Tips for Your Students
Help students do their best on the SAT
You can help students do their best on test day with sound advice and up-to-date information.
Advance planning
Emphasize the importance of being organized and well rested on test day. Advise students to plan in advance and to:
- Organize ID, Admission Ticket, pencils, calculators, and other supplies
- Get a good night's sleep
- Eat breakfast
- Double-check for everything they need before leaving home
- Arrive early—by 7:45 a.m.—at the test center
Review what to expect on test day with students.
What to bring to the test center
Students should group together everything they must bring for the test beforehand. They must bring:
- Admission Ticket
- Acceptable photo ID (international and age restrictions may apply)
- Two No. 2 pencils and a good eraser; no pens or mechanical pencils
- Acceptable calculator with fresh batteries; students are not required to clear the memory on their calculators
It's also a good idea to bring:
- Snacks (to eat during breaks)
- A watch (without an audible alarm)
- A backpack or bag (to be kept under the seat)
- Extra batteries
Remind students to:
- Bring items that are in good working order, along with extra batteries
- Use a No. 2 pencil only
- Essays written in pen cannot be scanned and receive a score of 0
- Mechanical pencils might punch through the answer sheet and the marks they make cannot be guaranteed to scan properly
- Use equipment with which they are familiar
- Time themselves with a watch
- Store snacks in a backpack or bag
What not to bring to the test center
The following items are not permitted in the test room:
- Cell phone, pager, personal digital assistant, iPod, MP3 player, and any other digital or electronic equipment.
- Scratch paper
- Notes, books, dictionary
- Compass, protractor, ruler, or any other aid
- Highlighter or colored pencils
- Portable listening or recording device
- Camera or other photographic equipment
- Timer or watch with audible alarm
Students are not permitted to use a cell phone during the breaks. Encourage students to leave their cell phones at home. Once the testing room supervisor has read the instructions to turn off and put away all prohibited devices, if a device rings or makes noise, or a student is seen using a prohibited device, the student may be dismissed, the device may be confiscated and its contents, inspected, and the student's test scores will be canceled.
Prohibited electronic devices may be subject to collection, and the College Board and its employees and representatives, including a test administrator, will not be responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prohibited devices.