SAT Exam Syllabus 2025 - Section Wise Pattern & Syllabus

About the Digital SAT Exam

Now the SAT exam is fully digital. This means that the candidates can now appear for the exam using a computer or a laptop. Previously, the SAT exam for Indian students was taken using pen and paper. The digital SAT exam syllabus 2025 has also changed. Similarly, many other changes have occurred with the introduction of the new digital SAT which we have mentioned below.

Key differences between Digital SAT and Paper-based SAT (old)

• The duration for the digital SAT exam has been reduced to 2 hours and 14 minutes.
• Digital SAT has fewer questions.
• The passages in the reading Section of the digital SAT exam are now shorter in length.
• Calculators are now allowed for the Math section in the SAT exam.

• The digital SAT is adaptive. This means that the difficulty of the second module will be based on your performance in the first module.

SAT Exam Pattern 2025

Along with the SAT exam syllabus for Indian students, it is crucial to be aware of the SAT pattern 2025. As the digital SAT exam has a shorter duration of 2 hours and 14 minutes, after attempting one section of the test, you can take a 10-minute additional break. Candidates must understand the SAT exam pattern to familiarize themselves with the exam.

The majority of the questions in the SAT are MCQ-based; however, some of the Mathematics questions require the candidate to fill in the correct answer.

Is SAT full of MCQ?

The SAT exam is not fully MCQ. Even though the Reading and Writing section has MCQ questions, the math section offers a mix of both MCQ and SPR questions. SPR stands for student-produced response. This means that the candidate taking the SAT exam is required to answer the question in their own words.

SAT Exam Syllabus 2025

The SAT exam consists of two main sections, the Reading & Writing section and the Mathematics section. However, while taking the test, you will come across passages that are related to science, social, or any other fields, but these do not require any subject knowledge. The following sections discuss the details of the two sections of the SAT exam.

SAT Syllabus for Reading & Writing Section

As the SAT exam is intended to apply for undergraduate-level courses abroad, the SAT exam syllabus in the RW section is aligned with the demands of colleges and their requirements. The reading and writing section consists of reading passages with single MCQ-type questions. The total number of questions in this section is 54. Each passage is 25 to 150 words and is sourced from subjects like history, social sciences, science, humanities, literature, etc. You can get all these details by choosing the SAT syllabus 2025 PDF free download.

• Craft and Structure: These questions measure the reasoning skills, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, comprehension and knowledge required to understand high-utility words and phrases in context. There are 13-15 questions of this type carrying 28% weightage.
  
• Information of Ideas: These questions measure the reasoning skills, analysis, and comprehension abilities of the student to locate, interpret, and evaluate the information given in the form of text, graphs, tables, etc. There are 12-14 questions of this type carrying 26% weightage.
• Standard English Conventions: This measures the ability to edit the text that matches English standard conventions. There are 11-15 questions of this type carrying 26% weightage.
• Expression of Ideas: The SAT questions from this domain measure the ability to revise and improvise the expression to meet specific goals. There are 8-12 questions of this type carrying 20% weightage.

SAT Reading and Writing Syllabus

In the SAT exam syllabus for Indian students, the domains of craft and structure, information and ideas assess the reading skills whereas the domains of standard English conventions and expression of ideas assess the writing skills of the candidate. The above-mentioned details are also presented in the SAT syllabus 2025 PDF download.

SAT Reading and Writing Question Types

• Passage-based questions: Answer questions based on literary, historical, or scientific texts
• Evidence-based questions: Select evidence from the text to support your answers
• Vocabulary in context: Understand the meaning of words and phrases based on the surrounding text
• Improve sentence structure and clarity
• Refine organizational flow in passages
• Choose the most effective word or phrase in a given context
• Identify and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure
• Revise a passage to improve its clarity and effectiveness

SAT Syllabus for Math Section

Throughout the Math section of the SAT, you will have both multiple-choice and student-produced response types of questions. The total number of questions in this section is 44. The SAT Math syllabus 2025 includes questions from the following topics. The SAT Math syllabus focuses primarily on four areas:

• Algebra
• Advanced Math
• Problem-solving and Data Analysis
• Geometry and Trigonometry

Aspirants can explore the following section to know what kind of questions are asked in the SAT Math Section.

1. Algebra: This section includes questions that assess the ability to analyze, solve, and create linear equations using multiple techniques. There are 13-15 questions of this type carrying 35% weightage.

2. Advanced Math: The advanced Math in the SAT exam syllabus focuses on the Math required in studying science, economics and other STEM courses. There are 13-15 questions of this type carrying 35% weightage.

3. Problem-Solving and Data Analysis: This section assesses the ability to apply quantitative reasoning. There are 5-7 questions of this type carrying 15% weightage.

4. Geometry and Trigonometry: There are 5-7 questions of this type carrying 15% weightage. The following concepts are found in the Geometry and Trigonometry of the Math SAT exam syllabus.

• Area and volume
• Lines, angles, triangles, right triangles, trigonometry
• Circles

The questions for the SAT math subject test syllabus are asked in MCQs and student response questions like fill in the answers. There are 30% in-context math questions. These 'in context questions' require the candidate to understand the concept of various fields like social science, etc., and apply the math skills and knowledge to solve the question.

Types of Questions in SAT Math

Candidates are free to use the calculator in the entire Math section. However, it is suggested to limit your usage to minor calculations, as this saves you time in the examination.

What is the hardest subject on the SAT?

Some of the hardest subjects on SAT include problem-solving, data analysis, advanced math, and complex algebra. However, the hardest subject also depends on the preparation of the student. Some find the reading & writing section hard, whereas some find the math section the hardest.

Can I give SAT without maths?

There is no option of not attempting the Maths section in the SAT exam. However, as the SAT evaluates the candidate’s high school level knowledge, the level of difficulty in the Maths section is not very high. Hence, even if you are not well-versed in the maths subject, you can attempt the SAT.

SAT Exam Preparation Tips 2025

If you also like to self-study for your SAT exam, you should grab the best SAT preparation books or even opt for SAT coaching classes. You can also check the SAT syllabus 2025 PDF download. If you want to give your best, start your preparation by going through the SAT preparation tips mentioned below.

• Start preparing for the SAT test syllabus early.
• Understand the exam pattern of SAT, syllabus, question types, scoring pattern, etc.
• Begin your preparation with the difficult topics and later proceed with the topics that are easy for you.
• Practice a greater number of SAT mock tests to estimate your performance level.
• Dedicate a fixed number of hours for SAT preparation and maintain consistency.

SAT Sample Papers

Can a PCB student give SAT?

Yes students from a PCB (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) background can take the SAT exam. There are no specific academic requirements for the exam. Moreover, the SAT syllabus assesses the foundational preparation of the candidate in reading, writing, and maths areas.

Is CBSE enough for SAT?

An applicant preparing for the SAT exam should not limit their preparation to CBSE topics. Even though CBSE is a great way to practice for the exam but it is equally important to practice sample papers, refer to SAT practice materials, understand the SAT exam pattern, question types and syllabus.

Also Read:

• SAT Scores

• How to calculate SAT scores