The SAT is a standardized test required by many American colleges and universities during the admission process. Administered by the College Board, the SAT is a pencil-and-paper, multiple-choice exam that consists of 2 required sections:
Math
Evidence-Based Reading & Writing
The College Board stopped offering the optional essay section of the SAT and optional subject tests in 2021, both in the USA and internationally.
A strong score on the SAT can help open doors to more competitive colleges and universities. However, admissions boards review SAT scores alongside other parts of a college application, including GPA, performance in extracurricular activities, application essays, letters of recommendation, admissions interviews, and scores from other standardized tests (like the ACT).