Are you considering taking the SAT? If so, it’s essential to understand what the SAT is and how it works. The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a standardized college admissions test used by thousands of students worldwide each year to gain admission into colleges and universities. It measures a student’s academic skills in reading comprehension, writing, math problem-solving, and critical thinking.In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the SAT, including registration information, key dates, tips for success on exam day, and how to ensure you’re prepped for the big test. So whether you are just starting your college search process or already preparing for your first practice tests, this guide has all the information you need!

Break Down Of The SAT

Before jumping into the details of the SAT, it is essential to understand how the test is broken down. The SAT is approximately three hours long and consists of four different sections, including:

• Writing and Language (35 minutes, 44 questions)
• Reading (65 minutes, 52 questions)
• Math with a calculator (25 minutes, 20 questions)
• Math without a calculator (35 minutes, 38 questions)

The score range on the SAT ranges between 400-1600, with an average score of around 1050.

When Is The SAT?

The SAT is offered a few times a year, which means that you will need to register in advance and pay a fee of $52. The typical months you’ll find the SAT available includes October, November, December, March, May, June, and August. Therefore, it’s important to choose your test date strategically depending on when you can commit to studying and when your college applications are due so that you can get the best score possible.  

For example, you’ll likely want to avoid taking the test when you’re stressed with finals or when you’re swamped with college application deadlines. If you take the test anyways, it’s more likely that your score won’t reflect the amount of effort you put into studying.

For the 2022-2023 school year, the remaining tests are scheduled for:

• March 11, 2023
• May 6, 2023
• June 3, 2023

While they’re not 100% confirmed yet for the 2023-2024 school year, the following dates are anticipated for SAT testing:

• August 26th, 2023
• October 7th, 2023
• November 4th 2023
• December 2nd, 2023
• March 8th, 2024
• May 4th, 2024
• June 1st, 2024

What Subjects Should I Expect To Be Covered On The SAT Test? Understanding what exactly is covered in each section can help you narrow down your study plan and ensure you’re only focusing on the most critical topics.   The Writing and Language section will include a social studies passage, a humanities passage, and a science passage. The reading section includes a science-paired passage, a science passage with a graph, a literary passage, and founding documents passage or a Great Global Conversation. In both math sections, you can expect questions based on geometry, algebra, and trigonometry, as well as data analysis and statistics.

How Do I Register For The SAT Test? If you’re ready to sign up for a test, you’ll need to register on the College Board website. The process is relatively straightforward and requires a few simple steps, including setting up an account, selecting your test date and type (SAT), choosing the test centers you’d like to attend, paying for the test fees, and, finally, printing out your admission ticket.   Registration typically closes about a week and a half before the actual test date. However, it’s recommended to register as soon as possible to ensure you can get the test center and date of your choice.   What Do I Need To Bring On My SAT Test Date? Once you’ve registered, you may wonder what you need to bring on the date of your test and what you should leave at home. Generally, you’ll need to bring the following:

• Photo ID: You’ll need a photo ID to ensure you can gain access to the test center and your score is correctly assigned. This may include a driver’s license, school ID, or passport. It must be a valid ID and original document, include your full legal name as it’s listed on your admission ticket, and include a picture.
• Pencils: You’ll need to bring two No. 2 pencils with erasers for the written portion of the test. It’s important that you bring No. 2 pencils since the scanning machines that read your answer sheets can’t detect any other type.
• Admission Ticket: You’ll need to print out your admission ticket and bring it with you on the day of the test so you can gain access to the test center.
• Calculator: If you’re taking the math section, you’ll also need to bring an approved graphing calculator. You can find the full list of accepted calculators here.You can also ring an EpiPen, watch, backpack, and snacks or drinks to ensure you have the energy to focus throughout your test.

You’ll want to leave a few things at home, as they are considered aids and are not allowed in the testing center. This includes laptops, tablets, audio players, Bluetooth devices, smartwatches, mobile phones, cameras, timers, pens, colored pencils, references or books, cutting devices, rulers, compasses, earplugs, or any type of weapon. If you’re found with any of these items, your test will be canceled, and you’ll be sent away.

Tips To Prepare For The SAT The SAT is a standardized test taken by high school students who are applying to college. It’s a long and stressful process, and preparing for the SAT can be daunting. But with the right plan of attack, you can ace the SAT. Here are some tips on how to prepare for the test.

Start Early The earlier you start studying, the better prepared you will be and the more confident you’ll feel during the test. Having enough time to review all of the material is essential; cramming right before the test won’t help! Give yourself at least one to three months to study so that you have plenty of time to review everything in depth.

Take Practice Tests Taking practice tests is one of the best ways to prepare for the SAT. You can get an idea of what kind of questions will be on the test and learn strategies for tackling them correctly. Take as many practice tests as possible; they can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and focus your studying accordingly. Plus, taking practice tests will make it easier to manage your time during the actual exam.

Know Your Format Before taking any standardized exams, it’s important to familiarize yourself with their format and structure so that you know exactly what to expect on test day. Look into which sections are included in each section, how much time you have per section, and how many questions need to be answered in each section. Knowing this information ahead of time will help reduce anxiety on test day so that you can focus on doing your best work.

Create A Study Plan Having a study plan is key when preparing for a big exam like this one! Create a schedule based on which topics need extra attention and set aside specific days/times dedicated solely to studying those areas. If you’re not sure where to start, using The Test Prep Company is a great way to get personalized help.

Take Regular Breaks Make sure that your plan includes regular breaks — both physical (exercise!) and mental (binge watch some TV!). This way, when it comes time to take the actual exam, you’ll feel refreshed instead of burnt out from over-studying!

Do I Have To Take The SAT Test? Although most colleges and universities require applicants to complete the SAT test as part of their admissions process, there are a few that do not. Before applying to any school, it’s important to know if the SAT is required and how your scores will factor into admissions decisions.

Additionally, some colleges may also allow you to substitute for another standardized college admissions test in place of the SAT. For example, if you take the ACT and do well, some colleges may accept your ACT score in lieu of an SAT score.

It’s important to research the schools you’re interested in before applying so that you have all of the necessary information at hand. However, for the majority of colleges and universities, the SAT test will be required.

Wrapping It Up The SAT is a standardized college admissions test that most colleges and universities require. If you’re hoping to attend a four-year university, chances are you’ll need to take the SAT. When preparing for the SAT, it’s important to understand what types of questions will be asked, how to register for the test, and what materials you’ll need to bring with you on the day of the test.

At The Test Prep Company, we offer multiple study packages and courses to help students prepare for the SAT test and get the score they need to gain admission into their chosen college or university. With our personalized approach and expert coaches, we can help you master the material and boost your score. Contact us today to learn more!