The SAT is an entrance exam used by colleges and universities to help make decisions about admissions.
The SAT is administered by the CollegeBoard and is given 7 times per year. The exam is a timed, mainly multiple-choice exam, taken by students in high school.
Beginning in the spring of 2024, the SAT will be going fully digital. The digital SAT (DSAT) will have some formatting and content changes to it, along with some other changes. You can review those changes below.
This exam will be given to students starting in spring of 2024.
Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit (Mins) |
---|---|---|
Reading & Writing | 54 | 64 (Two 32-Minute Modules) |
Math | 44 | 70 (Two 35-Minute Modules) |
This exam will be given to students up until spring of 2024.
Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit (Mins) |
---|---|---|
Reading | 52 | 65 |
Writing & Language | 44 | 35 |
Math (With calculator) | 38 | 55 |
Math (Without calculator) | 20 | 25 |
The biggest difference between the old SAT and the digital SAT is that the digital SAT is taken completely online and has combined some sections to streamline the exam.
You will receive a score for math and a score for reading/writing. Each of those scores will be between 200 and 800 .
Your total score will be the sum of those two scores. You can receive a total score between 400 and 1600 on the SAT.
The average SAT score is 1060. Learn more about good SAT scores .
You can register for the SAT online via the CollegeBoard site .
You will need to do the following when registering for the SAT:
It will cost your $60 to take the SAT. There may be some additional fees like canceling, changing test center, etc..
The SAT is typically given 7 times per year. The exam is given on Saturdays. You can expect the exam to be given in these months:
You can find exact dates on the official website .
When using our free SAT practice tests, we recommend the following steps to get the most out of your time:
There are many benefits to using SAT questions during your prep process. Some of those benefits include:
The SAT exam is a timed test. Keeping a steady pace is critical to achieving a high score.
You can improve your decision making and your time by taking practice exams.
All standardized tests, including the SAT, have their own unique way of presenting questions and answer choices.
You will gain more familiarity and comfort with the SAT question style as you take more practice quizzes. On the real exam day, there will be no surprises.
When you take many practice exams, you will get a sense of your test strengths and weaknesses.
Many students mistakenly spend time working on their strengths while ignoring their weaknesses.
Knowing which subjects you struggle with will help you focus your study time.
Tests like the SAT measure your ability to solve problems, not just memorize information. It is critical to have strong problem-solving abilities.
The answer explanations provided in our score reports can help you understand how to solve problems that you may be struggling with.
When is the sat going to the digital format.
The SAT will be switching to the digital format in the spring of 2024.
There are 154 questions on the old SAT (written version).
There are 98 questions on the new SAT (digital version).
You will have 3 hours and 15 minutes to take the old SAT (written version).
You will have 2 hours and 14 minutes to take the new SAT (digital version).
There will be 1 math section in which you can use a calculator and 1 math section in which you cannot use a calculator on the old SAT (written version).
You will be permitted to use a calculator on all math modules on the new SAT (digital version).
We recommend taking 1 practice exam for each subject. You can then determine which subject gave you the most trouble and focus your studies on that subject.
SAT Writing , SAT Essay
On every SAT Essay, you'll have to read an argument meant to persuade a broad audience and discuss how well the author argues his or her point. The passage you'll have to read will change from test to test, but you'll always need to analyze the author's argument and write a coherent and organized essay explaining this analysis.
In this article, we've compiled a list of the 14 real SAT essay prompts that the College Board has released (either in The Official SAT Study Guide or separately online) for the new SAT. This is the most comprehensive set of new SAT essay prompts online today.
At the end of this article, we'll also guide you through how to get the most out of these prompts and link to our expert resources on acing the SAT essay. I'll discuss how the SAT essay prompts are valuable not just because they give you a chance to write a practice essay, but because of what they reveal about the essay task itself.
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In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing.
While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement.
What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know.
SAT essay prompts always keep to the same basic format. Not only is the prompt format consistent from test to test, but what you're actually asked to do (discuss how an author builds an argument) also remains the same across different test administrations.
The College Board's predictability with SAT essay helps students focus on preparing for the actual analytical task, rather than having to think up stuff on their feet. Every time, before the passage, you'll see the following:
And after the passage, you'll see this:
"Write an essay in which you explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [her/his] audience that [whatever the author is trying to argue for]. In your essay, analyze how [the author] uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage.
