Considering taking the SAT? Use our infographic to keep track of everything you need to know about the test. Explore below and share with friends!

Test Background
The SAT was first introduced in 1926 and is used to assess applicants to undergraduate programs after high school. Over 2,000,000 students take the SAT worldwide each year and over 6,000 colleges and universities consider SAT scores for admissions purposes.

Recent Changes and Updates
March 2016 was the first time in eleven years that the SAT had a major overhaul. The most important changes include more time per question, no more penalty for guessing, less obscure vocabulary, calculator free math sections, 4 answer choices instead of 5, and much more. Math questions have been reformatted to be more content-based, and the previous Writing questions are incorporated into the new Reading & Writing sections. The SAT score is also no longer out of 2400. Instead, each section is scored out of 800 for a total of 1600. Additional scores that are provided are individual test scores (Reading, Writing & Language, and Math), cross-test scores (Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science), subscores (scores based on specific content in each section), and three Essay scores (Reading, Analysis, and Writing).

The SAT Essay as of Spring 2021 is now optional and will be available for test-takers through the June 2021 SAT administration. After June 2021 it will only be available in states where it’s required for accountability purposes.

Final Thoughts
From a basic overview of the SAT to a list of 10 highly competitive universities and their relevant admissions statistics, our infographic below covers the most important details and facts to keep in mind when prepping for the SAT. For a more detailed breakdown of the test, please visit our SAT resource page. Want even more SAT info? Check out our blogs on SAT test prep, pacing practice, and more!