Written by Chris Hernandez
The SAT is a three-hour entrance examination that tests reading, writing, and math skills. The SAT is used by most colleges and universities to help decide which students to admit.
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about the SAT – including its history, the benefits of taking the SAT, its format, and the scoring system.
SAT basics at a glance:
The SAT, recognized as the most widely used college admission test in the U.S., has been around for almost a century. The SAT is used to measure how well a student is prepared for college.
It evaluates their math skills, reading comprehension, essay writing skills, and understanding of high school grammar, and provides admissions officers with a tangible way to gauge college preparedness.
College admissions officers look at several factors when evaluating potential students, such as GPA, the types of classes taken in high school, letters of recommendation, extracurriculars, interviews, and essays. The significance of SAT scores in the college admissions process can differ between schools. Generally, scoring well on the SAT/ACT will provide more opportunities for college selection and funding.
Now that you have a basic understanding of the SAT, let's take a deeper dive into the details and explanations of everything about the SAT.
Used by colleges and universities to make admissions decisions, the SAT is a three-hour examination that tests reading, writing, and math skills.
The College Board is responsible for creating and administering the test, and it is used to evaluate students' college readiness.
SAT tests are scheduled seven times a year, usually on the first Saturday of each month, and the College Board provides a program called SAT School Day, which allows students to take the exam in the fall or spring at their own high school.
Those wishing to have SAT scores sent to universities must sign up for the exam a minimum of one month before, at a fee of $60. There is no cap on how many times the exam can be taken, though many people only do so once or twice.
The SAT has two main sections: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW)
EBRW comprises a Reading test and a Writing and Language test.
SAT Math is split into two subsections: a no-calculator test (on which you may not use a calculator) and a calculator test (on which you may use a calculator).
| Section |
Number Of Questions |
Time |
Time Per Question |
| 1. Reading | 52 | 65 minutes | 75 seconds |
| 2. Writing and Language | 44 | 35 minutes | 48 seconds |
| 3. Math — No Calculator | 20 | 25 minutes | 75 seconds |
| 4. Math — Calculator | 38 | 55 minutes | 87 seconds |
| Total | 154 | 3 hours | N/A |
The Reading section has five passages which may include two smaller sections and 10–11 questions related to each passage.
These passages come from history, social studies, science, and literature, and at least one of them will be from the early 1900s or before.
Helpful article: How to Boost Your SAT Reading Score (10 Tips).
The Writing portion of the exam requests that you suggest corrections or improvements for different portions of passages taken from various sources, including arguments and nonfiction stories. You may be expected to make alterations to improve the clarity of arguments; replace words with more suitable options, and adjust the grammar, structure, or style.
The Math – No Calculator section of the SAT is the shortest, taking up about 15 multiple-choice and 5 grid-in questions. With grid-ins, you have to fill in the answer for yourself in the numbered bubbles. This portion of the exam tests multiple concepts like linear equations, linear inequalities, functions, and quadratic equations, plus more sophisticated topics like nonlinear expressions, radicals, and exponentials.
The SAT Math – Calculator section tests a student's comprehension and problem-solving capabilities with 8 grid-in questions covering linear inequalities, quadratic functions, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and graph/data interpretation. All scientific/most graphing calculators are allowed, and a basic on-screen calculator is available to digital test-takers.
Helpful article: SAT Math Formulas You Must Know Before the Test
The SAT takes a total of three hours to complete, without any pauses. The Reading section is the longest at 65 minutes, while Math – No-Calculator is the quickest at 25 minutes.
| Section |
Time |
Time Per Question |
| 1. Reading | 65 minutes | 75 seconds |
| Break | 10 minutes | N/A |
| 2. Writing and Language | 35 minutes | 48 seconds |
| 3. Math — No Calculator | 25 minutes | 75 seconds |
| Break | 5 minutes | N/A |
| 4. Math — Calculator | 55 minutes | 87 seconds |
| Total (with breaks) | 3 hours 15 minutes | N/A |
The SAT is usually administered on the first Saturday of each of the following months: August, October, November, December, March, May, and June.
For those based outside the United States, the SAT is available for international test-takers in August, October, December, March, May, and June. Additionally, beginning in 2023, the digital version of the SAT will become available for international test-takers.
| Test Date |
Registration Deadline |
Late Registration / Deadline For Changes |
| March 11, 2023 | February 10, 2023 | February 28, 2023 |
| May 6, 2023 | April 7, 2023 | April 25, 2023 |
| June 3, 2023 | May 4, 2023 | May 23, 2023 |
| March 11, 2023 | February 10, 2023 | February 28, 2023 |
| SAT Test Date* |
Registration Deadline |
Late Registration / Deadline For Changes |
| Aug 26, 2023 | July 28, 2023 | Aug 15, 2023 |
| Oct 7, 2023 | Sept 8, 2023 | Sept 26, 2023 |
| Nov 4, 2023 | Oct 5, 2023 | Oct 24, 2023 |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Nov 2, 2023 | Nov 21, 2023 |
| Mar 9, 2024 | Feb 23, 2024 | Feb 27, 2024** |
| May 4, 2024 | Apr 19, 2024 | Apr 23, 2024** |
| June 1, 2024 | May 17, 2024 | May 21, 2024** |
Source: College Board
Most students take the SAT during their junior and senior years of high school.
Many choose to retake the test to improve their scores, so it's a good idea to take the exam as early as possible, so they have enough time to take it again if they decide to.
Generally, the SAT is taken in the spring of 11th grade and then again in the fall of 12th grade.
*Your registration options will be limited if you aren't taking the SAT for one of its main purposes.
**Subject to change.
The SAT consists of two sections, Math and EBRW, which are each scored on a 200-800 scale. Your total SAT score is the sum of these two section scores, making it possible to earn a perfect score of 1600.
Since the difficulty of questions varies, not all questions are weighted the same when scored.
The College Board uses an equating process to convert individual raw scores (the number of questions answered correctly) into scaled scores, and this method may differ slightly depending on the version of the SAT taken.
As there is no penalty for incorrect or blank answers on the SAT, it is recommended to make an educated guess on every question.
Although SAT scoring has changed over the years, the structure of the score will remain the same with the introduction of the digital SAT.
Generally, a score above the median of 1060 is considered good since it means you've done better than half of all test-takers.
It's best to aim even higher, though, around 1200, which would put you in the top quarter of test-takers and make you a viable applicant for many schools.
Typically, accepted students to top universities have historically scored highly on the SAT, with an average score of 1450-1550 being in the top 1-4% of test-takers.
Ultimately, the SAT score that is good for you will depend on the expectations of the universities you are applying to.
Taking the SAT is the perfect time to show what you have learned and how ready you are for college.
To get the best results, begin studying at least two to three months before the test date. To improve your chances of being accepted into your dream school, Amikka Learning’s one-on-one tutoring is there for you.
Amikka Learning’s SAT prep course covers every single piece of content and strategy needed to get a top score in the Math, Reading, and Grammar sections.
Resources included:
Contact Amikka for a free trial now!
Let’s now answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the SAT.
Most colleges and universities accept either the SAT or ACT and do not prefer one over the other. Many college-bound students now take both tests, and changes to the SAT in 2016 make it easier to prepare for both tests at the same time and score competitively on both.
To decide if taking the SAT, ACT, or both tests is right for you, it is advisable to take a full-length practice test of each type to assess how you handle time pressure and identify which types of questions you find most challenging. This will help you decide which test is more suitable for your strengths and weaknesses.
Most high school students take either the SAT or the ACT in either their junior or senior year. It is important to allow enough time to re-take the test if necessary to increase your score before applying to college. The SAT is offered nationally in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. (We’ll include a list of dates further down)
The SAT is comprised of two main sections
The SAT test allows 3 hours for completion.
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.
SAT registration deadlines are typically about five weeks before each test date.
Register online on the College Board website.
Under specific circumstances, the College Board may require SAT registration by mail.
There are a variety of options, such as free resources, online classes, or tutors. Experts with knowledge of the test can help you establish a study plan and help keep you focused on your goal.
