SAT Test FAQ
Registering
What does it cost?
Check out the current fees. You may also be eligible for fee waivers.
How many times can I take the test?
You can take the test as often as you like.
What if I registered for the wrong test and want to make a change?
You may be able to change tests here.
Can I sign up for extra time? What if I have a disability?
Students with documented disabilities may be able to get extra time or other accommodations. See the College Board's page for Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).
Test Day
How long is the test?
The SAT has 3 hours, 45 minutes of testing. Once you factor in all the extra administrative time, you should expect to be at the test center from about 7:45 AM to 12:30 or 1:00 PM.
Are there breaks?
Yes, there are short breaks at the end of each hour of testing.
Can I bring drinks or snacks?
Yes, and you can consume them during breaks.
Can I use a calculator?
Yes. Read the College Board's calculator guidelines.
What should I bring with me on test day?
See the list of recommended materials.
What happens if I'm absent?
You can change the date by following these instructions.
Test Scores
How long does it take to get my scores back? How do I get them?
Generally, SAT results are available online about three weeks after you take the test. The official results are mailed to you, your high school, and any other recipients you specified (like colleges) about five weeks after you take the test.
What do score reports look like?
The standard score report will show your scores; your percentiles; and how you did on each type of question. Consider checking out this sample score report.
For an added fee, you can get a more comprehensive score report. You can order the Student Answer Service, which shows your errors by test section and difficulty level, for the November, December, March, or June test. Alternately, you can order the Question-and-Answer Service, which includes the actual test questions, for the October, January, or May test.
How do I send scores to colleges?
Most colleges require you to submit your SAT score report as part of the application process. Here are instructions for sending scores.
Can I cancel my test scores?
Yes and no. You can only cancel scores immediately after taking the test. For more information, see College Board's explanation of canceling scores.
What's an average SAT score? What's good SAT score?
See our discussion on "What's a good SAT score?"
How do I interpret my Writing score?
The Writing portion is scored between 200 and 800, but it also offers two sub-scores. The essay sub-score ranges from 0 to 12. The multiple-choice sub-score ranges from 20 to 80. The essay accounts for roughly a third of your overall Writing score and the multiple choice accounts for the other two thirds.
To get a sense for your relative performance in these two areas, put a "0" on the end of the multiple-choice sub-score. For instance, a multiple choice sub-score of 47 would become a 470. If your overall Writing score was higher than 470, then your essay was stronger helped bring you up. If your overall Writing score was lower than 470, then your essay was weaker and brought you down.
What counts as my best score?
It depends. Some colleges average scores. Some colleges take your best test day. And some colleges take your best section scores from various test dates. If you can't decide whether to retake the test, consider contacting the admissions office of the school(s) you are most interested in to ask about their policy.