The SATs can be one of the most challenging, high stakes parts of high school: hours of testing and test results that seem to carry the weight of a student’s future in college.
The SAT doesn’t have to feel so impossible. With the right goals, strategies, and practice, students can become more proficient and confident when the time comes. As college admissions become more and more competitive, how students prepare can be the difference between confidence and self doubt when taking the SAT.
What is the SAT? When do students take it?
The SAT is a standardized test used by colleges and universities in the US to measure a student’s readiness for college. Students have 2 hours and 14 minutes of testing time, with a 10 minute break between the two sections. The SAT has two main parts, math and English, each worth 800 points, for a total of 1600.
Previously, students taking the SAT took it on paper, but this format has been switched to digital, meaning students will take the test on a laptop instead. This new digital format includes built-in tools such as timers, a calculator, and a flag feature for marking questions for later.
In Michigan, 11th graders take the SAT for free through school in the spring as part of what’s called the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Students can also register for other test dates outside of school on the official College Board website. Prices for outside tests are around $68 and are usually held in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December.
Since testing centers can fill up quickly, students who sign up late might have to actually drive a lot further to get to a test center and pay a $25 late fee. “It’s better to sign up early,” says Skyline counselor Dennis Brunzells.
Is the SAT required for college admissions?
Recently, SAT scores have gone optional for many universities, lowering the importance of the SATs as they are no longer required. The SAT is still important, even though it may not be required to get in; students can receive university scholarships through a good score.
Moreover, many universities have recently started taking something called a “superscore,” which is combining the highest mark a student got on Math and English. Skyline Cube director Nicholas Woodford says, “a combined score of on both sides of the table, meaning that you could take the SAT once and score very high on your math, but not as high as you’d like to on your reading and writing. Score higher on your reading and writing, and most schools will accept the highest combined score that you have achieved for reading and writing.”
For students looking to apply to competitive or prestigious universities, a higher score on the SAT will greatly improve their chances of getting into the university. On top of this, many other candidates going for the same university will want to turn in their test scores as well. So although it may be optional, for students wanting the best chances, turning in scores is highly recommended.
Preparation
Students should be taking advantage of the PSAT that they take every year in school. The PSAT mimics what an actual SAT test will look like, as well as scores. “It can be useful to look back at scores and examine them to see which areas are lacking for future studying and reference,” said Skyline graduate Daniel Han (‘25).
It is important for students to stay focused in school, as many subjects on the SAT are taught in school: grammar, reading geometry, trigonometry, algebra two, and exponential functions. “It really is designed to mirror what’s happening in your everyday curriculum,” said Brunzell.
Studying outside of school can be an effective method to prepare for the actual material covered by the SAT. One good option is Bluebook, which seems to have a solid record when it comes to exposing and prepping students by previous SAT takers. “Bluebook has 4 practice tests with each being mirrored to match the format, timing, grading, and question style of the actual digital SAT,” says Skyline graduate Jonathan Chen (‘24).
Another option is Khan Academy, which already has separate practice built in for both the math and English sections. Khan Academy is also partnered with the official College Board, meaning they have a very similar style to the SAT as well.
While studying for the SAT, students also need to learn to manage their time so they can be as efficient and effective as possible. “Students should only be spending one to two minutes on each question, so skipping harder questions and coming back to them later is important to stay on pace,” said Han.
Lastly, it’s important for students to stay consistent; putting in a couple of hours every day rather than cramming hours for SAT prep. “Being more consistent and finding even a little bit of time every day will allow students to be more efficient while studying and can also help lower stress and burnout,” says Skyline graduate Jason Yan (‘25).
