Admissions Test · U.S. Universities

What Is the SAT Reasoning Test?

How the digital SAT works, how it is scored, what students in mainland China need to know about test locations, how it compares with the ACT and how to prepare.

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8 min

The Short Answer

  • The SAT is a standardized admissions test used by U.S. universities, run by the College Board. It measures reading, writing and mathematics skills.
  • It is now a digital test. Students take it on a computer or tablet using the College Board's Bluebook app, and it is adaptive, so the second part of each section adjusts to how well the student did in the first.
  • It takes about two hours and 14 minutes of testing time, plus a break, and is scored from 400 to 1600.
  • There are no SAT test centers in mainland China for international students. According to a China-based school's guide, students travel to places such as Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore or Seoul to take it.
  • Many universities no longer require test scores, but some still do, so check each university's policy.

What Is the SAT?

The SAT is a standardized test that U.S. universities use, alongside grades, courses, activities and essays, to compare applicants. It is administered by the College Board, the same U.S. non-profit that runs the AP program. Many universities outside the U.S. also accept SAT scores, depending on their entry requirements.

It is one of the two main U.S. admissions tests, along with the ACT, and most universities that ask for a test accept either one. It is also unrelated to the "SATs" taken by primary school children in England, which are national curriculum tests, described in our British primary guide.

The Digital SAT: What Changed

The SAT has moved from paper to a digital format. The test is taken in the College Board's Bluebook app, which students install on a laptop or tablet. Compared with the older paper test, the digital SAT is shorter, and its Reading and Writing questions use shorter passages. It is also adaptive, and a built-in graphing calculator is available for the whole Math section. The old optional essay was discontinued in 2021.

If you are using older practice books or advice written for the paper test, which had separate Reading, Writing and Language and two Math parts, check that it matches the current digital format.

The Structure of the Digital SAT

Sections, questions and time

These figures follow the digital SAT as reported by test-preparation providers, with about 2 hours and 14 minutes of testing time in total. Confirm them on the College Board website before test day.

Reading and Writing
Two modules of 27 questions each, 54 in total, in about 64 minutes. Short passages on literature, history, social science and science test comprehension, evidence, vocabulary in context, grammar and punctuation, and revising text.
Math
Two modules of 22 questions each, 44 in total, in about 70 minutes. Covers algebra, advanced math, problem-solving and data analysis, and geometry and trigonometry.
Break
A short break between the two sections.

How adaptive testing works

Two modules per section
Each section has two modules. How you do on the first module determines whether the second is easier or harder.
Shorter but still fair
Because the test adjusts to your level, it can measure your skills with fewer questions than a traditional test.
Calculator
A graphing calculator is built into the Bluebook app for every math question, and students may also use an approved calculator of their own.

SAT Scoring

How scores work

Total score
From 400 to 1600, the sum of the two section scores.
Section scores
Reading and Writing is scored from 200 to 800, and Math from 200 to 800.
Guessing
As far as published guidance states, there is no penalty for wrong answers, so students should answer every question. Check the current College Board guidance.
Score reports
Scores are usually available online within a few weeks, and you choose which scores to send to universities.

There is no universal "good" score. A good score is one that fits the range of the universities you are applying to. Most universities publish the typical score ranges of admitted students, so compare your score with those, not with a single number.

Taking the SAT from Mainland China

This is the most important practical point for families in Guangzhou. A guide from a China-based test-preparation school states that there are no SAT test centers in mainland China for international students, and that families who want the SAT travel to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore or Seoul. Hong Kong and Macau are the closest of these to Guangzhou, but test dates and seats still need to be booked early. The ACT is different: students in mainland China usually take it at school-based authorized centers. Please confirm the current options on the official College Board website before you book flights or hotels.

Practical steps

Check the College Board site early
Look at the international test dates, test centers and registration deadlines, and register as soon as dates open, since seats can fill up.
Plan travel and visas
Book travel, accommodation and any required visas well ahead of test day, and allow for time zone and rest.
Ask your school
Your school's college counselor will know where recent students have tested and what the current rules are.
Consider the ACT
If travel is difficult, check whether the ACT is available through your school, and whether your target universities accept it.

