Mastering the SAT Test Day: A Comprehensive Guide to Closing Procedures

The SAT is a crucial step for students aspiring to higher education, serving as a gateway to college admissions, scholarship opportunities, and overall academic assessment. Understanding the procedures and expectations for the SAT test day is essential for a smooth and successful experience. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the closing procedures of the SAT test day, ensuring test-takers are well-prepared and confident.

Pre-Test Day Preparations

Device Readiness

Device Compatibility: The digital SAT can be taken on various devices, including laptops (Windows or MacOS), iPads, Windows tablets, or school-managed Chromebooks. Ensure your device meets the College Board's requirements.
Bluebook Download: The digital testing application, Bluebook, must be downloaded onto your device before test day. If your testing device is managed by your school, verify that your school has downloaded Bluebook for you. If you are using your own testing device, you will need to download Bluebook yourself.
Exam Setup: Complete a quick exam setup 1-5 days before your test. The application will confirm that your device meets all the requirements, then it will download your test and generate your admission ticket.
Connectivity and Power: Your device must be able to connect to Wi-Fi and be fully charged. It needs to stay on for roughly 3 hours to complete the exam. Bringing a power cord or portable charger is recommended, although access to an outlet cannot be guaranteed.
External Accessories: You can bring an external mouse for your device and an external keyboard if your device is a tablet. Detachable privacy screens are not permitted.
Application Closure: Before entering the testing room, close all other applications and programs on your device. You are not allowed to have any other apps running on your testing device during testing. You are not allowed to paste work into Bluebook from another program or application.

Essential Materials

Admission Ticket: Bring your electronic or printed admission ticket to the SAT. You'll show this to the proctor when you check in. If you'll be using one of the testing center's computers to take the SAT, you'll get your admission ticket on-site.
Photo ID: Bring an official photo ID that matches the name you used to register for the SAT. Acceptable IDs include a driver’s license, passport, or school ID.
Calculator: A calculator that meets the requirements located at satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/what-to-bring-do/calculator-policy. Before testing, you will be asked to clear all saved formulas on a calculator you bring. There is also a calculator in Bluebook that you can use instead of bringing your own if you wish.
Pen or Pencil: Pen or pencil for scratch work. This pencil does not have to be a No. 2 pencil.
Snacks and Drinks: Bring a drink, along with some energy-boosting snacks. Opt for something wholesome and sustaining, like mixed nuts and fruit, over something that will just make your energy spike and then collapse. Think whole grains and protein, rather than sugar.

Day-Before Preparations

Pack Your Bag: Pack everything you need the night before to avoid a rushed morning.
Print Admission Ticket: Print out at least one copy of your admission ticket - two is even better, just in case.
Get Enough Sleep: The night before, try to go to bed early.
Plan Your Outfit: Wear comfortable clothes and prepare for fluctuating temperatures in your classroom. By wearing layers, you can prepare for a room that’s too warm or too cold.

Test Day Arrival and Check-In

Arrival Time: Arrive on time on test day. Be sure to check your admission ticket for your arrival time and the address of your test center. Test centers open at 7:45am, and doors close at 8am, unless otherwise noted on your admission ticket. If you'll be taking the exam on a computer borrowed from the College Board, you'll need to arrive 30 minutes earlier (so around 7:00am) to sign in and complete your exam setup. You can't be admitted once testing has started.
Check-In Process: When you arrive at the school or testing center, you’ll most likely be met by a few volunteers who will sign you in and take you to your testing room. You’ll need to present your entry ticket and photo ID before heading to your testing room. Some testing centers entail you to keep your bag or jacket in a locker or other designated place; others just allow you to put your belongings underneath your desk.
Seating: After you're checked in, your proctor will tell you what seat to sit at (you can't choose your own seat).
Login and Start Code: You'll then log into the center's Wi-Fi and open the Bluebook app. The proctor will give you a start code. Once you enter the start code, testing will begin.

During the Test

Test Structure

Sections: There are 2 sections of the SAT: SAT Reading & Writing and SAT Math.
Modules: Each of these sections is divided into two modules, and each of the four modules is timed separately.
Breaks: In between Reading & Writing and Math you'll have an optional ten-minute break. You'll get a second, five-minute break at the end of the Math No-Calculator portion.
Pacing: Once you begin the test, you'll go through the exam on your own. Bluebook has a timer that will count down the minutes and seconds remaining in each module.

Break Time

Break Activities: Even though the break is short, it's a valuable opportunity to get up, move around, and re-energize. Just looking and moving around will reduce eye strain and get your blood flowing. Make sure to stay hydrated and eat a healthy snack to fuel all that mental exercise.
Break Rules: During your break, be sure to leave your device open, and take your ID with you if you leave the room. Your ID will be checked each time you enter the room. Also, if you brought a calculator, you can't take it out of the testing room until you're done with the exam.

Time Management

Test Duration: The SAT takes 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete, not including the ten-minute break.
Focus: Remember, because you're taking the exam at your own pace, you will likely have people in the room who finish slightly before or after you. Try to block out their comings-and-goings as much as possible and just focus on your exam.

Test Completion and Submission

Automatic Submission: When you finish the final module, your answers will be automatically submitted. Bluebook ends the test and submits answers automatically.
Submission Failure: If your submission fails for any reason, don't panic! Your answers will be saved on the device you took the test on, and you'll have time to resubmit. If your submission fails for any reason, don't worry! Your answers will be saved to your device, and you'll have time to resubmit.
Confirmation Screen: If your answers were successfully submitted, you will see a confirmation screen.
Remaining Seated: Students must remain seated-and quiet-until their test is over. Do not close the lid or cover the screen of your testing device until your answers are submitted.

