The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities in the USA to make admissions decisions.

The SAT is a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test created and administered by the College Board. The primary purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student's readiness for college and provide colleges with a common data point for comparing all applicants. College admissions officers review standardized test scores alongside other factors such as your high school GPA, the classes you took, letters of recommendation from teachers, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays.

The importance of SAT scores in the college application process varies from school to school. Generally, the higher your SAT score (and/or ACT score), the more options you will have for attending and funding college or university.

The SAT takes about 3 hours to complete, plus an additional 50 minutes for the optional essay. SAT scores range from 400 to 1600, combining results from two sections: Mathematics (200–800) and Evidence-Based Critical Reading and Writing (200–800).