What to bring to the SAT?
Bring a fully charged device with the Bluebook app installed and exam setup done, your admission ticket (a printed copy is preferred), an acceptable physical photo ID, pencils or pens, and your College Board username and password. A calculator is optional because Bluebook has one built in. Phones and smartwatches are not allowed at your desk.
In more detail
Your ticket alone does not get you in. The name on your ID must match the name on your admission ticket exactly, so a nickname on one and a full legal name on the other can get you turned away. The ID must be a physical, unexpired photo ID that is government-issued or from the school you currently attend. Digital IDs on a phone are not accepted. If you are 21 or older, only a government-issued photo ID works. Keep it with you all day, because it is checked every time you enter the testing room.
Your admission ticket appears after you finish exam setup in Bluebook, which you can do from 5 days before the test. Do it early, then print the ticket or email it to yourself. On test day morning, close and reopen Bluebook to check for last-minute messages. Your device has to stay on for roughly 3 hours and you cannot count on an outlet, so charge it fully and pack a cable or portable charger. If your device fails mid-test you can switch to a second device, so a backup is worth packing.
On a Saturday administration, test centers open at 7:45 a.m. and doors close at 8:00 a.m. Testing starts between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m., and you are not admitted once it has started. If you are late, you have to register again and pay the fees again. There is one 10-minute break between sections, so a drink or snack helps. If you bring a calculator, it stays on your desk during breaks.
Digital SAT test day checklist (College Board)
| Item | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Charged device with Bluebook installed and exam setup done | Required | Has to stay on for roughly 3 hours |
| Admission ticket | Required | Printed copy preferred, available after exam setup |
| Physical photo ID | Required | Name must match the ticket, no digital IDs |
| Pencils or pens | Required | Scratch paper is provided |
| College Board username and password | Required | Keep them handy |
| Calculator | Optional | Bluebook has a built-in one, an acceptable handheld is also allowed |
| Charging cable or portable charger | Nice to have | Outlets are not guaranteed |
| Drink or snack, watch without an alarm | Nice to have | For the 10-minute break |
| Backup testing device, bag or backpack | Nice to have | You can switch to a second device if yours fails mid-test |
| Phone, smartwatch, fitness tracker | Not allowed at your desk | Using one can get you dismissed and your score canceled |
Step by step
- 1
Open Bluebook up to 5 days before the test and finish exam setup to get your admission ticket.
- 2
Print the ticket or email it to yourself.
- 3
Check that the name on your photo ID matches the name on the ticket exactly.
- 4
Charge your device fully and pack a cable or portable charger.
- 5
Pack pencils or pens, an optional calculator, a drink and a snack.
- 6
Check your test center for closings or changes on the morning of the test, and arrive by 7:45 a.m.
- 7
Keep your phone and smartwatch in a bag away from your desk.
How StudyPDF helps
The night before is for a light review, not cramming. Upload your SAT notes and the questions you missed on your last practice test, and StudyPDF builds flashcards and a short quiz from them, then tracks per concept what still trips you up. Set your test date in the Plan tab to get dated sessions up to it. Then pack your bag and sleep. The free plan covers about 4 materials a week, no card needed.
See also
Do it on your own course
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More questions
Can I bring my own calculator to the digital SAT?
Yes, an acceptable calculator is allowed, but you do not need one. Bluebook has a built-in calculator that you can switch between scientific and graphing.
Can I bring snacks to the SAT?
Yes. A drink or snacks for the 10-minute break are on College Board's nice-to-have list. Phones are not allowed at your desk.