What Do I Need?

The keyword here is need. Think about all the supplies you need to enter your testing location, to do each section of the test, fill out the answer sheet, etc. Don’t worry about the things you want to bring just yet, we’ll get there in a second. Let’s begin!

Admission Ticket

Every time you register to take the test online, you should receive an email with your admission ticket attached. If not, contact them immediately! This ticket has all the important information needed to enter your testing location. The ticket shows your name, test center, and the test you’re taking; so, print this out ahead of time and make sure that this is in your bag! Without the admission ticket, you will not be allowed in.
## Photo ID
An acceptable photo ID is not the selfie you took yesterday on baecation with your boo thang. Your driver’s license, state ID, passport, school-issued ID, or typically anything else that is government-issued are all examples of acceptable photo ID. At your testing location, your test proctor will use your photo ID to check your admission ticket to see if the names match. Therefore, similar to your admission ticket, you will not be allowed in without an acceptable photo ID.
## No. 2 Pencils (ACT only)
This one now depends on which test you are taking. The SAT is fully digital. You take it in the Bluebook app on a laptop or tablet, so there is no answer sheet and no pencil to bring, though scratch paper is provided at the test center. The ACT is still given on paper at many test centers, and there the only writing utensil you can use is a No. 2 pencil, so don’t even bother bringing pens or other types of pencils. Make sure they are freshly sharpened and bring at least four. This will also help you avoid constantly getting up and waste time sharpening your pencil.

Side note: Also, make sure you have good erasers just in case you make mistakes. All errors have to be completely erased; otherwise, you risk affecting your score.

Calculator

A calculator is allowed on every math question on both tests. The SAT no longer has a no-calculator section; that went away when the test went digital in 2024, and Bluebook now has a Desmos graphing calculator built in. You can still bring your own approved calculator to either test, and you probably should if you are faster on your own. If you’re enrolled in a Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, or AP Statistics course, then you probably already have a TI-84 Plus calculator which is suitable for the test. I highly recommend that calculator along with any other scientific calculator or graphing calculator.

What Else Can I Bring?

The following items are nice to have but aren’t required for you to bring to the testing center come test day.

Testing Device (SAT only)

For the digital SAT you need a laptop or tablet with Bluebook installed and your exam already downloaded, plus your charger. Do that a few days early, not the night before, and make sure the device is fully charged when you walk in. If you do not have a device, College Board will lend you one, but the request has to go in at least 30 days before your test date, so it is worth checking that box at registration.

Bag

You have a couple options here. You can bring your backpack, a purse or crossover bag, or a drawstring. All are suitable bag options which will make it possible for you to keep everything you have organized and in one place. I would go for a drawstring simply because it is not too big and not too small.
## Snacks
As you may know by now, there will be several 5-minute breaks throughout the tests during which you can chow down on some snacks. You cannot eat during the actual exam. That being said, use these breaks to your advantage and eat some snacks to sustain you and drink some water for optimal focus and concentration. Click here to read my other article that will help you determine snack foods to eat for memory-boosting powers.

Do NOT Bring…

• Any electronic devices other than your testing device and an approved calculator. For the digital SAT your laptop or tablet is required, not contraband. Phones, smartwatches and earbuds are still prohibited at both tests.
• Dictionaries
• Cheat sheets/notebooks

For having any of the items above in your possession, you risk being immediately dismissed from the exam and your scores will automatically be cancelled. No refunds. Now, I know you’re thinking “How am I supposed to contact family to let them know I’ve finished?” or something else along those lines. Well, I’m not going to lie to you, I brought my cell phone. Ooooo I’m such a rebel, right? No, actually I’m pretty lame on the highest of keys. Anyways, I can’t stop you from bringing your cell phone, but just know that it should remain on silent, rather, turned off during the test and left inside your coat pocket or bag. The last thing we want is for you to be suspected of cheating, or even worse, caught doing so. There aren’t too many thieves roaming the halls of high schools stealing cell phones on exam day, so no need to worry. Your phone will do just fine without you for a couple of hours, trust me.

If you have a disability, make sure your testing accommodations have been approved ahead of time by the College Board’s (or ACT’s) services for students with disabilities.

Now you have all the items you need to bring with you on test day and you know what not to bring. But, how should you prepare? The answer’s simple: Prepmedians! Get started today! 🙂