Editing SAT (section)

== Function ==
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| caption1 = U.S. states in blue had more seniors in the class of 2006 who took the SAT than the ACT while those in red had more seniors taking the ACT than the SAT.
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| caption2 = U.S. states in blue had more seniors in the class of 2022 who took the SAT than the ACT while those in red had more seniors taking the ACT than the SAT.
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The SAT is typically taken by [[High school (North America)|high school]] [[Eleventh grade|juniors]] and [[Twelfth grade|seniors]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register |title=SAT Registration |date=December 2, 2015 |access-date=August 16, 2016 |publisher=[[College Board]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828120843/https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register |archive-date=August 28, 2016 |url-status=live }} "Most students take the SAT spring of junior year or fall of senior year."</ref> The College Board states that the SAT is intended to measure literacy, numeracy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in [[college]]. They state that the SAT assesses how well the test-takers analyze and solve problems—skills they learned in school that they will need in college.

The College Board also claims that the SAT, in combination with high school [[Grading in education|grade point average (GPA)]], provides a better indicator of success in college than high school grades alone, as measured by college freshman GPA. Various studies conducted over the lifetime of the SAT show a [[statistically significant]] increase in [[correlation]] of high school grades and college freshman grades when the SAT is factored in.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collegeboard.com/research/pdf/rn10_10755.pdf|title=01-249.RD.ResNoteRN-10 collegeboard.com|publisher=The College Board|access-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106122457/http://www.collegeboard.com/research/pdf/rn10_10755.pdf|archive-date=January 6, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[#Predictive validity and powers|predictive validity and powers]] of the SAT are topics of research in psychometrics.<ref name="Frey-2019" />

The SAT is a [[norm-referenced test]] intended to yield scores that follow a [[Normal distribution|bell curve]] distribution among test-takers. To achieve this distribution, test designers include challenging multiple-choice questions with plausible but incorrect options, known as "distractors", exclude questions that a majority of students answer correctly, and impose tight time constraints during the examination.<ref>{{cite news| last1 =Atkinson| first1 =Richard| last2 =Geiser| first2 =Saul| title =The Big Problem With the New SAT| newspaper =The New York Times| date =May 4, 2015| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/opinion/the-big-problem-with-the-new-sat.html| access-date =January 29, 2016| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20151101232116/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/opinion/the-big-problem-with-the-new-sat.html| archive-date =November 1, 2015| url-status =live}}</ref>

There are substantial differences in funding, curricula, grading, and difficulty among U.S. secondary schools due to U.S. [[federalism]], local control, and the prevalence of private, distance, and [[Homeschooling|home schooled]] students. SAT (and [[ACT (test)|ACT]]) scores are intended to supplement the secondary school record and help admission officers put local data—such as course work, grades, and class rank—in a national perspective.<ref>Korbin, L. (2006). SAT Program Handbook. A Comprehensive Guide to the SAT Program for School Counselors and Admissions Officers, 1, 33+. Retrieved January 24, 2006, from College Board Preparation Database.</ref>

Historically, the SAT was more widely used by students living in coastal states and the ACT was more widely used by students in the Midwest and South; in recent years, however, an increasing number of students on the East and West coasts have been taking the ACT.<ref>{{cite news |periodical=Education Week |date=August 30, 2006 |first1=Vaishali |last1=Honawar |last2=Klein |first2=Alyson |title=ACT Scores Improve; More on East Coast Taking the SAT's Rival |url=http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2006/08/30/01act.h26.html |access-date=May 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530002000/http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2006/08/30/01act.h26.html |archive-date=May 30, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/education/edlife/guidance.html |title=ACT vs. SAT |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 4, 2007 |last=Slatalla |first=Michelle |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927160220/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/education/edlife/guidance.html |archive-date=September 27, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2007, all four-year colleges and universities in the United States that require a test as part of an application for admission will accept either the SAT or ACT, and as of Fall 2022, more than 1400 four-year colleges and universities did not require any standardized test scores at all for admission, though some of them were planning to apply this policy only temporarily due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Colleges and Universities That Do Not Use SAT/ACT Scores for Admitting Substantial Numbers of Students Into Bachelor Degree Programs |url=http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional |publisher=The National Center for Fair & Open Testing |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=fairtest.org |access-date=September 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928123652/http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional |archive-date=September 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-03-18-life-cover-acts_N.htm |title=All four-year U.S. colleges now accept ACT test |newspaper=USA Today |date=March 18, 2007 |last=Marklein |first=Mary Beth |access-date=May 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530004932/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-03-18-life-cover-acts_N.htm |archive-date=May 30, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

