The SAT is an entrance exam used by colleges and universities to help make decisions about admissions.
The SAT is administered by the CollegeBoard and is given 7 times per year. The exam is a timed, mainly multiple-choice exam, taken by students in high school.
Beginning in the spring of 2024, the SAT will be going fully digital. The digital SAT (DSAT) will have some formatting and content changes to it, along with some other changes. You can review those changes below.
This exam will be given to students starting in spring of 2024.
Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit (Mins) |
---|---|---|
Reading & Writing | 54 | 64 (Two 32-Minute Modules) |
Math | 44 | 70 (Two 35-Minute Modules) |
This exam will be given to students up until spring of 2024.
Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit (Mins) |
---|---|---|
Reading | 52 | 65 |
Writing & Language | 44 | 35 |
Math (With calculator) | 38 | 55 |
Math (Without calculator) | 20 | 25 |
The biggest difference between the old SAT and the digital SAT is that the digital SAT is taken completely online and has combined some sections to streamline the exam.
You will receive a score for math and a score for reading/writing. Each of those scores will be between 200 and 800 .
Your total score will be the sum of those two scores. You can receive a total score between 400 and 1600 on the SAT.
The average SAT score is 1060. Learn more about good SAT scores .
You can register for the SAT online via the CollegeBoard site .
You will need to do the following when registering for the SAT:
It will cost your $60 to take the SAT. There may be some additional fees like canceling, changing test center, etc..
The SAT is typically given 7 times per year. The exam is given on Saturdays. You can expect the exam to be given in these months:
You can find exact dates on the official website .
When using our free SAT practice tests, we recommend the following steps to get the most out of your time:
There are many benefits to using SAT questions during your prep process. Some of those benefits include:
The SAT exam is a timed test. Keeping a steady pace is critical to achieving a high score.
You can improve your decision making and your time by taking practice exams.
All standardized tests, including the SAT, have their own unique way of presenting questions and answer choices.
You will gain more familiarity and comfort with the SAT question style as you take more practice quizzes. On the real exam day, there will be no surprises.
When you take many practice exams, you will get a sense of your test strengths and weaknesses.
Many students mistakenly spend time working on their strengths while ignoring their weaknesses.
Knowing which subjects you struggle with will help you focus your study time.
Tests like the SAT measure your ability to solve problems, not just memorize information. It is critical to have strong problem-solving abilities.
The answer explanations provided in our score reports can help you understand how to solve problems that you may be struggling with.
When is the sat going to the digital format.
The SAT will be switching to the digital format in the spring of 2024.
There are 154 questions on the old SAT (written version).
There are 98 questions on the new SAT (digital version).
You will have 3 hours and 15 minutes to take the old SAT (written version).
You will have 2 hours and 14 minutes to take the new SAT (digital version).
There will be 1 math section in which you can use a calculator and 1 math section in which you cannot use a calculator on the old SAT (written version).
You will be permitted to use a calculator on all math modules on the new SAT (digital version).
We recommend taking 1 practice exam for each subject. You can then determine which subject gave you the most trouble and focus your studies on that subject.
Registration for the August SAT has ended. Start preparing for test day.
SAT, AUG 24, 2024 | 7:45 AM LOCAL
Registration for this test has closed.
FRI, SEP 6, 2024
FRI, SEP 20, 2024
TUE, SEP 24, 2024
SAT, OCT 5, 2024 | 7:45 AM LOCAL
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Find places near you that are offering the sat. remember: if you can't find a test center near you, consider other dates., find sat registration fees for students taking the test., learn about sat registration fees and other charges for students taking the test outside the united states., bluebook™ app and device information.
In preparation for taking the SAT, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the Bluebook testing application as well as the approved devices and operating system requirements. You'll also need details on borrowing a device if one isn't available to you.
Bluebook must be installed before test day. This digital testing application supports testing on Mac and Windows devices, iPads, and school-managed Chromebooks.
Device specifications and installation instructions vary by device type and test. Ensure that the device you plan to use on test day meets the required specifications.
Find information on how to borrow a device if you don't have access to one for the SAT.
