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SAT Questions
- What is the SAT?
- What is the format of the test?
- How long is the test?
- When is the SAT given?
- How do I register for the SAT?
- How much does it cost to register for the SAT?
- How can I get extended time on the SAT?
- How is the SAT scored?
- Does the SAT have an essay?
- What is the average SAT score?
- When will I get my scores back?
- What should I bring to the test?
- What should I NOT bring to the test?
What is the SAT?
The SAT is the college entrance exam most widely accepted by U.S. colleges and universities. It’s designed to measure the reading, writing, and math skills students have built up through high school and need for college coursework.
What is the format of the test?
The digital SAT runs about two hours and fourteen minutes, split into a Reading and Writing section and a Math section, each broken into two timed modules. The test is section-adaptive: how a student performs on the first module of a section determines the difficulty of the second module in that section. Once a module is submitted, students can’t go back to it.
How long is the test?
Total testing time is about two hours and fourteen minutes, with a short break between the Reading and Writing portion and the Math portion. Students approved for accommodations can receive additional time.
When is the SAT given?
The College Board offers the SAT several times a year, typically in the fall, winter, and spring/summer months. Exact dates and registration deadlines are published on the College Board’s website each year.
How do I register for the SAT?
Registering online through the College Board is the fastest option and takes just a few minutes. Students can also register by mail with a paper form from a school counselor, or by phone if they’ve registered before (a small extra fee applies for phone registration).
How much does it cost to register for the SAT?
Standard registration runs a bit under $70. Registering after the regular deadline but before the late deadline adds a late fee on top of the base cost. Fee waivers are available for eligible students through a school counselor.
How can I get extended time on the SAT?
Extended time is arranged through the College Board’s accommodations process, which a school counselor typically initiates. It’s worth starting well ahead of a test date, since documentation and approval take time.
How is the SAT scored?
Reading and Writing and Math are each scored on a 200–800 scale, adding up to a composite score between 400 and 1600. The digital format changed how the test is delivered, but the underlying scale and the skills it measures are the same as the paper SAT.
Does the SAT have an essay?
The optional essay has been phased out nationally and is now only used in a handful of states as part of SAT School Day administrations. Ask your counselor whether your school’s test date includes it.
What is the average SAT score?
National averages shift slightly year to year; your official score report will show how your results stack up against other test-takers.
When will I get my scores back?
Scores are usually posted online about two weeks after the test date, with a mailed copy following a few weeks later.
What should I bring to the test?
Bring a fully charged laptop or tablet with the College Board's Bluebook app installed and exam setup completed, plus a charger or portable battery — outlets aren't guaranteed. Also bring your up-to-date admission ticket from Bluebook (a printed copy is preferred), an accepted form of photo ID, a pencil or pen for the scratch paper provided at the test, and an approved calculator. Students who carry an EpiPen or similar device may keep it with them during testing.
What should I NOT bring to the test?
Phones, smartwatches (or any watch with an audible alarm), and other unapproved electronics need to stay off and out of reach during testing. Don't bring your own scratch paper either; it's provided at the test.