall SAT exam duration is reduced and calculators are allowed for solving Math section of the exam as per the new pattern of SAT 2025. Students must be well aware with the SAT syllabus and pattern to do preparation study efficiently and score good scores. SAT scores plays a crucial role while applying for undergraduate colleges abroad, especially in US. The SAT exam pattern 2025 contains 98 questions that are mostly MCQ-based. The total SAT score 2025 in the SAT exam is between 400 to 1600 scale.

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This Story also Contains

1. SAT Exam Pattern 2025: Highlights
2. What is The Format of The SAT Exam Pattern?
3. Adaptive Testing Format of SAT Pattern 2025
4. SAT Paper Pattern 2025 for Reading and Writing Section
5. Changes in the SAT Exam Pattern
6. Digital SAT Exam Syllabus 2025
7. SAT 2025 Exam Duration
8. How is the 2025 Digital SAT Exam Scored?
9. How To Prepare For SAT 2025?

Fortunately, there is no SAT negative marking, so candidates can attempt all the questions without the fear of losing marks. Read this complete article to learn about the new SAT test pattern for the year 2025, its syllabus and scoring, etc. Check out the new SAT exam pattern 2025 to ace the exam without worrying much!

Latest SAT Update: From 2024 onwards, the SAT is available only in Digital format for international students other than US candidates.

SAT Exam Pattern 2025: Highlights

What is The Format of The SAT Exam Pattern?

The new Digital SAT 2025 exam pattern in India has a shorter test duration of 2 hours 14 minutes with a 10-minute break. This SAT paper pattern 2025 utilizes the multistage adaptive testing exam, where the same skills are accurately measured with a shorter test.

On average, for the given 98 questions, the candidate gets 1 minute 30 seconds to attempt one single question. The candidates can move backwards or forward while answering the questions in one particular section. Once the time runs out for 1st section, then automatically the second module gets started.

SAT Digital Exam Pattern with Score Range 2025

You can download the Digital SAT exam pattern pdf of the College Board to get a better understanding of the overall exam format and structure.

Adaptive Testing Format of SAT Pattern 2025

As the SAT test is adaptive, the difficulty level of questions changes to medium, easy, hard, etc., depending on the performance of the candidate.

How Does Adaptive Testing Work in SAT?

Each section consists of 2 modules.

Module 1: Consists of a mix of easy, hard and difficult questions

Module 2: Consists of a mix of varying difficulty-based questions depending on the candidate's performance in module 1.

Detailed SAT Paper Pattern Section Wise

The outline of the SAT syllabus and question types of the two maths and reading & writing sections are mentioned below. Candidates can check this SAT pattern and find out.

SAT Test Pattern for Maths

The SAT test syllabus for the Maths section includes areas like

• Algebra

• Advanced Math

• Problem-solving and Data Analysis

• Geometry and Trigonometry

Maths Section SAT Pattern 2025 Outline

Types of Questions in SAT Syllabus

SAT Question Paper Pattern in Maths Section: The Digital SAT exam pattern in India 2025 for the maths section consists of question types in the following ratios.

• 75% MCQ

• 25% Student-produced response (SPR) questions.

Here the SPR is like fill-in-the-blanks, where the candidate needs to enter the response for the given question. This maths section measures the fluency, and understanding application abilities of maths skills and concepts which are most essential. The sample question types of the Math can be checked in the SAT sample exam papers.

Calculator Usage: The calculator is allowed during the maths section. Candidates can wisely decide which questions require a calculator and which don't, to use the time efficiently.

SAT Paper Pattern 2025 for Reading and Writing Section

The reading and writing section in the SAT 2025 exam pattern in India consists of short reading passages ranging from 25 to 250 words followed by a single MCQ. The RW section is divided into two (2) modules. Each module has 25 operational questions and 2 pre-test questions. The SAT exam syllabus 2025 consists of passages from subject areas like literature, history/social studies, the humanities, and science.

2025 SAT Test Pattern: Reading and Writing Section

Types of Questions in SAT Syllabus

SAT Question Paper Pattern in Reading and Writing Section: The SAT pattern of the reading and writing section consists of questions in the form of MCQs that fall under four (4) domains, as mentioned below.

• Craft and Structure: This section checks the comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning skills of the test takers. It also accesses the knowledge needed to understand and use high-utility words and phrases in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and make connections between topically related texts.

