SAT

The SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The SAT is a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test created and administered by the College Board.

The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student's readiness for college and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admissions officers will review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays. How important SAT scores are in the college application process varies from school to school.

Overall, the higher you score on the SAT and/or ACT, the more options for attending and paying for college will be available to you.

When should i take the sat?

Most high school students take the SAT, the ACT, or both during the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. It's important to leave time to re-take the test if you need to raise your score before you apply to college. The SAT exam is offered nationally every year in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June.

What is on the Sat?

The SAT contains 4 sections:

  • Reading

  • Writing & Language

  • Math (No Calculator & Calculator Sections)

  • Essay (Optional)

The chart below provides more insight into what each section of the SAT includes:

Reading:-

  • 52 multiple–choice questions

  • 65 minutes

  • Passages or pairs of passages (literature, historical documents, social sciences, and natural sciences)

  • Learn more about the SAT Reading Test.

Writing and Knowledge:-

  • 44 multiple–choice questions

  • 35 minutes

  • Grammar, vocabulary in context, and editing skills

  • Learn more about the SAT Writing & Language Test

Mathematics:-

  • 58 multiple–choice questions (broken up into a 20-question No-Calculator section and a 38-question Calculator-allowed section)

  • 80 minutes (25 minutes for the No-Calculator section; 55 minutes for the Calculator-allowed section)

  • Algebra I and II, geometry, and some trigonometry

  • Learn more about the SAT Math Test

Essay (Optional):-

1 essay

  • 50 minutes

  • Read a passage and explain how the author builds a persuasive argument

  • Learn more about the SAT Essay

*We recommend taking the SAT essay because some schools require it.

how long is the sat?

The SAT is 3 hours long. If you choose to take the SAT with Essay, the test will be 3 hours and 50 minutes.

How is the sat scored?

Each section of the SAT is scored on a 200 to 800 point scale. Your total SAT score is the sum of your section scores. The highest possible SAT score is 1600. If you take the Essay, you will receive a separate score.

how do i register for the sat?

SAT registration deadlines fall approximately five weeks before each test date. Register online on the College Board website. The College Board may require SAT registration by mail under special circumstances.

how can i prep for the sat?

Who can appear at the sat?

Anyone can take the SAT. But the rules are a little different if you are:

  • 12 years old or younger.

  • In eighth grade or lower, regardless of your age.

How do you register?

Anyone can take the SAT. But the rules are a little different if you are:

  • If you’re 12 years old or younger, you can only register by phone or mail because of internet privacy laws. Phone registration is the quickest and easiest method, and the phone registration fee is waived for students 12 years old or younger.

  • If you’re 13 or older, you can create a free College Board account and register online.

  • If you're in the eighth grade or below, don't include a photo with your registration. However, you will need to have an acceptable photo ID to be admitted to the test center.

talent search candidates

If you're taking the SAT as part of a Talent Search program, you will need to submit other documentation in addition to your registration. For details, visit the program's website:

If you're in the eighth grade or below on test day, and you're testing for Talent Search purposes, you can present a Talent Search program ID form instead of a photo ID.

scores for eighth grade and below

If you test in the eighth grade or below, your scores are removed from your file at the end of the academic year you tested.

If you want your scores to be part of your permanent record, you must let us know before August of the year you tested. Include the following with your request:

  • Full identification information

  • Registration number

  • Test date

Mail your request to:

The College Board SAT Program

Attention: Talent Search Scores

P. O. Box 025505

Miami, FL 33102