SAT Exam Information
The SAT exam coordinator is Mrs. Bafus ([email protected]); her office is in the Career Center (Room 125A).
Idaho SAT School Day is mid-April every year and a makeup exam is offered two weeks later.
- Junior students will take the exam which is paid for by the State of Idaho.
- Students should be seated and ready to begin at 8:10 a.m.
- Snacks will be provided.
- The standard SAT exam will conclude at approximately 12 p.m.
- Students with accommodations will take longer and Mrs. Bafus will contact you directly.
- Room locations will be announced.
SAT Registration: MHS will take care of your registration. You do not need to do anything to register.
Cost: Paid for by the State of Idaho
PARENT NOTIFICATION LETTER from College Board
College admissions: Idaho public colleges and universities are not requiring a college entrance exam for admission. However, policies are in flux and students should check with the schools they are applying for the latest admission requirements to be certain. A college entrance exam may be required for scholarship and/or financial aid awards and again, students are advised to check the school(s) they are applying to for accurate up-to-date information.
National test dates: College Board provides testing at test centers throughout the U.S. These are in addition to the Idaho SAT School Day where the exam is held at MHS. Students can utilize the national test dates but will be responsible for the cost of the exam. Fee waivers are available for the national test dates; see your school counselor for more information. Link to College Board for the most up-to-date test schedule and registration deadlines for national test dates.
What if I have already taken a college entrance exam? If you have already taken a college entrance exam please let Mrs. Bafus know.
Do I need to study? It helps! The Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy has diagnostic tools that can help you focus studying on your areas of need. They have paper tests as well. Khan Academy recommends taking two full paper practice tests because you get a realistic sense of how long the test is and where you tend to get tired or mentally blocked. SAT student guides are distributed to students before the test and they also have sample questions and information to help you prepare. According to Khan Academy, if you study the SAT prep materials they offer, you will be more than prepared to succeed. The SAT will measure your reasoning and critical thinking skills. If you decide to study, set up a realistic schedule, and take a break the night before the test (Khan Academy).
MHS test prep (TBA): Ms. Lyon and Mr. Gravel offer test preparation sessions every spring. Students will be informed of the schedule once published and it will be in the daily bulletin as well. Some of the sessions include SAT overview, Reading, Heart of Algebra, Passport to advanced math, Essay, Strategies & practice for everyone, Writing & Language, Problem-solving & data analysis.
Test length: The SAT is 3 hours 50 minutes not including administration time.
Supplies to bring: Bring two or three No. 2 wooden pencils. Mechanical pencils are not allowed. You may also bring an acceptable calculator. You can bring a backup calculator and batteries as well. With that said, all questions can be answered without a calculator. Also, bring a water bottle and your own snack if you want. Grab-n-go snacks will be available, usually granola bars and cheese sticks.
Prohibited devices: Phones will need to be turned off and left in backpacks which cannot be accessed until the exam is over. Students may wear a regular type watch with NO alarm. Smartwatches of any kind are prohibited. Mechanical pencils are not allowed.
Bubble sheet schools of thought: There are different schools of thought on this and it is up to you which one to use. One is to transfer every answer one at a time to your answer sheet. The other is to avoid going back and forth from your booklet to your answer sheet on every question. Instead, complete a section and then transfer your answers to the bubble sheet. This method is said to be beneficial because it will not interrupt your flow and concentration and will also help to make sure you enter your answers correctly by avoiding jumping back and forth. However, if you decide to use this method, just make sure you leave enough time to transfer your answers to your bubble sheet.
Guessing: There is no penalty for guessing or blank responses. This is known as "rights-only scoring".
Student guide: Student guides will be distributed to students. Reading the guide will help you understand how each category of the test is presented and will tell you what to expect. The sections of the test are evidence-based reading and writing, writing and language, and math.
Khan Academy.com: Khan Academy has a phone app and online resources to study for the P/SAT. They have practice tests, diagnostics, and instruction. After creating your College Board account you can link it and Khan Academy. Khan will use your PSAT scores and run your diagnostics report so you can work on the areas you need the most.
Test day: Be sure you are fueled up and well-rested the morning of the test.
Growth mindset: Disappointment happens to everyone, and while we may feel like the world comes crashing down when we fail, you may be surprised at how much you learn and grow from each challenging experience (Khan Academy).