What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

SAT Start Times—What should I expect?

Hello, everyone! I'm a bit stressed about this whole SAT ordeal. When does the SAT usually start? More importantly, how early should I arrive at the venue? Any advice about timing would be immensely helpful!

2 months ago

The digital SAT typically begins around 8:00 AM. This means you'll need to arrive at your testing center earlier than that.

The College Board recommends arriving by 7:45 AM. That gives you a few minutes to find your testing room, get settled, and start the check-in process. Make sure you have your admission ticket and a valid photo ID.

There's no harm in arriving early, and doing so can even help you avoid last minute stress. Arriving by 7:30 AM, for example, will give you time to get used to the environment and mentally prepare.

Always factor in extra travel time for unforeseen occurrences such as traffic. Don't forget to consider things like how long it will take to park.

The SAT itself, including check-in, is likely to conclude around 11:45 AM. Keep in mind that this timing doesn't include any extra breaks.

Remember, the day before the test, be sure to check the address of your testing site to make sure it matches the one on your admission ticket, as test center locations can change. Don't wait until the morning of to check!

Also, pack everything you need for test day the night before, including your admission ticket, photo ID, calculator, and several No. 2 pencils. With those arrangements, it'll be all about performance and not logistics! Good luck!

2 months ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.