Test Prep Toolkit

SAT Overview: Online Free Course, Prep & Sample Tests

The SAT is a standardized college admissions test run by the College Board. The name once stood for "Scholastic Aptitude Test" and later "Scholastic Assessment Test," but today it is simply the SAT.

The first SAT was given in 1926, and it has been redesigned several times since. Since 2024 it has been a digital, adaptive test taken in the College Board's Bluebook app.

Many colleges and universities in the US accept SAT or ACT scores, and some require them. Others are test-optional, so check the admissions page of each school on your list.

Here you will learn what you need to know about the SAT and how to get a good SAT score.

Check our SAT Test Dates

Why Take The SAT?

SAT Test

The SAT gives colleges a common measure of the reading, writing and math skills students build in high school. Admissions offices use it alongside grades, coursework and the rest of your application.

Here are 3 main reasons why you would want to take the SAT:

  1. Get into the college you want. Many colleges require or recommend SAT or ACT scores, and a strong score can help even at test-optional schools. Taking the test keeps more options open.
  2. Qualify for scholarships. Some merit scholarships use SAT scores, so a high score can improve your chances of a partial or full award.
  3. Learn your strengths. Your score report shows where you are strong and where you need work, which can help when you choose courses or a college major.

We have SAT Practice Tests HERE

How The SAT Started

Before 1900, each college ran its own entrance exams. Students applying to several schools had to sit several different tests.

To fix this, a group of leading colleges formed the College Entrance Examination Board in 1900, and it gave its first standardized entrance exams in 1901.

The first SAT followed on June 23, 1926, taken by about 8,000 students. Its early design drew on the intelligence tests the US Army used during World War I.

The test has changed many times since. The biggest recent changes came in 2005, 2016, 2021 (when the Subject Tests and the optional Essay ended) and 2024 (when the test went digital).

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: SAT Math Practice Test

2005 Changes

The College Board made these changes to the SAT in 2005:

  • Removed analogy and quantitative comparison questions
  • Added short reading comprehension passages
  • Added higher-level math concepts
  • Added a writing section with an essay
  • Length increased to 3 hours and 45 minutes
  • Perfect score changed from 1600 to 2400

Related Topic:ACT vs SAT: A Comparison of basic structural and logistical differences & ACT vs SAT: Scores

2016 Changes

The next major redesign was announced in 2014 and launched in March 2016. It aimed to match the test more closely to what students learn in high school.

These were changes made to the SAT in 2016:

  • Emphasis on the use of evidence to support answers
  • Shift away from obscure vocabulary to words that students are more likely to encounter in college and career
  • A math section that is focused on fewer areas
  • The essay became optional
  • A return to the 1600-point score scale

In 2021 the College Board dropped the Subject Tests and the optional weekend Essay. In March 2024 the SAT went fully digital in the US, after launching digitally for international students in March 2023.

Learn more: SAT Registration

SAT Test Subjects

The digital SAT has two sections, and each is split into two equal-length modules:

  • Reading and Writing: 54 questions in 64 minutes
  • Math: 44 questions in 70 minutes

That is 98 questions in 2 hours 14 minutes, plus a 10-minute break between sections. The test is adaptive: how you do on the first module of a section decides whether the second module is easier or harder.

Related Topic: SAT Scores

Evidence-Based Reading And Writing

The old separate Reading Test (52 questions) and Writing and Language Test (44 questions) were replaced in the digital SAT by one combined Reading and Writing section.

Here is what to expect on the Reading and Writing section:

  • 54 multiple-choice questions in 64 minutes, split into two 32-minute modules
  • Short passages, each followed by a single question
  • Passages from literature, history, social studies and science
  • Questions on four areas: Information and Ideas, Craft and Structure, Expression of Ideas, and Standard English Conventions

Visit our website: SAT Requirements

Math Test

The Math section no longer has a separate no-calculator part. You may use a calculator on the entire section, including the graphing calculator built into Bluebook or your own approved calculator.

Here's what to expect on the SAT Math section:

  • 44 questions in 70 minutes, split into two 35-minute modules
  • Mostly multiple choice, with some questions where you enter your own answer
  • About 30% of questions are set in a real-world context

The four content areas on the SAT Math section are:

  • Algebra
  • Advanced Math
  • Problem-Solving and Data Analysis
  • Geometry and Trigonometry

More review materials: SAT Languages Test

Heart Of Algebra

"Heart of Algebra" was the name used before the digital SAT; the area is now called Algebra. It covers linear equations, systems of linear equations, linear functions and linear inequalities.

