is there an essay on the sat 2023

Everything You Need to Know About the Digital SAT

College Board

• January 4, 2024

You’ve probably already heard that College Board has made the SAT digital. Here’s what you need to know.

Is the SAT still important to take?

It sure is! The SAT puts your achievements into context. That means it shows off your qualifications to colleges and helps you stand out.

Most colleges—including those that are test optional —still accept SAT scores. Together with high school grades, the SAT can show your potential to succeed in college or career.

Learn more about why you should take the SAT .

When is the SAT going digital?

Students testing outside the U.S. first started taking the digital SAT in spring 2023. If you’re in the U.S., whether you’re planning to take the SAT in a test center on a weekend or in school on a school day, the test will be digital starting in spring 2024.

If you took the PSAT/NMSQT this fall, you already know what to expect with the digital SAT.

If you're planning to take the digital SAT on a weekend, watch this video to find out more. 

If you're planning to take the digital SAT in school on a school day, watch this video to find out more.

Isn’t this just the same test but online?

No, College Board didn't just take the paper and pencil test and put it on the computer. We took the opportunity to make the SAT a far better test experience for you.

What’s staying the same?

• Still measuring the knowledge and skills that matter most for college and career.
• Still scoring the test on a 1600-point scale.
• Still administering the test in schools or test centers with a proctor present (not at home). Test centers will continue to be open to all students, not just those enrolled in that school.
• Still offering access to free, world-class practice resources.
• Still supporting all students, including those who need accommodations on test day.

What’s changing?

• You’ll take the SAT on a laptop or tablet.
• You’ll take a shorter test, about 2 hours instead of 3. Find out how adaptive testing makes this possible .
• You’ll have shorter reading passages instead of a few long texts.
• You’ll be allowed to use your calculator on the entire Math section and there’s a calculator built right into Bluebook™, the digital testing application .

How do I register?

Registration is open for the spring 2024 digital SAT. You can check dates and deadlines here and find a test center close to you here .

Register Now

How do I practice?

Find everything you need to start practicing and preparing for the digital SAT here .

Have more questions? We’ve got answers!

Learn more about the digital SAT here .

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I've been hearing some conflicting info and I’m not sure what’s accurate anymore. I'm taking the SAT in 2023, and I'm wondering if there's still an essay section? I've heard some rumors that it's been removed but I'm not sure. Can someone clear this up for me?

Sure, I'd be happy to clarify that for you! As of 2021, the College Board has indeed discontinued the SAT essay section. This means that when you take your SAT in 2023, there won't be an essay section for you to complete. So, you can focus your prep energy on the other sections of the SAT - evidence-based reading and writing, and math.

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Upcoming Changes to the SAT for 2023 and 2024

In January 2022, the College Board (CB for brevity) announced a sweeping revamp of the SAT, its flagship college admissions test. The changes took effect for non-US testers earlier this year (2023), and they’ll be implemented for domestic testers at the beginning of 2024. These adjustments are the most dramatic shift in the world of high school standardized testing since… the last time the SAT reinvented itself, in 2016.

Sarcasm aside, the upcoming changes are substantial, and they will affect the way students prepare for the SAT to a commensurate degree. With many rising juniors now beginning the process of choosing and preparing for either the SAT or the ACT, your friendly neighborhood test experts are here to cover the changes to the SAT coming in 2024: what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and how it affects you. Let’s dive in.

An Overview of the Current SAT

The SAT is one of the two standardized tests utilized by colleges during the admissions process, with the other being the ACT . Comprised of four sections that contain a mix of multiple-choice questions and grid-in math problems, the SAT has a maximum possible composite score of 1600 points. The test bordered on a mandatory rite of passage for high school juniors and seniors for many years; despite the current proliferation of test-optional admissions policies prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of aspiring college freshmen still sit for the SAT each year, oftentimes more than once.

The structure of the current version of the SAT is as follows:

SAT Structure Through December 2023

Until recently, there was an optional fifth section of the test that was comprised of one essay prompt; however, that Writing section was eliminated a couple of years ago, and it is currently only administered on School Day testing dates in specific states.

What Are the SAT Changes for 2023 and 2024?

Now that we’ve covered the structure of the current paper-and-pencil SAT (which is still available to US-based students for 5-6 more months), let’s discuss the changes that are coming at the beginning of next year. Here are the high-level SAT changes that American students can expect to see starting in 2024.

(Note that we’re not diving into all of the content and question-type changes within each individual section; I’ll be covering that more rigorously in a future post.)

Digital Format

The first and most obvious change is that the new SAT will be an entirely digital test. The test will be administered through the Bluebook testing app, which must be downloaded to the student’s device prior to test day. This means no more bubble sheets and no more #2 pencils—just a laptop or tablet, which can be either a personal device that you bring to the testing center or a loaner device that you borrow from College Board or your school for the test.

Fewer (Types of) Sections

As I outlined above, the current paper-and-pencil SAT has four different section-types: Reading, Writing & Language, Math No Calculator, and Math with Calculator. The new digital SAT, however, will have only two: Reading & Writing and Math. Because there will be two modules of each of these two section-types, the total number of sections will remain at four; however, the number of different sections you need to prepare for will be cut in half.

See below for a table containing more details about the breakdown of the new section structure.

Shorter Test

Though the number of sections that makes up the test isn’t changing, you’ll notice if you compare the two tables above that the new version of the SAT will be significantly shorter: 2 hours and 14 minutes of testing time for the digital test compared to 3 hours of testing time for the current paper-and-pencil test. If you’re anywhere close to as lazy as I was in high school, this will be music to your ears.

Adaptive Structure

One of the less visible but still significant changes coming with the digital SAT is the introduction of a section-adaptive test structure. This means that for each of the two section-types (Reading & Writing and Math), the first module will contain questions of a range of difficulty levels in order to allow the system to assess the student’s ability; then, the second module of each section-type will be selected from two options (a harder version and an easier version) by the testing algorithm based on the student’s performance on the first module.

In layman’s terms, this means that if you crush the first Math or Reading & Writing module, you can expect to see harder questions on the second; if you struggle with the first module of either section-type, your second module of that section will contain easier problems.

New Calculator Usage Options

Calculator lovers, rejoice—the day you’ve been waiting for has arrived. Whereas the current SAT has one calculator-active Math section and one calculator-inactive Math section, both Math modules on the digital SAT will be calculator active, which means that you don’t have to do a single operation in your head anymore.

Not only that, but the Bluebook testing app has a version of the Desmos graphing calculator built into its interface. This is a major win for students who aren’t especially quick at doing things like adjusting the window and finding intersection points on their personal graphing calculators, as Desmos makes those actions extremely intuitive.

And an underrated part of the new policy is that you don’t have to choose one calculator or the other: you can bring your personal calculator to do arithmetic operations if that’s easier for you, then pull up the in-app Desmos calculator for any graphing-related questions. This promises to be a substantial improvement for students who are on the lookout for opportunities to let the calculator do some of the heavy lifting for them.

SAT Changes Coming in 2024: What’s NOT Changing?

If it wasn’t clear from everything I listed above, the SAT in March 2024 is going to look VERY different from any of its previous iterations. With that being said, however, not everything will be changing when the test shifts from paper-and-pencil to digital; in fact, there are quite a few things that will be remaining the same. Below is a list of the biggies.

• No changes to testing locations: For a hot minute during the height of the COVID lockdown, College Board had big plans to roll out at-home SAT testing for students across the globe; however, those plans have been put on hold for at least the foreseeable future. Though the new SAT will be entirely digital, it will still be administered only at schools or at approved test centers.
• No changes to scoring scales: The mechanics of SAT scoring will be changing with the rollout of the digital test. Instead of depending solely on how many questions you get correct in each section, as is the case with the current scoring system, your score will also depend on the difficulty level of the questions you get right, as well as which module they were in. On a macro level, however, the overall scaled scores that students receive after all the calculations are done will look exactly the same: a Verbal (Reading & Writing) score with a max of 800 and a Math score with a max of 800, which are added together to create a composite score with a max of 1600.
• No changes to mechanics of question format: Though the new SAT will introduce some new question-types, the composition of the test in terms of question mechanics will remain more or less the same: the Reading & Writing section will consist entirely of multiple-choice questions with four possible answers, and the Math section will consist of ~75% multiple-choice questions and ~25% student-produced-response (grid-in) questions. The only real change here is the fact that grid-ins on the digital SAT will sometimes have negative answers.
• No changes to accommodations: Documentation released by College Board states that the digital SAT will “offer students with disabilities the same range of accommodations available in the paper-based suite”; the process for requesting those accommodations will also remain the same. CB’s documents also indicate that students who require a paper-based test due to a disability will still be able to access one upon receiving approval.

SAT Changes Coming in 2024: How Do They Affect You?

Reactions to all of this information will likely vary depending on the individual test-taker. I’ve worked with a number of students who would have loved to take the test on a computer, as the migration of school assignments and activities to the digital realm, which was accelerated by COVID, made them more comfortable working in that medium. On the other hand, I also know many students who value the ability to interact with the test by writing in the booklet, particularly in the Reading section.

If you fall into the latter category, I wouldn’t worry too much: reading passages on the new SAT will be substantially shorter than on the current test and will only have one question associated with them rather than 10-11, which should limit the amount of annotation that feels necessary while you read. Additionally, you’ll still have access to scratch paper on the digital test, so you’ll be able to take notes as you read even if you can’t mark directly on the passages.

One aspect of the new SAT that almost nobody is likely to complain about is the shorter testing time. A shorter test means more of your Saturday to enjoy, but it also means less mental fatigue while you’re testing; if you’re someone who tends to feel noticeably less sharp at the end of a 3-hour test than you do at the beginning, you may very well feel that your performance improves once the SAT changes in 2024.

Another consequence of the digital test format that should be universally popular is a much shorter turnaround time for scores. College Board has stated that the waiting period for testers to receive their scores should now be “days instead of weeks”; this will allow students to make decisions about repeat testing sooner, which will in turn give them more time to prep for that next test.

Finally, digital tests are more secure than paper-and-pencil tests in a number of ways. Because testers can’t return to a section once they complete it—not like “you’re not supposed to”, like “you literally can’t access it anymore”—less honest students will be unable to do things like discuss questions from previous sections during the break, then go back into the testing room and change their answers. This is a positive development for the vast majority of students who didn’t try to game the system in that way.

SAT Changes Coming in 2024: When Do They Take Effect?

As I’ve alluded to at different times in this post, the rollout for the new digital SAT suite is a multi-stage process. The new test has actually already been rolled out for international students: it began to be administered in non-US locations in spring of 2023. For domestic students, the PSAT will utilize the new digital format this year (2023-2024) for the first time; then, starting in spring of 2024, the SAT will transition to its new digital form. From that point on, the current paper-and-pencil test will no longer be available.

See below for a graphic that summarizes the timeline for the rollout of the new test.

Source: The Digital SAT Suite of Assessments Specifications Overview , Page 3

SAT Changes Coming in 2024: How to Prepare

Rising high school juniors who are starting to think about test prep are in an interesting spot right now as they decide on their best plan of action: instead of simply choosing between SAT and ACT, they’re now choosing between current SAT, new SAT, and ACT. If that applies to you, here are the main options you have and a few things to consider about each one.

Start Prepping Now and Take the Current SAT

Though the shift to the digital SAT looms large on the horizon, there are still four test dates remaining in 2023 for the current iteration of the SAT: August, October, November, and December. This means that students who are nervous about being guinea pigs for the domestic implementation of the new test still have time to prepare, test multiple times, and hopefully earn a score they’re happy with.

