Need help with the SAT Exam?

The cost for the SAT exam is $60 but there is a cost waiver option for students in need. Receiving a fee waiver for testing can gain you waived college application fees, as well. Contact your school counselor for information on this. Late registration, change of location, and other services can increase the cost of the test.

To take the SAT exam, you must have:

• An approved photo ID. Your ID must be an unexpired physical document, though school IDs from the previous year are acceptable through December 31st of the current year. For example, an ID from the 2022-2023 school year would be good until the end of 2023.

• Your admission ticket (printed from the College Board website)

• Several No. 2 pencils with erasers

• An approved calculator with fresh batteries

You should also take a watch and a snack or two for breaks. The use of cell phones, computers of any sort, or any device that can take photos or play music is prohibited in testing centers.

Your score report on the SAT will give you several different values:

Overall SAT score (400-1600)

Your overall SAT score will be a number between 400-1600. It’s calculated adding your Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing + Math scores.

Section Scores (200-800)

You will see two section scores for both Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing and Math. The number of questions you answered correctly (raw score) will be converted to a scaled score between of between 200-800. Because many different variations of the SAT test exist, this scaled score is thought to level the playing field with scoring in case some versions are easier or harder.

Benchmarks

In your section scores report you will also see either a checkmark or an exclamation point that indicate if your score suggests college readiness. A checkmark indicates you have met the benchmark, and the exclamation point means you are below it. For the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section the benchmark number is 480, and for Math it’s 530.

Percentiles

For both Math and Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing you will see two percentage scores that compare your score against two other groups: a sample of U.S. 11th and 12th graders, and typical SAT test-takers. For example, if your percentile ranking is 65, it means you scored better than 65% of the test-takers in that group.

Test Scores (10-40)

You will receive an individual test score for Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. Like your section score, the number you receive uses scaled scoring, so your raw score will be converted to a number between 10 and 40.

Cross-Test Scores (10-40)

Cross-test scores look at answers across all three test sections (Math, Reading, and Writing and Language) and determine how well you did in History/Social Studies and Science. Both areas are reported as scaled scores between 10-40.

Subscores (1-15)

Your SAT subscore represents a a closer look at how you did on seven specific sections of the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math sections. Each section is as a scaled score between 1-15.

Reading

• Command of Evidence
• Words in Context

Writing and Language

• Expression of Ideas
• Standard English Conventions

Math

• Heart of Algebra
• Problem Solving/Data Analysis
• Passport to Advanced Math

Today, an increasing number of jobs require postsecondary (beyond high school) education to secure even an entry-level position. Most colleges require either SAT exam or ACT (American College Test) test scores as part of your application. Check with the colleges of your choice to find out which test they use for admission purposes.

Anyone who can read and write well enough to answer the questions can take the SAT exam. Age or grade level is not a requirement, but you must register by mail (not online) if you are under 13 years old. Most students choose to take it during their Junior and early Senior years of high school. Most colleges do not require older students to submit SAT scores, but doing so could help their chances of admission, especially if competition for admission to a college is great.

The SAT exam is only one measure of a college applicant’s ability to do college level work, but it is an important one. Colleges know that teachers and courses can vary greatly from one high school to another. The exam provides a more objective way to measure how well a student can perform in the basic skills necessary for college success, especially reasoning skills. The College Board has designed the test based on what colleges have said that students need to be able to do to succeed at the college level. It also measures a student’s ability to think under pressure, which is a valuable skill in the adult world. Even so, your SAT scores will only make up about one-fifth to one-third of your college application and you can take the test multiple times to improve your scores.

While going to college is no guarantee of a high-paying job in your future, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has established that the median yearly income for those with a Bachelor’s degree is 63% higher than those with only a high school diploma. So, attending college is a proactive way to protect your financial future.

The SAT exam is given on certain Saturdays, at least seven times during each school year. It is given in many locations throughout the United States and at many international locations. Sunday options are also available for students with religious observance requirements on Saturdays. Test dates for the 2023-2024 school year are as follows:

• March 11, 2023
• May 6, 2023
• June 3, 2023
• August 26, 2023
• October 7, 2023
• November 4, 2023
• December 2, 2023
• March 9, 2024
• May 4, 2024
• June 1, 2024

You will be timed for a total of 3 hours when you take the SAT exam. Section times and number of questions will be:

Reading: 65 minutes—52 questions
Writing and Language: 35 minutes—44 questions
Math: 80 minutes—58 questions

• with calculator: 55 minutes—38 questions
• no calculator: 25 minutes—20 questions