Bring five things to the SAT: a fully charged testing device with Bluebook installed and exam setup completed, your admission ticket (printed is best), a physical photo ID whose name matches the ticket, pencils or pens, and your College Board login. Arrive when doors open at 7:45 a.m.; they close at 8:00. Phones, smartwatches and earbuds are collected or stored away for the whole test.
Use the checklist below to pack, the planner to work out when to wake up and leave, and the 12-item quiz to check you know what's allowed in the room. Every rule here comes from College Board's test day pages, checked November 4, 2026.
Pack the night before. The five required items are the ones that can stop you from testing; the rest make the morning easier.
SAT test day packing checklist
Tick items as they go in your bag. Your ticks stay on this device, so you can pack the night before and check again in the morning.
Required (0 of 5)
Good to have (0 of 6)
Still missing: Testing device, fully charged, Admission ticket, Physical photo ID, Pencils or pens, College Board username and password.
College Board requires a testing device, your admission ticket, an acceptable photo ID, pencils or pens, and your College Board username and password. It also suggests a few optional items that help if something goes wrong.
| Item | Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Testing device | Required | Laptop or tablet, fully charged, with Bluebook installed and exam setup completed. It must run for about 3 hours; outlets aren't guaranteed. |
| Admission ticket | Required | Available in Bluebook after exam setup, from 5 days before the test. Printed is preferred; email a copy to yourself too. |
| Photo ID | Required | A physical, unexpired original. See the ID rules below. |
| Pencils or pens | Required | For scratch work. The proctor collects scratch paper at the end. |
| College Board username and password | Required | You sign in to Bluebook at the test center. |
| Calculator | Optional | Bluebook has a built-in Desmos graphing calculator. If you bring your own, check it against the calculator policy. |
| Charger or portable battery | Optional | Useful if your battery runs low or a seat is near an outlet. |
| Watch without an audible alarm | Optional | For timing your break. Bluebook has its own timer for the modules. |
| Snacks and a drink | Optional | For the 10-minute break. |
| Backup device | Optional | If your device fails, a proctor can help you switch. |
| Epinephrine auto-injector | Allowed | No accommodation needed; keep it in a clear bag under your desk. Other medication or medical devices need approval from Services for Students with Disabilities. |
A simple test day outfit helps too: layers you can add or remove, since you can't control the room temperature. Wear a watch only if it's analog or a basic digital one; anything that connects to a phone stays in your bag.
Phones, smartwatches and every other electronic device except your testing device are prohibited during the test and breaks. College Board's prohibited devices list covers:
Twelve items students often ask about. "Required" and "Allowed" both count as right for anything you can have; the explanation tells you which it is.
Allowed or not? 12 items
For each item, decide whether it's required, allowed, or not allowed in the testing room. Answers are based on College Board's SAT rules.
Rules can differ with approved accommodations. See our Desmos guide for calculator questions.
Your ID must be a physical, unexpired original in good condition, and it must show your full legal name exactly as it appears on your admission ticket. A nickname on one and your full name on the other can get you turned away. To fix your name, contact College Board at least 30 days before the test (ID requirements).
| Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| Driver's license or non-driver ID from a government | Digital IDs, photos of an ID, photocopies |
| Passport or U.S. Global Entry card | Credit or debit cards, employee IDs |
| Government military or national ID | Birth certificates, Social Security cards |
| Current school ID (if you're under 21) | Temporary IDs, or anything damaged or altered |
| SAT Student ID Form from your school or a notary (under 21, U.S. centers only) | Any ID marked "not valid as identification" |
The digital SAT runs in the Bluebook app on your own laptop or tablet, so most test day problems start days earlier. Work through this timeline.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 30+ days before | No suitable device? Request a loaner: choose "I don't know if I have access to the necessary device" when you register, then use "Request a device" in My SAT. An adult who isn't family (a teacher or counselor) verifies eligibility. A request doesn't guarantee a device. |
| 1 to 2 weeks before | Install or update Bluebook and take a full-length practice test in it on the same device, so you know the tools and the device works. |
| 1 to 5 days before | Open Bluebook, sign in and complete exam setup. Then print your admission ticket, or email it to yourself. |
| The night before | Charge the device fully and pack the charger. Check that your ID name matches your ticket. Check College Board's test center closings page if the weather is bad. |
| Test morning | Leave the device charged, closed and in your bag. Bring your login details. |
Practicing in Bluebook matters for more than the device check. The real test uses the same tools: the countdown timer, Mark for Review, the answer eliminator, the reference sheet and Desmos. Our Desmos calculator guide shows the moves that save the most time, and our digital SAT practice tests let you rehearse under time pressure.
Plan to arrive when doors open, at 7:45 a.m. for most weekend tests, because doors close at 8:00 and nobody is admitted once testing starts. If you're borrowing a College Board device, arrive 30 minutes before that to pick it up, sign in and finish exam setup. Use your doors-open time from the admission ticket if it's different.
Check-in runs from 7:45 to 8:00 a.m., testing starts between 8:15 and 8:30, and standard-time testing ends between 10:45 and 11:00 a.m. Here's the order, from College Board's test day guide and test structure page.
| Testing time | Usually ends |
|---|---|
| Standard (2 h 14 min of testing plus a 10-minute break) | 10:45 to 11:00 a.m. |
| Time and one-half | 12:00 to 12:15 p.m. |
| Double time | 1:00 to 1:15 p.m. |
Taking an unscheduled break, for example to use the restroom during a module, uses your testing time; the clock keeps running. Use the scheduled break for food, water and the restroom.
Raise your hand for the proctor, or click Bluebook's Help icon for troubleshooting steps. If the device can't continue, the proctor or technology coordinator can help you move to a second device. This is why College Board suggests a charger and, if you have one, a backup device.
Your work is saved on the device. You must reopen Bluebook and resubmit by the end of the following day, so don't uninstall anything or wipe the device after the test.
Doors close at 8:00 a.m. (unless your ticket says otherwise), and you can't be admitted once testing has started. If you can't make it, look at your options for changing your test date in your College Board account rather than rushing. Our SAT test dates page lists upcoming dates and deadlines.
Check College Board's test center closings page the night before and the morning of the test.
A plan you've rehearsed is the best cure: a practice test in Bluebook, a packed bag and a set wake-up time. Our SAT test anxiety strategies cover breathing and pacing techniques for the test itself.
Scores arrive in your College Board account a few weeks after the test; our SAT score release dates page has the expected date for each administration, and the score report guide explains every part of the report. If you're planning a retake, the SAT study plan builder turns your scores and next test date into a week-by-week plan.
Last verified against College Board's SAT test day, ID, prohibited devices and device lending pages: November 4, 2026. Rules can differ for SAT School Day and approved accommodations.