If that’s your plan, however, I would highly recommend starting the process ASAP. Though there is a good amount of overlap between the current SAT and the new SAT in terms of content and question-types, there are also significant differences; this means that if you get caught in a situation where you want to continue testing as the calendar rolls over into 2024, you’ll have some new material to prepare for that you wouldn’t have needed to worry about otherwise.

The advantage of taking this path is that there are a ton of materials out there for the current version of the SAT. You’ve got eight official practice tests hosted on College Board’s website , as well as a number of third-party resources (albeit of inconsistent quality) and even some unofficial previous tests floating around the internet. This provides you with plenty of ammo to get the process of preparing for and taking the SAT out of the way before the changes coming in 2024.

Wait to Prep Until the New SAT Arrives

If you don’t think you’ll realistically be able to earn an SAT score that meets your needs in the next 5-6 months, your next option is to wait for the rollout of the new test.

If you’re considering this route, note that you’ll probably want to delay starting to prep until closer to the end of 2023 because of the dearth of practice materials currently available for the digital SAT. As of now, there are only four adaptive digital practice tests available through the Bluebook app and four linear practice tests hosted on the College Board website; since the linear and adaptive tests pull from the same question pool, you’ll probably even notice some overlap between them, which means that these materials don’t really constitute eight unique tests. Khan Academy does also have some prep material for the new SAT, but it’s very limited.

The upshot of this is that it will be very hard to make this content last until the first digital test date in March 2024. It’s likely that there will be new practice material produced over the coming months, both by College Board and by third-party companies, but currently there’s simply not much. Make sure you’re timing your prep to ensure that you have enough material to be practicing consistently until your test date.

Take the ACT Instead

The final path you can choose is to totally disregard the changes to the SAT coming in 2024 and simply prep for the ACT instead. The ACT is a very different test in several ways, prioritizing problem-solving under time pressure over in-depth content knowledge; however, it’s just as learnable as the SAT, and often even more so for students who are able to read and process quickly. There is also a ton of high-quality practice content available, which means that most students won’t need to worry about running out of materials.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Whichever path you choose, we’d love to help you achieve your best possible score. Reach out today to learn more about how the Pros can help you beat the old SAT, the new SAT, or the ACT.

Looking To Improve Your Score on the SAT or ACT?

Sat changes coming in 2024: final thoughts.

We’ve covered a lot of ground today: changes to the structure and delivery of the SAT coming in 2024, aspects of the test that we know will not be changing significantly, and how all of this affects you. There will very likely be new information released over the coming months; if so, rest assured that they’ll lock me back in this dark room until I write something about it, so make sure you check back regularly for any new updates.

SAT Changes Coming in 2024: Frequently Asked Questions

Is there still an essay on the new sat.

Nope, you’ve dodged this particular bullet once again. The essay portion of the SAT was largely discontinued in 2021, and there are no indications that the digital SAT will be bringing it back.

Will the upcoming changes to the SAT make it easier?

It largely depends on the test-taker. There are changes coming to the test that many students will likely appreciate: reading passages will be shorter, students will have access to a calculator for the entirety of the Math section, and total testing time will decrease by more than 25%. This may make the test feel easier to many students; however, remember that your SAT scaled scores are calculated based in part on the performance of other students. If more students are consistently getting more questions correct, the bar for earning a high score will rise.

Is it still worth taking the SAT?

For many students, yes. Though most colleges and universities have moved to a test-optional admissions policy as a result of the COVID pandemic, test scores can still help you show admissions officers that you fit what they’re looking for in an incoming freshman. Look up the median SAT scores for the schools in which you’re most interested—if you believe that you can earn a score that’s at or above that 50% mark, it’s often a good idea to take the test.

Why are colleges dropping the SAT?

How much time do you have? The short answer is that most of them aren’t. With a few notable exceptions (looking at you, University of California system), the majority of schools have gone test-optional, not test-blind. This means that they don’t require you to submit scores with your application, but they will still consider them if you do. This upsurge in test-optional policies was largely caused by concerns about the ability of students to take the SAT safely during COVID, but it’s also the result of a series of debates about the utility of standardized tests that have been going on for years.

SAT Changes Coming in 2024: Related Reading

What’s a Good SAT Score For 2023?

What Calculators Are Allowed on the SAT?

An Overview of SAT Costs & Fees

Understanding the Differences Between the ACT & SAT

Do I Need the SAT For College? Deciding Whether or Not to Take the SAT

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SAT Changes 2023-2024: What You Need To Know

The SAT, a widely recognized standardized test used for college admissions in the United States, is undergoing changes in 2023 and 2024. These changes aim to improve the test and provide students with a fair and accurate measure of their college readiness. If you're planning to take the SAT during these years, it's crucial to stay informed about the updates to ensure you're well-prepared.

Here's what you need to know about the SAT changes in 2023-2024.

Content changes:.

The SAT will have some adjustments to its content starting in August 2023. The College Board, which administers the SAT, has indicated that the changes will focus on streamlining the test and aligning it more closely with what students are learning in school. While specific details of the content changes have not been released yet, it's important to be aware that there may be adjustments to the test's structure, question types, and emphasis on certain topics.

Optional Essay:

The SAT Essay, which was made optional in 2021, will no longer be offered starting in June 2023. This means that students taking the SAT will no longer have the option to complete the Essay section as part of their test. However, some colleges and universities may still require or recommend the SAT Essay as part of their admissions process, so it's essential to check the requirements of the schools you're interested in.

Digital Testing

The College Board has been gradually transitioning the SAT from a paper-and-pencil test to a digital format. By 2024, the SAT will be predominantly administered digitally, with paper testing options limited to certain circumstances. This means that students may need to take the test on a computer or other digital device, and it's important to familiarize yourself with the digital testing format and practice using it beforehand.

Score Reporting Changes

The College Board has introduced a new policy called "Score Choice" that allows students to choose which scores they want to send to colleges. Starting in September 2023, students will have the option to send only their best scores from individual sections of the SAT, rather than sending their entire test scores. This policy change provides more flexibility for students to strategically send their best scores to colleges, and it's important to understand how it may affect your score reporting strategy.

Fee Waivers

The College Board has also expanded access to fee waivers for eligible students, starting in the 2022-2023 school year. Fee waivers can help reduce or eliminate the costs associated with taking the SAT, including registration fees, late fees, and additional score reports. Students from low-income backgrounds or who meet other eligibility criteria may be eligible for fee waivers, and it's crucial to explore these options to ensure that cost is not a barrier to taking the SAT.

Test Dates and Deadlines

The SAT test dates and deadlines may also change in 2023-2024. It's essential to check the College Board's website for the most up-to-date information on test dates, registration deadlines, and other important dates related to the SAT. Planning ahead and registering early can help ensure that you secure a spot on your desired test date and avoid late registration fees.

Preparation Strategies

With the changes to the SAT, it's important to adapt your preparation strategies accordingly. As the test content may change, it's crucial to stay updated with the latest information from the College Board and adjust your study materials and strategies accordingly. Additionally, practicing with digital test formats, familiarizing yourself with the online tools and features, and taking practice tests in a digital format can help you prepare for the digital SAT.

When Are the SAT Changes 2023? 

The College Board has announced that the SAT changes for 2023 will be implemented starting in August 2023. This means that the updated content and format of the SAT, including the elimination of the optional Essay section and the introduction of digital testing, will be in effect from the August 2023 test administration onwards. It's important for students planning to take the SAT in or after August 2023 to familiarize themselves with the changes and prepare accordingly. It's also recommended to regularly check the College Board's website for the most up-to-date information on SAT test dates, registration deadlines, and other important updates.

Why Is the SAT Changing? 

The SAT is changing in response to feedback from students, educators, and colleges. The College Board, the organization that administers the SAT, aims to create an exam that is more relevant to students' learning and that reflects the skills needed for success in college and beyond. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to the college admissions process, leading to adjustments in standardized testing requirements and formats. The changes to the SAT aim to address these challenges and to provide a fair and accurate assessment of students' abilities.

What Are the Main Changes to the SAT? 

The main changes to the SAT in 2023 include:

Test format

The SAT will move from a paper-based test to a computer-based test. This means that students will take the test on a computer, rather than filling in a bubble sheet with a pencil.

Test content

The SAT will focus more on knowledge and skills that are important for college and career readiness. This includes a greater emphasis on math, as well as more advanced math topics like trigonometry and statistics.

The optional essay section of the SAT will be removed. This means that students will only take the main SAT test, which includes reading, writing and language, and math sections.

The overall test time will be reduced from 3 hours and 50 minutes to 3 hours. This includes removing the essay section and reducing the number of questions in other sections.

The SAT will return to the 1600-point scale, with separate scores for the math and reading/writing sections. The scoring system will also include subscores and cross-test scores to provide more detailed information about a student's performance.

Tips for Prepping for the Digital SAT

Preparing for the digital SAT requires some adjustments compared to preparing for the paper-based SAT. Here are some tips to help you effectively prep for the digital SAT:

Familiarize yourself with the digital format

Get comfortable with the computer-based testing environment by taking practice tests on a computer or a similar device. Familiarize yourself with the navigation tools, features, and functions of the digital SAT platform.

Practice time management

The digital SAT has a reduced overall test time, so practice managing your time effectively during the test. Pace yourself and make sure you are able to complete each section within the allocated time.

Enhance your digital skills

Since the digital SAT is taken on a computer, it's important to develop and improve your digital skills. Practice typing and using the on-screen tools effectively, such as highlighting, underlining, and flagging questions for review.

Practice with official digital SAT practice tests

College Board, the organization that administers the SAT, provides official digital SAT practice tests on their website. Utilize these practice tests to get a feel for the digital format and to practice your skills in a realistic testing environment.

Review test content thoroughly

Although the digital format may be different, the content of the SAT remains the same. Review all the test content thoroughly, including reading, writing and language, math, and any other sections that may be part of the SAT you are taking.

Use reliable study materials

Choose reputable study materials that are specifically designed for the digital SAT. Look for materials that closely mimic the format, content, and difficulty level of the actual test.

Take breaks

Just like with the paper-based SAT, taking breaks during your digital SAT prep can help you maintain focus and concentration. Take regular breaks during your study sessions to avoid burnout and to keep yourself refreshed.

Practice under test-like conditions

When taking practice tests, try to simulate test-like conditions as much as possible. Sit in a quiet environment, time yourself, and avoid distractions to create a realistic testing environment that closely resembles the actual test.

Analyze your practice test results

Review and analyze your practice test results to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on areas that need improvement and adjust your study plan accordingly.

Seek additional help if needed

If you're struggling with certain concepts or sections of the test, don't hesitate to seek additional help. Consider getting a tutor, attending test prep classes, or utilizing online resources to reinforce your understanding of the material.

Preparing for the digital SAT requires adjusting to the computer-based format, but with practice and preparation, you can perform well on test day. Utilize these tips to effectively prep for the digital SAT and increase your chances of achieving a high score.

In conclusion, the SAT changes in 2023-2024 aim to make the exam more relevant, accessible, and equitable for all students. The key changes include a reduced number of questions, an optional essay section, and a focus on essential skills like analysis, problem-solving, and data analysis. The new digital format will also offer more flexibility and features for test-takers. To prepare for the new exam, students can take advantage of practice tests and resources available online, and work on developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Overall, the SAT changes are designed to better align with the needs and expectations of today's students and higher education institutions.

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Which Colleges Require SAT Essay in 2022-2023?

