The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States.
DIGITAL SAT
The SAT is going digital which mean that there have been some changes made to the test such as the time, the digital test will now take is 2 hour 50 minute exam (including an optional essay which takes 50 minutes), consisting of four sections.
Reading & Writing This section consists of Reading Total: 64 minutes
1. Reading- This portion of the exam is timed for 64 minutes. 54 standard multiple-choice questions ( 1 minute 11 seconds per question) Things tested on the Reading section: a) Command of Evidence b) Words in Context c) Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science The passages for the reading section have been changed to shorter passages and one question tied to each passage
This section consists of writing which is optional Total: 50 minutes
2. Writing- This portion of the exam is timed for 35 minutes. 44 standard multiple-choice questions Things tested on the Writing section: a) Command of Evidence b) Words in Context c) Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science d) Expressions of Ideas e) Standard English Conventions
Mathematics This section has been changed in the digital test to the calculator being allowed for the ENTIRE Math section Total : 70 minutes
3. Calculator Math Portion( in the digital test their is a built in calculator in the testing application) 44 standard multiple-choice questions ( 1 minute 35 seconds per question)
Anyone who is aiming towards pursuing a higher education e.g. going to college should most definitely take the SAT or ACT as it's used for the admissions process.
When should I take the SAT?
There is no best time to take the SAT, but it is best to take it as earliest as possible. The first time you can take the SAT to count for college admissions is as early as freshman year, but it is recommended to take it around your junior year as you are most prepared by that time. By then, you will already have a better foundation in both English and math.
A good time to start can be for the December testing date
What is a good SAT Score?
Each college has its interval for what they consider to be the average SAT score for that school. It's best to check where you're trying to get accepted to and try your best to fall within the 25th and 75th percentile of the school's SAT range. Albeit, having a lower than average SAT score does not mean you will automatically get rejected; the same thing goes if your SAT score is above the average. There are multiple other factors that play into college admissions. Generally, there is a trend that the more prestigious a school is, the higher the SAT average will be.
If you are planning on aiming for the Florida Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship and want to know whether your SAT score qualifies, please refer our financial aid page.
How many times should I take the SAT?
You probably do not want to take the SAT too many times as certain schools do check the amount of times you take this test. Therefore, it is recommended to not take the SAT more than 4 times as it may reflect negatively on your college application. You may want to take practice tests beforehand that allow you to obtain the general gist of your school before you take the SAT to know how much you need to practice beforehand.
How much does the SAT cost?
There was a recent increase in the amount it costs to take the SAT in the 2020-2021 school year. For the 2020-21 school year, the SAT costs $52 and the SAT with Essay costs $68.
Be reminded that there are also fee waivers for the SAT along with the SAT subject tests if you do qualify: 2 free SATs, with or without the essay 6 free SAT Subject Tests (2 test sessions) 2 free Question-and-Answer Service (QAS) or Student Answer Service (SAS) reports Other SAT fees come into play if you sign up during the late registration period, sign up by phone, change an existing registration, or if you’re admitted to an administration via the waitlist.
Can I cancel an SAT Score?
Generally, it may not be recommended to cancel an SAT unless you feel as if it went pretty bad.
Cancellation Deadline You must cancel no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Thursday after your test date. Students with disabilities might have a different deadline—see below.
Option 1: At the Test Center After the test, ask the test coordinator for a Request to Cancel Test Scores form. Complete and sign the form. Return the form to the test coordinator before leaving the center. Option 2: After You Leave the Test Center Your written, signed request must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the Thursday after the test date.
Exception: Students with disabilities who test in school-based testing have until the Monday one week after the published test date to cancel their scores, due to the extended school-testing window.
Every SAT registration includes free score reports to four schools. There are fees for additional score reports or opting in for further services such as rush ordering or score verification. Don’t forget to use those free score sends, because they do expire! You have until nine days after the test to use them.
When should I start studying?
With your ideal score in mind, you should prep as early as possible to begin scoring around that. If you plan on scoring +1400 on the SAT, you should prep as early as sophomore/ beginning of junior year to achieve this score. It is recommended to begin with a practice test to know where you are and begin studying from there.
There are multiple SAT testing days within a year. 2021-22 SAT Test Dates and Registrations
2021-22 SAT TEST DATEREGISTRATION DEADLINE
October 2nd, 2021 (Deadline - Late Registration : September 21, 2021)
November 6th, 2021 (Deadline : October 8th, 2021)
December 4th, 2021 (Deadline : November 4th, 2021)
March 12th, 2022 (Deadline : February 11th, 2022)
May 7th, 2022 (Deadline : April 8th, 2022)
June 4th, 2022 (Deadline : May 5th, 2022)
What are the SAT Subject Tests?
The SAT Subject Tests are one-hour-long exams that give you the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and showcase achievement in specific subjects. They provide a fair and reliable measure of your achievement in high school—information that can help enhance your college application portfolio. SAT Subject Tests are the only college admission tests where you can choose the subjects in which you are tested. You select the Subject Test(s) and can take up to three tests in one sitting. With the exception of listening tests, you can even decide to change the subject or number of tests you want to take on the day of the test.
The following subjects can be tested: SAT Biology E/M SAT Chemistry SAT Physics SAT U.S. History SAT World History SAT Literature SAT Math Level 1 SAT Math Level 2 Foreign Languages Foreign Languages with Listening
The SAT Subject tests also are able to be applied the fee waiver: up to 2 different testing dates. Check with the college you're applying to and see whether they recommend/require certain subject tests.