The SAT is entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admission decisions. It is a multiple choice, pencil and paper tests administered by the College Board.

The purpose of the SAT is to measure high school student’s readiness for college, and to provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admission officers will review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admission interviews, and personal essays. How important SAT scores are in college application process varies from school to school.

Overall, the higher you score on the SAT the more options for attending and paying for college will be available for you.

When should I take the SAT?

Most high school students take  SAT during the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. It’s important to leave time to re take the test if you need to raise your score before you apply to college. The SAT exam is offered every year in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June.

There are 2 SAT sections:

Math

Evidence Based Reading and Writing

SAT also includes an optional Essay section. SAT Essay scores are reported separately from overall test score. Some colleges may require  you complete the SAT Essay. You can confirm each college admissions policies on the school website or on  school profiles.

How long is the SAT?

The SAT is three hours long. If you choose to take the SAT with Essay, the test will be three hours and fifty minutes.