If you’re wondering which colleges require sat essay in 2022-2023, this guide has all you need to know — including how to decide whether to take the essay., what is the sat essay.

There was a time when an essay was a required portion of the test and everyone simply had to take it as part of sitting for their SATs. Because it was pretty much a required section of the SAT during that time, all colleges that required the SAT also required the SAT essay.

How is the SAT Essay Scored?

Essays are the same in every test. The only thing that will change is the passage or prompt you’ll be tasked to respond to.

Do Ivy League Schools Require the SAT Essay?

In recent years, no Ivy League schools have required applicants to submit their SAT scores with the essay. The same applies to other prestigious top-notch schools such as Caltech, Stanford, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, NYU, MIT, and more. 

Many Schools Have Been Dropping the SAT Requirement

To compensate for dropping the standardized testing requirement, colleges and universities have instead started placing more weight on the other factors comprising a student’s application. For example, to test a student’s writing ability, colleges will look more closely at the applicant’s personal statement or their grades in subjects like English.

College Board’s Massive Announcement in January 2021: No More SAT Essay

Students from certain states may still be required to sit for the essays if it is a part of their SAT School Day administrations . 

College Board advises that if you are scheduled to take your SATs on a school day, you should inquire with your school if the essay will be required.

Why Did College Board Discontinue the SAT Essay?

Should i take the sat essay how to decide.

For this reason, if you are scheduled to take your SAT on a school day, you may want to check with your school guidance office and find out whether the essay will be required. Doing so well ahead of time can help you prepare well for the SAT essays so you can up your chances of getting a good score.

Which Colleges Require SAT Essay in 2022?

Frequently asked questions, do any colleges require sat with essay, is the sat essay still required, does ucla require sat with essay, is sat essay required for harvard, does sat essay affect your score.

On January 19th, College Board announced a few significant updates in regards to its SAT Suite of Assessments, including the elimination of the optional essay portion of the SAT and the discontinuance of the SAT Subject Tests (SAT II tests). Let’s take a look at these changes and how they might affect students’ plans for the spring of 2021 and beyond.

In the release, College Board announced that the optional essay will be discontinued from the SAT following the June 2021 test date, with the exception of school day administrations in states which require the essay for evaluative purposes. Students currently registered to take the exam with essay between now and June will have the option to cancel the essay portion via their online account with no change fees up until the test’s registration deadline. In their statement, College Board observed: “This decision recognizes that there are other ways for students to demonstrate their mastery of essay writing. At the same time, writing remains essential to college readiness, and the SAT will continue to measure writing and editing skills.”

Although the vast majority of colleges no longer require (or even recommend, in many cases) students to submit SAT Essay scores, it is somewhat unclear what effect College Board’s announcement will have on the few schools that still utilize the essay portion of the exam in the admission process. Ultimately, the best advice for students and families is likely to check with any colleges they are interested in to see what they recommend, but it seems likely that the SAT essay will not play any role in college admissions for any students in the class of 2022 and beyond.

As a tutor aware of the pressures facing students preparing for the test, I see the announcement as a welcome change. The removal of the optional essay, which was only valued by a small number of schools and did not contribute to students’ overall composite score out of 1600, does offer many benefits to students preparing for the SAT. In addition to reducing the cost of the exam by $15, it shortens the already lengthy test by nearly an hour, which may allow students to devote more energy and focus to the four primary sections (Reading, Writing and Language, No-Calculator Math, and Calculator Math) which contribute to their overall score. Additionally, it allows students to allocate more study time towards other endeavors, whether those be further test prep, academic coursework, extracurricular activities, or even developing a stronger college admissions essay.

College Board Will No Longer Offer SAT Subject Tests

College Board also announced its discontinuation of the SAT Subject Tests, also known as SAT II tests, effective immediately in the U.S. and beginning June 2021 internationally. U.S students registered to take SAT Subject tests in this spring will have their registrations cancelled automatically and their registration fees refunded. Because the SAT Subject Tests are often used for a wider variety of purposes internationally, College Board will offer two final administrations of the exam to international students in May and June of 2021. As to how this might affect the applications of students who already took any SAT Subject Tests, College Board states:

We’ve reached out to our member colleges, and they’ll decide whether and how to consider students’ Subject Test scores. Students should check colleges’ websites for the most up-to-date information on their application policies.

Ultimately, this probably will not have a large role on the college admissions process for most schools . As of the time of the announcement, very few schools recommended students submit SAT Subject Test scores, and while each college is free to decide how to handle scores from previous administrations of the test and what effect this may have on its admission policies, it is rare for a college to alter its admissions policy in a way which penalizes a student for events that are beyond their control. 

College Board attributes its decision to discontinue the tests to the widespread availability of its AP testing, which they consider to render SAT Subject Tests as unnecessary in demonstrating students’ academic knowledge. Both AP exams and SAT Subject Tests are designed as content specific, supplemental exams which allow students to demonstrate their proficiency and interest in specific subjects, and both differ significantly from the standard SAT in their reliance on students’ prior knowledge and comprehension rather than on critical analysis and general problem solving ability. However, there are also some key differences students may wish to be aware of when deciding how to alter their test prep in absence of the SAT Subject Tests . Firstly, because AP exams offer students opportunities to earn valuable college credits, the level of rigor on the exams is closer to that of a first-year college course than to the high school curriculum covered on the SAT Subject Tests . Additionally, there are several key differences in the structure and scoring of the exams:

While the long term effects that these changes might have on students currently preparing for the exams of spring 2021 and beyond remain to be seen, understanding their immediate effects can help students develop effective plans and ease concerns. Additionally, the cancellation of the SAT Subject tests will likely allow schools to offer a greater number of seats to students seeking to register for the SAT this spring.

 I would encourage any students or families with questions or concerns to reach out to their guidance counselor or a test prep professional to discuss how this impacts their current plans.

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Your Complete SAT Guide for 2023

Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s SAT Guide

Looking for an industry-leading SAT guide? You’ve come to the right place!

If you’re applying to college, you’re likely planning on taking either the SAT or the ACT .

Navigating either test can be challenging, especially for students who are unfamiliar with standardized tests! If you’re taking the SAT, you likely have a lot of questions.

What even is the SAT? How is it scored? How do you prepare for the SAT?

We spend a lot of time researching, creating, and publishing high-quality SAT content. Hundreds of people (like you!) consume and download our SAT guides and workbooks. Every day.

As a result, we’ve become a top resource for the SAT, and we consult with schools and families on a regular basis. 

This SAT Guide highlights some of our best research and addresses the most frequently asked questions about taking the SAT. Plus, we give readers access to our free SAT Guidebook, which is even more comprehensive. Grab it below now if you’d like!

Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s SAT Guidebook

• Details about SAT scoring, content, testing options, and more
• An introduction to PrepMaven’s SAT strategies
• Information about SAT prep resources
• Application essentials for the top U.S. colleges

Click here to download a copy of our digital guide!

Here’s what we cover in this SAT guide post:

• What’s on the SAT?
• SAT Scoring
• SAT vs. ACT
• Registering for the SAT
• Standard SAT Test Dates
• SAT Testing Accommodations
• Next Steps: The Ultimate SAT Guide

SAT Guide Part 1: The SAT in a Nutshell

The SAT is a college entrance exam administered by a company called the College Board . 

It is a critical component of college admissions, which means that many U.S. colleges and universities require applicants to submit SAT test scores as part of their application.

According to the College Board , the SAT is “focused on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education” and measures what students learn in high school and what they need to succeed in college. 

Not all colleges require standardized test scores from applicants–an increasing number are test-optional or test-flexible . But some may still consider SAT scores for other purposes, including:

• Advising and placement
• Financial aid and scholarships
• Athletic recruitment

What weight do U.S. colleges place on standardized test scores when reviewing applications?

This is a hard question to answer. Most institutions aren’t that forthcoming when it comes to discussing what they prioritize in making their admission decisions. There is some data available, however, for certain schools.

In a Common Data Set from 2019-2020 , for example, the University of Notre Dame specifies the following:

• Standardized test scores are “important” to the admissions decision (but not “very important”)
• The university does make use of SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Test scores in admission decisions 
• The university uses the SAT essay or ACT essay for advising purposes only (but does not require it)

Such data sets are not available for all U.S. colleges and universities. However, it is safe to assume that, if required, SAT or ACT scores can range from slightly to very important in informing the college admissions decision.

1) What’s on the SAT?

There are five sections on the SAT:

• SAT Evidence-Based Reading
• SAT Writing & Language
• SAT Math: No-Calculator
• SAT Math: Calculator
• SAT Essay ( optional and to be discontinued mid-2021 )

Here’s the timing and question breakdown for each of these section:

SAT Section 1: Evidence-Based Reading 

On SAT Evidence-Based Reading , students have 65 minutes to answer 52 questions. Those 52 questions are associated with 5 passages of varying length. Each passage comes with 9-10 questions. 

In general, students can expect to see passages from the following genres:

• Literary narrative (1)
• Science (2)
• History / Social Studies (2)

One of these five passages will be a dual passage. This means that students will actually have to read and compare two shorter passages.

It’s important to note that the literary narrative passage will always come first. The other passages, however, can take any order.

The Evidence-Based Reading section will ask students questions that zero in on the most important aspects of each passage. Of course, “most important” is a relative phrase! What does “important” mean in the eyes of the College Board?

In general, the most important aspects of each SAT passage will include:

• Author’s purpose
• Literal comprehension

Students can, accordingly, expect to see the following question types:

This means that students should really work to find evidence for every answer they select. Remember that the Reading section of the SAT is called the Evidence-Based Reading section for a reason. The College Board has even incorporated a question type–Command of Evidence–that reinforces this process:

This also means that there is no outside content knowledge required for this section (unlike Math and Writing & Language). It is purely strategy-based. 

Pro-tip: For more insight into SAT Reading, check out these 16 easy SAT Reading tips or this SAT Reading passage walk-through .

SAT Section 2: SAT Writing & Language

The SAT Writing & Language section is the second section of the SAT.

On this section, students have 35 minutes to answer 44 questions. This section consists of four passages of various topics. Unlike the Reading section, however, questions occur throughout each passage, rather than at the end.

Here’s what this looks like:

The Writing & Language section does require content knowledge and understanding of effective writing principles. Students can thus expect half of those 44 questions to concern straight-up grammar and punctuation.

The other half will cover general writing strategies, such as writing effective introductions & conclusions, using appropriate transition words, and analyzing evidence.

We’ve broken these categories into concepts in the following chart.

What’s the easiest way to tell the difference between an Expression of Ideas and English Conventions question on SAT Writing and Language? In general, most Expression of Ideas questions will have a question in front of them:

Most Conventions questions do not have a question in front of them:

SAT Section 3: SAT Math (No Calculator)

There are two math sections on the SAT:

• No Calculator Permitted
• Calculator Permitted

SAT Math – No-Calculator is shorter, with only 20 questions to be completed in 25 minutes. 

The first 15 questions are standard multiple-choice. The final 5 questions, however, are grid-in questions. For these questions, students must supply their own answers in the provided grid:

Questions on SAT Math always go in order of increasing difficulty. The savvy SAT test taker can use this structure to her advantage, prioritizing those easier (i.e., earlier) questions first!

Yes, you can complete all questions on the No-Calculator section without a calculator–as daunting as that sounds.

In general, students can expect to see questions from the following four content areas:

Common algebra topics include:

• Single Equations
• Simplification
• Substitution
• Percentages
• Inequalities

Common geometry questions include:

• Volume / Area

“Advanced Math” on the SAT is not necessarily the same as “Advanced Math” in high school. In fact, the College Board calls these questions “ Passport to Advanced Math ” questions. Many of these can be classified as advanced algebra questions.

