SAT Facts and FAQs

SAT FAQs

SAT Subject FAQs

Can I take subject tests different from the ones I originally signed up for on the test day?

How is the math on the subject tests different from the regular SAT math?

What is my SAT Subject score if I got 3 wrong? How about 5 wrong? 10 wrong? 20 wrong?

General SAT FAQs

What is the SAT, and why is it important?

The SAT is a test administered to high school students in order to assess their ability to succeed in college, independently of high school grades and other indicators. The SAT is a paper-based test, consisting of multiple-choice questions (five possible answers) along with an essay and ten free-response math questions. For many years, the SAT has been a requirement for admission to most four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., and the test has a history spanning more than a century. (For more information, such as what the letters "SAT" and "ACT" stand for, see the (Mostly) Brief History Of The SAT And ACT Tests.) Many changes to the test have been made in the last 80 years to continue to make it relevant and valuable for college admissions. More recently, however, the importance of the SAT itself has diminished: all four-year colleges and universities now allow the use of the ACT as a replacement for the SAT, and some colleges have made both the SAT and ACT optional. Questions remain as to the usefulness of these tests in predicting future success in college.

When and where can I take the SAT?

The SAT is administered in October, November, December, January, March, May, and June. The SAT is administered nationally on the same dates for every state in the U.S. For the actual test dates for the current test year, see the SAT Calendar. The test is given on a Saturday, and under special circumstances you can take it instead on the following Sunday. If you need to, you can figure out what date the SAT will be on well into the future, as follows: For November, December, May, and June, the test is given on the first Saturday of the month. For October and March, the test is given on the second Saturday of the month. Finally, in January, the test is given on the fourth Saturday of the month.

The SAT is administered in many locations in the U.S. and countries around the world; typically, these test centers are in schools. To find a test center appropriate for your location, go to this College Board web page and select "Test Centers" in the "Search By" drop-down box. For U.S. locations, specify the state without specifying a city to obtain a list of all the test centers in that state.

How long is the SAT?

The total test time for the SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes. You should get three five-minute breaks during the test, so the total elapsed time for the SAT is about 4 hours. The breakdown of the test is: 70 minutes for critical reading, 60 minutes for writing (including the essay), and 70 minutes for math. There is also a non-graded section which takes an additional 25 minutes. The test will begin sometime between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. local time, depending on the particular testing site, and end by 1 p.m. Generally, you should plan to arrive at the testing location a comfortable amount of time before 8 a.m.

Shown below is the time breakdown of a 10-section SAT administration. (Note that students at some test centers will receive a shorter, 9-section SAT. See After The Test (SAT Test Forms) for more details.)

Section 1. 25 minute section: Essay
Section 2. 25 minute section: Math, Reading, or Writing
5-minute break
Section 3. 25 minute section: Math, Reading, or Writing
Section 4. 25 minute section: Math, Reading, or Writing
5-minute break
Section 5. 25 minute section: Math, Reading, or Writing
Section 6. 25 minute section: Math, Reading, or Writing
5-minute break
Section 7. 25 minute section: Math, Reading, or Writing
Section 8. 20 minute section: Math or Reading
Section 9. 20 minute section: Math or Reading
Section 10. 20 minute section: Writing

How is the SAT scored?

Each section (math, critical reading, and writing) is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, so the total score is from 600 to 2400. In detail, the method is this: For each section, your correct answers are added. Next, 0.25 points are subtracted for each incorrect multiple-choice answer, resulting in your "raw" score. Finally, a curve is applied to convert your raw score into a number from 200 to 800 for math and reading, and from 20 to 80 for writing. The curve corrects for the difficulty of the test compared to other SATs. For the writing section, your score on the multiple-choice questions (20 to 80) is combined with the score (2 to 12) on your essay to produce a final writing score (200 to 800). You can see how the most recent high school senior class (2011) scored on the SAT using the SAT composite score percentile ranks table. The average SAT scores for the senior class years since the writing section was introduced are:

Class Year	Reading	Mathematics	Writing	Combined
2006*	503	518	497	1518
2007	501	514	493	1508
2008	500	514	493	1507
2009	499	514	492	1506
2010	500	515	491	1506
2011	497	514	489	1500

(*In 2006, only tests taken by seniors through March of their senior year were included. For 2007 and later, tests taken through June of the senior year were included.) For all of the yearly average SAT scores from 1952 to the present, see this PDF file for a plot and this PDF file for the data.