Problem Solving And Data Analysis

This area covers reading charts, graphs and tables. You will also see percentages, rates, ratios, units, probability and basic statistics. Questions from every content area appear in both math modules.

Passport To Advanced Math

This area is now called Advanced Math. It covers the structure of equations and expressions and how to rearrange them. You may have to work with quadratic and exponential functions, polynomials and nonlinear equations.

Learn more about SAT Science Test, Topics & Subjects Content

Additional Topics In Math

On the digital SAT this area is called Geometry and Trigonometry. It covers area and volume, lines, angles, triangles, right-triangle trigonometry and circles.

Essay Test

The optional SAT Essay was discontinued for weekend tests after June 2021. It is now offered only in a few states that require it for SAT School Day testing.

If your school-day SAT includes the Essay, you read a passage and explain how the author builds a persuasive argument.

Check our SAT vs ACT, Which One Should You Take?

SAT Subject Tests

The College Board ended the SAT Subject Tests in the US in January 2021, and the last international administrations were in May and June 2021. These one-hour tests covered subjects such as math, the sciences, history, literature and world languages.

Colleges no longer ask for Subject Test scores. To show strength in a subject today, students usually rely on their coursework and on AP exam scores.

Learn more: How To Choose Your SAT Subject Tests: Highlight Your Academic Strengths And Interests

Registration To SAT

Registering for the SAT is easy. Just make sure you follow the instructions below:

  1. Create a free college board account here.
  2. After creating the College Board account, log in to it and provide your complete legal name and other required information. Make sure that the name you enter into the registration matches the name on your photo ID.
  3. It is optional, but you can answer questions about yourself in the Student Search Service. This information helps colleges and scholarship organizations find you.
  4. Choose a test date and test center, then pay the fee. The SAT registration fee is $68, and eligible low-income students can get a fee waiver.
  5. Upload a clear, recognizable and current photo of yourself.
  6. Print your admission ticket, and install Bluebook on the laptop or tablet you will use on test day.

Learn more: How To Improve SAT Reading Score

SAT Registration And Test Dates

online SAT

To be admitted to a test center, you must be registered for that date and arrive on time. Check the SAT Registration page and the current test dates before you plan.

Test dates and registration deadlines change every school year. Get the current list from the College Board's SAT dates page, and register before the regular deadline to avoid the late fee.

We have Guidelines About Choosing The SAT Vs ACT

SAT Scores

The SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600. Each section, Reading and Writing and Math, is scored from 200 to 800, and your total is the sum of the two.

Because the test is adaptive, your scaled score depends on which questions you answer correctly and how difficult they are, not just a raw count. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question.

Learn more about your final SAT score.

Prep Strategies For SAT

SAT online

When it comes to SAT and ACT tests, nobody "passes" or "fails." Instead, each school has its own score range for admitted students. Highly selective colleges often admit students with very high scores. You can see the Best SAT Prep Courses here.

Preparing for the SAT takes time and effort, and you may have to adjust your daily schedule. A higher SAT score can open more college and scholarship options. Here are some SAT prep tips to help you get started:

  1. Assess your current skill level.

Take a full-length practice test first. It shows your starting point and your weak areas, so you know where to focus.

  1. Make a study schedule at least one month in advance.

Start preparing at least a month before test day; two to three months gives you more room. Short, regular study sessions work better than cramming.

Put your study sessions on a calendar or set phone reminders. Unscheduled study time tends to get skipped.

  1. Tell your friends how serious you are in preparing for SAT.

Check our SAT French Subject Test? Here’s What You Should Know

Friends may want to hang out during your study time. Explain that you are preparing for the SAT and ask them to respect your schedule.

  1. Study at a regular time.

A consistent study time makes it easier to build the habit. Pick a time of day when you are alert and can focus.

  1. Look after your health.

Feeling unwell makes it hard to focus during a long exam. Eat regular, balanced meals and get enough sleep in the weeks before the test.

  1. Use practice tests.

Practice tests familiarize you with the structure, question types and instructions. Use the free full-length adaptive practice tests in Bluebook, since they work like the real digital SAT.

Time yourself and stick to the section time limits, then review every question you missed.

  1. Rest before the test.

Skip heavy studying the day before your SAT. Cramming adds stress. Instead, charge your device, pack what you need and get a good night's sleep.

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