• Information and Ideas: This section checks the comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills and knowledge and the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information from texts and informational graphics such as tables, bar graphs, and more.

• Standard English Conventions: This section measures the ability to edit text and understand the core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.

• Expression of Ideas: This section checks the ability to revise texts and improve their effectiveness of written expression and to meet specific rhetorical goals.

Changes in the SAT Exam Pattern

College Board has introduced a new Digital SAT exam for test takers that is slightly different from the previous exam. Some of the crucial changes introduced in SAT 2025 exam pattern 2025 include decreased time duration of the test, permitted use of calculators while appearing for the Math section of the exam, combining the Writing and Reading sections into one section, and more. These changes are intended to offer students more flexibility and convenience. Also, one of the other benefits of the exam is that there is no SAT negative marking for questions answered in the exam.

For more details on the SAT exam pattern and syllabus, students can refer to the online SAT study material available on the official website o Careers360. One can visit SAT Exam Pattern PDF on Carees360 website which is easily accessible.

Digital SAT Exam Syllabus 2025

As the details of the digital SAT paper pattern are already discussed, here is the detailed SAT syllabus information.

SAT 2025 Syllabus for Mathematics

• Algebra: The algebra measures include question types like linear equations in 1 or 2 variables, linear functions, linear inequalities in 10 2 variables, etc.

• Advanced Math: The Advanced maths syllabus for SAT focuses on the maths concepts that the candidate will pursue in their further study like science, economics, engineering, technology, etc. It includes question types like equivalent expressions, nonlinear functions and variables, and systems of equations in two (2) variables.

• Problem-Solving and Data Analysis: Concepts and questions related to these points like ratios, percentages, 1 or 2 variable data, probability, and evaluating statistical claims are asked.

• Geometry and Trigonometry: Topics related to is related to Area and volume formulas, Lines, angles, triangles, right triangles, trigonometry, circles, etc.

Students must note that the SAT exam question paper pattern has only one section for both Reading and Writing

SAT Reading and Writing Section Syllabus 2025

For all the students it is to clarify that there is no separate SAT exam syllabus for engineering or arts or commerce. The SAT exam syllabus is the same for all SAT accepting colleges.

SAT 2025 Exam Duration

Students can refer to the table below to learn about the SAT exam duration for the new test. Here is the SAT exam pattern in India for aspirants:

SAT Exam Question Paper Pattern and Duration:

How is the 2025 Digital SAT Exam Scored?

It is important tot understand the SAT marking scheme per question. The questions in the SAT exam are scored as either right or wrong. If you were wondering, is there negative marking in SAT exam, then the answer is no. There is no negative marking in the test. So students can attempt every question. The total SAT score ranges from 400 to 1600. So, what is the lowest SAT score? the lowest possible SAT score is 400 and the highest is 1600 marks. The SAT scores are a sum of the scores in each section.

• Math Section: 200 - 800 point scale

• Reading and Writing Section: 200 - 800 point scale.

How To Prepare For SAT 2025?

Once you are totally aware of the SAT exam pattern and syllabus, start the preparation for the SAT. Candidates can take the help of best exam preparation books and practice tests as resources.

Here are some of the SAT preparation tips that guide your SAT preparation.

• Use the College Board SAT preparation material: These resources provide the appropriate SAT exam portion and give subject knowledge and concepts required for preparation.
• SAT Practice Test: Practising a decent number of practice tests helps the candidate to get comfortable with the pattern of SAT exam and format.
• Keep a Target Score: Check the minimum required SAT qualifying scores of the universities and set a target score ahead of it. Now, plan the preparation and ways to achieve the required target score.

SAT Preparation Books 2025

Here is the list of the best SAT preparation materials. These books include all the concepts of the SAT exam pattern and syllabus and provide sample questions for practice. Check them below.

• Official Digital SAT Study Guide

• Barron SAT Study Guide

• Kaplan’s Digital SAT Total Prep 2025

• Critical Reading: A Complete Guide to SAT Reading by Erics L. Metzer

• SAT Prep Black Book by Mike Barret

• SAT Math Orange Book Volume I & II

Note: Students can visit Creers360 for SAT exam pattern pdf.

Know more about SAT:

• How to send SAT scores to colleges?

• SAT Re-design