You’ve spent months diligently studying for the SAT®, from mastering grammar rules to taking entire practice exams. Studying might get all the attention when it comes to preparing for the SAT®, but it’s also crucial to bring the essential materials. The last thing you want is to get turned away at the door or kicked out during testing. In this video, I cover all of the necessary items you should bring (and not to bring) to guarantee a smooth test day.
For your convenience, we’ve made a handy list of what to bring to the SAT® on Amazon. Links to individual items are also below. Here is the ultimate check list of what to bring to the SAT®:
What to Bring:
- Digital Watch: A digital watch that is silent and has a stopwatch is best for keeping time during the test.
- #2 Pencil: Mechanical pencils are not allowed, so bring several trusty wooden #2 pencils. *Perfect scorer tip: I like to sharpen my pencils to different levels so I can have a very sharp one for my essay as well as a more dull one for bubbling in multiple choice answers.
- Pencil Sharpener: Your test center should already have one inside, however not every center is the same. To be safe, bring a sharpener and sharpen up before heading in.
- Soft Eraser: The pink erasers attatched to the top of wooden pencils often do more harm than good, so it’s always helpful to bring a high quality eraser that works well.
- Calculator: Bring a calculator for the math sections, but make sure to check to see if it is approved by The College Board. To see if yours is approved, click on this link to see a list of approved calculators.
- Photo ID: You will need an original copy of a photo ID to enter the test center. This means either a school or government issued ID. If you are over 21 years old, a high school graduate, or an international student, a government issued ID is required. In some countries, you’ll need a passport. Refer to your admission ticket for more information.
- SAT® Admission Ticket: Make sure the picture of you is approved by The College Board and bring a paper copy of your admission ticket with you to the test center. This is crucial–you wouldn’t want to be turned away at the door.
- Food: Numerous studies have shown that students who eat breakfast perform better on tests. Eat a light, healthy breakfast and pack brain-boosting snacks to munch on during breaks. Some suggestions are nuts, cheese, fresh fruit, or even a sandwich. Avoid highly processed or sugary snacks. Also bring some water to keep you hydrated throughout the exam. Try to avoid drinking coffee unless your body is used to daily intakes – the natural adrenaline rush from taking the SAT® will probably be enough to fuel you.
Final notes:
We suggest packing all of the aforementioned items the night, or even the week before the exam to ensure you don’t forget anything. We also know you’ll understandably be nervous the night before, but aim to get a solid 8 hours of sleep so you awake refreshed and ready to tackle the SAT®. Good luck!
