How To Prepare For And Take SAT In Nigeria To Study Abroad

SAT Preparation Tips: The purpose of this article is to assist those in search of scholarships for abroad study with knowledge pertaining to SAT, how to prepare for the test and take it in Nigeria. You will also see the list of 2019 SAT test centres. Note that the available dates for 2019 are March 9th, May 4th and June 1st 2019.

About SAT

According to Wikipedia, SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States which was first introduced in 1926 and its name and scoring have changed several times.

SAT was originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, then the Scholastic Assessment Test, then the SAT I: Reasoning Test, then the SAT Reasoning Test, and now simply the SAT.

SAT is owned and published by the College Board which is a private, nonprofit organization in the United States. It is developed and administered on behalf of the College Board by the Educational Testing Service. The test is intended to assess a student’s readiness for college. It is designed to not be aligned to high school curriculum.

New SAT Logo

Is SAT valid only for US universities?

The standardized test – SAT – is a mandatory criteria for a Bachelors degree in US. However, though not obligatory, some universities in other locations like Singapore, UK, Canada, Finland, Australia and so on also accept scores on the same for a Bachelors degree level.

Structure of SAT

The current SAT takes 3 hours to finish plus 50 minutes for the SAT with essay. Possible scores on the SAT range from 400 to 1600, combining test results from two 800-point sections: Mathematics and Critical reading and Writing.

SAT consists of three major sections:

• Critical Reading,
• Mathematics, and
• Writing.

Each section receives a score on the scale of 200–800. All scores are multiples of 10. Total scores are calculated by adding up scores of the three sections.

Each major section is divided into three parts. There are 10 sub-sections, including an additional 25-minute experimental or “equating” section that may be in any of the three major sections.

The experimental section is used to normalize questions for future administrations of the SAT and does not count toward the final score.

The test contains 3 hours and 45 minutes of actual timed sections; most administrations (after accounting for orientation, distribution of materials, completion of biographical sections, and fifteen minutes of timed breaks) run for about four and a half hours.

The questions range from easy, medium, and hard depending on the scoring from the experimental sections. Easier questions typically appear closer to the beginning of the section while harder questions are toward the end in certain sections.

This is not true for every section (the Critical Reading section is in chronological order) but it is the rule of thumb mainly for math, grammar, and the 19 sentence-completions in the reading sections.

About the Reading Test

When you take the Reading Test, you’ll read passages and interpret informational graphics. Then you’ll use what you’ve read to answer questions.

Some questions ask you to locate a piece of information or an idea stated directly. But you’ll also need to understand what the author’s words imply. In other words, you have to read between the lines.

Find out more about the Critical Reading Test on the College Board SAT page

About the Writing and Language Test

To answer some questions, you’ll need to look closely at a single sentence. Others require reading the entire piece and interpreting a graphic. For instance, you might be asked to choose a sentence that corrects a misinterpretation of a scientific chart or that better explains the importance of the data.

The passages you improve will range from arguments to nonfiction narratives and will be about careers, history, social studies, the humanities, and science.

Find out more about the Critical Reading Test on the College Board SAT page

About the Math Test

The SAT Math Test covers a range of math practices, with an emphasis on problem solving, modeling, using tools strategically, and using algebraic structure.

• Most math questions will be multiple choice, but some — called grid-ins — ask you to come up with the answer rather than select the answer.
• The Math Test is divided into two portions: Math Test – Calculator and Math Test – No Calculator.
• Some parts of the test include several questions about a single scenario.

Find out more about the Critical Reading Test on the College Board SAT page

How to Prepare and Practice For SAT

Since the SAT is based mostly on what you’ve done in secondary or high school, the questions are everyday kind of questions and the best way to prepare for the test is to look at the sample questions which are available here.

SAT Test Multiple Choice Questions

List of SAT Centers in Nigeria | 2019

This list is updated only once a year, so be sure to use the College Board tool to confirm that the test centers listed there are still options for your test date for the particular year you may want to write yours. The centers listed below are for 2019. Note that the available dates for 2019 are March 9th, May 4th and June 1st 2019.

There are few authorized SAT test centres currently administering the test in Nigeria. You can choose any of these centres nearest to you: Lagos, FCT Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Asaba, Enugu, Jos, Kaduna, Benin, Kwara, Ibadan and Osun.