With the essay, the SAT lasts 3 hours and 50 minutes. Without the essay, it takes 3 hours. Every SAT test contains the same four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Math - No Calculator, and Math - Calculator in that order. Some test administrations also include experimental questions, which would extend your total testing time by 20 minutes.

You can take the SAT as many times as you want, but most students take the test 2 or 3 times. We recommend taking the PSAT or a practice test your sophomore year. Plan ahead to take the official SAT in spring or winter of junior year. If you are unhappy with your score, that leaves you time to prep and take it again before application deadlines. Your scores are good for 5 years.

Both the SAT and the ACT are accepted at all major colleges and universities. Therefore, it’s up to you which test you take; you can also choose to take both if you want. Unlike the ACT, the SAT does not have a separate Science section, but it does give a science cross-test score. To find out which is right for you, try a free SAT vs ACT Practice Test.

A perfect score on the SAT is 1600. The minimum score is 400. A good score will depend on your goal and your dream school. A 1060 is about average, though the official average can vary from year to year. Some colleges superscore. This means they combine your highest Math score and your highest Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score from multiple test dates to make a “super” score.