Before test day, make sure you're familiar with test day rules and procedures.
The key to successful preparation for the SAT is practice. Find tips on how to study for the SAT using full-length practice tests on Bluebook, downloadable forms if you're approved to test on paper, and Official Digital SAT Prep on Khan Academy®.
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SAT Writing , New SAT
The CollegeBoard has once again completely revamped the SAT — the changes debuted in March 2016 (tests can have debuts right? Right). We have an overview about all of the changes that have been made, but how do the changes apply to the SAT essay questions in particular? Read on to find out more about the new SAT Writing prompts .
feature image credit: RAFFAELLO SANZIO The Sistine Madonna (detail) 1513-14 by carulmare , used under CC BY 2.0 /Resized and cropped from original.
In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing.
While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement.
What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know.
To start off with, let's compare an old SAT prompt with a new one. Here's an old SAT essay prompt:
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
"We don't really learn anything properly until there is a problem, until we make a mistake, until something fails to go as we had hoped. When everything is working well, with no problems or failures, what incentives to we have to try something new? We are only motivated to learn when we experience difficulties."
Adapted from Alain de Botton, How Proust Can Change Your Life: Not a Novel
Assignment: Does true learning only occur when we experience difficulties? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
And here's an example of a new SAT essay prompt from the College Board :
As you read the passage below, consider how Dana Gioia uses
Write an essay in which you explain how Dana Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience that the decline of reading in America will have a negative effect on society. In your essay, analyze how Gioia uses one or more of the features in the directions that precede the passage (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage.
Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Gioia’s claims, but rather explain how Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience.
At a quick glance, the most obvious difference between the two kinds of prompts is that the old prompt asked you about your opinion on a topic , using specific examples to support your reasoning, while the new prompt asks you to explain how author builds an argument , using specific elements from the text to support your reasoning. On the new SAT essay, your thesis does not require your stating an opinion on a topic, but instead involves identifying WHAT the author’s argument is and HOW she/he supports it .
What does this look like in action? Take a look at this sample thesis for an essay on the above prompt:
In this passage, Gioia argues that young Americans are less engaged with the arts (particularly literature) than in the past, which has a dire effect on multiple aspects of society. Gioia uses statistics and surveys, diction, and the organization of the article to support his conclusion that “As more Americans lose [the] capability [to engage with the arts and literature], our nation becomes less informed, active, and independent-minded.”
The new prompt also requires students to read a passage and then analyze it , rather than coming up with their own opinion on a topic and having to support it with examples they come up with. This means that there will be no more discussing of World War II or Animal Farm on the essay (unless, of course, the author of the passage in the essay prompt discusses those things); instead, all students will draw their examples from the same primary source.
The other major change with the new SAT essay is the amount of time you have to write the essay: instead of a paltry 25 minutes to read the prompt, think of examples to support your argument, and write the essay, you now have 50 minutes to read and analyze the prompt and write your essay.
Although you no longer will be able to prepare ahead of time for the essay by gathering examples from literature, history, or your own life to use as support for your thesis, in the new SAT essay you still need to use specific examples to support your logic and reasoning. Even though the evidence you'll be using to support your analysis of the author's argument will be coming directly from the text included in the essay question, you still need to be specific.
Take the sample SAT essay question from earlier:
Let's say that one of your points is that Gioia uses statistics and survey data to support his argument for the importance of literature. In order to support your point, you will need to cite specific instances of where Gioia does this in the text. It wouldn't be enough to simply say "Gioia discusses surveys, which makes his point seem stronger" or "Gioia starts out by being general before getting more specific." You would need to go into more detail, like so:
Gioia's discussion of the findings of the 2002 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts serves to provide context for his argument. By stating that "arts participation by Americans has declined for eight of the nine major forms that are measured" before going on to present the specific information about "the declining percentage of Americans, especially young adults, reading literature," Gioia draws the reader in from the general to the specific.
