The SAT® is an exam with a reputation. It’s kind of like that one no-nonsense teacher at your school who is preceded by rumors and folklore.
I heard Mr. So-and-So has the entire textbook memorized.
Is it true that Ms. Who’s-Her-Face has never given an “A”?
My friend told me Principal Blabbity-Blah mows his lawn in a cap and gown.
Rumors. Folklore.
You’ve heard the SAT has been around a while. It has a reputation of being a difficult exam and requiring preparation to perform well on test day. You may have even heard it’s unfair or that there is some controversy around college readiness exams.
Those are the things you’ve heard, but there is some interesting trivia around the SAT you may not have heard about. Just for fun, take this ten-question, multiple-choice quiz to test your SAT knowledge.
What year was the College Board established?
- 1776
- 1899
- 1945
- 2020
(Answer: The College Entrance Examination Board — now known as the College Board — was established in December of 1899 in an effort to standardize college admissions procedures.)
The SAT was initially used as an IQ test for what organization?
- US Army
- American Red Cross
- The Peace Corps
- Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus
(Answer: The SAT was initially used as an Army IQ test.)
What was the original grading scale for the SAT?
- A percentage between 0% and 100%
- 5 categories: Excellent, Good, Doubtful, Poor, and Very Poor
- A combined score with the highest possible score being 1100
- A large “thumbs up” or “thumbs down’ sticker
(Answer: The original grading scale consisted of five ratings: Excellent, Good, Doubtful, Poor, and Very Poor.)
What year did high school students first take the SAT?
- 1960
- 1939
- 1926
- 7000 BC
(Answer: The SAT was first taken by high school students on June 23, 1926.)
How long was the first SAT?
- 97 minutes
- 2 hours
- 154 minutes
- An entire three-day weekend
(Answer: The first SAT was 97 minutes long. That’s 203 minutes less than the current version.)
In the early years, Ivy League schools used the SAT to determine what?
- Athletic eligibility
- Scholarship opportunities
- Mental dexterity
- How much someone can endure before crying
(Answer: By 1938, all the Ivy League schools used the SAT as a tool to determine scholarship opportunities for students.)
During World War II, how much was the fee to take the SAT?
- 5 bucks
- 50 cents
- 1 dollar
- Half of all future lottery winnings
(Answer: During World War II, the test fee for the SAT was $5.)
Before 2016, how many points did you lose for an incorrect answer on the SAT?
- 1 point
- 2 points
- ¼ of a point
- 3 points and a very public shaming
(Answer: In 1954, a “guessing penalty” was instituted. This was the loss of one-fourth of a point for a wrong SAT answer, but there was no loss of points for skipping a question. The guessing penalty was removed in 2016.)
What does SAT stand for?
- It doesn’t stand for anything
- “Scholastic Aptitude Test”
- “Scholastic Achievement Test”
- “Such A Treat”
(Answer: SAT doesn’t stand for anything. It has had four different names in the past, but “SAT” is not currently an acronym for anything.)
What is the BEST way to prepare for the SAT?
- Spend a ton of money on tutors
- Use an online test prep resource with questions that mimic the exam and detailed explanations to help you learn concepts and build retention
- Read more books to increase vocabulary
- Intermittent fasting
(Answer: The BEST way to prepare for the SAT is with an online test prep resource with questions that mimic the exam and detailed explanations to help you learn concepts and build retention.)
Well, let’s take a look and see how you did:
10 correct answers: You’re an SAT god.
7-9 correct answers: Congratulations. We’re officially impressed.
4-6 correct answers: You probably just had an off day. It happens.
1-3 correct answers: Step forward and receive your participation trophy.
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