The SAT costs $68 per test for US students, which includes up to four free score reports if sent during registration. Additional fees may apply for late registration, late cancellations, or sending more than four score reports. Students eligible for fee waivers can take the test for free.

No, colleges do not prefer the SAT or the ACT, as virtually all U.S. colleges accept both for admissions and consider them equally. The best choice depends on the student, their individual strengths, and test-taking style. Students should take practice tests for both exams to determine which one aligns better with their abilities and focus their preparation on that specific test.

No, a 1400 is not a bad SAT score; it is a very strong score that places you in the 94th percentile nationally and makes you a competitive candidate for most universities. While it may be below the average for the most highly selective institutions like the Ivy League, a 1400 is competitive for many other top-tier and public universities, and often opens up opportunities for merit scholarships.

An SAT score in the range of 1530-1600 is considered in the top 1% of test-takers. This means you have performed as well as or better than 99% of other students on the exam. While the 1600 is a perfect score, any score in this range is exceptional.

There is no universal minimum SAT score for all colleges, as admission standards vary widely. Some less selective colleges may accept scores in the 900s, with some schools even having a 25th percentile score in the 400s and a 100% acceptance rate. However, for more selective schools, a score below 1100 or 1200 is generally not competitive. Many colleges are also test-optional, allowing applicants to apply without submitting an SAT score at all.

Generally, students put in 10 to 20 hours a week while preparing for the SAT, but that amount could be larger or smaller depending on your score goals. There are a couple of factors you should take into consideration when determining how many hours you'll need to put into your prep.

You can get approximately 15 to 20 questions wrong on the SAT to score a 1400, but the exact number depends on the difficulty of the test. The SAT uses a "scale" where a more difficult test allows for more incorrect answers, while an easier test requires more correct answers. To get a 700 in both Math and Reading & Writing, you might miss around 7 questions in each section.

Wear Comfortable Clothes

Because you'll be sitting at a table taking an exam for three hours, comfort is key. Wear pants and a shirt that are loose, soft, and comfortable. Bring a jacket, too, in case it's chilly at the testing center.

Another good rule of thumb: the range for a good SAT score at many competitive schools tends to sit between 1200 – 1400. And the range is typically 1400 – 1600 at the most competitive schools.