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SAT exam overview

The SAT is a digital, international college-admissions test administered by College Board, measuring Reading and Writing and Math skills. High-school students commonly take it when applying to colleges that accept or consider SAT scores. College Board currently uses “SAT” as the test’s name rather than an expanded form. The test is delivered digitally through the Bluebook application at an authorised test centre.

Quick information

Conducting authority	College Board
Exam level	International
Mode	Digital, via Bluebook, at an authorised test centre
Sections	Reading and Writing; Math
Score range	400–1600 (each section 200–800)
Official website	satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat
Next SAT date	22 August 2026

Exam pattern

Section	Modules	Questions	Duration
Reading and Writing	2	54	64 minutes
Math	2	44	70 minutes
Total	4	98	134 minutes

Each section’s first module mixes easy, medium and hard questions; performance in it determines whether the second module is easier or harder. There is no question-by-question guessing penalty. Students should attempt every question. Calculators are allowed throughout Math.

Subjects covered

• Reading and Writing: Information and Ideas, Craft and Structure, Expression of Ideas, Standard English Conventions.
• Math: Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, Geometry and Trigonometry. About 30% of Math questions use real-world/science/social-studies contexts.

Who can take the SAT?

College Board’s general registration page does not prescribe a minimum qualification, subject stream, or standard age limit. Most test-takers are high-school students; many first test in spring of junior year, sometimes again in fall of senior year. There is no stated general lifetime attempt limit or nationality/domicile restriction for ordinary registration, though test-centre availability and applicable sanctions rules still apply. Each college decides independently whether it requires or considers SAT scores.

Registration fees

SAT registration fee	$68
International registration fee	$43
Base total for international testing	$111

Optional services, late registration, changes and score reports can add to this. Students approved for a College Board fee waiver can take the SAT free.

How Southwide mock tests can help

Southwide SAT mock tests help students get familiar with Reading and Writing and Math question styles, practise section timing, and identify weak content domains through review, best combined with Bluebook’s official full-length adaptive practice tests.

Official sources

• SAT official website
• Official SAT structure
• Official dates and deadlines
• Official SAT test fees
• Full-length official SAT practice tests

Last verified: 20 July 2026, against current official College Board SAT pages and testing rules. Recheck dates, deadlines and testing rules before each scheduled administration.