The SAT Test Will Effect Your Financial Aid Package

The SAT test is a seven-section, three-hour exam, which is administered approximately seven times during the year by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The SAT test registration is offered every year in October, November, December, January, March or April, May, and June. The SAT is a multi-sectioned exam consisting of three verbal sections, three math sections, and one experimental section.

Why does the SAT have an experimental section? The experimental section of the SAT, can be either verbal or math and is used by the test preparers for research purposes only, and will not count toward your final score. Every time the SAT is administered, the seven sections appear in a slightly different order. Traditionally, a student will take the sat test in the spring of their junior year, and again, if necessary, in the fall of their senior year.

The student receives two scores on the SAT

1. Math
2. Verbal

Each subject is scored based on a scale of 200 to 800.

Although the national average is approximately 500 for each subject (for a total score of 1000), most competitive colleges look for much higher scores. In addition to the weight placed on SAT scores by colleges when making their admissions decisions, other important factors taken into consideration are the student's high school GPA and academic transcript, letters of recommendation, interviews, and personal essays. Some U.S. colleges and universities will accept ACT test scores in lieu of SAT test scores.

The SAT Test Can Help Or Hurt Your Financial Aid Award

Most U.S. colleges and universities use the SAT test for admissions and placement decisions. SAT scores can also determine scholarship eligibility and financial aid award. You may not realize the impact that the SAT and student positioning ultimately have on your financial aid package. But if you score high relative to the admission requirements the more favorable your financial aid package is likely to be. You should prepare for the SAT test to improve you SAT scores, which will help you with your financial aid award. To prepare for taking for your SAT test, an SAT free practice test is highly recommended.

SAT scores and student positioningare integral to your financial aid process. Parent's and students need to find the schools SAT average to see if they will receive merit-based scholarships. For that reason we recommend you take advantage of our financial aid services, which can help match your SAT scores with the college most likely to either reward you scores or at least not penalize your financial aid package because of your scores.