Last Updated On: February 11th, 2025
Unlike the ACT, which is in transition, the SAT has already gone fully digital. Fortunately, you can download the actual Bluebook app on which you will take the test and access free official practice tests with the same format and types of questions. On test day, you will either use your own device (with all other applications closed, of course) or a school device. Since the SAT has been digital for over a year now, you’re likely familiar with its format and style, but you can refer back to this blog post if you want a refresher.
You’ll have to create a College Board account to access free tests and resources. Even if you’re on the fence about taking the actual test, creating an account is free and easy. You will sign into this account to access Bluebook. If the app is open and you’re not using it, it tends to sign you out quickly and does not save your password, so make sure to memorize your login information. Also, if you’re trying to exit just one test section, it’s easy to accidentally exit the entire application and then you’ll need to open it and log in again (as I’ve discovered while navigating the practice tests with my students).
Once you log in, you’ll be able to access practice tests 4-10. If you previously practiced with tests 1-6 (or 1-4 if you started your practice at the launch of the digital test), you’ll notice this reflects a recent update from the College Board to provide students “with the most relevant practice resources”:
- Practice Tests 1–3 have been removed from Bluebook, though students will retain their practice scores and feedback if they completed those tests before Feb. 3, 2025.
- In addition to current Practice Tests 4–6, students now also have access to four additional SAT practice tests: a brand-new Practice Test 7, and Practice Tests 8–10 which will include a mix of new questions and select questions from the former Practice Tests 1–3.
- PDF versions of Practice Tests 1–3 have been removed from College Board’s website and replaced with PDF versions of the updated Practice Tests 7–10.
The good news about this update is that you now have access to 7 new practice tests instead of 6. If you’ve already tried tests 1-3, you can now try a mix of new and previous questions with tests 7-10.
So, what is the interface like for the digital test? If you’ve taken other digital tests, you probably won’t find any big surprises, but it’s worth using the “Test Preview” to explore the tools before you try a practice test. The interface offers several tools, including the Answer Eliminator tool to cross off answer choices, a highlight tool with a choice of colors, a line reader tool to block off all except one line of text, and a “sticky note” tool to insert notes about the test. While these can be helpful, you might prefer old-fashioned scratch paper notes instead. Practice tests are a great time to figure out which digital tools you find the most efficient and helpful. You can also access approved assistive technology tools, like text to speech, within the app, if you qualify for them. The top middle of the display shows the time remaining on the test. You can mark answers for later review and click a review screen to see your progress so far and jump to any unanswered questions. On the math section, you can click a button to access a graphing calculator (similar to Desmos) and a formula sheet (which unfortunately does not contain all the formulas that are helpful for test-takers).
You can return to any questions within the same test module before your time is up, but once you click to finish the module then you can’t go back, even if you didn’t use all your time. The test adapts by module for each section; test takers who do well on the first module will get a harder second module, while students who don’t score as well will get an easier one.
Overall, I find Bluebook to be user-friendly. Students who are used to working on computers will probably be able to navigate it easily, though you should devote more time to exploring the app if you have never taken a digital test. Like all tests, though, it’s best to practice in the actual format it will be given, which is on the computer using the app. With this in mind, the major companies that write practice tests have also moved their practice tests to a digital format that more or less mimics the Bluebook experience. Between the free tests released from the College Board and the practice materials currently available, any test taker has access to enough practice materials to help them ace the test. If you have trouble navigating these materials on your own, a test tutor can provide valuable help for your journey to the college of your dreams. Happy practicing!