When do I get my SAT score back?

Scores are first released via the Internet about 3 weeks after the exam is administered. Generally, the scores will appear on the College Board web site starting at roughly 5 A.M. Eastern Time (9 A.M. or 10 A.M. UT depending on whether or not U.S. daylight saving time is in effect). Not everyone's scores will appear immediately. On the score release day, you will get the scores for math, critical reading, and writing, as well as the writing multiple choice subscore and the essay score. About a week later, the web site will have your "full" score report, which will detail the number of questions answered correctly, incorrectly, or omitted, broken down by category and difficulty of question. For the actual score release dates for the current test year, see the SAT Calendar.

Is the SAT different every time it is administered?

Generally, yes. However, individual questions are typically reused and will appear on multiple tests, along with other questions that are new. Questions are "retired" when they appear in a test administered in either January, May, or October, since these tests are made public. For example, a particular math question may first appear on the March 2006 test, again on the November 2008 test, and finally on the October 2010 exam. On occasion, a test may even be reused in large part or in its entirety. For example, the December 2005 SAT was reused as the January 2007 SAT, and a large portion of the November 2005 SAT was reused in the November 2010 SAT.

Even on a particular SAT test date, the test is administered using multiple arrangements of the sections; these are called "forms", and multiple forms are given on the same day (even in the same testing location). For each form, the test sections may be arranged in a different order, the essay question may be different, and the non-graded section may be different or not there at all. There may be as many as five different forms of the test on a given test date (including up to four different essay questions). The College Board used to publicize the way the various forms for that test were arranged shortly after each test was administered, but this is no longer done. See After The Test (SAT Test Forms) for more details about how the SAT is arranged on test day and for the arrangement of actual test forms on two test dates.

What are the best study resources / materials / books for the SAT?

There are many opinions as to which materials are the "best", and the right answer will depend on you as well: not just your particular skill level, but also how you study, how much time you have to study before you take the test, etc. That having been said, there are study materials that can help just about everyone. First and foremost is the "Blue Book" (the real title is: "The Official SAT Study Guide"; see the resources), which contains a lot of questions that have appeared on actual SATs. For the best "real test" experience, you can also download three actual SATs (answers are included) directly from the College Board (in PDF format). They are:

SAT January 2006 (aka Official SAT Practice Tests 2009-10 and 2011-12) (Answers included.)
SAT October 2005 (aka Official SAT Practice Tests 2006-07, 2008-09, and 2010-11) (Answers here)
SAT March 2005 (aka Official SAT Practice Test 2007-08) (Answers included.)

You could, for example, use a test in the beginning of your studies as a benchmark (or base) score, and then another near the end of your studies. However you use them, try to do so under test-like conditions: use a countdown timer (or have someone time you) in an area free of distractions, as you do each section (you don't have to do an entire test all in one sitting, however).

What math do I have to know for the SAT? Is it advanced math?

The math concepts that you will be tested on when you take the SAT are those that you have learned over the years, from integer math, fractions, and percents to algebra, geometry, and functions. There are no questions involving the more advanced math concepts that most students do not learn until they are juniors or seniors. There is no trigonometry, radians, use of the quadratic formula, matrices, or any other advanced math material, including calculus or pre-calculus, on the SAT. The most advanced math on the SAT involves some Algebra II concepts such as negative, fractional exponents (for example, see the last question in the Algebra section of the SAT Math Facts and Formulas Quiz). Here is how the math breaks down on the SAT:

(20% -- 25%) Numbers and Operations: Integers, Fractions, Ratios, Percents ...
(35% -- 40%) Algebra and Functions: Solving Expressions, Function Graphs ...
(25% -- 30%) Geometry: Lines, Slopes, Circles, Triangles, Rectangles, Solids ...
(10% -- 15%) Data, Stats, and Probability: Averages, Medians, Charts, Tables ...

For a complete list of the topics and question types that have appeared on recent released SAT tests, see the SAT Question Index.

Why does the "Blue Book" give score ranges instead of exact scores?

The "Blue Book" (see the resources) contains ten practice tests. The first three practice tests are actual SATs previously administered in October 2006, January 2007, and May 2007, and you can get an exact score when you take one of these three tests. The remaining seven practice tests are made up of problems that appeared on previous SATs from 1995 to 2004. However, each of these seven tests was never given as an actual SAT, so it isn't possible to come up with an exact score. You may see exact scores from practice tests in other test prep books; however, those scores are just educated guesses as to what you will score on the real thing. Note: the first edition of the Blue Book contained eight practice tests, none of which were real SATs, so score ranges were given for all eight. Seven of these reappear in the second edition of the book. The version of the Blue Book released in 2012 with a DVD also includes the January 2008 SAT on the DVD.

Do I have to report all of my scores, or can I choose which scores to report?

The answer depends on the school(s) to which you want to apply. The College Board will allow you to report any or all test scores. For example, suppose you take the regular SAT twice, and the Math Level 1, Physics, and U.S. History subject tests. You could report only your best SAT and only the Physics subject test scores, if that is what you wanted to do. However, each college and university can set its own policy for scores. College A may leave the choice up to you as to which scores to send, whereas University B may want to see all of your scores. For a list of the score policies for various colleges and universities, see this College Board PDF file. (When you are ready to report scores, you should also check directly with the schools for their score policy information.) For details of the College Board score report policy, see this College Board web page.

When do most people take the SAT?

October and June are the two most popular months to take the SAT. In order from the most popular to least popular, the remaining test months are: November, May, December, March, and January. Such data are not released by the College Board, but it is possible to estimate a test date's popularity by counting unique visitor accesses to this web site: this graph shows the relative number of SAT downloads from erikthered.com for last year. Many students take the SAT for the first time in May or June as juniors. Some students will take the SAT for the first time in October as seniors, along with many other seniors taking it for the second time.

Which is the best month, or easiest month, to take the SAT?

A common misconception is that SATs given in a particular month (say, October) are easier (or harder) than average. While it is true that the difficulty of the SAT varies somewhat from one month to the next, the data show that no month is consistently harder or easier than average. The following table shows how the difficulty of the SAT math section has varied in January, May, and October in recent years:

SAT Test Date	Test Difficulty	Score (2 wrong)
January, 2006	Harder	780
January, 2007	Average	760
January, 2008	Average	760
January, 2009	Average	760
January, 2010	Easier	740
January, 2011	Easier	740

May, 2006	Average	760
May, 2007	Harder	770
May, 2008	Average	750
May, 2009	Harder	770
May, 2010	Average	760
May, 2011	Average	760

October, 2005	Average	760
October, 2006	Harder	770
October, 2007	Easier	750
October, 2008	Average	750
October, 2009	Easier	750
October, 2010	Easier	750
October, 2011	Average	750

Also shown in the table is the variation in your math score on the different tests, given that you had gotten two questions wrong (lower scores will vary less than those shown in the table). The SAT curve will adjust your score up for harder tests and down for easier tests. In this way, there is no benefit to having an easier test, and on the other hand, there is no downside to having a harder test. So, the answer to the question is: Don't worry about when the SAT is "easiest". Take the test in the month that best suits your study schedule. Whether you have time to study for the test or not is a much bigger factor in determining your score than variations in the difficulty of the test.

What is the SAT curve?

The SAT "curve" generates a scaled score (200-800) from your raw score (the number of questions right minus a quarter point for each multiple-choice question wrong, rounded to the nearest integer). This curve is designed to correct for minor variations in the difficulty of the test. In this way, there is no advantage to getting an easier test and no disadvantage to getting a harder test.

