Preparation timeline
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| 30+ days before | If you don’t have a suitable device, request a loaner from College Board. Supported devices: Windows (Windows 11 required from fall 2026), Mac, iPad, and Chromebooks with verified mode enabled. School-managed devices must have Bluebook installed by the school. |
| 2–3 weeks before | Install or update Bluebook on the device you will test on. Take at least one full-length practice test in Bluebook on that device so the tools and screen size are familiar. |
| 1–5 days before | Open Bluebook and complete exam setup. This creates your admission ticket. Print it (preferred) or email it to yourself. If your test center changes, repeat setup to get an updated ticket. |
| Day before | Charge the device fully. Check that the name on your photo ID matches your admission ticket exactly. Pack your bag (checklist below). Know the route and parking. No new content; review your error log for 30 minutes at most. |
| Test morning | Breakfast with protein. Arrive by about 7:30 a.m. |
Checklist
Required
- Fully charged testing device with Bluebook installed and exam setup completed
- Admission ticket from Bluebook (printed is preferred)
- Physical photo ID: unexpired, in good condition, with your legal name exactly as on the ticket. Phone photos and digital IDs are not accepted.
- Pencils or pens for scratch work (the test center provides scratch paper and collects it at the end)
- Your College Board username and password
Recommended
- An acceptable calculator as a backup to the built-in Desmos: battery-powered and non-CAS (CAS models such as the TI-89 and TI-Nspire CAS are no longer allowed), with no wireless, QWERTY keyboard or camera. It must stay under your desk during Reading and Writing.
- Charging cable or portable charger (outlets are not guaranteed)
- A watch with no audible alarm (analog or simple digital; no smartwatches)
- Water and a snack for the break
- A backup testing device, if you have one
Prohibited, including during the break: phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, wireless earbuds, cameras, separate timers and other electronics. Staff collect phones before testing or have them stored away from your desk. If a prohibited device is seen or makes a sound, you can be dismissed and your scores canceled.
The morning, minute by minute
Weekend test centers open at 7:45 a.m., and doors close at 8:00 a.m. unless your admission ticket says otherwise. Late arrivals are not admitted. Students borrowing a College Board device arrive by 7:15 a.m. to collect it and complete exam setup. After check-in you join the test center’s Wi-Fi, open Bluebook and enter the start code the proctor gives you. Testing starts at about 8:15–8:30. A typical schedule after that:
| Approximate time | Part | Questions | Timing target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30–9:02 | Reading and Writing module 1 | 27 | First pass done with about 4 min left |
| 9:03–9:35 | Reading and Writing module 2 | 27 | Same plan; module 2 always feels hard |
| 9:35–9:45 | 10-minute break | — | Stand, drink, eat, restroom |
| 9:46–10:21 | Math module 1 | 22 | Question 15 done by about 17 min left |
| 10:22–10:57 | Math module 2 | 22 | Leave 2–3 min to check flagged SPRs |
| about 11:00–11:15 | Answers submit; dismissal | — | Stay seated until dismissed |
There is no break between modules. Module 2 starts as soon as module 1 ends.
Bluebook mechanics that matter
- Each module is timed separately. When time runs out, Bluebook saves your answers and moves on. You cannot return to a finished module, or to Reading and Writing once Math has begun.
- Never submit a module early. Spare minutes are for checking flagged questions, not for finishing sooner.
- Timer. You can hide the countdown until the last 5 minutes, when it reappears with an alert. Keep it visible and use the checkpoints in the section guides.
- Mark for Review and the question navigator. Flag any question you guess on. The navigator shows flagged and unanswered questions, so before time ends make sure nothing is blank.
- Answer eliminator. Strike out choices as you reject them, so a return visit starts where you left off.
- Highlights and notes in Reading and Writing. Desmos and the reference sheet in Math. From 2026-27 the calculator panel is resizable, graphics can be zoomed and panned, and the reference sheet has an alternate layout. Try these in a Bluebook practice test first.
- Directions screens appear at the start of each section. Know the directions in advance so you can close them quickly. The clock does not wait.
The break
The only scheduled break is 10 minutes between Reading and Writing and Math. Do not close your laptop or tablet. The device stays open on the desk, and Bluebook shows the break countdown: be back in your seat before it ends. Eat something and drink water. Do not touch your phone or talk about questions: accessing a phone during the break is grounds for dismissal. You may take an unscheduled break during a module, but the clock keeps running.
Use the break to reset. Do not try to work out how Reading and Writing went. It is finished and cannot be changed.
If something goes wrong
- Device or app problem: raise your hand immediately. Bluebook saves your work as you go, and you can switch to a backup device if the first one fails.
- Battery running low: tell the proctor at once and plug in if an outlet is available.
- Answers fail to submit at the end: they are saved on the device. Tell staff before you leave. If they still haven’t gone through, connect that device to the internet, open Bluebook and select Submit Answers. For SAT Weekend you have until two days after the test, but do it the same day to avoid a score delay.
Calm-execution checklist
- Module 1 of each section: accuracy over speed. Check each easy and medium answer once before moving on.
- Start of module 2: it will feel hard. That usually means you reached the harder route, which is where top scores are available. Don’t guess at your route; just work.
- Stuck for 2 minutes: eliminate, pick the best remaining choice, flag, move on.
- 5-minute alert: stop starting new deep work. Answer every blank, then revisit flags in order of how close you were.
- Math: before you trust Desmos on a trigonometry question, check the angle mode in the wrench menu (degrees or radians, to match the question).
- SPR answers: read the preview Bluebook shows under the entry box and confirm it is the number you meant.
Common traps
After the test
For fall 2026 weekend tests, scores are released about 13 days after test day (generally 2–4 weeks). See the SAT Scoring Explained guide for reading your report, sending scores and planning a retake.
Quick recap
- Get a device sorted 30+ days out; complete exam setup and print your admission ticket 1–5 days before.
- Bring a charged device, a physical ID that matches the ticket, pencils and your College Board login.
- Arrive by 7:30; doors close at 8:00. Keep your device open and your phone away at the break.
- Never submit a module early, never leave a blank, and check SPR previews.