Graduation Guidelines - SAT

This information was provided by College Board and the Colorado Department of Education

“The SAT is a college entrance exam that is accepted or required at nearly all four-year colleges and universities in the United States. It serves as both a measure of students’ college readiness and as a valid and reliable predictor of college outcomes. The current SAT includes sections on reading, writing and math, with the highest possible score for each section being 800.

The redesigned SAT launched in March 2016 and focuses on the skills and knowledge that evidence shows are needed most for college and career success. It reflects what Colorado students are already learning in their classrooms, including the best of instruction in math, English language arts, science, history, and social studies. The new test has two sections – Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. The scoring scale is 400 to 1600, with an optional essay scored separately.”

Ninth graders attending public schools in Colorado began taking the PSAT 8/9 in the spring of 2018. Tenth graders began taking PSAT 10 in the spring 2016 and public school 11th graders began taking the SAT in spring, 2017. The CO PSAT and CO SAT will be given each spring for the following five years.

In order to place in college-level courses in Colorado, students must earn a 470 in English and a 500 in math. Learn about remediation rates from the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE).

Why This Option

The SAT is a national college admissions exam that all Colorado students take in 11thgrade.

The SAT is closely aligned to challenging classroom work of Colorado schools and focuses on the key skills and concepts that evidence shows matter most for college and career readiness, including:

Mathematical concepts, skills, and practices important for success in career training programs.
Reading, comprehending, and writing high-quality essays supported by evidence.

The SAT also serves as an admission test and is accepted by every college in the United States. At the time of testing, students can send their scores to up to four colleges for free. The SAT essay can also be taken as part of the Colorado school day SAT administration. The SAT essay is optional and voluntary and can be added at no cost to students.

Implementation Strategies

The College Board has partnered with online educational provider Khan Academy® to provide free online SAT practice to all students.

By creating a free Khan Academy student account, students are able to take eight official full-length SAT practice tests including two SAT with Essay practice tests, access thousands of practice questions, video lessons, and hints, and receive study and test-taking tips. In addition, students can personalize their SAT practice by taking eight diagnostic quizzes, or seeing personalized practice recommendations based on the student’s PSAT results by linking their College Board and Khan Academy accounts.

Creating a College Board and/or Khan Academy account is optional and voluntary for students. The Colorado Department of Education strongly recommends that students and parents review and discuss the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policies of these organizations prior to creating an online account.

Find resources on the SAT website for: