See how your profile ranks among thousands of other students using CollegeVine. Calculate your chances at your dream schools and learn what areas you need to improve right now — it only takes 3 minutes and it's 100% free. Show me what areas I need to improve Note: Please look into potential SAT test center closures or makeups due to the Coronavirus. When it comes to college admissions, few single factors weigh as heavily as the SAT. And when it comes to the SAT, there’s nothing more important than timeliness. You may think that we mean pacing and finishing your work with enough time to review, and though that’s definitely important, that’s not our point. We mean simply showing up on time for your test. No amount of prep and practice can do you any good if you’re not on time, and preferably even early, on SAT day. In fact, if you show up late, you will not be allowed to take the test and you will forfeit your registration fee. To learn what time the SAT is and how you can make sure you’re ready for test day, don’t miss this post. The precise start time for the SAT varies slightly from one testing center to the next, depending on factors like how many students are registered there and how many classrooms are being organized to test. In general though, testing always starts between 8:30-9:00 A.M. local time. Does this mean that you can show up at 8:29 and get started? Definitely not. You should plan to arrive at the test center by 7:45 A.M. unless your admissions ticket says otherwise. Generally, the doors to the test center will close around 8:00, and once testing begins, no late arrivals are accepted. Generally, the SAT is always administered on a Saturday, though some schools offer test dates during the school day. Alternate dates are also available for students whose religion prevents them from testing on a Saturday. For a complete calendar of remaining test dates in 2020 and early 2021, see the table below. November 24, 2020 (for registrations made online or by phone) March 2, 2021 (for registrations made online or by phone) April 27, 2021 (for registrations made online or by phone) May 26, 2021 (for registrations made online or by phone) Lots of students wonder, how long does the SAT last? This seems like it should be a fairly cut and dry answer, and while the time limits for each section are indeed extremely strict, your exact completion time will vary depending on how long it takes your proctor to distribute testing materials, read directions, and start up again after the breaks. That being said, the structure of timing of the test itself is exact and closely adhered to by all test centers. Here is how your time will break down on test day: Now that you know the upcoming test dates, along with when to arrive and how the test is broken down, let’s take a closer look at some of the test day logistics. First of all, aside from arriving on time, the next most important thing on test day is arriving with all the necessary things. On test day, you’ll need to bring the following: There are also a few things you should definitely leave at home. These include: As part of our free guidance platform, our Admissions Assessment tells you what schools you need to improve your SAT score for and by how much. Sign up to get started today. Understand My Chances No matter how much you’ve prepped, there are a few things every student can do on test day to set themselves up for success. First of all, go to bed early. We meet lots of students who are tempted to stay up late and study the night before the big test, but this is really counterproductive. The most effective way to study is slow and steady over the long term. Trying to cram information into your brain the night before the test will probably only stress you out, and being tired from staying up late could impact your ability to access the knowledge you already had. Go to bed early to set yourself up for success. Before you go to bed, though, be sure to set an alarm, set a backup alarm, and let someone else in the house (preferably someone who will be awake) know what time you intend to get up. Oversleeping on SAT day is a great way to set yourself up for an extremely stressful morning. Set an alarm with plenty of time to spare to allow for unexpected traffic, a stop for gas, or any other detours that could arise. Then, on test morning, eat a healthy breakfast. You’ll want to eat something with some protein and fiber in order to sustain energy throughout the morning. Scrambled eggs and whole grain toast, yogurt with granola and berries, or a slice of toast with peanut butter and banana are all great choices. Finally, arrive at the testing center just before the doors open. This will give you time to park, make sure you have everything organized and ready to go, and walk in calm and confident. You don’t want to be the crazy last minute arrival sprinting up the steps as the doors swing shut! Instead, start your testing experience off on the right foot by arriving early and checking in right on time. For many students, SAT day is one of the most stressful parts of the college admissions experience, but if you plan ahead, anticipate your needs, and arrive with time to spare, you can start your day off on a calm note. For help preparing for the SAT, check out our series of Ultimate Guides available here: The Ultimate Guide to the New SAT Reading Test The Ultimate Guide to the New SAT Writing and Language Test The Ultimate Guide to the New SAT Math Test The Ultimate Guide to the New SAT Essay Want to know how your SAT score impacts your chances of acceptance to your dream schools? Our free Chancing Engine will not only help you predict your odds, but also let you know how you stack up against other applicants, and which aspects of your profile to improve. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to gain access to our Chancing Engine and get a jumpstart on your college strategy!Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications?
What Time Is the SAT?
SAT Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline Registration Changes Deadline Anticipated Score Release Date December 5, 2020 November 5, 2020 November 17, 2020 (for mailed registrations) November 24, 2020 Est. December 18, 2020 March 13, 2021 February 12, 2021 February 23, 2021 (for mailed registrations) March 2, 2021 Est. March 26, 2021 May 8, 2021 April 8, 2021 April 20, 2021 (for mailed registrations) April 27, 2021 Est. May 21, 2021 June 5, 2021 May 6, 2021 May 18, 2021 (for mailed registrations) May 26, 2021 Est. July 14, 2021 How Long Does the SAT Take?
Section Total # of Questions Total Time (Minutes) Reading 52 65 BREAK — 10 Writing and Language 44 35 Math No Calculator 20 25 BREAK — 5 Math Calculator 38 55 BREAK — 2 Essay (Optional) 1 50 TOTAL 4 hours 7 minutes What To Bring on Test Day
Discover how your SAT score affects your chances
How to Make Sure Your Test Day Goes Smoothly
FAQs
What time does SAT test start and end? ›
Normally the SAT starts between 8:30 and 9:00 at the testing center, which means it concludes between 12:15 and 1:00 pm depending on factors such as how quickly a proctor reads the pre-test script and how quickly students bubble in their personal information.
How long do SAT answers take? ›You can order the SAS during your registration process, which is the easiest way. It is also available after you complete the test. When you order at registration, you can expect your SAS results about eight weeks after your testing date. If you are ordering after the SAT, there are three ways to get the packets.
What time is the SAT end? ›You'll likely be done around noon.
What time does the SAT test start? ›You should be at the test center by 7:45 AM because admission to the testing room is around 8:00 AM. After that, students are not allowed to enter of leave the testing room once the SAT exam starts. The SAT test itself will begin at 8:30 AM after the proctor distributes materials and reads instructions to the students.
What time does the SAT end if it starts at 8? ›So, the short answer: The SAT starts between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and typically ends around 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m., depending on whether you're writing the essay.
Is the SAT 4 hours Long? ›How Long Does the SAT Take? The SAT clocks in at 3 hours (3 hours and 15 minutes with breaks). And if you choose to sign up for the optional essay, the SAT takes 3 hours and 50 minutes to complete (or 4 hours, 5 minutes with breaks).
How many questions can you miss on the SAT and still get a 1600? ›You can find official SAT practice tests and their scoring tables at the College Board. As you can see with the above SAT scoring chart, it's possible to get some questions wrong and still earn the max SAT score. Generally speaking, you can miss 1-2 questions on each section and still get a perfect 1600.
Is taking the SAT 3 times too much? ›1 answer. Taking the SAT 3 or more times is acceptable if the admissions offices see some noticeable improvement or progression, so if you scored 1350, 1450, and 1520 with 3 SATs then undoubtedly, your upward score reflects your tenacity and hard work.
How do I find my SAT answer key? ›For students who decide to order QAS after having registered for a test date or having already taken the test itself, the easiest way to do so is to sign into their College Board accounts and select “Order Now” within the “My Score Reports” tab.
Is the SAT 5 hours long? ›How Long does the SAT take? The SAT takes a total of three hours, or three hours and 15 minutes including the breaks. If the student also takes the optional essay test, then the SAT takes three hours and 50 minutes in all, or four hours and five minutes including the breaks.
What time do SAT doors close? ›
You should plan to arrive at the test center by 7:45 A.M. unless your admissions ticket says otherwise. Generally, the doors to the test center will close around 8:00, and once testing begins, no late arrivals are accepted.
What if I am sick on SAT test day? ›If you no longer feel safe taking the SAT or you don't feel well on test day, please stay home. You will be able to transfer your registration to another test date at no charge through September 30.
Can you drink water during the SAT? ›The College Board
During the 10-minute break between Sections 1 and 2 of the exam, with the proctor's permission, you can leave the exam room to get a drink of water or a snack.
Without breaks, the SAT takes 180 minutes or three hours to complete. The test includes two breaks: ten minutes before the Writing & Language section and five minutes after the first Math section. The timing is split between the four sections on the SAT: Reading Comprehension (65 min)
Can you leave the SAT if you finish early? ›SAT Test Day: Finishing Up
Your end time depends on whether or not you're taking the essay section of the SAT. If you're not, then you'll be finished after three hours, sometime between 11:40 and 12:10. You'll wait for your proctor to collect all materials and then be free to leave the room.
The new SAT will be shorter, entirely online and allow calculators The College Board, the organization behind the test, also announced that the exam will shrink from three hours to two, and students will be able to use a calculator for the math section.
Can SAT start late? ›Late registration follows the same process as regular registration, but costs an extra $30 (in addition to the standard registration fees) and is typically available for two weeks after the regular registration deadline. SAT late registration isn't available to international students.
Do SAT scores come out at 8am? ›Typically, you can check your SAT scores about 14 days after taking the test. The College Board makes scores available by 8 a.m. ET on each release date. Below, you'll find information on SAT score release dates.
How many times is it OK to take the SAT? ›Luckily, you can take the SAT as many times as you want. Many students take the SAT more than once; most even plan to write it at least twice before their first attempt. Typically, students choose to take the test in the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of senior year.
How many times can you pass the SAT? ›Students can take it as many times as they want, but most students take it twice. Find out when it's a good idea to take it again, how many times is too many, and tips on getting a better score. Students can take the SAT as many times as they want; however, there are typically only seven test dates throughout the year.