SAT Advanced Math topics include:

• Polynomials
• Systems of Equations
• Translating Words into Math
• Fractions 
• Ratios 
• Imaginary Numbers
• Square Roots

SAT Section 4: SAT Math (Calculator)

The second math section of the SAT is longer. It permits students to use a calculator to complete its 38 questions in 55 minutes. Just like the No-Calculator Math section, the questions here are arranged in order of increasing difficulty.

The first 30 questions are multiple-choice. Questions 31-38 are grid-in questions.

Content on the Calculator section will be largely similar to what students see on the No-Calculator section. The primary difference lies in how frequently certain content areas are tested. Check out this chart as an example:

Notice how the Calculator section is particularly heavy with respect to data analysis, often in the form of Charts and Graphs questions. It also still contains quite a lot of algebra.

Students rarely encounter extensive geometry or trigonometry questions here. Indeed, many students realize that SAT Math can be pretty wordy, requiring some active translation and complex problem-solving. This is all part of the College Board’s attempt to give students “real-world math” on the SAT.

SAT Section 5: The Essay (Optional)

The fifth and final section of the SAT is the essay. It is optional, and as of January 2021, the College Board will also be discontinuing the SAT essay following the June 2021 SAT administration.

We wont spend much time on it here for that reason, but encourage students taking the essay in June 2021 to check out the following posts:

• How to Get a High Score on the SAT Essay
• The SAT Essay: What to Expect
• Should You take the SAT/ACT Essay?

2) SAT Scoring

So how is the SAT scored ?

SAT test takers can earn a maximum score of 1600 on the SAT and minimum of 400 . This composite score is a combination of students’ CR/WR and Math scores.

A student’s scores on SAT Reading and SAT Writing & Language are combined into an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section score on a scale of 200 – 800. (This section score does not include the SAT essay.)

For SAT Math, test graders calculate how many total questions a student gets right on both of the Math sections. They then convert this raw score to a sectional score. On SAT Math, a student can earn a minimum section score of 400 and maximum of 800.

Unlike the rest of the test, the SAT essay ( which will be discontinued after June 2021 ) does not have a composite score. Two separate readers give each student a score between 1 and 4 for three categories: reading, analysis, and writing. The SAT test graders then add these two sets of scores together per category. Students can thus receive a score of 2 – 8 on each of the three sections.

SAT Percentiles

There’s one more aspect to scoring on the SAT that parents and students should emphasize throughout their test prep: SAT percentiles.

When students receive their SAT score reports, they will also receive percentages based on their performance. Students receive sectional percentiles and composite percentiles.

These are quite different from high school percentages, which often translate directly to how many questions students got right . SAT percentiles reflect the percentage of test-takers an individual student out-performed. An SAT composite percentile of 77%, for example, signifies that a test-taker earned a higher score than 77% of all students who took that particular test.

Percentiles are important, especially when assessing eligibility for more competitive colleges. When it comes to test prep, however, it is often more valuable to establish a goal score range rather than a goal percentile range.

A “Good” SAT Score

Students taking the SAT for the first time often ask what a good SAT score is , and what they need to do to get this score. We have two definitions for a “good” SAT score:

• “Good” is anything that is “above average” with sectional scores and percentile rankings
• “Good” is anything that will look competitive on a college application

Definition #1: The Above Average SAT Score

With this definition, in very basic terms, a good SAT score for 2020 could be anything above 1059 . This was the average national composite SAT score for the graduating class of 2019.

A good SAT CR/WR score could be anything above 531 and a good SAT Math score could be above 528 , based on the same data released by the CollegeBoard . 

An SAT score–composite or section–always comes attached to a percentile ranking. This percentile indicates the percentage of comparison students an individual test-taker out-performed. There are two comparison groups: “SAT Users” (actual SAT test-takers from the classes of 2018 and 2019) and a “nationally representative sample.”

A student who scores 1350 on the SAT, for example, will likely have a composite percentile of 94 (nationally representative sample) and 91 (SAT user percentile). This means that this student out-performed roughly 91-94% of SAT test-takers in these two comparison groups.

SAT scores are also usually normally distributed. This means that the bulk of students’ composite SAT scores hover around the middle of the curve. Far fewer scores appear on the higher or lower end of the SAT score range between 400 and 1600.

The middle-of-the-road (or median) SAT composite percentile is the 50th. Students in this percentile range out-performed 50% of all test-takers and under-performed 50% of all test-takers. Students with a 1080 SAT composite are in this 50th percentile.

What does this mean? Students who score higher than 1080 on the SAT are above average nationally from a percentile basis. These students also hold a 51% or higher SAT percentile. Thus, a great SAT score on a national scale is above 1080. 

As a point of reference, in 2018, students in the 75th SAT percentile scored about 1215. This is nearly 400 points away from a perfect score, and yet it is a higher score than 75% of all test-takers achieved! 

Definition #2: The College Competitive SAT Score

In the context of college entrance, one student’s “good” SAT score could be vastly different than another student’s. It just comes down to where you are applying and the average SAT scores of admitted applicants.

So, we like to say that, under this definition, a ‘good SAT score’ is the one that is right for you given your college aspirations. This will probably be close to the SAT scores of admitted applicants. 

If a student is aspiring to attend a highly selective institution like Princeton University, for example, a “good” SAT score likely surpasses the 90th percentile. 

Plenty of universities specify score ranges and percentiles of successful applicants on their websites (although some are not public with this information). Most do so by specifying the ‘Middle 50,’ or the 25th and 75th percentile of accepted students’ SAT scores– this is not to be confused with SAT score report percentiles! 

Here’s a sampling of the Middle 50s from various elite institutions:

When researching competitive applicant SAT scores, keep in mind range . Successful Vanderbilt applicants, for example, often have an SAT CR/WR section score of 710-770. Successful Barnard College applicants have an SAT CR/WR section score between 660 and 760.

Those ranges are actually significant. Yes, the higher your score in these cases, the better. But, technically, students on the lower end of these ranges still earned acceptance!

3) SAT vs. ACT

All U.S. colleges and universities accept ACT and SAT scores equally. So which test should you take?

The answer to that question depends upon your personal strengths. At the end of the day, you’ll want to take the test most likely to give you the highest possible score.

You can learn more about choosing your best fit test–as well as 5 easy questions to ask to do so–in our detailed post, Should I Take the SAT or ACT? . We also encourage students to download our 2021 SAT Guidebook, which includes all of the information in this post (and more), absolutely free .

SAT Guide Part 2: Preparing for the SAT

So far in this SAT guide, we’ve discussed the fundamentals of the test itself, including its format, scoring, and relevance in the context of college admissions.

In the second part of this SAT guide, it’s time to discuss what it means to prepare for this college entrance exam.

Students can prepare for the SAT in a variety of ways. Yet in our many years of helping students succeed on the SAT and earn acceptance into their dream schools, we have learned that effective test prep boils down to three things:

1) Timeline

How much time students allocate to SAT test prep has to do with a lot of things, including:

• When they take the SAT for the first time
• When they take it for the final time
• When they intend to apply to college
• How many times they take the SAT
• Their target SAT score

When should I take the SAT for the first time?

In December 2017, we polled 89 of our tutors, the vast majority of whom were Princeton undergraduates or graduates. 80% of our tutors polled took the test for the first time sometime in Junior year, with Fall and Spring the most popular times.

Determining your first official testing date, however, has a lot to do with your college application timeline, which we discuss in our responses to the next questions.

Students should also plan to take the SAT for the first time after they’ve finished Algebra 2, as much of the test’s math content spans this subject area.

What is my latest possible testing date?

Answering this question can be vital for helping students establish a viable test prep timeline. The latest possible testing date is often the last SAT a student can take and still be able to submit official scores to colleges. Most schools will also indicate on their websites latest recommended testing dates.

When do I intend to apply to college?

Do you intend to submit regular decision applications? Early action? Early decision? A mix of all of the above? Whatever the case, be aware of application deadlines and school policies for final testing dates. 

For most schools:

• Regular Decision deadline = January 1st
• Early Action/Early Decision deadline = November 1st

It usually takes about a month after your testing date before schools receive your scores, so these are the latest recommended testing dates:

• December SAT if applying Regular Decision
• October SAT if applying Early Action/Early Decision

How many times should I take the SAT?

75% of our polled tutors took the SAT or ACT between 2 to 4 times. The ideal situation is to crush the test on the first try and be done with it. Realistically, you’ll probably need to take the test several times even if you’re hitting your target scores in practice.

Multiple testing dates are also likely to reduce test anxiety and mitigate potential unforeseen circumstances (i.e., getting sick). Students who take the SAT multiple times can also take advantage of Superscoring and Score Choice.

What is my target SAT score?

A target SAT score is essential for effective prep. It gives students a direction and can significantly impact their prep timeline.

To establish your target score, start by taking a diagnostic practice SAT and investigating the score ranges of competitive applicants to the schools on your list.

How much time should I plan between testing dates?

After receiving your scores, you might be super close to your target scores. In this case, you’ll probably want to sign up for the next available testing date. If you feel like you still have a lot of improvement to make, you might want to give yourself a couple more months before re-testing.

If possible, avoid scheduling back-to-back testing dates if they are only a month apart. Ideally, you’ll first want to receive your scores back before figuring out the best strategy moving forward.

We recommend planning several months between official SAT testing dates. Be sure to keep in mind potential scheduling constraints, including:

• Junior year workload
• SAT 2 Subject Tests (you cannot take the SAT and SAT 2 subject tests on the same date)
• College applications
• Summer activities
• Extracurricular obligations

How many hours should I plan on studying for the SAT?

Having an understanding of how many hours you plan on studying will help you plan out your study schedule and determine how soon you can take your first test. In general, we recommend:

• Minimum of 20 hrs
• Target of 40 hrs
• Ideal of 80 hrs
• Superstars put in 120+ hrs

Let’s say you want to get in 80 hours of studying before your first test and want to to take advantage of summer break. A 2-month study schedule might look like:

• 5 days/week

80 hours sound like a lot, but it’s more than doable if spread out over a period of time. In this scenario, you would be in great shape to take your first test at the end of the summer/ early fall. We do not recommend showing up cold to your first test without any preparation.

2) Practice

Consistent practice is essential for effective SAT prep, especially when it comes to assessing progress, building stamina, and maintaining grasp of content and strategies. Besides setting aside a sufficient timeline for their SAT prep, students should also make sure they have the right resources to set them up for success.

These include:

• Official practice tests
• Other practice materials
• Private tutoring and/or group classes

Official Practice Tests

The College Board has released several official practice tests , which you can find for free on their website or right here .

These are excellent resources for every test-taker, because they allow students to apply what they’ve learned to test-like questions.

They also serve as fantastic benchmarks. Students should start their SAT prep, for example, by taking a practice test, which can serve as a diagnostic of where they stand score-wise. Taking regular practice tests throughout a prep timeline can also be vital for assessing progress and honing specific skills.

Practice Materials

There are scores of other SAT prep resources out there. How do you know which ones to choose? We want to emphasize that it’s vital to prep as close to the source as possible. For this reason, we always encourage our students to utilize College Board resources first and foremost. 

This includes the following:

• The Official SAT Study Guide (2021): Book
• College Board Practice Tests
• Khan Academy (SAT Content)
• The College Board’s Daily Practice App

With the exception of the Official SAT Study Guide book, all of these resources are free to SAT students. 

