What time do the doors close at my SAT exam centre on test day?
On SAT test day, doors at your exam centre close at 8 a.m. Check-in for all students begins at 7:45 a.m., and if you are using a loaned College Board device, you are expected even earlier, at 7:15 a.m., so give yourself a buffer to reach your seat on time.
At your SAT exam centre, doors close at 8 a.m. on test day, so reaching after that point means you risk missing your exam entirely.
SAT Exam Day Schedule
| Time | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 7:15 a.m. | Students using a loaned College Board device arrive |
| 7:45 a.m. | All students check in at the centre |
| 8:00 a.m. | Centre doors close |
| 8:15 to 8:30 a.m. | Testing begins |
Why You Should Not Cut It Close
Between check-in, ID verification, and settling into your seat, the window between 7:45 and 8 a.m. fills up fast, especially at busier centres. Traffic or a last minute issue can easily eat into that gap.
My Advice
Aim to reach your centre by 7:30 a.m. at the latest, even earlier if you are using a loaned device, so you are not rushing through check-in. Keep your admit card and ID accessible, since they get checked right at the door.
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