How hard is the SAT? ›
The SAT can be challenging due to time constraints and the way the questions are formatted. The PSAT is slightly easier than the SAT because it is a shorter practice test. Understanding how the questions are structured and taking SAT practice tests can improve your score.
Is the highest SAT score 1600 or 2400? ›In March 2016, the SAT underwent a massive redesign, part of which included a change to its scoring system: it shifted from a 2400-point scale to a 1600-point scale.
Is a 1200 Easy on SAT? ›Utilizing a scoring scale of 400 to 1600, the SAT's best possible result is a 1600. A score of 1200 demonstrates an above average performance and shows that you answered a majority of the questions on the standardized test correctly.
What SAT score should I not retake? ›Never Retake a 1530+
If you score a 1530+, you are in the top 1% of all test takers (based on 2017 numbers). The SAT User Percentiles are what matter since they're based on the actual scores of students.
While you can take the SAT as many times as you like, for the sake of everyone's sanity my advice to college-bound families is to have their students plan to take the exam at least 2 times after some preparation but to attempt to take the test no more than 4 times total.
Do colleges care how many times you took the SAT? ›The short answer is no—nothing automatically shows colleges how often a student took the SAT. Most colleges let students who take the SAT multiple times select which of their test scores, by date, they send to colleges. However, some colleges do require applicants to send all their test scores.
Is 4 SAT attempts too much? ›The short answer is that students can take the SAT as many times as they want. Students can do the SAT once, twice, thrice or more. That's right, there's no limit students can sit on the SAT. Knowing what to take to the SAT will help for each test taken.
Can you skip answers on the SAT? ›Remember that YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER EVERY QUESTION TO RECEIVE A GOOD SCORE ON THE SAT. IN FACT, EVEN THE HIGHEST-SCORING STUDENTS SKIP A QUESTION HERE AND THERE.
Can SAT scores wrong? ›If your score is very different from what you expected, you may have made an obvious mistake in marking your answers, in which case we will attempt to rescore your test. Examples of obvious errors: gridding your answers in the wrong section or marking a skipped question by mistake.
What are the most common answers on the SAT? ›Sometimes it seems like “C”—or its equivalent, “H”—is the most common answer choice, but this is merely a myth. In fact, the answer choice orders on the ACT and SAT are generated by a computer and are entirely random.
Is the SAT 6 hours? ›
For double-time (+100%), the SAT is 6 hours of testing time, plus breaks: 130 minutes for the Reading Test. 70 minutes for the Writing and Language Test. 50 minutes for the Math Test – No Calculator.
What time does the SAT end with time and a half? ›They should plan to arrive by 7:45. The SAT is administered between 8:30 and 9:00. Students with time and a half will be finished and ready to be picked up around 1:40 PM or 3:00 PM, depending on whether or not they're taking the essay section.
Can I drink water during the SAT? ›Food and Drinks.
Although you aren't allowed to consume these during the actual test, you can have them during the breaks. It's essential to stay hydrated and energized while testing, so a healthy snack and some water or an electrolyte drink are great options to bring on test day.
Luckily, you can take the SAT as many times as you want. Many students take the SAT more than once; most even plan to write it at least twice before their first attempt. Typically, students choose to take the test in the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of senior year.
Can I take SAT 3 times? ›Students can take the SAT as many times as they want. We recommend that they take it at least twice—in the spring of their junior year and the fall of their senior year. Most students get a higher score the second time, and most colleges consider a student's highest SAT score when making admission decisions.
How long is SAT without breaks? ›Without breaks, the SAT takes 180 minutes or three hours to complete. The test includes two breaks: ten minutes before the Writing & Language section and five minutes after the first Math section. The timing is split between the four sections on the SAT: Reading Comprehension (65 min)
Is SAT back to 1600? ›In March 2016, the SAT underwent a massive redesign, part of which included a change to its scoring system: it shifted from a 2400-point scale to a 1600-point scale. But how do you compare a new SAT score with one on the old SAT 2400 scale?
Can you go to the bathroom during the SAT? ›You'll have breaks during the test when you can leave this room to have a snack or use the restroom. Your proctor will continue by saying: I'll also walk around the room every now and then to make sure everyone is working on the correct section.
Can you get extra time on the SAT if you have ADHD? ›However, if you have ADHD or a documented learning disability, extra time may allow you to actually complete the test. Not everyone with ADHD benefits from extra time, but many do—particularly those with slow reading rates and processing speed.
Is there a dress code for SAT? ›Whether you're taking the test in the spring or fall, stick with simple, no-frills choice. If it's cool outside, go with sweatpants, a hoodie, and sneakers. If it's warmer, a loose pair of shorts and a soft tee shirt are the way to go.
Should I chew gum during the SAT? ›
Pop chewing gum in before your hardest section(s).
Chewing gum enhances alertness for 20 minutes after you start chewing it. Then the effect fades for about an hour. Time your sections and use gum for a quick boost in mental power whenever you need it.
A bag should absolutely be brought to the SAT and ACT! This can be a backpack, a purse, or a Ziploc bag. This will allow you to keep your snacks and personal items under your desk during the tests.