When it comes to other resources, keep in mind that these are not as likely to be as representative of the official exam (although they can still prove helpful). Use these as a last resort, and be mindful that practice test scores may not be reflective of your current abilities. 

We recommend supplementing College Board official SAT practice with targeted content work through various reputable third parties. 

Online resources include:

• The Art of Problem Solving (math, $$)
• IXL (math and language arts, $)
• Khan Academy : General Math Topics and English Grammar (free)
• No Red Ink (writing & grammar, $)

Text resources include:

• Erica Meltzer’s guides to SAT Critical Reading and Grammar ($)
• The College Panda’s SAT Math books ($)

Private Tutoring & Group Classes

We strongly encourage test-takers to enlist the help of experts in preparing for this tough test! There are lots of options out there for this, but we find that our students have the most success when working with a private tutor and/or enrolling in a group class. At PrepMaven, we offer both!

3) Strategy

The SAT is a standardized test, which means that it is predictable in many ways. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be considered a fair benchmark in college admissions!

This also means that successful test-takers must rely on strategy as much as content knowledge. This is especially the case for the Evidence-Based Reading section, which is entirely strategy-based.

But strategy also relates to your overall approach to this standardized test. Students should spend significant time learning the test, much as they would learn a second language, and plan to take the test at least twice over a generous timeline.

Doing so can help them pinpoint their specific strengths and weaknesses, hone these strengths, and earn a competitive score.

We’ve compiled the very best strategies for all sections of the SAT–and by the very best, we mean the very best! We’ve seen these strategies help students achieve (or surpass) their target scores time and again.

Strategies for SAT Reading

• 16 Easy SAT Reading Tips to Get a High Score
• 5 Things You Should Know About SAT Reading
• SAT Reading: Passage Walk-Through

Strategies for SAT Writing & Language

• Your Complete Guide to the 13 SAT Grammar Rules
• Your Introductory Guide to SAT Writing & Language

Strategies for SAT Math

• SAT Math Tips
• SAT Math (No-Calculator) Tips
• SAT Geometry Strategies & Practice Questions

Strategies for the SAT Essay

Sat guide part 3: taking the sat.

At this point in this SAT guide, you’ve learned the basics about the SAT and how to prepare for this challenging test. Now it’s time to discuss the more administrative aspects of taking the SAT so you can feel extra confident on Test Day!

1) Registering for the SAT

Students can register for an official SAT either online or by mail. For ease and convenience, we strongly recommend that students register online.

Some schools offer SAT administrations on-site. For School Day administrations , students should check with their guidance counselors, as schools themselves will handle registration for these administrations.

Here’s how you register for an SAT administration online:

• Choose your test date (discussed in the next section).
• Create a free College Board account and log in to this account .
• Provide your full legal name and other “identifying information.” This information should match your photo ID.
• You’ll be asked other questions related to your interests and prospective colleges. These are entirely optional, but may be worth answering if you’re interested in colleges and scholarship organizations finding you.
• Sign up for the SAT Essay if applicable.
• Choose your test center location.
• Upload a photo of yourself that meets specific requirements.
• Check out and print your Admission ticket!

Depending upon your circumstances, you might need to enter the following additional registration information:

• If you’re using a fee waiver, enter the identification number on your fee waiver card.
• If you’ve been approved by the College Board to test with accommodations, enter the SSD number on your eligibility letter.
• If you’re home-schooled, enter 970000 when asked for a high school code.

Photo Requirements

The College Board is very strict when it comes to the photo that you’ll have to upload for registration. If your photo doesn’t meet these requirements, you won’t be allowed to test .

Here is what the College Board says is acceptable for your photo, which can be recent or taken at the time of registration:

• You’re easy to recognize.
• You’re the only one in the picture.
• There’s a head-and-shoulders view, with the entire face, both eyes, and hair clearly visible; head coverings worn for religious purposes are allowed.
• You’re in focus.
• There are no dark spots or shadows.
• Black-and-white photos are acceptable.

You won’t be allowed to test if any of the following is the case with your photo:

• One or both of your eyes are not visible or blocked (for example, if you are wearing sunglasses).
• Photos include more than one person.
• Poor photo quality makes you unrecognizable.
• You are wearing a hat or head covering that is not worn for religious purposes.
• Your photo has been digitally altered or tampered with in any other way.

ID Requirements

ID documents that students bring to at testing center must meet all of these requirements:

• Be a valid (unexpired) photo ID that is government-issued or issued by the school that you currently attend. School IDs from the prior school year are valid through December of the current calendar year. (For example, school IDs from 2015-16 can be used through December 31, 2016.)
• Be an original, physical document (not photocopied or electronic).
• Bear your full, legal name exactly as it appears on your Admission Ticket, including the order of the names.
• Bear a recent recognizable photograph that clearly matches both your appearance on test day and the photo on your Admission Ticket.
• Be in good condition, with clearly legible English language text and a clearly visible photograph.

Students will have to pay to register for the SAT. For standard registration, here’s what that looks like:

• Standard SAT without Essay: $52
• Standard SAT with Essay: $68

Students will have to pay extra fees for the following (full list and specifics on the College Board’s website ):

• Registering by phone
• Late registration
• Changes to registration
• Waitlist fees
• Score services

Fee waivers are available for many of these! Here’s what the College Board says about fee waivers :

SAT fee waivers are available to low-income 11th and 12th grade students in the U.S. or U.S. territories. U.S. citizens living outside the country may be able to have test fees waived.

You’re eligible for fee waivers if you say “yes” to any of the following:

• You’re enrolled in or eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
• Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
• You’re enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., Federal TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
• Your family receives public assistance.
• You live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home, or are homeless.
• You are a ward of the state or an orphan.

2) Standard SAT Test Dates

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College Board has offered new test dates in an effort to give students as many opportunities as possible to take the test. That is why we encourage students to check the College Board’s website for the most recent and up-to-date information regarding testing dates.

At the time of writing this SAT guide, students anticipating taking the SAT in 2021 and/or 2022 will be able to do so on the following test dates:

• August 28, 2021
• October 2, 2021
• November 6, 2021
• December 4, 2021
• March 12, 2022
• May 7, 2022
• June 4, 2022

Registration deadlines are often a month prior to the official testing date. Students can register late for an added fee, and make changes to their registration often 10-14 days prior to the official testing date. Students can use this tool on the College Board’s website for locating a nearby testing center.

3) SAT Testing Accommodations

The SAT is a marathon of a standardized test! For students with learning challenges, it can be incredibly difficult to get through each of these sections in the time and minimal breaks allotted. The generic paper-and-pencil format of the SAT may also be an obstacle for students with sight impairment and/or other disabilities.

To ensure that such students are not at a disadvantage when taking the test, the SAT offers testing accommodations. These may include extended time, for example, or extra breaks, as well as accommodations for seeing and reading.

Accommodations apply to any test the College Board publishes, including the SAT, AP exams, SAT subject tests, PSAT 10, and PSAT/NMSQT.

Students must meet the College Board’s eligibility requirements in order to apply for (and ultimately receive) testing accommodations:

“Some students with documented disabilities are eligible for accommodations on College Board exams. Students cannot take the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP Exams with accommodations unless their request for accommodations has been approved by Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).”

The College Board boils this eligibility down to four criteria:

• Applicants must have a documented disability
• Participation in a College Board exam is impacted
• Students need the requested accommodation
• Applicants receive accommodation on school tests

Because requesting SAT testing accommodations can be complex and confusing, we’ve written an entire post about it –a valuable resource for students and families!

Work with an expert SAT tutor this 2021

In this SAT Guide, we’ve walked you through the ins and outs of the SAT, from what the test actually is to how to prepare for it. Now you have a great foundation for beginning your SAT prep!

To accelerate that prep, we encourage students to turn to the ultimate guide: a PrepMaven SAT tutor.

The SAT is a very specific test that is unlike any high school exam out there. Success on the SAT often boils down to gaining a deep understanding of the test itself and following through with a methodical preparation plan, which requires time and expert guidance.

Working one-on-one with an SAT tutor is the fastest and most effective way of preparing for the SAT–and getting that much closer to a competitive score.

At PrepMaven, we’re here to match students with the very best tutors in the industry, many of whom are Ivy League graduates. Learn more about SAT private tutoring with PrepMaven or our SAT Masterclass and Bootcamp offerings today!

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The SAT Essay 2022-2023: What to Expect

Last updated: March 2022

How to write the SAT essay:

• Read the prompt to understand the task.
• Read the sample passage, underlining the examples and evidence.
• Come up with a thesis statement.
• Outline your SAT essay.
• Write a draft.
• Edit it: check arguments and evidence, make sure there’s a logic in the essay.
• Proofread your SAT essay: check grammar, spelling, sentence structure, etc.

Good news for those afraid of SAT essays:

This section is optional now. It means they won’t require you to write the SAT essay this year.

Many colleges still recommend it to see your writing and critical thinking skills.

What are those colleges that require SAT essays? How long is the SAT with essays? How to write it? And what is the SAT essay, after all?

Keep on reading to find out all the details, and get ready to earn the highest score for your essay this year.

Source: Unsplash

That’s what you’ll learn in this guide:

Table of Contents:

• Organization
• The SAT essay: to take or not to take?
• How to decide when to take the SAT
• How to register for the SAT
• Top changes to SAT essays in 2022
• How to write SAT essay?
• SAT essay tips
• Colleges that require SAT essay

What is the SAT?

Invented by Carl Brigham in 1923 , the SAT is owned and developed by College Board. It’s a not-for-profit organization in the USA, with over 6,000 schools, colleges, and universities being its members.

SAT Purpose

The purpose of the SAT is to measure your readiness for college. It’s focused on the knowledge and skills you’ve got in high school, and it provides colleges with one common score to compare all applicants.

College admission officers review the SAT score alongside with your other achievements such as:

• Your high school GPA.
• The admission interview.
• Your personal essay .
• Letters of recommendation from your teachers.
• The classes you took in school.
• Your extracurricular activities.

The higher your final score, the more options you’ll have for admission.

SAT Organization

The SAT includes three mandatory parts: Reading, Writing, and Math. As per 2016, an SAT essay is optional for applicants to take, though many colleges still require it.

You’ll have three hours to complete your SAT (without the essay). If you write the essay, you’ll have 3 hours 50 minutes to finish the whole test.

To succeed with the test, you should complete its all sections. If you leave some questions unanswered, your scores will be canceled.

The total you can get for your SAT is on a scale of 400–1600, with 200–800 for each of two sections: Reading and Writing + Math.

Sounds difficult?

Okay, here’s a kinda SAT score calculator for you:

If you write an SAT essay, you can get an extra 2–8 points for each of three criteria. What are these criteria, and what is a good essay score?

Two graders from College Board score each SAT essay on a scale of 1-4 across three criteria:

• Reading: it should be clear from your essay that you’ve understood the material. So, cover its main points and show how they interrelate.
• Analysis: an essay should include persuasive claims about the text’s main points. So, evaluate them and provide supporting evidence for its claims.
• Writing: an essay should be structured well. So, present your arguments logically, vary sentence structure, state a thesis, and avoid grammar/spelling mistakes.

Summed together from two graders, your SAT essay score can range between 2 and 8 for each criterion.

In 2018, the average SAT essay score was 5 out of 8 for Reading, 4 out of 8 for Analysis, and 5 out of 8 for Writing. ( Source )

As you see, the analysis was the most challenging part for students. That’s because it differs from what you do in standard essays:

In high school, you mostly write persuasive essays to give your personal opinion on the topic. In the SAT essay, they ask you to analyze the author’s opinion. It’s more like writing an expository essay . And although the structure of SAT essays doesn’t differ from that of a standard essay, it may be difficult for you to logically link the arguments and evidence of another person in a new paper.

