When is SAT School Day?

SAT School Day is Tuesday, March 26, and high school students across Garland ISD are gearing up for test day at their home campus. 

Why is it important to take the SAT?

Garland ISD is covering the cost of taking the SAT for all 9th-12th students. Even students who are planning to join the workforce or the military after high school should still plan to take the test. The SAT can help students identify their strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for a career.

What are the benefits of taking the SAT?

1. Taking the SAT can connect the student with more than $300 million in scholarship opportunities. Good scores could earn a student:

• 1600: Automatic admission and scholarships up to a full-ride
• 1200: Automatic admission and up to $24,000
• 1000: Automatic admission and up to $10,000

2. Students who take the SAT and meet college benchmark standards can earn one final exam exemption. (480 in English-based Reading and Writing and 530 in Math)
3. Students can also earn a graduation regalia pin for their SAT performance.

What’s new with the 2024 SAT?

1. The test is now fully digital.
   1. Why? In short, COVID accelerated the need for digital testing. The SAT will still be the same test, but the formatting will be different.
2. The digital version of the SAT will be about an hour shorter.
   1. It will also feature a countdown on the test so you can easily track where you are and how you're managing your time.
3. The digital version of the SAT is an adaptive test.
   1. In adaptive testing, the questions you encounter as you move through the test depend on how you answered the prior questions. Depending on how you answer the questions in the first module, you'll be routed to a second module, which has a different mix of difficulty levels. The mix of questions in the second module is, on average, either of higher or lower difficulty than in the first module. Please visit the College Board’s Digital SAT Adaptive Testing blog for more information.
4. The 2024 SAT does not include an essay section. Please review the College Board’s SAT School Day Student Guide for additional information. 

How can I prepare for the SAT?

Students get free personalized SAT prep and practice tests through the Khan Academy, which they can access through the Ready Hub portal. Students who use Khan Academy for at least six hours can gain 90 to 115 points on their score.

Why should I practice for the SAT?

Practicing for the digital version of the test will help you identify the areas where you need the most support to sharpen your focus while studying. Plus, since the content on the SAT is tied to what you’re learning in school, practicing for the SAT will set you up for success in your classes, too.

What do I need to bring with me on test day?

There are only a few things you need to bring on test day and many things you'll be better off leaving at home. Be sure to bring:

• Your fully charged Chromebook (and charging cord) with the Bluebook™ application installed.
• School-issued ID badge.
• Optional: An acceptable calculator (TI-84) for use on the Math section of the test (there will be an embedded graphing calculator available to use within Bluebook).

What items are prohibited on test day?

• Mobile phones (which can be used to present the admission ticket, but after check-in, must be collected or stored away from desks), smartwatches, fitness trackers, or other wearable technology (simple digital non-smartwatches or analog watches are acceptable)
• Audio players or recorders, notebooks, Bluetooth devices (such as wireless earbuds/headphones), or any other personal computing devices not used as the actual or backup testing device
• Separate timers of any type
• Cameras or any other photographic equipment
• Highlighters or colored pencils
• Books or references of any kind except as approved as an English language learner support for in-school administrations
• Compasses, rulers, protractors, or cutting devices
• Papers of any kind, including scratch paper
• Earplugs
• Unacceptable calculators that have computer-style (QWERTY) keyboards, use paper tape, make noise, or use a power cord
• Privacy screens
• Weapons or firearms

Penalties for Prohibited Devices

If your prohibited electronic device makes noise or you're seen accessing it at any time, including during breaks, you may be dismissed immediately, your scores can be canceled, and the device may be confiscated and its contents inspected.

The test administration staff is required to collect and hold phones and other prohibited electronic devices or to require students to place them in backpacks away from their desks during the test administration, including break periods, or to deny admission to anyone who has possession of a prohibited electronic device. For more information, visit The College Board’s SAT website.