What to Take to the SAT

March 17, 2026

You've been preparing for the SAT in a dedicated effort that involves learning strategies and different ways to tackle questions. You've likely been honing your performance over months, including by taking practice exams, under the guidance of a teacher or tutor. Attaining a high score is an important goal that will allow to apply to top colleges and universities and help you gain admission to the school of your dreams.

As part of the SAT process, you must follow all the established rules and policies on the day of the exam. So, it's vital that you know and understand what they are, as violations could potentially disqualify you from the test and lead to your score being canceled. We're providing a thorough rundown of everything you'll be expected to know, so there won't be any issues on exam day and you can focus on your performance.

Get ready to take some notes as these are essential to keep in mind as the day of your SAT test draws near!

Test Center vs. School Day

Students have two choices for where they will take the SAT. One option is to sit for the exam at a test center on one of the eight designated Saturday dates every year (or on the Sunday that's the day after if a religious accommodation is needed). The other is to take the SAT at their high school on a regular school day during one of two weeks-long windows in the spring and fall, usually from March through April and in October. Some of the things you'll need to bring with you on exam day will differ depending on which one you choose.

SAT Exam Day: Testing Device

Test Center: Students take the SAT on their own Windows or Mac device or iPad, so it's absolutely essential to take it with you. Make sure that it's fully charged, and bring an external mouse and/or keyboard if you plan to use them. (A separate keyboard is only allowed with tablets.) It must have the Bluebook testing app installed, which you should have done soon after registering to make sure it's able to run on your device and practice using it. You must also have completed the exam setup on it, which you can do beginning five days before the test. If you don't have a device and can't borrow one from your school or anyone else, you can request to use a loaned one from College Board, the SAT's owner and administrator, when you register for the exam.

School Day: Schools generally provide the devices for the school day SAT, which will be charged and ready for students on exam day with the Bluebook app installed. (School-managed devices can also include Chromebooks.) If your school doesn't, or you prefer to use your own device if allowed, it's the most important thing to bring with you on test day. It must have Bluebook downloaded using sign-in credentials provided by your school and the exam setup done. Just as if you were going to a test center, make sure the device is fully charged, and bring an external mouse and/or keyboard if you plan to use them.

SAT Exam Day: Your ID

Test Center: Another item that you must take to the test center for the SAT is your photo I.D. You will be turned away if you forget it, or if it's not an acceptable form of identification. Approved I.D. for the exam must meet several requirements:

Government-issued or your current school I.D. Permissible government identification includes a driver's license or non-driver I.D., passport, or military or national identification card. Also allowed is a SAT Student I.D. Form, which has to be provided by your school or a notary for homeschooled students.
Physical photo I.D. that's original and unexpired.
Show your full, legal name that exactly matches the name you used to register and that appears on your admission ticket.
Have a recent photo that matches the photo you registered with as well as your test day appearance.

School Day: Since you're taking the SAT at your own school, you don't need to bring an I.D. However, if you're sitting for the exam at a different school than your own, or are a homeschooled student taking the test at a school, you must show an approved I.D. that follows the test center identification guidelines.

Pay close attention to these specifics if you plan to go to a test center and double-check your I.D. to make sure it's acceptable. You don't want to risk not being allowed to take the SAT on your scheduled date because of a problem with your identification. After all the time and effort you've put in to studying and how much you've learned to help you succeed on the exam, you don't want something so simple to keep from getting the top score you worked so hard to achieve.

SAT Exam Day: Admission Ticket & Username/Password

Test Center: Students taking the SAT at a test center must provide an up-to-date admission ticket, preferably one that's printed out. It is available via the Bluebook app after you complete the exam setup process. You must also have your College Board username and password.

SAT Exam Day: What Else to Bring

There are some other items you will or may want to bring with you for the SAT, whether you're taking it as a school day exam or at a test center. You should have pens or pencils to do scratch work, and it's also a good idea to bring a power cord, charging cable, and/or portable charger for your device.