For example, suppose that on all the math sections, you get only 3 multiple-choice questions incorrect, and all the others correct. You will receive a raw math score of 50 (the calculation is: 54 - 3 - 0.75 = 50.25, which is rounded to 50). On the January, 2010 SAT you would have received a math score of 710; on the May, 2011 SAT you would have received a 720; and on the January, 2006 SAT you would have received a 740. The January 2010 test was a little easier than average, the May 2011 test was close to average, and the January 2006 test was harder than average. Another way to look at it: in order to score a 710 in math, you would need a raw score of 50 on the easier test (January 2010), 49 on the average test (May 2011), and only 47 on the harder test (January 2006).

A common myth about the SAT curve is that the average test taker should avoid a particular test month if a large group of strong students will be taking the SAT that month, and instead take the test when a large group of weaker students will take the test. The (incorrect) assumption here is that the curve will push down the average student's score in the first situation (large group of strong students) and pull it up in the second situation (large group of weak students). The reality is that the curve only reflects the difficulty of that particular SAT, not the quality of students taking the test. For example, suppose that in a particular month, a large group of strong students take the test. Even if they all get perfect 2400s, your score will be the same as it was had they not taken the test. In the same way, a large group of weaker students taking the test will not affect your score. For those really interested (warning: non-trivial math) in how SAT curves work, see this College Board white paper.

The curves from previously released SAT tests (those given in January, May, and October) are available in this PDF file (6 pages).

Can I get my test back?

In general, no. When you first get your scores via the web, you will only get the three scores for math, reading, and writing along with the percentiles for each score. About a week later, you will get a more detailed report on the web giving the number of correct, incorrect, and omitted answers in several categories, broken down by difficulty of question (easy, medium, and difficult). In math, you will see four categories of questions: numbers and operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, and data analysis. You will not get your test booklet back, and you can not see which questions you got right or wrong.

However, if you take the SAT in January, May, or October, you can get (for an extra fee) the test booklet back so that you can see exactly what the questions and answers were along with your answers. Note that you get a new (unused) test booklet, not the one that you actually used. See the College Board SAT Question and Answer Service web page for more details. Also note that the three months listed above are available only for Saturday test takers in the U.S. or Canada; otherwise (Sunday tests and/or outside the U.S. or Canada), only the May test is available.

In the other months (March, June, November, and December), you can get (for an extra fee) a list of the question types and difficulties. Also listed for each question is whether you omitted the question, answered correctly, or answered incorrectly. Note that you do not get the questions, the correct answers, or even your actual answers. See the College Board SAT Student Answer Service web page for more details.

Can I use mechanical pencils on the SAT?

No. (I could go on about how annoying this is for me since I love mechanical pencils, but I've already said too much.) The official reason is that: "Mechanical pencils might punch through the answer sheet and the marks they make cannot be guaranteed to scan properly." I know of people who have taken the test using a wide range of lead types (#1, #2, #3, etc.) in mechanical pencils without any scanning issue. Also, a regular pencil can have a sharper point than a mechanical pencil. The restriction may more likely be due to a concern that mechanical pencils could help students to cheat. You could probably get away with using a mechanical pencil, especially one that is made to look like a regular pencil, but the risk of getting your scores cancelled is probably not worth it. Bring at least two standard #2 wood pencils. (Pencils and calculators are not provided at the test center.)

Are calculators allowed on the SAT?

Yes, except for cell phone calculators, or calculators with a full QWERTY keyboard. Although no questions on the SAT Reasoning Test will require a calculator to solve, there may be questions which will be faster or easier to answer with a calculator. It is much better to bring a calculator that you are familiar with than to bring a sophisticated calculator (e.g., a TI-89) that you really don't know how to use.

Can I take my cell phone into the test center?

Yes. However, you should turn it off and not turn it on again until the test is over. According to the SAT Standard Testing Room Manual, if your phone makes a noise during the test (even if it is just vibrating), or if you use your phone in any way during the test (or during a break), then "you are subject to dismissal and your scores will be canceled." In addition, your phone may have to be confiscated. Ouch! Just don't do it.

What is my SAT score if I got 3 wrong? How about 5 wrong? 10 wrong? 20 wrong?

