Parents FAQs: SAT
FAQ
How is the SAT different from the ACT?
Both the SAT and ACT are accepted by most colleges in the U.S., and no preference is given to either test. The SAT is run by College Board, a not-for-profit organization. The ACT is now managed by a new for-profit company called ACT Education Corporation. More students (1.9 million in the class of 2023) take the SAT than any other admissions exam. Here are some of the major differences:
- The SAT is given digitally everywhere, while the ACT is still offered on paper in most places with limited availability of a digital test.
- The SAT is shorter (2 hours and 14 minutes for the SAT vs. 2 hours and 55 minutes for the ACT).
- The SAT Math section has a built-in Desmos graphing calculator. The ACT doesn't.
- The SAT Reading and Writing section has reading passages that are short with only one question per passage. The reading passages on the ACT are always long with 10 questions each.
- The SAT is the only test to offer free, world-class practice tools to all students with Bluebook and Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy®.
What's the best way for students to prepare for the SAT?
Take challenging courses in high school and work hard. Day-to-day classroom work and homework develops the knowledge and skills students need to succeed on the SAT.
Go to Official SAT Practice at Khan Academy for free, personalized practice by the people who create the SAT. We recommend students practice at least 6–8 hours on Khan Academy to prepare, though many students practice more.
Take the PSAT/NMSQT, the PSAT 10, and the PSAT 8/9 (if your child's school administers these tests). These tests help students get ready for the SAT.
When should students start using Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy?
There's no hard-and-fast rule, but the more time students spend on Khan Academy, the more likely they'll feel well prepared for the SAT.
We recommend that students create their Khan Academy account in the fall of their junior year. If they've taken the PSAT/NMSQT, they can use those scores to get personalized practice for the SAT. If they haven’t taken the PSAT/NMSQT, they can take a few short quizzes to find out what skills they need to practice. Then, they’ll have several months to practice before taking the SAT in spring of junior year.
Help your child create a practice schedule on Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy and stick to it. Like sports or music, the key to feeling prepared is committing to practice.
Is Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy as good as expensive test prep?
Yes. In fact, Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy has several advantages over other test-prep companies.
It's the only SAT practice site of its kind that’s officially endorsed by the College Board. We know what’s on the SAT because we make it.
The full-length practice SATs that you’ll find on Khan Academy are official and exclusive—you won’t find them for free anywhere else, except on the College Board's SAT site.
Official SAT Practice is personalized to focus on exactly what your child needs to work on most. As your child's skills improve and grow, their study plan will adapt for them.
Can students outside the U.S. take the SAT?
Yes. Students can register at one of our international test centers. Learn more about taking the SAT outside the U.S.
How can my child make changes to their SAT registration?
Your child can log into their College Board account to make the following changes to their SAT registration:
- Test date
- Test center
- Type of test
For other changes, such as correcting your child’s name or date of birth, contact Customer Service at 866-756-7346 or contact SAT Support. Learn more about making changes to SAT registrations.
How many times can a student take the SAT, and when should they take it?
Students can take the SAT as many times as they want. We recommend that they take it at least twice—in the spring of their junior year and the fall of their senior year.
Most students get a higher score the second time, and most colleges consider a student's highest SAT score when making admission decisions.
Another reason to take the SAT a second time is that many schools use a process called "superscoring." Superscoring is when a college combines a student's highest Math section score with their highest Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section score, even if those scores are from different test dates, to come up with the student's total SAT score.
If your child only takes the SAT once, it’s best to take it in the spring of their junior year.
For more information to help you decide when your child should take the SAT, visit the College Board Blog.
To qualify for more scholarships, when should students take the SAT?
Because scholarships have different requirements and deadlines, there's no one right time to take the SAT to improve your child's chances of getting one. Be sure to read each scholarship's requirements closely to find out if your child needs to have an SAT score by a certain date.
Does it matter to colleges how many times a student takes the SAT?
No. Colleges consider your best scores.
Which scores will colleges look at if my child took the SAT more than once?
Most colleges consider a student's best section scores across all administration dates (a process called superscoring). Some may require you to send all scores; others may ask for just one. Be sure to visit the website of the college that's right for your student and check their score policy.
Can my child take the SAT with accommodations?
Yes—as long we approve the accommodation. We offer a range of testing accommodations for students with disabilities, including extended time, braille format tests, large-type format tests, MP3 format tests, and more. Requesting accommodations is a process that usually involves the school, and you may need to provide documentation of the disability. College Board must approve an accommodation before a student may test with that accommodation.
When colleges receive SAT scores, they won’t know if a student took the SAT with accommodations. Learn more at our Services for Students with Disabilities site.
What do colleges look for in an SAT score?
Each college has its own approach and policy when it comes to SAT scores, so don't forget to check their websites. Remember, SAT scores are just one part of a student's college application. Admission officers factor in high school grades and courses, extracurricular activities, application essays, and recommendation letters when making their decision.
Can my child choose which scores to send to colleges?
Yes. They can select their best score by test date and send it to colleges. They can't send just the Math score or Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score. They must send the full score report. Learn more about sending scores.