Online SAT Prep and Practice Tests

The SAT is a standardized test required by many American colleges and universities during the admission process. Administered by the College Board, the SAT is a pencil-and-paper, multiple-choice exam that consists of 2 required sections:

• Math 
• Evidence-Based Reading & Writing  

The College Board stopped offering the optional essay section of the SAT and optional subject tests in 2021, both in the USA and internationally.

A strong score on the SAT can help open doors to more competitive colleges and universities. However, admissions boards review SAT scores alongside other parts of a college application, including GPA, performance in extracurricular activities, application essays, letters of recommendation, admissions interviews, and scores from other standardized tests (like the ACT).

Students should aim to take the SAT in the spring of their junior year of high school. Doing so gives students more opportunities to retake the exam and improve their score, if desired. Visit College Board site for updates regarding dates and deadlines for the SAT.

Learn more about this year’s SAT Test Dates here.

You can register for the SAT online on the College Board site or via mail. For the online option, check out the College Board’s guidelines regarding account creation, photo ID submission, test dates, test center locations, and more. 

To register by mail, you will need to ask your school counselor for a copy of the Student Registration Booklet for the SAT. If you need special accommodations for testing, including requests to test closer to home, you will need to register by mail. If you are ever unsure about your options for registration, ask your school counselor how to sign up for the SAT.

It costs $55 to take the SAT. Fee Waivers are available to eligible low-income 11th- and 12th- graders. Registration changes and additional services may cost additional fees.

Learn more about SAT Costs & Fee Waivers here.

Make sure you bring the following on test day:

• Your up-to-date admission ticket – Log into your College Board account and print
• Acceptable photo ID – Typically your school ID, driver’s license, or passport
• At least two No. 2 pencils with erasers – Mechanical pencils are not permitted 
• An approved calculator – Graphing calculators are the most common option 
• Face covering – During pandemic conditions
• Snacks and water – Avoid sugary drinks and snacks that will make you crash

For a comprehensive list of what to bring to the SAT — and what not to bring — see the College Board’s Test Day Checklist.

SAT preparation begins long before test day, and is primarily a reflection of the knowledge and skills a student learns over time in the classroom. However, test prep can help you review important concepts and, importantly, help test takers become more familiar and comfortable with the test itself.

Piqosity provides up to 10 full-length practice tests and a multitude of other free resources, including a Mini Diagnostic Test, adaptive practice questions, tutorials and video lessons, and more, to help you achieve your SAT goals. Sign-up is free!

The SAT is 3 hours long. (The optional essay, which added 50 minutes to the exam, is no longer offered as of 2021.)

How many questions are on the SAT?
The SAT is composed of 154 total multiple-choice questions, with breakdown of question totals by section as follows: 

• Math: 58 questions (80 minutes) 
• Reading: 52 questions (65 minutes) 
• Writing & Language: 44 questions (35 minutes)

What qualifies as a “good” score on the SAT depends on the goals of each particular student, the average scores required by their top choice of college or university, and the overall strength of a student’s application. In general, students are advised to aim for a combined score of at least 1200, but keep in mind that a score of 1200 may not be considered competitive enough for some schools. 

What is an average SAT score?
The average SAT score changes every year. According to the 2021 College Board report, the average SAT score for 2021 was 1060, up from an average of 1051 in 2020. Keep in mind that the effects of COVID-19 make it unwise to compare performance results between 2021 and previous years.

What is a perfect SAT score?
A perfect score on the SAT is a 1600. This would require a perfect 800 on both the Math and Reading/Writing sections, which are scored on a scale of 200 to 800.

Learn more about this issue with our in-depth article exploring What is a Good Score on the SAT?

For students who take the SAT during the school year, SAT scores are available online 2-4 weeks after your test date; release times may take longer during the summer months. You should receive an email alert when your scores are posted. Simply log in to your College Board account to view your scores. 

If you selected prospective colleges when you registered for the SAT, your schools should receive your scores approximately 10 days after you do.

You can retake the SAT as many times as you want. However, we strongly encourage you to take your final SAT exam at least 6 weeks before your college application deadlines.

Keep in mind that early decision deadlines are typically November 1st and 15th, and standard deadlines generally begin in January. This means that if you are a senior applying for early decision, your last chance to take the SAT is the October administration date of your senior year; for standard deadlines, your last chance is the December administration date.