SAT or ACT?

How the two tests compare

Both are accepted by most U.S. universities. Neither is inherently easier, so the best choice depends on the student and on practical access.

SAT
Digital and adaptive. Reading and Writing, and Math. Scored from 400 to 1600. In mainland China, requires travel to a test center outside the mainland.
ACT
English, mathematics and reading, with optional science and writing. Scored from 1 to 36. In mainland China, usually taken at school-based authorized centers.

The best way to choose is to take a full practice test of each under timed conditions and compare how you score and feel. Many students prefer one style, and the practical question of where they can take each test may decide it.

Do You Need the SAT?

Many U.S. universities adopted test-optional policies in recent years, and some have since brought back testing requirements, so policies differ and keep changing. Check the admissions page of each university on your list. Even where scores are optional, a strong score can help, especially for competitive programs and scholarships. Students applying to universities outside the U.S. should check whether those universities accept the SAT and how it compares with their usual entry requirements, such as the IB Diploma or A-Levels.

When to Take the SAT

Most students take the SAT in Grade 11 or early in Grade 12, so that they have time to retake it before application deadlines. Many students take it two or three times, and many universities consider your best results. Because international students in mainland China need to travel, plan your test dates carefully and avoid clashing with school exams.

SAT Preparation

  • Use the official digital tools. The College Board's Bluebook app includes full-length digital practice tests, and the College Board offers free official practice resources.
  • Practice in the real format. Take timed practice tests on a computer to get used to the interface, the adaptive modules and the calculator.
  • Review your mistakes. Group errors by skill, such as grammar rules or algebra, and practice those.
  • Build reading stamina. Regular reading in English across subjects helps with the Reading and Writing section.
  • Get help if you need it. Many schools offer preparation, and some families use tutors or courses. Check that any materials are written for the digital SAT.

The SAT and Your School Curriculum

The SAT is most closely linked to the American curriculum, which many American-style schools in Guangzhou follow, often together with AP courses. Students from British or IB schools can also take it if they are applying to U.S. universities. For help comparing schools, read Choosing an International School in Guangzhou: Parent Guide.

Questions to Ask Your School

  • Where have recent students taken the SAT, and what is the best way to plan travel?
  • Does the school offer SAT or ACT preparation, and for the digital format?
  • Which universities have your graduates applied to with SAT or ACT scores?
  • Does the school's counseling team help with registration, travel and score sending?
  • Who can advise us on whether to take the SAT, the ACT or neither?

Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions About the SAT

The SAT measures skills in reading, writing and mathematics, including how well students analyze texts, use evidence, solve problems and interpret data.
Yes. Students take it in the College Board's Bluebook app on a laptop or tablet, and the test is adaptive.
About two hours and 14 minutes of testing time, plus a short break. Confirm the current timings on the College Board website.
The total score ranges from 400 to 1600, made up of two section scores of 200 to 800 each: Reading and Writing, and Math.
As far as published guidance states, no. You should answer every question, but check the current College Board guidance.
A China-based school's guide states that there are no SAT test centers in mainland China for international students. Students travel to places such as Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore or Seoul. Confirm the current options with the College Board.
Yes. A graphing calculator is built into the Bluebook app for the whole Math section, and approved personal calculators are also allowed.
Most students take it in Grade 11 or early in Grade 12, leaving time to retake it before application deadlines.
Many students take it two or three times, and many universities consider your best results. Check each university's score policy.
Many universities no longer require test scores, but some do, and a strong score can help in other cases. Check each university's policy.
No. The Year 6 SATs are national curriculum tests for primary school pupils in England. The SAT Reasoning Test is an admissions test for university applicants.
Both are accepted by most U.S. universities. The SAT is digital and adaptive with two sections and a 400 to 1600 scale, while the ACT has three required sections, optional science and writing, and a 1 to 36 scale.