SAT Test Day Checklist
Tick off everything from Bluebook setup to the morning routine. Progress saves on your device, and the whole list prints on one sheet for the fridge door.
Your checklist
0 of 35 done · saved on this device
The week before
5–7 days out · 0/7The night before
Evening · 0/6The morning of
Test day · 0/4Bring
In the bag · 0/8Leave at home
Not allowed · 0/5During the test
Strategy · 0/5No account needed
Try a real SAT question
This one is from our 1,804-question bank. A free account opens 120 of them across all 8 domains, with no card required.
Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion.
— Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)
As used in the text, what does the word "countenance" most nearly mean?
The four things the test center will check
Most test-day problems come from one of a handful of items, so these carry a Required tag in the list above:
- Install or update the Bluebook app on the device you will test on
- Complete Exam Setup in Bluebook 1–5 days before test day
- Save or print your admission ticket
- Confirm your photo ID is acceptable and unexpired
- Charge your testing device to 100%
- Fully charged testing device with Bluebook installed
- Admission ticket (printed or on your phone)
- Acceptable photo ID
Policies are set by College Board and can change between test dates. This list follows the current SAT Weekend guidance; confirm the ID policy and device requirements on collegeboard.org before your date.
Why the checklist starts a week early
The Digital SAT adds a technical layer that the paper test never had. Bluebook must be installed and updated, Exam Setup must be finished, and the device must hold a charge for three hours. Each of those is trivial with a week of margin and stressful at 7:45 a.m. The sleep items matter for the same reason: three consistent early nights produce a clearer test morning than one long sleep after a week of late cramming.
Before the checklist
- Set module checkpoints with the pacing calculator so the halfway-point checks above match your own pace.
- Read the test day tips guide for what to do between modules and during the break.
- Confirm your date, deadlines, and score release on the SAT test dates page.
Frequently asked questions
- What do I need to bring to the SAT?
- Four things are checked at the door: a fully charged device with Bluebook installed and the exam downloaded, your admission ticket, an acceptable unexpired photo ID, and pencils or pens for scratch work. A charger, a snack and water for the break, and an approved calculator are optional but useful.
- Do I need a calculator for the Digital SAT?
- No. Bluebook includes a Desmos graphing calculator on every Math question. You may bring an approved handheld calculator as a backup if you prefer, but the built-in tool is enough.
- When should I do Exam Setup in Bluebook?
- Exam Setup opens five days before your test and must be finished before test day. It downloads the test to your device and produces your admission ticket, so complete it early enough to fix any device or login problem.
- What time does the SAT start?
- Doors typically close at 8:00 a.m. local time for SAT Weekend, with the test starting shortly after check-in. Plan to arrive by 7:30 a.m. so you can find your room and settle before the proctor begins.
- Can I bring my phone into the SAT?
- You can bring it to the test center, but it must be turned off and stored as the proctor directs during the test, including the break. Smartwatches, earbuds, and any device that records are not allowed at your seat.
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