The Bluebook app has a built-in calculator you can use for the Math section of the exam. However, you may also bring your own calculator if you feel more comfortable using it, as long as it conforms to acceptable guidelines. You may use a scientific calculator or a graphing calculator that doesn't have computer algebra system (CAS) features, and remove any programs with algebra functionality and any stored documents. While four-function basic calculators are allowed, they're not recommended, since they usually don't follow math's order of operations. Calculators can't have a typing keyboard, wireless internet, Bluetooth, or cellular connectivity.

Although the app has a timer that will let you know how much time you have remaining during the exam, you still might want to have a watch with you. They are allowed, but can't be a smartwatch or one with an audible alarm.

You will be allowed one 10-minute minute break during the test, and you might want to bring a healthy drink or snack to have during that time. Choose something that doesn't have a lot of sugar and will give you energy.

SAT Exam Day: What to Leave at Home

The are some items that the College Board has strict rules against test takers having with them that you shouldn't bring to the SAT.

Leave behind your phone. Your smartphone and any other electronic or communication devices, including fitness trackers, cameras, or recording devices, are not permitted. You're only allowed to have your testing device and an approved calculator.
Leave behind any notes, books, papers, or other reference material of any kind. You will be provided scratch paper to use during the exam.
Leave behind any compasses, rulers, protractors, and colored pencils, which have all barred by the College Board.
Leave behind any headphones, earbuds, or earplugs, as well as any other audio devices worn in or over the ear.
Leave behind firearms, knives, and any other weapons. Although this should be obvious, it's worth repeating that there is a total ban. This includes razor blades and pocketknives, so keep that in mind when preparing to go take the exam.

SAT Exam Day: Rules and Regulations

Standardized tests like the SAT have many rules and regulations for test takers. Let's go over some of the most important ones so you aren't unexpectedly confronted with any of them on exam day. The only surprise you want is performing even better on the exam than you'd hoped!

You are not allowed to take a testing device from the exam room during the SAT, including when you have your 10-minute break.
It's not permitted to go to a locker during the exam or while you are outside the test room during a break.
You are banned from discussing or sharing information about the SAT questions with anyone.
Wearing a brimmed cap, the hood of a hoodie, or any other type of clothing that doesn't allow test staffers to see your eyes and/or ears is banned.
You may not disturb other test takers during the exam, and there is zero tolerance for unruly, aggressive, or violent behavior.
When you are finished with the exam, do not leave the room until you have been dismissed by the test staff.

SAT Exam Day: Tips

After preparing for so long and working so hard, many students aren't sure what to do the night before the SAT and in the final hours in the morning before going to take the test. Below are some reliable tips for how to spend that time in a way that's most beneficial for your performance.

While you may be understandably nervous the night before the SAT, it's important to get a good night's sleep. Getting adequate sleep is vital for success on the exam, helping ensure that you approach it in the best clearheaded condition. Turn in early and even try to get an extra hour or two of shuteye. You'll thank yourself when you're sitting for the exam the next day!
Don't try to cram the night before or the day of the SAT. This is a very important point, as doing so will have the opposite effect than you intended. Last-minute cramming will negatively affect your performance, so don't try to learn new test strategies or techniques that close to the actual exam. Spend the evening before quietly relaxing at home instead, doing something low-key that you enjoy.
Set out everything you'll need the night before the way you would the day before a big trip. Put your prepared device, your photo I.D. if you need to bring it, and any other necessities somewhere where you can just grab them and go the next day so you don't forget anything.
Get to your school or test center with a lot of extra time to spare to avoid the possibility of being late due to unforeseen delays along the way. Check out the driving route with a dry run ahead of time so you're sure of how to get there and how long it takes.

It's important to prepare for the logistics of test day just as you have for the SAT itself. Clearly understanding the rules, especially what you need to bring with you and what you should leave home, will set you up to know what to expect when you arrive for the exam, ready to demonstrate how all your preparation has paid off!