How the SAT Is Structured
The digital SAT is composed of two sections: Reading and Writing and Math. Students have 64 minutes to complete the Reading and Writing section and 70 minutes to complete the Math section for a total of 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Each section is divided into 2 equal length modules, and there is a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing section and the Math section. The first module of each section contains a broad mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on how students perform on the first module, the second module of questions will either be more difficult or less difficult.
Compared to the ACT®, the SAT provides 68% more time per question:
| Component | Time Allotted (minutes) | Number of Questions/Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 64 (two 32-minute modules) | 54 |
| Math | 70 (two 35-minute modules) | 44 |
| Total | 134 | 98 |
Most of the questions are multiple choice, though some of the math questions ask you to enter the answer rather than select it.
On all questions, there's no penalty for guessing: if you're not sure of the answer, it's better to guess than leave the response blank.