Check with each college on your list regarding their SAT requirements, including which SAT it wants: the SAT I: Reasoning Test and/or the SAT II: Subject Matter Test. A college may ask for either the SAT I or the SAT II, or both. The SAT II lets you choose between several different subject areas. However, the colleges you apply to may have their own lists of acceptable subjects. Don't waste time on tests that the colleges on your list won't accept as part of your admission application.
The College Board administers the SAT test. When you register for the test online with the College Board, designate the colleges on your list that require your score reports. List up to four reports at no additional cost; for more reports, the fees range from $9.50 to $27 as of May 2010. You can add additional colleges to your list at any time.
College admissions offices provide the best information regarding the kinds of scores they want when admitting students. Some colleges use a formula that factors SAT scores with a student's GPA. Others judge SAT scores in relation to several other aspects of a student's application, including grades and difficulty of classes. Don't expect any college to give you an exact answer to "What score do I need to get?" because you'll always have variables to consider. Use any suggested range they mention to weigh your own chances.
The SAT test is offered at specific times of the year. Many colleges coordinate their admission deadlines with the test deadlines and reporting schedule. Plan to take the SAT well within the time frame needed for meeting each college's application deadlines.