SAT test-takers are given two hours and 14 minutes to complete the test (plus a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing section and the Math section),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/whats-on-the-test/structure | title=How the SAT is Structured – SAT Suite &#124; College Board | access-date=January 27, 2022 | archive-date=March 6, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306025408/https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/whats-on-the-test/structure | url-status=live }}</ref> and {{as of|2024|lc=y||df=}} the test costs US$60.00, plus additional fees for late test registration, registration by phone, registration changes, rapid delivery of results, delivery of results to more than four institutions, result deliveries ordered more than nine days after the test, and testing administered outside the United States, as applicable, and fee waivers are offered to low-income students within the U.S. and its territories.<ref name=costs>{{cite web |url=https://blog.collegeboard.org/how-much-does-sat-cost |title=SAT Registration Fees |date=May 15, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2017 |publisher=[[College Board]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906184018/https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/fees |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/scores/send-scores-to-colleges/sending-scores | title=Send SAT Scores to Colleges - SAT Suite &#124; College Board }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/scores/send-scores-to-colleges/rush-reporting | title=SAT Score Rush Reporting – SAT Suite &#124; College Board | access-date=June 25, 2024 | archive-date=June 25, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625210404/https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/scores/send-scores-to-colleges/rush-reporting | url-status=live }}</ref> Scores on the SAT range from 400 to 1600, combining test results from two 200-to-800-point sections: the Mathematics section and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. Although taking the SAT, or its competitor the [[ACT (test)|ACT]], is required for freshman entry to many colleges and universities in the United States,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/education/edlife/26guidance-t.html|title=The Other Side of 'Test Optional'|last=O'Shaughnessy|first=Lynn|date=July 26, 2009|work=The New York Times|page=6|access-date=June 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119065733/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/education/edlife/26guidance-t.html|archive-date=November 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> during the late 2010s, many institutions made these entrance exams [[#Optional SAT|optional]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Capuzzi Simon|first=Cecilia|date=November 1, 2015|title=The Test-Optional Surge|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/01/education/edlife/the-test-optional-surge.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812183206/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/01/education/edlife/the-test-optional-surge.html|archive-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Farmer-2020">{{Cite news|last1=Farmer|first1=Angela|last2=Wai|first2=Jonathan|date=September 21, 2020|title=Many colleges have gone test-optional – here's how that could change the way students are admitted|work=The Conversation|url=https://theconversation.com/many-colleges-have-gone-test-optional-heres-how-that-could-change-the-way-students-are-admitted-144998|access-date=February 2, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923075612/https://theconversation.com/many-colleges-have-gone-test-optional-heres-how-that-could-change-the-way-students-are-admitted-144998|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Strauss-2019">{{Cite news|last=Strauss|first=Valerie|date=|title=A record number of colleges drop SAT/ACT admissions requirement amid growing disenchantment with standardized tests|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/10/18/record-number-colleges-drop-satact-admissions-requirement-amid-growing-disenchantment-with-standardized-tests/|access-date=February 2, 2021|archive-date=August 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821181120/https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/10/18/record-number-colleges-drop-satact-admissions-requirement-amid-growing-disenchantment-with-standardized-tests/|url-status=live}}</ref> but this did not stop the students from attempting to achieve high scores<ref name="Selingo-2020">{{Cite news|last=Selingo|first=Jeffrey|date=September 16, 2020|title=The SAT and the ACT Will Probably Survive the Pandemic — Thanks to Students|work=The Atlantic|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/even-coronavirus-cant-kill-sat-and-act/616360/|url-status=live|access-date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203012800/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/even-coronavirus-cant-kill-sat-and-act/616360/|archive-date=February 3, 2021}}</ref> as they and their parents were skeptical of what "optional" means in this context.<ref name="Quintana-2020">{{Cite news |last=Quintana |first=Chris |date=December 29, 2020 |title=Colleges say SAT, ACT score is optional for application during COVID-19, but families don't believe them |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/12/29/sat-act-score-test-optional-covid-college-application/3992269001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126140251/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/12/29/sat-act-score-test-optional-covid-college-application/3992269001/ |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=February 5, 2021 |work=USA Today}}</ref><ref name="Quilantan-2021">{{Cite news |last=Quilantan |first=Bianca |date=January 18, 2021 |title=Access to college admissions tests — and lucrative scholarships — imperiled by the pandemic |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/18/sat-act-requirements-coronavirus-459797 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831151018/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/18/sat-act-requirements-coronavirus-459797 |archive-date=August 31, 2021 |access-date=August 31, 2021 |work=Politico}}</ref> In fact, the [[#Test-taking population|test-taking population]] was increasing steadily,<ref name="Hobbs-2019">{{Cite news|last=Hobbs|first=Tawnell D.|date=September 24, 2019|title=SAT Scores Fall as More Students Take the Test|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sat-scores-fall-as-more-students-take-the-test-11569297660|url-status=live|access-date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128082452/https://www.wsj.com/articles/sat-scores-fall-as-more-students-take-the-test-11569297660|archive-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref> and while this may have resulted in a long-term decline in scores,<ref name="Hobbs-2019" /><ref name="Anderson-2015">{{Cite news|last=Anderson|first=Nick|date=September 3, 2015|title=SAT scores at lowest level in 10 years, fueling worries about high schools|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sat-scores-at-lowest-level-in-10-years-fueling-worries-about-high-schools/2015/09/02/6b73ec66-5190-11e5-9812-92d5948a40f8_story.html|access-date=September 17, 2020|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905052327/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sat-scores-at-lowest-level-in-10-years-fueling-worries-about-high-schools/2015/09/02/6b73ec66-5190-11e5-9812-92d5948a40f8_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Twenge-2019">{{Cite journal|last1=Twenge|first1=Jean|last2=Campbell|first2=W. Keith|last3=Sherman|first3=Ryne A.|date=2019|title=Declines in vocabulary among American adults within levels of educational attainment, 1974–2016|url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2019.101377|journal=Intelligence|volume=76|issue=101377|page=101377|doi=10.1016/j.intell.2019.101377|s2cid=200037032|access-date=January 31, 2021|archive-date=September 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905080451/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160289618302198|url-status=live}}</ref> experts cautioned against using this to gauge the scholastic levels of the entire U.S. population.<ref name="Twenge-2019" />

Scores are typically released two to four weeks after the exam. SAT weekends are typically released after two weeks, with SAT school day being more variable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Score Release Dates for Students and Educators – SAT Suite {{!}} College Board |url=https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/scores/score-release-dates |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=satsuite.collegeboard.org |language=en}}</ref> Students may be able to cancel their scores up to one week after their exam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canceling Your SAT Weekend Scores – SAT Suite {{!}} College Board |url=https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/scores/canceling-sat-scores/sat-weekend |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=satsuite.collegeboard.org |language=en}}</ref>