SAT Dates in 2022-2023

As a rule, the SAT takes place on the first Saturday of November, December, May, and June. Other dates include late January, March or April, and late August or October.

In other words, you can take the exam almost every month. Just make sure you are ready and don’t miss a registration deadline for your chosen data.

Here are the SAT dates for 2022-2023:

The SAT Essay: to Take or Not to Take?

As you’ve read already, an SAT essay is optional now. However, there are many colleges and universities in the USA that still require it from applicants. So, if you decide not to write the SAT essay, you won’t be able to apply to these schools.

Later in this article, you’ll find the list of colleges that require the SAT essay. Make sure yours is not there; otherwise, you’ll have to write an essay. If you are still unsure of what college to apply, writing the essay would come in handy anyway.

The SAT with essay costs $57 as opposed to the $45 for the SAT without an essay section.

Pros and cons of taking the SAT essay:

How to Decide When to Take the SAT

Think strategically when choosing the date for taking your SAT:

• How much time do you need to prepare? Map it out, set goals, visualize your plan – and you’ll know what SAT date fits you best.
• How busy are you with other tasks at the moment? With tons of other assignments and commitments to complete, you’ll hardly find enough time for preparation. So, choose the season when your schedule is not that crazy.
• What is your college application timeline? You’ll need the SAT completed before you submit the application, so time accordingly.

How to Register for the SAT

First of all, choose the date, based on the tips above. Try to complete your SAT registration as soon as possible, because the late registration usually needs an extra fee.

Also, decide if you take the SAT essay. For that, find out if your chosen colleges require such essays. Also, check if they ask applicants to take SAT Subject Tests (they are given by College Board on individual subjects).

You can complete the registration on the College Board website , or fill in the Student Registration Booklet and send it by email. ( Ask your school counselor for this booklet .)

You’ll need to upload a picture of yourself and provide all your personal data. Make sure the photo and info match with those in your ID. Also, pay a registration fee.

Once your registration is complete, print out the Admission Ticket: you’ll need it when come to take your test.

Top Changes to SAT Essays in 2022

In case you don’t know, the SAT has changed since 2016. Many educational blogs and websites wrote about it because it was the year of the biggest change to this test, and it impacted students greatly.

Time, format, scores, sections… Everything is different now!

Here go the most significant changes to SAT essays in 2020 and later:

• The SAT essay is optional now.
• Students have 50 minutes for writing it. (The old SAT gave them only 25 minutes.)
• This essay is argumentative now, and it asks you to analyze another essay. (The old SAT required to answer a theoretical prompt in your essay.)
• The SAT essay is scored separately now. (The old SAT had an essay as a part of the Writing section, and the score range for it was 200-800.)

The old SAT essay:

The new SAT essay:

