What the test looks like today
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 54, in two modules | 2 × 32 minutes |
| Math | 44, in two modules | 2 × 35 minutes |
| Break | — | 10 minutes |
| Total | 98 | 2 hours 14 minutes |
Scoring stays on the 400 – 1600 scale, made up of two section scores between 200 and 800 each. Most questions are multiple choice; some maths questions ask you to enter the answer instead.
The part that changes your strategy: the test is adaptive
Each section has two modules. How you perform in the first module decides what you get in the second — harder or easier questions. And the easier module comes with a ceiling: even a perfect performance there caps the score you can reach.
The practical consequence is unwelcome, but worth knowing early: mistakes in the first 35 minutes cost more than mistakes at the end. On the old paper test you could recover anywhere. Now the first module fixes the range your score will land in.
Two preparation rules follow, and both contradict old habits:
- never leave a blank in the first module — there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so a guess always beats an empty box;
- drill the first module separately, timed, until the pace is automatic. It is the one part of the test every candidate gets in the same form.
What changed in Reading and Writing
Long passages are gone. Each question now comes with its own text of 25 to 150 words — essentially one paragraph. Questions cover four domains: information and ideas, craft and structure, expression of ideas, and standard English conventions. Within each module they are grouped by domain and ordered from easier to harder.
For a student who is strong at maths but unsure about English, this is good news: there is far less to read than before, and the grammar can be trained systematically.
What changed in Math
You may use a calculator on the entire section — the old "no calculator" part is gone. The testing app also has a built-in Desmos, and you can switch between scientific and graphing modes at any point.
This changes preparation more than it seems. A student who handles the graphing tool well solves equations and systems in 20 seconds where another spends two minutes on paper. At 35 minutes for 22 questions, losing two minutes a few times means questions you never reach.
The content is still secondary-school mathematics: algebra, functions, problem solving, data analysis, some geometry and trigonometry. An A-Level student usually has all the content required — what is missing is format and speed, not material.
"What score do I need?"
The honest answer is that it depends on the university, and the right number is not on a forum. Three reference points help:
- The overall average. College Board reported a mean total of 1050 for the class of 2022 (529 Reading and Writing, 521 Math). Useful only as a zero point — selective universities sit far above it.
- Your university's published range. Most American universities publish the range covering the middle half of admitted students. That is your real target, and it lives on their admissions page.
- Their score policy. Some universities require the score, others treat it as optional. Check their own site for the year you are applying — policies have changed often.
For maths-heavy programmes — engineering, computer science, economics — the Math section score is looked at separately and weighs more than the total.
When to sit it
There are eight dates in the 2026–2027 school year, available internationally: 22 August, 12 September, 3 October, 7 November and 5 December 2026, then 6 March, 1 May and 5 June 2027. You can retake the test, and most students get their good score on the second attempt — reason enough not to schedule the first one right before an application deadline.
The full preparation calendar, with UCAS deadlines and A-Level series, is here: when to start preparing. If you are still choosing between exams, see SAT or A-Level.
How SAT preparation works here
Sessions are taught in groups, in person in Bucharest or online, two hours at a time. The first step is a full timed test that shows where the time goes — the plan is built from there. More on SAT preparation and pricing.