SAT School Day with Essay: Everything You Need to Know
The SAT School Day has become an increasingly popular option for students to take the SAT in the comfort and familiarity of their school environment.
While most students are aware of the traditional SAT format, fewer are familiar with the optional essay section that can be offered as part of the SAT School Day program in certain states or school districts. This guide explains everything you need to know about the SAT School Day with Essay, including who takes it, what to expect, and how to prepare.
What Is SAT School Day?
SAT School Day allows students to take the SAT during regular school hours, usually at their high school, instead of going to a designated test center on a weekend. This option helps make the SAT more accessible, especially for students who may have transportation, scheduling, or financial limitations. Many schools partner with the College Board to offer the SAT School Day as part of their district testing program.
Unlike weekend SAT administrations, the School Day SAT is often offered free of charge to students and funded by states or districts. It also allows schools to support students directly by coordinating logistics and ensuring equitable access to testing.
Is the Essay Section Included in SAT School Day?
While the College Board discontinued the SAT Essay for weekend test administrations, the essay section is still available during SAT School Day in some states. It is usually offered when state policies or school district requirements mandate a writing assessment as part of their accountability measures.
This means that not every student taking the SAT School Day will be required to write the essay. Whether or not your School Day SAT includes the essay depends on your school, district, or state testing requirements. Students and parents should check with their school counselor to confirm whether the essay will be part of their SAT.
Structure of the SAT with Essay
The standard digital SAT consists of two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. If your SAT School Day includes the Essay, it will be added after the Math section. The essay section takes 50 minutes to complete, making the total testing time approximately 3 hours and 4 minutes, not including breaks.
Here’s a breakdown of the test timing:
- Reading and Writing: 64 minutes
- Math: 70 minutes
- Essay (if required): 50 minutes
- Total: Around 184 minutes (plus scheduled breaks)
The essay is not multiple choice. Instead, students are presented with a passage (usually 650 to 750 words) and are asked to write an analysis of how the author builds an argument to persuade the audience. The task is not to express personal opinion or agree/disagree with the author, but to focus on rhetorical analysis.
Who Should Take the Essay?
If the essay is part of your state’s required testing program, students will be automatically registered to take it through their school. In states where it is optional, school districts or individual schools may decide whether to include it.
Even if not required, students may choose to write the essay if they feel it could strengthen their college applications. Some colleges or scholarships still value a demonstration of writing skills under timed conditions, and the SAT Essay can be a useful addition to your academic record.
How Is the SAT Essay Scored?
The SAT Essay is scored separately from the rest of the SAT. Three scores are provided, each ranging from 2 to 8:
- Reading: How well you understand the passage
- Analysis: How effectively you analyze the author’s use of evidence and rhetorical strategies
- Writing: The clarity and organization of your response
These scores do not affect your composite SAT score out of 1600 but appear as separate values on your score report.
Preparing for the SAT Essay
To perform well on the SAT Essay, preparation is key. Unlike standard essay writing, the SAT Essay requires specific skills related to argument analysis. Students should practice:
- Reading persuasive essays and articles
- Identifying rhetorical strategies such as logos, ethos, pathos
- Analyzing how evidence, reasoning, and word choice support an argument
- Writing clear, well-organized essays under time pressure
Using sample prompts and timed writing sessions can be an effective way to prepare. Many official SAT practice resources include example essays and scoring guidelines, which can help students understand what graders look for.
Technology Requirements for the Digital SAT with Essay
Because SAT School Day is now administered digitally using the Bluebook app, students must bring an approved device to take the test. This includes a Windows or Mac laptop, Chromebook, or iPad. However, if taking the Essay section, students are required to have a physical keyboard if using a tablet. This is to ensure they can type their essay responses efficiently.
Students should make sure to charge their devices the night before, bring their charger or a portable battery, and close all non-testing apps before launching Bluebook. Schools may also provide loaner devices if students do not have access to one.
What to Bring on SAT School Day
To be fully prepared, students should bring the following items:
- Fully charged testing device (with Bluebook installed)
- Charger or power bank
- Approved calculator for the Math section
- External keyboard (if using a tablet)
- School ID or government-issued photo ID
- Snacks and water for breaks
Personal items like phones, smartwatches, and unauthorized calculators should be left at home or placed in a secure location during the test.
When Do You Get Your Scores?
Scores for SAT School Day are usually released within two to four weeks after testing. If you wrote the essay, your essay scores will be included in the same score report but listed separately. Students can access their scores through their personal College Board account.