More changes to the overall SAT test are gathered and turned into the infographic by Student Tutor. Check here for details. Or, let’s turn to SAT essay examples! That’s what an SAT essay task looked back in 2016: As you see, it’s focused on a more theoretical response. Graders didn’t estimate any analytical skills. And that’s the example of a new SAT essay task: It requires a more argumentative and analytical approach from students. Graders can see your critical thinking skills, not just your personal opinion on a given theoretical prompt. Both examples are taken from Allen Cheng’s article at PrepScholar. He shared the complete guide to the SAT new rules and its most meaningful changes for students. How to Write SAT Essay? Below, you’ll find SAT essay tips that can help to improve your scores. But now let’s turn to an essay structure and your step by step tutorial on how to write SAT essays. Lucky you are, the SAT essay structure is similar to any standard academic paper teachers asked you to write in class. Known as a 5-paragraph essay , its basic parts are: Introduction: 2-3 sentences with a hook and a thesis statement. Thesis statement: a central argument of your essay, so take your time to craft it. Supporting paragraphs (two or three, if time) : each of them should include a topic sentence, evidence, and a concluding sentence to demonstrate how it refers to your thesis statement. Conclusion: 3-4 sentences, summarizing your arguments in a concise manner. Given that you have 50 minutes for writing the SAT essay, make sure to allocate this time like a boss: Read the prompt: 1 minute . Read the passage, annotating the core info: 15 minutes . Outline the essay: 5 minutes . Write an essay: 25 minutes . Check an essay: 4 minutes . Don’t hurry up to read the passage: pay attention to the task (prompt) itself, as it will help you understand what information and evidence to concentrate. So, here we have the first step to writing a good SAT essay: read the prompt before the passage . After that, read the sample passage carefully . Underline the evidence and examples you can use to answer the prompt in your essay. Remember, that your SAT essay will be scored for Reading , so you’ll need to demonstrate that you understand the text’s main points. To get a high score for Analysis , you’ll need to explain and evaluate the author’s arguments. So, when reading the passage, identify his central claim and instruments he uses to support it (reasoning, evidence, stylistic elements). Focus on the most relevant and persuasive ones. State your thesis . It should sum up your assessment of the author’s argument. Make it concise and clear, but don’t add any personal attitudes. Remember: you analyze the author’s view rather than share your own. Stay objective when reading the passage and then creating your central claim. Now it’s time for outlining your essay. Map out it briefly in the introduction, then specify topic sentences and evidence for each paragraph of your essay’s body. Write the draft , with an essay conclusion restating your thesis and summarizing the whole paper. Check your SAT essay: make sure to use effective language and word choice. Use a variety of sentence structures but stay clear and informative. Your essay gets scores for Writing too, and high scores go to works that are “cohesive and demonstrate highly effective use and command of language.” ( Source ) Source: Giphy So, avoid low-level vocabulary, correct all spelling and grammar mistakes, and check if you use the right transitional phrases to describe relationships between the arguments in your essay. SAT Essay Tips Everyone loves tips, especially if they help to achieve goals and conquer new peaks. And when your goal is a high score for an SAT essay, you need tips more than ever. No wonder: Who doesn’t want to get a magic bullet to hit the target at one stroke, right? We asked our team of professional academic writers to give readers their recommendations on essay writing, and here go the essay tips they’ve shared: What you can do to earn high scores for the SAT essay: Understand the scoring system. Study essay samples; analyze their structure. Practice a lot: take sample prompts and spend 50 minutes on writing essays based on them. Learn to analyze texts and see central claims and evidence in them. During the SAT, read the prompt before the passage. Always. Use accurate facts: support your points with evidence from the passage. Be objective: answer the prompt but don’t add any personal opinion or points. Take your time to organize the SAT essay, and don’t forget to revise it. Make your essay longer than one page: though they say length doesn’t matter, your short response might be not enough for graders to see your writing skills — and you score for the Writing criterion will suffer. Follow standard tips for essay writing: use straightforward language, give a clear thesis, structure your essay logically. Use a timer when practicing your SAT essay: remember that you’ll have 50 minutes only, so make time for analyzing, planning, writing, and revising it. Colleges That Require SAT Essay Your decision to take the optional SAT essay might heavily depend on which college you are going to apply. So, let’s check what colleges require SAT essays. If yours isn’t in the list, feel free to catch a break: you won’t have to prepare for this writing test and spend money on taking it. However, we would recommend you to double-check with each school at their official websites. (Rules change, you know, and the information tends to go out of date in time.) We took the most popular colleges among US students only. If your school isn’t on the list, check SAT essay policies of all educational institutes at the official College Board website. IL Require CA Neither require, nor recommend NY Neither require, nor recommend OR Recommend NY Neither require, nor recommend NH Neither require, nor recommend NC Require GA Recommend MA N/A John Wesley University NC Require MA Neither require, nor recommend NY Neither require, nor recommend IL N/A NJ Neither require, nor recommend IN N/A CA Require IL Neither require, nor recommend CA Require TX Require PA Neither require, nor recommend WA Neither require, nor recommend WV Require WV Require CT Neither require, nor recommend SAT Essay Examples As mentioned, you need to practice a lot to write the SAT essay worth a high score. That’s true. But what else you can do is pre-plan the examples and evidence you’ll use in the essay! For that, analyze SAT essay examples available online. Yes, the specifics of your prompt will differ; but they can help choose the types of examples you’ll use to explain the author’s argument. College Board shares many SAT essay examples with detailed analysis and explanations of why they gave these or those scores to students. They’ll help you understand what to expect from your essay and what writing weaknesses of yours to improve. This is the SAT essay example that has got 2/1/1 from graders. (Oops, you better don’t write like that!) And this work has got 4/4/4 points! See the difference: (c) College Board Additional Resources to Check: The SAT Student Guide 2022, College Board SAT Essay Practice on Khan Academy Practice With a Redesigned SAT Essay Prompts Best Books to Prepare for SAT SAT Essay Prompts: The Complete List Related posts Harvard Referencing Style: A Comprehensive Guide What Is the Difference between Primary and Secondary Sources Common Types of Plagiarism with Examples Our Writing Guides Choose Your Test Search Blogs By Category College Admissions AP and IB Exams GPA and Coursework Which Colleges Require the SAT Essay? Complete List SAT , SAT Essay Planning to take the SAT? Before you sign up, you need to decide whether you're going to take the test with or without the optional Essay . How should you pick? Well, some colleges require that you apply with the SAT with Essay; others don't care whether you submit an SAT score with or without the Essay. In this article, I'll provide you with a complete list of colleges that require or recommend taking the SAT with the Essay . UPDATE: SAT Essay No Longer Offered In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing. While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement. What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know. What Is the Optional SAT Essay? The redesigned SAT debuted in March 2016 with a now-optional Essay section. For the Essay, you have 50 minutes to read a passage (similar to those you see on the Reading section ) and write an essay dissecting how the author made the argument . Did the author use evidence to support the main claim? Appeals to emotion? Specific word choice? If you take the SAT without Essay, the test length is three hours . However, if you take the SAT with Essay, the optional Essay adds 50 minutes . It also costs more to take the SAT with Essay : $64.50 vs $49.50 without the Essay. Don't automatically assume you must take the Essay. Whether it's important for you depends on which schools (and scholarships) you're applying to and what the rest of your application looks like. I'll go into more depth later about how to decide which version of the SAT to take. List of Schools That Require the SAT With Essay Below, I've compiled a list of colleges that require or recommend taking the SAT with Essay. All data comes from the College Board and some individual schools we consulted separately. Note: This list is subject to change, so make sure to double-check with each school you're applying to. Abilene Christian University TX Recommend Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences NY Recommend Allegheny College PA Recommend Augsburg University MN Recommend Austin College TX Recommend Benedictine University IL Require Caldwell University NJ Recommend California State University, Northridge CA Recommend Central Connecticut State University CT Recommend Central Michigan University MI Recommend Cheyney University of Pennsylvania PA Recommend City University London UK Require College of Wooster OH Recommend Colorado School of Mines CO Recommend Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art NY Recommend Corban University OR Recommend Cornerstone University MI Recommend Dallas Christian College TX Recommend Delaware State University DE Require DeSales University PA Require Dominican University of California CA Require NC Recommend Earlham College IN Recommend Eastern Illinois University IL Recommend Eastern Nazarene College MA Recommend Eastern University PA Recommend Endicott College MA Recommend Five Towns College NY Recommend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University FL Require Gallaudet University DC Recommend George Washington University DC Recommend Georgia Highlands College GA Recommend Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) GA Recommend Greenville University IL Recommend PA Recommend Hofstra University NY Recommend Holy Family College WI Recommend Holy Family University PA Recommend Howard University DC Require Husson University ME Recommend Indiana University South Bend IN Recommend Indiana University Southeast IN Recommend Indiana Wesleyan University IN Recommend Inter American University of Puerto Rico: Barranquitas Campus PR Recommend John Wesley University NC Require Juilliard School NY Recommend Keiser University (West Palm Beach) FL Recommend Kentucky State University KY Require Lehigh University PA Recommend Madonna University MI Recommend Manhattan College NY Recommend Martin Luther College MN Require Marymount California University CA Recommend Massachusetts Maritime Academy MA Recommend McMurry University TX Recommend Mercy College NY Recommend Modern College of Design OH Recommend Molloy College NY Require Montana Technological University MT Recommend Morehouse College GA Recommend Mount Saint Mary College NY Recommend Mount St. Joseph University OH Recommend National-Louis University IL Recommend New Jersey City University NJ Recommend Nichols College MA Recommend North Park University IL Recommend Ohio University OH Recommend Oregon State University OR Recommend Purdue University Northwest IN Recommend Randall University OK Recommend Randolph-Macon College VA Recommend Reading Area Community College PA Recommend Rowan University NJ Recommend Rutgers University—Camden Campus NJ Recommend Rutgers University—Newark Campus NJ Recommend Saint Michael's College VT Recommend SciencesPo France Recommend Seton Hill University PA Recommend Shiloh University IA Recommend Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania PA Recommend Soka University of America CA Require Southern California Institute of Architecture CA Require Southern Illinois University Carbondale IL Recommend Southern Oregon University OR Recommend Spring Hill College AL Recommend Sul Ross State University TX Recommend SUNY Farmingdale State College NY Recommend SUNY University at Stony Brook NY Recommend Tarleton State University TX Recommend Texas A&M International University TX Recommend Texas A&M University TX Recommend Texas A&M University—Galveston TX Require Texas State University TX Recommend The King's College NY Recommend United States Air Force Academy CO Recommend United States Military Academy (West Point) NY Require University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) CA Require University of California, Davis (UC Davis) CA Require University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) CA Require University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) CA Require University of California, Merced CA Require University of California, Riverside CA Require University of California, San Diego (UCSD) CA Require University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) CA Require University of California, Santa Cruz CA Require University of Evansville IN Recommend University of Hawaii: West Oahu HI Recommend University of La Verne CA Recommend University of Mary Hardin-Baylor TX Recommend University of Massachusetts Amherst MA Recommend University of Minnesota: Twin Cities MN Recommend University of New England ME Recommend University of North Texas TX Require University of Northwestern—St. Paul MN Recommend University of Texas at Dallas TX Require University of the Virgin Islands VI Recommend University of Toledo OH Recommend University of Washington Bothell WA Recommend VanderCook College of Music IL Recommend Virginia Union University VA Recommend Wabash College IN Recommend Webb Institute NY Recommend Webber International University FL Recommend Wesleyan College GA Recommend West Virginia University Institute of Technology WV Require Western Carolina University NC Require William Jewell College MO Recommend Surprisingly (and in contrast to how it's been in the past), top schools mostly do not require the SAT essay . Currently, no Ivy League School requires students to take the SAT with Essay; the same is true for Stanford, Caltech, Duke, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Northwestern, NYU, and UChicago. Many of these schools no longer even recommend students to take the SAT with Essay, which is a huge turnaround from just a couple of years ago. Similarly, most liberal arts colleges do not require or recommend the SAT with Essay ; however, there are some exceptions, such as Soka University, which does require it. In general, most state schools also do not require the SAT with Essay, though there's still a significant portion that do. There tends to be some weird variance even within states. For example, all University of California schools require the SAT with Essay, but most of the California State University schools do not. Regardless of the types of schools you're applying to, don't assume that they all ask for the SAT with Essay . Check with every school to make sure you understand their testing requirements. How to Decide Whether to Take the SAT Essay: 4 Questions When making your decision about whether to take the SAT with Essay or the SAT without Essay, you'll need to consider the following four questions. #1: Do Any Schools I Want to Apply to Require the SAT Essay? If you're applying to any school that requires the Essay, then you must take the SAT with Essay . If you take the SAT without Essay, your application will be incomplete and you won't get admitted. By contrast, if you apply to any schools that don't require the SAT Essay, you can still take the SAT with Essay since these schools will accept both types of SAT scores (with or without Essay). To reiterate, colleges that require the SAT Essay won't consider your score if you took the SAT without the Essay . The last thing you want to do is take the SAT without the Essay and get a good score—but then find out that one of your target schools requires you to take the SAT with Essay. Remember that some colleges change their application policies from year to year, so make sure to double-check the testing policies of the schools you're applying to . #2: Do Any Schools I Want to Apply to Recommend the SAT Essay? If you're not applying to any schools that require the SAT Essay section but are applying to some that recommend it, then I'd still suggest taking it . This gives you another dimension schools can use to evaluate your application; however, there are some cases in which you shouldn't take the SAT with Essay. If, for some reason, you do not qualify for SAT fee waivers and paying the extra cost to take the SAT with Essay would be a financial burden to you , then please don't feel as if you have to take it. In this case, it's fine to take the SAT without Essay instead. In addition, if you really struggle to write essays under time constraints (due to anxiety), you might want to opt out of the Essay . That said, I only recommend this for students who normally have strong English and writing skills but struggle to write coherent essays when there's the added pressure of a time constraint. For example, do you get As on essays you can work on at home but Cs on in-class essays because you get easily nervous? If that's the case, taking the SAT with Essay might not be a good idea. #3: Am I Applying to Any Scholarships That Require an SAT With Essay Score? Many scholarships (such as National Merit ) require you to submit SAT scores , and some specifically want SAT with Essay scores. Therefore, be sure to check the requirements of each scholarship you're planning on applying for . While scholarships that don't require or recommend the SAT Essay should still accept your SAT with Essay score, scholarships that require the Essay section will not consider your SAT score if you took the no-essay version . #4: Will the SAT Essay Enhance My Application in Other Ways? Generally speaking, taking the SAT Essay if it's not required won't add a lot to your application. In truth, colleges that don't recommend or require the Essay really don't pay much attention to it. Nevertheless, the Essay might be helpful for international students who want to prove they have strong English skills and who think they'll do especially well on it. If you fall into this category and feel confident you'll get a high score on it ( after doing practice essays , for example), definitely consider taking the SAT with Essay. On the other hand, if you don't think you'll do well on the Essay, I recommend against taking it. What's Next? Need help preparing for the SAT? Read our ultimate study guide to get expert tips on prep and access to the best free online resources. If you're taking the test soon, learn how to cram for the SAT . Want to learn more about the SAT Essay? Check out our step-by-step guide to writing a great essay . Not sure where you want to go to college? Learn how to do college research right and figure out your SAT target score . Trending Now How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA How to Write an Amazing College Essay What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For? ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take? When should you take the SAT or ACT? Get Your Free Find Your Target SAT Score Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer Score 800 on SAT Math Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing How to Improve Your Low SAT Score Score 600 on SAT Math Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing Find Your Target ACT Score Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer Get a 36 on ACT English Get a 36 on ACT Math Get a 36 on ACT Reading Get a 36 on ACT Science How to Improve Your Low ACT Score Get a 24 on ACT English Get a 24 on ACT Math Get a 24 on ACT Reading Get a 24 on ACT Science Stay Informed Get the latest articles and test prep tips! As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography. Ask a Question Below Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply! Digital SAT Brings Student-Friendly Changes to Test Experience 83% of Students Say They Want Option to Submit Scores in College Applications College Board January 25, 2022 New York — College Board announced today that the SAT® Suite of Assessments will be delivered digitally. In November 2021, College Board piloted the digital SAT in the U.S. and internationally; 80% of students responded that they found it to be less stressful and 100% of educators reported having a positive experience. While the transition to digital will bring a number of student- and educator-friendly changes, many important features of the SAT Suite (SAT, PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, PSAT™ 8/9) will stay the same. The SAT Suite will continue to measure the knowledge and skills that students are learning in high school and that matter most for college and career readiness. The SAT will still be scored on a 1600 scale, and educators and students can continue to track growth across the SAT Suite of Assessments over time. The assessments will continue to be administered in a school or in a test center with a proctor present—not at home. Students will still have access to free practice resources on Khan Academy. And students taking the SAT Suite will continue to connect to scholarships and the College Board National Recognition Programs.    What’s Changing “The digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant,” said Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president of College Readiness Assessments at College Board . “We’re not simply putting the current SAT on a digital platform—we’re taking full advantage of what delivering an assessment digitally makes possible. With input from educators and students, we are adapting to ensure we continue to meet their evolving needs.” Among the changes: the digital SAT will be shorter—about two hours instead of three for the current SAT, with more time per question. The digital test will feature shorter reading passages with one question tied to each, and passages will reflect a wider range of topics that represent the works students read in college. Calculators will be allowed on the entire Math section. Students and educators will get scores back in days, instead of weeks. And, to reflect the range of paths that students take after high school, digital SAT Suite score reports will also connect students to information and resources about local two-year college, workforce training programs, and career options. With the transition to digital tests, College Board is working to address inequities in access to technology. Students will be able to use their own device (laptop or tablet) or a school issued device. If students don’t have a device to use, College Board will provide one for use on test day. If a student loses connectivity or power, the digital SAT has been designed to ensure they won’t lose their work or time while they reconnect.  The changes will also make the SAT more secure. With the current paper and pencil SAT, if one test form is compromised it can mean canceling administrations or canceling scores for a whole group of students. Going digital allows every student to receive a unique test form, so it will be practically impossible to share answers. The SAT will be delivered digitally internationally beginning in 2023 and in the U.S. in 2024. The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 8/9 will be delivered digitally in 2023 with the PSAT 10 following in 2024. More information about the changes can be found at SAT.org/digital .   Feedback from Fall Pilots: Students Say It’s Easier to Take; Educators Say It’s Easier to Administer Students who participated in the November global pilot of the digital SAT said the test experience was less stressful than the current paper and pencil test. “It felt a lot less stressful, and whole lot quicker than I thought it'd be,” said Natalia Cossio, an 11th grade student from Fairfax County, VA who participated in the digital pilot. “The shorter passages helped me concentrate more on what the question wanted me to do. Plus, you don’t have to remember to bring a calculator or a pencil." In the same pilot, every test proctor who participated responded that the experience administering the digital SAT was the same or better than administering the current paper-and-pencil test. Educators will no longer have to deal with packing, sorting, or shipping test materials. And with changes that make the SAT shorter and easier to administer, states, districts, and schools will have more options for when, where, and how often they administer the SAT—rather than adhering to a fixed schedule. These improvements are especially important because students from all backgrounds increasingly are taking the SAT during the school day. In the class of 2021, 62% of students who took the SAT took it for free in their school on a weekday. Independent research shows that universal school day testing leads to higher college-going rates for low-income students.  “It’s encouraging to see the positive feedback from students and educators who participated in the pilots for the digital SAT. The changes to the test are timely and clearly centered around improving the student experience," said Ronné Turner, Vice Provost for Admissions & Financial Aid at Washington University in St. Louis . “I’m pleased that the greater flexibility in administering the test will expand access to SAT School Day, which research shows increases college-going rates for low-income students.”   An Option for Students to Show Their Strengths The SAT continues to play a vital role in a holistic admissions process and continues to connect students to postsecondary and scholarship opportunities.  When nearly every college went test optional during the pandemic, millions of students still took the SAT. That trend has continued with the high school class of 2022. Most students want to take the SAT, find out how they did, and then decide if they want to submit their scores to colleges. When surveyed, 83% of students said they want the option to submit test scores to colleges. This finding remains consistent whether or not students have taken the SAT and across race/ethnicity and parents’ level of education. “In a largely test-optional world, the SAT is a lower-stakes test in college admissions. Submitting a score is optional for every type of college, and we want the SAT to be the best possible option for students. The SAT allows every student—regardless of where they go to high school—to be seen and to access opportunities that will shape their lives and careers,” Rodriguez said. “I am one of those students. I’m a first-generation American, the child of immigrants who came to the U.S. with limited financial resources, and I know how the SAT Suite of Assessments opened doors to colleges, scholarships, and educational opportunities that I otherwise never would have known about or had access to. We want to keep those same doors of opportunity open for all students.” When viewed within the context of where a student lives and learns, test scores can confirm a student’s grades or demonstrate their strengths beyond what their high school grades may show. In the class of 2020, nearly 1.7 million U.S. students had SAT scores that confirmed or exceeded their high school GPA. That means that their SAT scores were a point of strength on their college applications. Among those students, more than 300,000 were from small towns and rural communities; 600,000 were first-generation college goers; and 700,000 were Black or Latino. The SAT is an objective measure that is available to students at a time when: There are more than 25,000 high schools in the U.S. No college can know and see all of those high schools and each student in them. While high school grades are an important reflection of students’ work, the share of students graduating high school with an A average has grown from 39% in 1998 to 55% in 2021. Other parts of college applications, including clubs, sports, and academic activities, often are costly and inaccessible for many families. Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player In a first, U.S. students will take the SAT entirely online (no pencils required) Elissa Nadworny Efi Chalikopoulou for NPR hide caption The SAT, a college admissions exam that for nearly a century was completed using paper and pencil, is now officially all-digital. This week, students in the U.S. will begin taking the new SAT on their own devices — including a tablet or a laptop — or on school devices. The test is also one hour shorter (down from three hours), has shorter reading passages and uses digital tools, like a highlighter, a graphing calculator and a bookmark to go back to skipped questions. The revamped test, which ditches the paper and pencil, aims to make cheating harder and grading easier. Students will still take the exam at a test center or at a high school. "Today's students, they do a lot of their living digitally, they do a lot of their learning digitally and they do a lot of their test taking digitally," says Priscilla Rodriguez, who oversees the SAT for the College Board, the organization behind the test. Dartmouth will again require SAT, ACT scores. Other colleges won't necessarily follow She says in focus groups the College Board conducted, students said they felt more confident and more natural taking tests on a digital device. "They were kind of telling us in so many words, 'You're a little behind us at this point, actually. Can you please catch up?' " A digital SAT isn't a big leap for many students Throughout March and April, the College Board expects more than 1 million students to take the new digital SAT. Students can take the exam on Saturday test dates or during SAT School Days, where participating high schools offer the test to upperclassmen free of charge during the school day. Stephany Perez, a high school junior from Houston, says the transition to online is "not that significant." "We're so used to being on our laptops, like it's something we do on the regular, in every class." SAT Discontinues Subject Tests And Optional Essay Perez has been prepping for the online version in school, using test prep material from CollegeSpring, a nonprofit that partners with high school teachers. She says she's still nervous and anxious for the test, because she feels a lot of pressure to do well. "It's a very important test," she says. "It dictates what's going to happen for your college life." She's taking the test Tuesday morning at her high school using school laptops. This isn't the first time the College Board has administered a digital exam. International students took a digital-only SAT in 2023, and a digital-only PSAT was given to younger U.S. high school students last fall. Students will take the digital exam on Bluebook, an app that was built in-house by the College Board. Schools were given time ahead of testing dates to download the app onto their devices. Internet access is key to start the test, though Rodriquez says it requires very little bandwidth during the test and is designed to autosave locally, so students won't lose work or time if they lose their internet connection. The SAT and ACT still hold power in admissions All this comes as the relevance of the SAT and ACT, another college entrance exam, is being called into question in the college admissions process. More than 1,800 U.S. colleges are not requiring a test score for students applying to enroll in fall 2025, according to the National Center for Fair & Open Testing. But in recent weeks, some elite private colleges, including Brown University and Dartmouth College , have reinstated the test requirement, saying it provides helpful context for the admissions process. Perez would be the first in her family to go to college in the U.S. She says, "I know a lot of schools say that they're test optional," but when she looked up colleges she was interested in, she found they still listed average SAT scores on their websites. What to know about Florida's 'classic' alternative to the SAT "So you do have to care," she says, "because [colleges] might still be looking at them, even if they say they're test optional." Even with many schools trying to de-emphasize the exams, Rodriquez, of the College Board, says the SAT can still be an important piece of a larger admissions puzzle. "[The SAT] can give any student a way to show what they've learned in a standardized way, and that's especially important when other parts of the college application, things like extracurricular activities and essays, are more easily influenced by parental wealth." The SAT and ACT are also still deeply ingrained in the American high school experience. Many states require one of the exams to graduate, and several states have contracts with the College Board to offer the test during the school day for free to their students. Before this new digital format, the SAT had already gone through several changes. In 2014, the College Board revealed it would drop its penalty for wrong answers, make the essay portion optional and remove the obscure vocabulary section. And in early 2021, the organization announced it would discontinue the optional essay component of the SAT, as well as the subject tests in U.S. history, languages and math, among other topics. Most scores from the August 24th SAT are now available. View your scores. SAT Dates and Deadlines At this time, registration is open for all students for the entire 2024–25 testing year. All deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. ET, U.S. August 2024–June 2025 Test Dates These test dates and deadlines apply to all students—U.S. and international—taking the SAT: SAT Test Date* Registration Deadline Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, and Late Registration** Aug 24, 2024 Aug 9, 2024 Aug 13, 2024 Oct 5, 2024 Sept 20, 2024 Sept 24, 2024 Nov 2, 2024 Oct 18, 2024 Oct 22, 2024 Dec 7, 2024 Nov 22, 2024 Nov 26, 2024 Mar 8, 2025 Feb 21, 2025 Feb 25, 2025 May 3, 2025 Apr 18, 2025 April 22, 2025 June 7, 2025 May 22, 2025 May 27, 2025 *Students will need to register and request their device earlier than the registration deadline—at least 30 days before test day. **Late registration is available worldwide. Anticipated 2025–26 Test Dates August 23, 2025 October 4, 2025 November 8, 2025 December 6, 2025 March 14, 2026 May 2, 2026 June 6, 2026 Review the latest registration fees and other charges for taking the SAT. Policies for International Testing Learn about the different registration policies for students taking the SAT outside the United States and U.S. territories. International Fees Learn about SAT registration fees and other fees for students taking the test outside the United States. Sign in and register for the SAT. 344 IMAGES How to write sat essay. How To Write A SAT Essay: Full Guide With The SAT Essay 2022-2023: What to Expect Tips to Write an SAT Essay The SAT Essay: Basic Principles SAT Essay Tips on Successful Writing The New SAT Essay: First Look VIDEO SAT यदि हिमालय न होता पर हिंदी निबंध/यदि हिमालय न होता /if himalaya were not there essay in hindi SAT Common App Essay Key Points, How To Start College Board Discontinues SAT Subject Tests And Optional Essay 如何有效准备SAT阅读和作文 COMMENTS What Is the SAT Essay? What Is the SAT Essay? SAT Changes 2023-2024: What You Need To Know SAT Changes 2023-2024: What You Need To Know The Optional SAT Essay: What to Know The Optional SAT Essay: What to Know Everything You Need to Know About the Digital SAT Everything You Need to Know About the Digital SAT SAT essay in 2023 Sure, I'd be happy to clarify that for you! As of 2021, the College Board has indeed discontinued the SAT essay section. This means that when you take your SAT in 2023, there won't be an essay section for you to complete. So, you can focus your prep energy on the other sections of the SAT - evidence-based reading and writing, and math. Upcoming Changes to the SAT for 2023 and 2024 Until recently, there was an optional fifth section of the test that was comprised of one essay prompt; however, that Writing section was eliminated a couple of years ago, and it is currently only administered on School Day testing dates in specific states. What Are the SAT Changes for 2023 and 2024? The Ultimate Guide to the New Digital SAT Format The Ultimate Guide to the New Digital SAT Format SAT School Day with Essay SAT School Day with Essay - SAT Suite of Assessments SAT Changes 2023-2024: What You Need To Know In conclusion, the SAT changes in 2023-2024 aim to make the exam more relevant, accessible, and equitable for all students. The key changes include a reduced number of questions, an optional essay section, and a focus on essential skills like analysis, problem-solving, and data analysis. The new digital format will also offer more flexibility ... Khan Academy This means for U.S. students, the last administration of the pencil-and-paper SAT will be in December 2023, and all students will take the Digital SAT starting in 2024. The move to digital will result in a shorter test (2 hours instead of 3 hours) and faster delivery of results. Khan Academy has continued our partnership with College Board to ... SAT Essay Prompts: The Complete List SAT Essay Prompts: The Complete List PDF SAT Weekend Student Guide Spring 2024 SAT Student Guide for Testing in the U.S. What's on the SAT What's on the SAT - SAT Suite of Assessments - College Board Which Colleges Require SAT Essay in 2022-2023? To understand how the SAT essay is scored, we must first take a closer look at the essay itself. Every SAT Essay is comprised of a passage around 650-750 words long. You are given 50 minutes to read, analyze, and then respond to this prompt. The primary purpose of these essays is the assessment of your analysis skills. College Board Updates on the SAT Essay and Subject Tests College Board Updates on the SAT Essay and Subject Tests Your Complete SAT Guide for 2023 Your Complete SAT Guide for 2023. Bonus Material: PrepMaven's SAT Guide. ... The university uses the SAT essay or ACT essay for advising purposes only (but does not require it) ... The SAT is a very specific test that is unlike any high school exam out there. Success on the SAT often boils down to gaining a deep understanding of the test ... How the SAT Is Structured How the SAT Is Structured - SAT Suite | College Board The SAT Essay 2022-2023: What to Expect The SAT includes three mandatory parts: Reading, Writing, and Math. As per 2016, an SAT essay is optional for applicants to take, though many colleges still require it. You'll have three hours to complete your SAT (without the essay). If you write the essay, you'll have 3 hours 50 minutes to finish the whole test. Which Colleges Require the SAT Essay? Complete List Which Colleges Require the SAT Essay? Complete List Starting in 2024, U.S. students will take the SAT entirely online Ryan Johnson for NPR. The SAT, a college admissions exam long associated with paper and pencil, will soon go all-digital. Starting in 2023 for international students and in 2024 in the U.S., the ... Digital SAT Brings Student-Friendly Changes to Test Experience The SAT will be delivered digitally internationally beginning in 2023 and in the U.S. in 2024. The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 8/9 will be delivered digitally in 2023 with the PSAT 10 following in 2024. ... The SAT allows every student—regardless of where they go to high school—to be seen and to access opportunities that will shape their lives and ... U.S. students will take the SAT entirely online this year : NPR In a first, U.S. students will take the SAT entirely online (no pencils required) The SAT, a college admissions exam that for nearly a century was completed using paper and pencil, is now ... SAT Dates and Deadlines SAT Dates and Deadlines - SAT Suite of Assessments Murder Hornets and Writing a College Application Essay And yes, using the essay to detail a particular adversity that has dogged you throughout high school (or life) and explains why you maybe underperformed relative to your abilities is also a good idea. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis