SAT Registration Procedure and Test Process
Many students choose to take the SAT as early as their junior year, giving them time to improve their score if needed. There are several places, dates, and ways to take the SAT. You can read about the process below.
How To Register | Devices and Technology | SAT School Day or SAT Weekend Test
How to Register for the SAT Weekend Test Step-By-Step
- Find a suitable SAT test date
- Create an account with the College Board and log in
- Start registering for your exam by providing details about you, your place of study etc. You will also need to provide an up-to-date photograph matching your ID
- Pick a date and place inside the system
- Confirm and register your test device – any device used for the test needs prior approval
- Pay the registration fee. As of August 2025, the SAT registration fee is $68. Additional fees may apply for international testing locations, late registration, or changes to your test center.
If you take the test on School Day, you usually register via your educational facility.
SAT Fee Waivers
If you come from an eligible family, meaning that your family is a low-income family, you live in federal housing, get food discounts etc., your SAT fees will be removed.
Technology Used for the SAT
One of the requirements for registration is to register the device you will use. If you register to do the SAT Test on SAT School Day or on SAT Weekend, for example, you will often be able to use pre-set devices in the school/at the testing center of your choice. All approved devices will have an app called Bluebook on them, and that is the technological tool that you use to complete the test. Since 2024, all SAT tests are digital.
Different Ways to Take your SAT
SAT School Day
SAT School Day, as mentioned, is taken in your school. Not all schools offer an SAT School Day, but many do. This spring, the SAT School Days take between March 2 – April 30, 2026.
During School Day, you will need to come prepared with a pencil and an eraser, a photo ID, a suitable, charged computer or tablet, but if you use a tablet, you will need to also bring a keyboard. In many cases, there is no need to bring your own laptop to SAT School Day as the school will provide you with all the necessary technology.
SAT Weekend Test
As opposed to taking your test on a school day in school, you can also take the SAT on a weekend in a testing center. This requires the registration process described above where you pick your test date and test place.
What Happens After the SAT Test?
Most SAT Weekend scores are released 2-3 weeks after the test date. If you feel it did not go well in the test, you may cancel your score before it is released, but deadlines vary depending on whether you take the SAT on a weekend or during School Day. For the SAT Weekend tests, the cancellation must be done rather quickly, up to one week after your SAT test date.
If you took the test in-school, you receive your results through your school and your teachers can see how well you performed. You can cancel also this result, but only for 5 days after the test was taken.
There is no limit to how many times you can take the SAT, but most candidates take the test twice or three times, starting in their junior year. It is recommended to take the SAT test earlier in the year rather than towards the end of the semester or academic year, to ensure that you are motivated and not tired of school and studying.
The SAT is a learnable test. With the right preparation, students consistently improve their scores and confidence.