Your essay should not explain whether you agree with [the author]'s claims, but rather explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [her/his/their] audience."
Now that you know the format, let's look at the SAT essay prompts list.
The College Board has released a limited number of prompts to help students prep for the essay. We've gathered them for you here, all in one place. We'll be sure to update this article as more prompts are released for practice and/or as more tests are released.
SPOILER ALERT : Since these are the only essay prompts that have been released so far, you may want to be cautious about spoiling them for yourself, particularly if you are planning on taking practice tests under real conditions . This is why I've organized the prompts by the 10 that are in the practice tests (so you can avoid them if need be), the ones that are available online as sample prompts, and the ones that are in the text of the Official SAT Study Guide (Redesigned SAT), all online for free.
These 10 prompts are taken from the practice tests that the College Board has released.
Practice Test 1 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry."
Practice Test 2 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Martin Luther King Jr. builds an argument to persuade his audience that American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust."
Practice Test 3 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Eliana Dockterman builds an argument to persuade her audience that there are benefits to early exposure to technology."
Practice Test 4 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved."
Practice Test 5 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Eric Klinenberg builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to greatly reduce their reliance on air-conditioning."
Practice Test 6 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Christopher Hitchens builds an argument to persuade his audience that the original Parthenon sculptures should be returned to Greece."
Practice Test 7 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Zadie Smith builds an argument to persuade her audience that public libraries are important and should remain open"
Practice Test 8 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Bobby Braun builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to invest in NASA."
Practice Test 9 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Todd Davidson builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to fund national parks."
Practice Test 10 :
"Write an essay in which you explain how Richard Schiffman builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to work fewer hours."
Special note: The prompt for Practice Test 4 also appears on the College Board's site with real sample essays written in response. If you've written a practice essay for practice test 4 and want to see what essays of different score levels look like for that particular prompt, you can go there and look at eight real student essays.
This prompt comes from the College Board website .
"Write an essay in which you explain how Dana Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience that the decline of reading in America will have a negative effect on society."
This prompt comes from Khan Academy , where it is listed as an alternate essay prompt to go along with Practice Test 2:
"Write an essay in which you explain how Leo W. Gerard builds an argument to persuade his audience that American colleges and universities should be affordable for all students."
The Official SAT Study Guide (editions published in 2015 and later available online for free) contains all 10 of the previously mentioned practice tests at the end of the book. In the section about the new SAT essay , however, there are two additional sample essay prompts (accompanied by articles to analyze).
"Write an essay in which you explain how Peter S. Goodman builds an argument to persuade his audience that news organizations should increase the amount of professional foreign news coverage provided to people in the United States."
"Write an essay in which you explain how Adam B. Summers builds an argument to persuade his audience that plastic shopping bags should not be banned."
Now that you have all the prompts released by the College Board, it's important to know the best way to use them. Make sure you have a good balance between quality and quantity, and don't burn through all 14 of the real prompts in a row— take the time to learn from your experiences writing the practice essays.
#1: Understand how the SAT essay is graded .
#2: Follow along as we write a high-scoring SAT essay, step by step .
#3: Plan a set of features you'll look for in the SAT essay readings and practice writing about them fluidly. This doesn't just mean identifying a technique, like asking a rhetorical question, but explaining why it is persuasive and what effect it has on the reader in the context of a particular topic. We have more information on this step in our article about 6 SAT persuasive devices you can use .
#4: Choose a prompt at random from above, or choose a topic that you think is going to be hard for you to detach from (because you'll want to write about the topic, rather than the argument) set timer to 50 minutes and write the essay. No extra time allowed!
#5: Grade the essay, using the official essay rubric to give yourself a score out of 8 in the reading, analysis, and writing sections.
#6: Repeat steps 4 and 5. Choose the prompts you think will be the hardest for you so that you can so that you're prepared for the worst when the test day comes
#7: If you run out of official prompts to practice with, use the official prompts as models to find examples of other articles you could write about . Start by looking for op-ed articles in online news publications like The New York Times, The Atlantic, LA Times , and so on. For instance, the passage about the plastic bag ban in California (Official SAT Study Guide sample essay prompt 2, above) has a counterpoint here —you could try analyzing and writing about that article as well.
Any additional articles you use for practice on the SAT essay must match the following criteria:
We've written a ton of helpful resources on the SAT essay. I f you're just getting started, we recommend beginning with our top SAT essay tips for a quick overview of the essay task and what you need to know.
A little more familiar with the SAT essay but still not quite sure how to write one? Follow along with our step-by-step guide to writing the SAT essay .
Looking to earn a high score? Learn what it takes to get the highest score possible on the SAT essay here .
Plus, if you want a reference linking you to all of our great articles on the SAT essay, be sure to check out our ultimate SAT essay guide .
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Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.
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College board practice tests, ivy global practice tests, sat subject tests, sample questions from college board, excerpts from ivy global's guide, additional practice, college board's practice tests.
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SAT Essay Practice / Colleges that require the essay
Founding documents.
Declaration of Independence
The Constitution
Bill of Rights
Federalist Papers
I have a Dream Speech - Martin Luther King Jr.
Selected Works - Edmund Burke
A Vindication of the Rights of Women - Mary Wollstonecraft
Freedom's Battle - Mohandas Gandhi
Walden - Henry David Thoreau
The Woman's Bible - Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Farewell Address - George Washington
Inaugural Address - John F. Kennedy
Up From Slavery - Booker T. Washington
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass - Frederick Douglass
Old SAT vs Current SAT
Take full practice tests online.
The College Board has released 8 official SAT practice tests since they’ve redesigned the test in 2016. You can find these tests on their website , in their Official SAT Study Guide (paid), or right here down below.
However, they’ve also just redesigned a brand new SAT format that will start in the Spring of 2024. There are only four official practice tests in the new format, and these tests can only properly be done and scored through the College Board’s BlueBook app.
Because of the scarcity of real SAT questions, these tests are like gold.
When using one of these tests as a diagnostic or full-length practice test, mimic official test conditions as closely as possible. This means printing the test out, timing yourself, and taking it in one sitting. This will ensure you’ll get the most value out of these tests.
Below you’ll find everything to get you going: official practice tests, blank answer sheets, and instructions on how to self-administer the test.
→ SAT Practice Test #1 – Practice Test 1 | Essay 1 | Scoring 1 | Answers & Explanations 1
→ SAT Practice Test #3 – Practice Test 3 | Essay 3 | Scoring 3 | Answers & Explanations 3
→ SAT Practice Test #5 – Practice Test 5 | Essay 5 | Scoring 5 | Answers & Explanations 5
→ SAT Practice Test #6 – Practice Test 6 | Essay 6 | Scoring 6 | Answers & Explanations 6
→ SAT Practice Test #7 – Practice Test 7 | Essay 7 | Scoring 7 | Answers & Explanations 7
→ SAT Practice Test #8 – Practice Test 8 | Essay 8 | Scoring 8 | Answers & Explanations 8
→ SAT Practice Test #9 – Practice Test 9 | Essay 9 | Scoring 9 | Answers & Explanations 9
→ SAT Practice Test #10 – Practice Test 10 | Essay 10 | Scoring 10 | Answers & Explanations 10
→ The new, adaptive Digital SAT Practice Tests 1-4: Tests and Instructions here
→ Paper versions of the new Digital SAT Practice Tests 1-4 (not adaptive): Tests and Instructions here
Use the answer sheet below when completing your test to mimic the test conditions:
→ Blank Answer Sheet – Sections 1 to 4
With the Digital SAT, the official BlueBook app will do all the proctoring for you!
When working with the old paper SAT, however, a parent or third-party person should administer the test. Otherwise, the student can easily manage the process on their own using our proctoring instructions.
It’s surprisingly difficult to find simple instructions on how to self-administer the test, so we’ve put together a checklist to guide you through the process:
→ PrepMaven Proctoring Instructions – SAT
Not sure which test to take (SAT vs ACT)? Ask yourself these 5 questions to find out.
Not sure WHEN to take the test? We created 9 Sample Testing Schedules to help get you started
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SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n READING AND WRITING: MODULE 1 2 SAT PRACTICE TEST #3 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS Reading and Writing Module 1 (33 questions) QUESTION 1 Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text's discussion of the writing system created by Sequoyah. In this context, "widespread" means widely accepted or ...
6 SAT PRACTICE ESSAY #3 SCORE EXPLANATIONS Student Sample 4 Adam B. Summers brings up several good points as to why plastic shoping bags should not be banned. He explains how the EPA says all plastic bags only make up 1.6 percent of all waste, and plastic shoping bags only contribute 0.3 percent to all the waste.