The table below shows what you would score (on average) on math, critical reading, or writing for a given number of incorrect multiple choice answers:

Incorrect Answers	Typical SAT Score
Incorrect Answers	Math	Reading	Writing
0	800	800	80
1	790	800	79
2	760	800	76
3	720	770	71
4	710	760	70
5	700	740	68
6	690	730	67
7	670	700	64
8	660	690	63
9	650	680	62
10	640	670	61
11	620	650	58
12	610	650	57
13	600	640	57
14	600	630	56
15	580	620	54
16	570	610	53
17	560	600	52
18	560	590	51
19	540	580	49
20	530	570	48
21	520	570	48
22	510	560	47
23	500	550	46
24	490	540	45
25	480	540	44

The table above gives the scores that you would get for a given number of incorrect multiple choice answers on a typical SAT; the scores you actually get will depend on the particular curve of the SAT that you took. (See Which is the best month to take the SAT? for more information about the curve.) Also, if some of the questions you got wrong were not multiple choice (i.e., wrong answers to "grid-in" math questions), your math score will be a little higher than shown above. For a list of SAT curves from previous tests, see the Released SAT Test Curves (pdf file). Also in that document are the tests arranged by month as well, for those of you trying to figure out which month has the easiest or hardest tests.

SAT Subject FAQs

Can I take subject tests different from the ones I originally signed up for on the test day?

Yes, as long as you take no more than the number of tests that you signed up for, you can choose to take different subject tests than those you originally chose. Your test booklet will have all the available subject tests in it. All that really matters is that you properly code for the test(s) you are taking on the scoring sheet.

How is the math on the subject tests different from the regular SAT math?

The math on both levels of the subject tests is somewhat different than math on the regular SAT (and level 2 math is more advanced). The regular SAT math is what you have covered by Algebra II in high school, and a lot of it is covered in your math classes previous to high school. SAT math is 30% numbers (integers, fractions, the number line, primes, etc.); 40% algebra (including some functions); 25% geometry (almost all plane geometry, with a little 3-D geometry); and, 5% graphs, statistics, and probability. SAT math does not include the quadratic formula, matrices, trigonometry, or any solid geometry except for basic shapes.

The subject tests (formerly called SAT II or IIC) are more "achievement" type tests. In other words, the questions are oriented around: "have you seen this material?".

SAT Subject Math Level 1 adds: trigonometry, more functions (symmetry, compound), complex numbers, more solid geometry (spheres, cones, etc.).

Subject Math Level 2 adds: series, logarithms, inverse functions, ellipses, hyperbolas, radians, more trigonometry (secant, cosecant, cotangent, and laws of sines and cosines), and more coordinate geometry and functions compared to Math Level 1.

What is my SAT Subject score if I got 3 wrong? How about 5 wrong? 10 wrong? 20 wrong?

Each subject test has a different "curve" (the table that converts from your raw score to your scaled score). Also, the curve for each test varies a little from one administration to another, to adjust for the difficulty of the test compared to other tests. The table below gives your score for various numbers of questions wrong on a typical subject test.

Incorrect Answers	Typical SAT Subject Score
Incorrect Answers	Math L1	Math L2	Physics
0	800	800	800
1	790	800	800
2	790	800	800
3	770	800	800
4	750	800	800
5	750	800	800
6	740	800	800
7	720	780	800
8	710	770	800
9	710	760	800
10	700	750	800
11	680	730	800
12	670	720	790
13	660	710	790
14	650	700	780
15	630	680	770
16	620	670	770
17	610	660	760
18	590	650	750
19	570	630	740
20	560	630	730
21	550	620	730
22	540	610	720
23	520	590	710
24	510	580	700
25	500	570	690
26	490	560	690
27	480	550	670
28	460	540	670

The table above gives the scores that you would get for a given number of incorrect multiple choice answers on a typical SAT Subject test; the scores you actually get will depend on the particular curve of the test that you took. Also, if you omitted questions instead of answering incorrectly (omits are essentially the same as incorrect answers except that they do not incur a penalty), your score will be a little higher than shown above.