So that a student can see how he did on each part of the test, the verbal score is broken down into three types of questions: analogies, sentence completion, and critical reading. The math is broken down into two areas: arithmetic/algebraic reasoning and geometric reasoning. The SAT also has a section that does not count toward a student's score but provides the College Board with a test bank. The SAT questions generally get more difficult as the test progresses; therefore, it is recommended that a student answer the easy questions first. For math questions that are not multiple-choice, a person does not lose any points for a wrong answer. The SAT was commissioned by the College Board as a way of eliminating the need for having each college administer their own test. This started in the 1920's. The test was popularized in the 1950s when Harvard and other Ivy League schools wanted to use it to promote social mobility by admitting a wider range of students from more diverse backgrounds.

             Most students in the eastern and western regions of the United States take the SAT, while those living in Midwest states usually take the ACT. The Scholastic Assessment Test, formally known as the SAT I: Reasoning Test is commonly referred to simply as the SAT. Scores on the SAT range from 400 to 1600 points. The test, developed and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for the College Board in Princeton, New Jersey, is designed to measure verbal and reasoning skills said to be related to academic performance. It contains two main sections: Verbal and Math. The SAT generally receives more national attention, even though more students actually take the ACT. The ACT is accepted by more colleges than the SAT. ACT scores extend from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 36 points. The ACT supposedly determines academic readiness for college. The American College Testing Program of Iowa City, Iowa governs the ACT, which consists of four major sections: English, Math, Reading Comprehension, and Science Reasoning.