The SAT® Practice Test# 3 Make time to take the practice test. It is one of the best ways to get ready for the SAT. After you have taken the practice test, score it ... All questions in this section are multiple-choice with four answer choices. Each question has a single best answer. 1 In the early 1800s, the Cherokee scholar Sequoyah
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SAT 2015 Practice Test #3 Essay | SAT Suite of Assessments The College Board. As you read the passage below, consider how Eliana Dockterman uses. evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims. reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence. stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to ...
SAT Practice Test #3. IMPORTANT REMINDERS. SAT. ®Practice Test #3. a no. 2 pencil is required for the test. do not use a mechanical pencil or pen. sharing any questions with anyone is a violation of test security and Fairness policies and may result in your scores being canceled. THIS TEST BOOK MUST NOT BE TAKEN FROM THE ROOM.
Reading/ Writing and Language Tests + Essay SAT Practice Test #3. you read the passage below, consider how Eliana Dockte. an usesevidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims. reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word c. ice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ...
The College Board currently offers 4 official, printable practice tests that model the new digital SAT format. Full-Length Linear Practice Test 1: Questions | Answers | Answer Explanations. Full-Length Linear Practice Test 2: Questions | Answers | Answer Explanations. Full-Length Linear Practice Test 3: Questions | Answers | Answer Explanations.
SAT Practice Test #3 Essay | SAT Suite of Assessments - The College Board Author: The College Board Subject: Simulate test day by printing and taking the official redesigned SAT practice test provided here as a PDF. After you've finished, use the essay rubric to check your response. Keywords: SAT, SAT Suite of Assessments Created Date ...
4 SAT Practice Test Worksheet: Answer Key. Mark each of your correct answers below, then add them up to get your raw score on each module. Reading and Writing
SAT Practice Test 3 Answer Explanations-Digital Download the answers — and the explanations that show why they are right — for SAT Practice Test 3. PDF; 694.92 KB; Close Download All Downloads. Full-Length SAT Paper Practice Test: Bundle 4 ... SAT Practice Essay 3 Score Explanations—Digital
All SAT Practice Tests. If you want some more in-depth prep, use a free SAT practice test listed below. Practice Exams = Timed and Full-Length. Practice Sets = Not Timed and Smaller Sets of Questions. SAT Practice Exam #1. SAT Practice Exam #2. SAT Practice Exam #3. SAT Practice Exam #4.
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Practice Test 3: "Write an essay in which you explain how Eliana Dockterman builds an argument to persuade her audience that there are benefits to early exposure to technology." ... Any additional articles you use for practice on the SAT essay must match the following criteria: ideally 650-750 words, although it'll be difficult to find an op-ed ...
College Board Practice Tests New Digital SAT & PSAT Practice Tests College Board Practice Tests OLD SAT Practice Tests (Use as ACT baseline) Practice TestlinksSAT Practice Test #1, Use as ACT BaselineSAT Test #1SAT Essay #1Score the TestSAT Answer SheetCollege Board ExplanationsSAT Practice Test #2SAT Test #2SAT Essay #2Score the TestSAT Answer SheetCollege Board ExplanationsSAT Practice […]
Interactive Sharpen your skills with our library of thousands of practice questions, videos, lessons, and hints plus test-taking tips and strategies. High Quality Prep for every section of the digital SAT with guidance from Khan Academy's team of math, reading, and writing experts.
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Ivy Global's SAT Online Practice Test 2 (Full PDF) - Free Practice Test! | 1.0MB) Detailed Scoring and Analysis | Answer Explanations. For schools and companies interested in licensing this test for commercial use, please email [email protected]. Ivy Global's 2hr Diagnostic Test (PDF) - Estimate your SAT score in 2 hours!
12 Free Official SAT Practice Tests (Including Digital SATs) The College Board has released 8 official SAT practice tests since they've redesigned the test in 2016. You can find these tests on their website, in their Official SAT Study Guide (paid), or right here down below. However, they've also just redesigned a brand new SAT format that ...
The SAT® Practice Essay# 3 Make time to take the practice Essay. It is one of the best ways to get ready for the SAT Essay. For information on scoring your essay, view ... Your essay must be written on the lines provided in your answer sheet; except for the Planning Page of the answer sheet, you will receive no other paper on which to write ...
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Practice with Assistive Technology. Learn how to apply assistive technology to your practice tests. Find full-length practice tests on Bluebook™ as well as downloadable paper (nonadaptive) practice tests to help you prepare for the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9.