Post-Test Procedures

Dismissal: When a student's time is up, the proctor will make sure their answers were submitted, collect their scratch paper, return any items they collected, and dismiss the student.
Leaving the Testing Center: Once you’re given the green light, you can leave the testing center, turn your cell phone back on, and go home or out for ice cream sundaes.
Respect for Others: When you finish, make sure to respect those students who are still in testing mode. And when you do finish the test, be sure to be quiet getting up as other students in the room may still be testing.
Test Confidentiality: Don’t leave until instructed to do so. College Board is stringent about test confidentiality, so you don’t want to encounter any issues. On a similar note, you shouldn’t immediately start talking about the test with your friends. College Board prohibits discussing test questions and can cancel your scores if they heard that you publicized specific questions in person or online.
Score Reporting: You can see your results online and can request to send score reports to various colleges. When you register for the SAT, the organizers provide you an option to claim four free score reports within nine days following the exam. Make sure you choose the four colleges at the time of registration; otherwise, you have to mention these colleges in the next nine days after taking the test to avail this offer.

Rules and Regulations

Prohibited Items: Leave all smartphones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices at home or in a designated area away from the testing space. Don't bring any prohibited technology or anything that makes sounds. Make sure your cell phone is off and out of sight by the time you enter the testing center.
Misconduct: If we determine, in our sole discretion, that there is overwhelming evidence that you did not follow these rules ("Misconduct"), the Score Validity Process will not be offered to you. Instead, we may cancel your scores and/or take any of the Measures described above. Examples of Misconduct are doing or attempting to do the following: using an answer key, mobile phone, the internet, or an application other than Bluebook; removing the test or answers; disrupting the College Board server or Bluebook through a cyberattack or other activity; duplicating the test or Bluebook; or altering the test, answer keys, or any data after testing was complete. Misconduct may be shown in many ways.
Testing Irregularities: We may cancel your scores if we determine that any testing irregularity occurred (collectively "Testing Irregularities"). Examples of Testing Irregularities include problems with the test, irregular circumstances, or events associated with a test that may affect 1 or more test takers. Examples of this are errors like improper seating, improperly admitting someone to the test, giving an accommodation that is not approved by College Board, defective materials, defective equipment, technical issues like a Bluebook malfunction, testing device malfunction, hardware issues, or an internet outage. These also include evidence of possible preknowledge of the test, and disruptions of the test caused by internet disruptions, natural disasters, weather events, epidemics or pandemics, wars, riots, civil disturbances, or other emergencies. When Testing Irregularities occur, we may cancel an entire administration or individual registrations, decline to score all or part of the test, or cancel scores. We may do this regardless of whether or not you caused the Testing Irregularities, benefited from them, or violated these rules. We may, in our sole discretion, give you the opportunity to take the test again within a reasonable time frame, and without charge.
Consequences of Violations: There are serious consequences for not following the rules. You may be dismissed from the test. Your test may not be scored, or your scores may be canceled. You may be banned from taking future College Board tests.

Score Cancellation and Disciplinary Measures

Invalid Scores: We may cancel your scores and/or take any of the other Measures described above if after following the procedures set forth in this section, we determine, in our sole discretion, that there is substantial evidence that your scores are invalid ("Invalid Scores"). Examples of evidence of Invalid Scores include, without limitation, unusual answer patterns or other evidence that indicates these rules have been violated.
Score Validity Process: We will then offer you 3 choices: voluntary score cancellation, a free retest under closely monitored conditions (during the next 2 available administrations after such review), or an opportunity to give us additional information and request a further review by a College Board panel. If you choose a further review by a College Board panel, and it confirms, in its sole discretion, that your scores are invalid, we will offer you 3 choices: voluntary score cancellation, a free retest under closely monitored conditions (during the next 2 available administrations after such review), or binding arbitration (or small claims court) as described below. If you choose the retest option, you may not review scores from the test under review-such scores will be canceled. The process described in this Section 4(b) is called the "Score Validity Process."

Privacy Policies

Data Collection: When you download and use Bluebook, College Board will receive certain information about your testing device.
Data Usage: Your testing device Data and Activity Data (collectively, "Data") may be used by College Board to make sure your testing device is compatible with Bluebook, for test security purposes, for test validation and research, and to develop and improve College Board products and services.
Data Sharing: Data may be disclosed to trusted vendors, but only when they are providing services to College Board, and we may disclose aggregated data (combined data of test takers that does not identify you) and de-identified data (data that does not have information to identify you). Data is not sold or licensed to third parties, including without limitation for their marketing purposes or other commercial purposes. We may share Data with your school, district or state education department related to the SAT you take on Bluebook, including any misuse of Bluebook.

Test Center Closures and Cancellations

Test Center Discretion: Test centers have sole discretion over their availability and may choose to close at any time, up to and including test day. College Board does not have control regarding these closures.
College Board Actions: In the event of a test security-related concern, public health threat including without limitation an epidemic or pandemic, natural disaster, terrorist act, civil unrest, or other unexpected events or circumstances, College Board may cancel testing for all or a specific group of test takers. When this occurs, College Board will notify you in advance if feasible.

Read also: Mastering the SAT

Read also: Comprehensive ACT Guide

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