Along with offering the best 1-on-1 tutors for private lessons, Amikka Learning created over 1,000 videos of content to help their students improve even faster. Move from beginner to expert level at lightning speed.
There is a movement against standardized testing, which has gained momentum recently as a result of the cancellation of in-person exams during the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, several universities have adopted the approach of allowing applicants to submit their scores if they wish, but not penalizing them if they don't.
Despite the debate surrounding the SAT and ACT, a high score on either of these tests still indicates a good likelihood of college success.
Therefore, if you opt to include your SAT scores in your application, it serves as a tangible demonstration of your academic proficiency and potential for success at the given institution.
The first SAT was administered on June 23rd, 1926, and was then known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test. 8,000 students took the test, 60% of whom were male. The majority of those students were attempting to gain admission to either Yale University or Smith College.
A committee led by renowned Princeton psychologist Carl Campbell Brigham designed a test to gain an objective benchmark for student scholastic achievement.
It was composed of 315 questions covering classification, arithmetic, definitions, antonyms, number series, paragraph reading, logical inference, and analogies, and had to be completed within 90 minutes.
It was the first-ever attempt at measuring scholastic achievement in a loosely organized format.
In 1930, the SAT underwent its first major revision, changing the structure of the test from multiple subjects to two categories: verbal and math.
Over the next 75 years, the test was altered several times, such as removing antonyms to avoid memorization and adjusting the time limits of each section, as well as updating the content of the math and verbal sections to better assess academic achievement.
This two-part structure remained until 2004 when the test was revised once more.
From 1930 to 2005, scoring on the SAT changed dramatically. The mean score per section was set at 500, with a standard deviation of 100 points. This created a basis for determining the performance of students taking the test.
The SAT has gone through changes in its grading algorithms to better serve college admissions committees and school/government administrators as a comparative measure of American academic performance. These changes have led to fluctuations in average scores nationwide.
The SAT has become a widely used college admissions tool, leading to increased scrutiny of the content and scoring criteria of the exam.
Criticisms include that it favors students from higher-income backgrounds, and historically forbade the use of calculators, until the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics called for the use of calculators on the test in 1994.
In 2005, the SAT underwent a major revision in response to criticisms from the University of California System, which argued that the test was no longer a reliable measure of future student success. The first version of the revised test was administered on March 12, 2005.
The 2005 changes to the test split it into three sections, each comprising 800 points:
The 2005 edition of the SAT was widely disliked due to a new and confusing grading scale for both college admissions committees and parents and students. In response to the backlash, the College Board announced in 2014 that a new version of the SAT would be launched in 2016.
The SAT underwent another revision in March 2016, including a 1600-point scoring scale, an optional essay, and a slightly shorter test time of under four hours. The most significant changes that created the New SAT included the following:
The acronym SAT used to stand for the Scholastic Aptitude Test, which was created to measure an individual's innate intellectual ability.
However, as attitudes shifted toward focusing on potential instead of innate intelligence, the name was changed to the Scholastic Assessment Test.
That was followed by the SAT I: Reasoning Test and the SAT Reasoning Test.
Now, SAT is simply used as an acronym with no further words attached.
The College Board announced that the 2021 SAT will no longer include an essay component or any SAT Subject Tests. Rather, students will be able to demonstrate their essay writing skills through their performance on the SAT Reading and Writing sections. Nevertheless, six states (Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma) will still be administering the SAT with the essay component during the 2021-22 school year.
While the SAT has long been a paper test, the College Board announced on Jan. 25, 2022, that the SAT will go digital starting in 2024.
According to a College Board spokesperson, the SAT digital recreation is a “lower-stakes test” for a “largely test-optional world.” Pending changes include:
If you want to set yourself up for success on the SAT and beyond, contact Amikka Learning for help.
Christopher Hernandez, the founder of Amikka Learning, couldn’t afford expensive SAT tutoring so he spent hundreds of hours studying on his own.
After
improving over 400 points and attending an Ivy League school he realized how unfair
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He began
tutoring for the SAT and quickly realized that he was a gifted tutor. His students
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Fast forward 8 years, Amikka
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