SAT Timing: How Long is the Test Duration & Time Management

Scholastic Assessment Test or SAT is an aptitude test that must be given by students who wish to pursue their undergraduate studies in the USA or Canada. However, before appearing for it, one must be conversant with the syllabus and SAT time duration. This blog will elaborate on SAT timing, syllabus, eligibility criteria and application process. Keep reading the blog to know more! 

How Long is the SAT Exam? 

SAT spans a total of 3 hours. If one has opted for the essay, one will be given an additional 50 minutes. However, this is entirely optional. This denotes the duration of SAT exam.

According to the College Board, the committee that administers this exam, 57% of approximately 2.2 million test-takers opted for the essay. In contrast, many experts believe that the essay was not a prerequisite for many colleges and will be eradicated. Not only that but subjects’ tests have also been curbed. However, international students are still allowed to appear for it in May and June. There were 20 subject areas which later got categorised into five subject areas, mainly, Languages, History, English, Mathematics and Science. Moreover, the total duration of the exam is 3 hours and its scoring ranges from 400 and 1600 points. The below table illustrates the scoring section and SAT time: 

How many Breaks are there During SAT? 

There are several breaks offered during the SAT. Firstly, there is a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing Sections. Furthermore, there is a 5-minute break during the two math sections. Moreover, if one has opted for an additional essay, one will get a two-minute break. 

When does the SAT Exam Start? 

The test doors open at 7:45 am exactly and close by 8 am. Once students are in the examination room, the invigilator will take all electronic devices, and one must get approval for the SAT calculator beforehand. After students are checked in, the invigilator will distribute the test materials, and candidates must start reading the preliminary instructions. Then, the invigilator will announce the time a candidate has to finish the exam. A second warning is given when there are five minutes left. 

Managing SAT Time during exam

Following are some tips to manage the SAT time during exam –1. Bring a watch to keep track of the time. This will further help you set time-based targets for each section of the SAT exam.2. Should have complete knowledge about the type of questions assigned under each section. The sections are as follows –

• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section – Comprises 96 (MCQs and essay based MCQs) questions to be attempted in 100 minutes.
• Mathematic section – Consists of 58 questions to be attempted in 80 minutes.
• Optional Essay Section – Contains 1 essay to be completed in 50 minutes.

3. Individuals should have prior knowledge of the instructions under each section, which one can obtain through practice.4. Assess and skip questions that may take more time. Cater to them after answering the rest of the questions.5. If you are entirely unaware of the answer to a particular problem, don’t waste your time and turn to guess. SAT has no negative markings for wrong answers.6. Read passages and comprehension underline the essential pointers. Though it may seem to waste your time, it later manages your time fruitfully.7. Do not allow equal time for every question. Follow a pattern of answering easy questions quickly first to save your time attempting the tricky questions at last.8. For the reading section, attempt the detail-oriented passages to help you save time from re-reading it again to answer the questions.9. Don’t wander here and there if you have completed the exam paper with time left. Instead, assess the answers or try solving the problems whose answers you have guessed.10. Though you only have 25 minutes to complete the essay, it doesn’t mean you start writing from the word go. Take a couple of minutes to brainstorm and make a rough outline, including examples and supporting comments. This will make your essay stand out and help you manage your time.11. Set a target score. If you target 800 and answer 80% of the answers correctly, you can get a respectable score of 650. Further, if you don’t attempt one-sixth of the questions and have a few answers incorrect, you can still score 650. If you target for the following scores –

• 700 – Leave one-twelfth of the questions unattempted
• 600 – one-fourth of the questions can be left unattempted
• 500 – one-third of the questions can be left blank

Experts suggest that candidates must answer easy questions at first and then deal with the difficult ones. One should be able to decipher the type of question and its difficulty level and then allocate a specific time. One should attempt to achieve the desired score by practising mock tests consistently. This will help understand the strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, one can also take the help of preparatory guides and online resources to amp the preparation. The cut off marks for some colleges are given below: 

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When are SAT Exam Dates? 

Before registering for the exam, one must choose the dates accordingly. However, one must ensure that it does not clash with English proficiency exams or university admissions. One can select SAT dates from the table underlined below:

One can send his or her SAT scores to the desired universities they wish to apply to. However, candidates must select four to five universities during the registration process. Moreover, the College Board will be sending the scores without charging any additional cost. In addition, one can mail their scores.

How to Send SAT Scores? 

One must follow the below-mentioned steps to send his/her SAT scores: 

Step 1– Navigate to the College Board Website. 

Step 2– Create an account and provide all the necessary information. 

Step 3– Select the exam date and the test centre. 

Step 4– Upload your photograph and documents. 

Step 5– Pay the application fee.Now that one knows SAT time, one must start preparing for it. However, one must check if one is meeting the eligibility parameters of the universities to which he or she has applied to.

Frequently Asked Questions