If you were to take the current SAT exam without any breaks and not include the time it takes you to stand in line and officially check in at the testing center, the test would take a total of 3 hours and 45 minutes. The new SAT version, due to be released in spring of 2016, will take a total of 3 hours plus 50 minutes for the optional essay portion.
Standing in line and checking in at the testing center can take awhile, so show up early with proper identification and two number 2 pencils. In most cases, the SAT is taken on a Saturday or Sunday and check-in is scheduled around 7:30 or 7:45 a.m. Since the SAT is broken into several smaller sections, breaks are scheduled in between test sections. Expect to be at the testing center until approximately 12:30 or 1:00 p.m.
The current version of the SAT exam is broken into 10 sections: one 25-minute essay; six 25-minute sections for mathematics, critical reading and writing; two 20-minute sections for mathematics, critical reading and writing; and one 10-minute multiple-choice writing section. The redesigned SAT exam includes a 52-question reading section with a 65-minute time limit; a reading and writing section with 44 questions and a 35-minute time limit; a 57-question math section with a 80-minute time limit; and one optional essay section with a 50-minute time limit.
The basic SAT test covers reading, math and writing, but you can also take specific subject tests to prove your proficiency in specific areas. Twenty subject tests are available, covering five categories: English, history, mathematics, science and languages. Subject tests are all one hour long and use multiple-choice questions. The subject exams are usually optional, but your college of choice may require one or more subject exam scores for acceptance into specific, competitive programs.