The SAT® School Day provides an opportunity for high school students to take the SAT digitally during class time on a regular school day. You can take the SAT digitally through this program if your school and/or district participate(s) in the College Board®'s SAT School Day program.
Taking the test on a School Day allows students to easily register for the test, request a fee waiver, and avoid having to travel to an unfamiliar testing location. Furthermore, your scores on the SAT School Day are just as valid as regular SAT scores. Let's take a look at a few more benefits the SAT School Day program has to offer:
- Your school takes care of the digital SAT registration process and testing accommodations.
- You take the digital SAT on a weekday during school hours.
- Your digital SAT test fees might be waived.
- You get 4 free score sends.
SAT School Day Eligibility and Registration
If your school participates in the program, you are eligible to take the SAT digitally on a School Day during your junior or senior year. Your school will process the registration and fee waivers. Before test registration, reach out to your school counselor or principal to determine whether you need to submit any extra paperwork. Also, remember to ask for the Student ID Form, which you need to carry on your test day.
If you require accommodations for your school exams, you might be eligible to place accommodations requests for taking the digital SAT, as well. Remember to fill out the consent forms and get them signed by your guardian or parent before submitting them to the school counselor well in advance of test day.
The standard cost for taking the digital SAT is $60. However, your high school may offer the SAT for free or at a reduced fee. The College Board also offers a Digital SAT School Day Student Questionnaire to help students with the test-taking process and guide them on where to send the free score reports.
Is it mandatory for students to take the Digital SAT when administered at school on SAT School Day?
The requirement to take the digital SAT for high school graduation varies by state. In some states, it's mandatory, while in others, it's optional. Whether taking the SAT on School Day is necessary or not depends on your state's guidelines. Here's a list to guide you:
| Optional SAT | Mandatory SAT | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alaska | Colorado |
| 2. | Arkansas | Connecticut |
| 3. | Arizona | Delaware |
| 4. | Florida | District of Columbia |
| 5. | Georgia | Idaho |
| 6. | Kentucky | Illinois |
| 7. | Maryland | Indiana |
| 8. | Minnesota | Michigan |
| 9. | Mississippi | New Hampshire |
| 10. | New Mexico | Ohio* |
| 11. | New York | Oklahoma* |
| 12. | Oregon | Rhode Island |
| 13. | Pennsylvania | South Carolina* |
| 14. | Virginia | Tennessee |
| 15. | Texas | West Virginia |
| 16. | Washington |
*You must choose between the digital SAT and the ACT as part of high school graduation requirements.
Did you know?
In 20231, the SAT was taken on a school day by 67% of test takers, marking the highest percentage thus far. This figure surpasses the 63% of the class of 2022 and the 62% of the class of 2021 who took the SAT on a school day. Participation in the SAT on School Day has seen a significant increase of over 17% compared to the previous year, rising from approximately 1.1 million participants in the class of 2022.
SAT School Day Test Dates
Wondering when the SAT School Day will pop up at your school? Here are the key dates you need to know for 2024:
- Spring 2024: March 4 to April 26, 2024
- Fall 2024: October 1 to October 31, 2024
Just have a quick chat with your counselor or principal to pin down the exact date your school will be administering the exam. They've got all the details!
The release dates for your SAT scores depend on when you take the test. For the spring session, mark your calendars for:
- April 4, 2024 for tests taken between March 4-15
- April 18, 2024 for tests taken between March 18-29
- May 2, 2024 for tests taken between April 1-12
- May 16, 2024 for tests taken between April 15-26
Remember to check for updates on SAT School Day score release dates! Also, If you’re curious about how your SAT test is scored, check out our SAT Scoring Guide.
SAT School Day Policies, Terms and Conditions
Before you gear up for your SAT School Day, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure to carry the SAT School Day Student ID Form along with the other things to bring on the SAT test day.
- Consider bringing a backup calculator or using the graphing calculator built directly into the testing application, as well as a list of four colleges/scholarships to which you want to send your test results.
Refer to the SAT School Day terms and conditions to stay updated on testing policies and regulations.
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References
1 (September 26, 2023). SAT School Day. SAT Program Results for the Class of 2023 Show Continued Growth in SAT Participation. Newsroom. College Board. Retrieved on February 22, 2024 from
2 (February 08, 2024). How Long Does the SAT Take? College Board. Retrieved on February 22, 2024 from https://blog.collegeboard.org/how-long-does-the-sat-take
Frequently Asked Questions
How does an SAT School Day differ from other digital SAT test days?
The School Day SAT is designed to maintain the same level of difficulty and content standards as the regular SAT tests administered on national testing dates. The main difference is that it’s offered during the school day to make it more accessible to students.
How long is the SAT School Day test?
The digital SAT2 takes 2 hours and 14 minutes (not including breaks). Compared to the ACT, the SAT offers 67% more time per question.
Is the School Day SAT more difficult than the digital SAT?
No, the College Board ensures that all versions of the SAT, including the School Day SAT, are comparable in content, format, and difficulty.
Are SAT School Days only offered in the U.S., or are there international versions?
Currently, the SAT School Day is only available to U.S. schools.
Where do we receive SAT School Day results?
You receive the SAT School Day test scores on your College Board account.
Can I go to another high school for my SAT School Day?
Attending an SAT School Day at a high school other than your own is not allowed. However, for homeschooled students, there’s an option to participate in SAT School Day at the high school closest to you. To learn more about this opportunity, please reach out to the counselor at that nearby high school.
Is it possible to cancel SAT School Day test scores?
To cancel your SAT School Day test scores, you need to complete the College Board’s cancellation form and hand it to the Associate Supervisor before you exit the testing room. Should you choose to cancel your scores after departing, remember that you have a 72-hour window to complete this process.
What happens if I miss an SAT School Day?
If you can’t attend an SAT School Day, there’s no need to worry. You can sign up for the next available national test date and take the digital SAT then.