You'll also still have to write well and in an organized fashion . Using varied sentence structures and correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation is a must for a high essay score, as is making sure that your thesis is clear and your ideas are presented in an orderly way. Just as on the old SAT essay, keeping to one example or piece of supporting evidence per paragraph will make it easier for your essay's graders to follow your lines of reasoning.
Finally, in order to get a 2+ score (out of 4) in each of the three essay scoring categories (Reading, Analysis, and Writing), you should plan to write more than one page . You'll need at least that much space to write even a middle-scoring essay that articulates your central claim about how the author supports her argument, analyzes the text using specific examples, and shows your comprehension of the material.
Cartoon artist sketch by Evan , used under CC BY 2.0 /Cropped and resized from original.
I've taken advice from our guides on the old SAT essay and altered it to apply to the new essay.
Old strategy : Think up examples beforehand that you'll be able to use on the test. If you're having trouble coming up with any, we have a list of 6 examples that can be used for most current SAT essay prompts .
New strategy : Think up categories of examples beforehand and practice writing about them. Start out by considering the suggestions provided in the standard prompt (evidence, reasoning, and stylistic or persuasive elements), then come up with some ways that authors might build an argument on your own (like citing statistics or quoting experts). Read other persuasive passages and see if you can explain in words how the author is building his/her argument.
Old strategy : Make up examples out of thin air for any prompt. Because the SAT essay graders do not have time to fact check , they have to take any "facts" you present in your essay at face value (as long as they support your argument. For example, you could claim that the horses end up killing the pigs over accounting error at the end of Animal Farm , and as long as this supports your thesis, the graders cannot take off points.
New strategy : ABANDON MADE-UP EVIDENCE for the most part. You MUST use proof from the passage to back up your thesis . The only exception to this rule would be if, for example, you were able to make up a study showing that sentences that include the word “intellectual” are inherently more persuasive, and so the author's constant use of the word "intellectual" adds to the persuasive impact of the essay (or something like that).
Old strategy : Ignore the quote in the essay prompt and skip straight to the "assignment" part.
New strategy : Do not ignore! You MUST read the passage, and read it closely (so that you can thoroughly analyze the way the author builds his/her argument). Luckily, you now have twice as much time, so use it well.
Old strategy : Go into the SAT prepared to get the essay out of the way at the beginning.
New strategy : Now that the essay is at the end of the SAT, you'll need to make sure you save energy so that you're not completely delirious by the time you get to your essay . On the other hand, because the new SAT essay will be optional and scored separately from the rest of your SAT Reading/Writing score, you can opt not to take the essay on a particular test without it affecting your overall SAT score. Make sure to check with the colleges you plan on applying to for their policies on accepting the new SAT essay - you may not even need to take it!
Want to dive deeper into the details of this change? Our complete guide to the new 2016 SAT contains an entire section on the new SAT essay .
Not sure whether or not you need to take the essay? Read up on which schools require or recommend the SAT essay here .
In need of some good examples of persuasive argumentative techniques? Then be sure to check out our article describing different types of examples to use in your SAT essay .
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Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.
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SAT essay prompts always keep to the same basic format. Not only is the prompt format consistent from test to test, ... The College Board has released a limited number of prompts to help students prep for the essay. We've gathered them for you here, all in one place. We'll be sure to update this article as more prompts are released for practice ...
10 Official SAT Essay Prompts For Practice. Practice Test 1. "Write an essay in which you explain how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry.". Practice Test 2.
You'll get detailed SAT essay examples that guide you through how to construct an argument. SAT Essay Prompt Type 1: Discuss what people should do. This type of SAT essay question lends itself to many different kinds of examples. Anything that involves people and their choices is fair game. See the diagram below for more information on how this ...
You have 50 minutes to read the passage and write an essay in response to the prompt provided inside this booklet. CD . 0 . REMINDERS • Do not write your essay in this booklet. Only what you write on the lined pages of your answer sheet will be evaluated. • An off-topic essay will not be evaluated. STANDARD TIME . Essay: 50 . minutes . This ...
This guide gets deep into every aspect of the SAT essay, from the rubric to prompts to the nuts and bolts of how to write a high-scoring essay. You'll learn the best tips and strategies to use to maximize the value of your SAT essay practice as well as how much time to devote to prepping for the essay. If you're looking for a comprehensive ...
