How to prepare for the December 5, 2026 SAT

The December SAT is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, and the regular registration deadline is November 20. Depending on when you start, you have four to seven weeks, which is enough for a structured plan instead of a cram.

If this is your first SAT

1. Get a baseline. Take a full practice test in the Bluebook app or a shorter diagnostic. You want accuracy by skill, because the Digital SAT reports 8 content domains and each one has a few specific skills.
2. Rank your skills by points lost. Most students lose the majority of their points in three to five skills. Those are your study list.
3. Practice daily, review everything. 20 to 30 questions a day on your study list, plus a review of every miss. A short note on why you missed each one is worth more than ten extra questions.
4. One full practice test a week, timed and in one sitting, to build stamina and check progress.
5. Taper in the last week. Review your notes and redo questions you missed before. No new topics in the last three days.

If you took the November 7 SAT

Your November scores will probably come out shortly before the December registration deadline. Don't wait for them to start studying. You already know which sections felt hard. Start on those now, then adjust when your score report arrives with the domain breakdown.

The December test is a good retake date because the material is fresh. Students who retake within a month or two avoid relearning the format and can put all their time into the skills that cost them points.

Test day checklist

• Finish exam setup in Bluebook on the device you'll bring, a day or more before
• Charged device and power cord
• Admission ticket and acceptable photo ID
• Pencils or pens (scratch paper is provided)
• Arrive by 7:45 a.m.

What the test looks like

Reading and Writing: 54 questions in 64 minutes, two modules. Math: 44 questions in 70 minutes, two modules, with a calculator allowed throughout and Desmos built in. The second module of each section adapts to how you did on the first, so careful work on Module 1 pays off.

Start with your weakest skills

SAT Owl's free diagnostic predicts your score and shows which areas to practice first, and the question bank has free practice for every skill with explanations.