SAT Essay Prompt 1. Here are the actual directions to follow: "As you read the passage below, consider how Paul Bogard uses. evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims. reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence. stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ...
A complete compilation of real SAT essay prompts administered historically by the College Board for different test periods. Prompts: October 2014 - June 2015. Prompts: October 2013 - June 2014. Prompts: October 2012 - June 2013. Prompts: October 2011 - June 2012. Prompts: October 2010 - June 2011.
Download an official full-length practice test for free to help you prepare. While anyone is welcome to use our downloadable paper practice tests, using these practice materials does not mean you have been approved to test with a particular accommodation. The PDF versions of our practice tests are nonadaptive and are recommended only for ...
The SAT essay responds well to a formulaic approach, so while it may take some practice, you will eventually be able to handle a 25-minute essay prompt with confidence. The SAT has undergone a significant number of changes over the years, generally involving adjustments in the scoring rubric, and often in response to.
1. Prompt Structure: SAT essay prompts typically consist of a passage or excerpt followed by a question that asks you to analyze the author's argument, rhetorical strategies, or persuasive techniques. 2. Key Components: Pay attention to the main argument or thesis presented in the passage, as well as the evidence and rhetorical devices used to ...
My Practice. Take full-length digital SAT practice exams by first downloading Bluebook and completing practice tests. Then sign into My Practice to view practice test results and review practice exam items, answers, and explanations. Download Bluebook.
SAT Essay Samples Prompt. Expect to see prompt directions like the ones below: "As you read the passage below, consider how Paul Bogard uses: evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims. reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence. stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add ...
(collegeboard.org) 2. **Khan Academy** - This is a great free online learning platform that partners with the College Board. They offer SAT prep materials, including practice essay prompts and valuable feedback on your writing. You can create an account on their website and access their SAT prep resources. (khanacademy.org) 3.
Prep. Official We partnered directly with College Board, the creators of the digital SAT, to help you focus on the exact skills you need to succeed on the test. Interactive Sharpen your skills with our library of thousands of practice questions, videos, lessons, and hints plus test-taking tips and strategies. High Quality Prep for every section ...
Here are a couple of examples of statistics from an official SAT essay prompt, "Let There Be Dark" by Paul Bogard: Example: 8 of 10 children born in the United States will never know a sky dark enough for the Milky Way. Example: In the United States and Western Europe, the amount of light in the sky increases an average of about 6% every year.
Our step-by-step explanations illustrate for you what to expect from what each SAT question, revealing question-specific hurdles and common test-related traps. Each of our free 60 practice questions is accompanied with a detailed explanation to clarify why a particular answer is correct, but even taking it one step further and entailing why the ...
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All SAT Practice Tests. If you want some more in-depth prep, use a free SAT practice test listed below. Practice Exams = Timed and Full-Length. Practice Sets = Not Timed and Smaller Sets of Questions. SAT Practice Exam #1. SAT Practice Exam #2. SAT Practice Exam #3. SAT Practice Exam #4.
The key to successful preparation for the SAT is practice. Find tips on how to study for the SAT using full-length practice tests on Bluebook, downloadable forms if you're approved to test on paper, and Official Digital SAT Prep on Khan Academy®. ... Find answers to frequently asked questions about the SAT in relation to pricing, practice ...
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UPDATE: SAT Essay No Longer Offered. In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during ...
More Topics. Animals and Pets Anime Art Cars and Motor Vehicles Crafts and DIY Culture, Race, and Ethnicity Ethics and Philosophy Fashion Food and Drink History Hobbies Law Learning and Education Military Movies Music Place Podcasts and Streamers Politics Programming Reading, ... Go to Sat r/Sat ...
The SAT, with a minimum score of 1,500 points out of 2,400, is a requirement for the admission processes of most universities in the United States. ... SAT Preparation. Learn the strategies to achieving a high score on the SAT so that you will get accepted into the university of your dreams!