How Long Is the SAT? (Digital SAT Timing Breakdown + Section Guide)
If you're wondering how long the SAT takes in 2025, here's the quick answer:
The SAT is now a digital exam that lasts 2 hours and 14 minutes.
It includes two main sections: Reading and Writing (64 minutes) and Math (70 minutes), with a 10-minute break between them.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the timing, section structure, and tips to help you pace yourself effectively.
📊 SAT Timing at a Glance
| Section | Time | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading & Writing | 64 minutes | 54 |
| Break | 10 minutes | — |
| Math | 70 minutes | 44 |
| Total | 2h 14m | 98 |
The digital SAT is shorter than the old paper-based version, which used to take 3 hours (not including breaks). Students now have more time per question on average, making the test less about speed and more about skill.
🧠 Section-by-Section Breakdown
📘 Reading and Writing
- Number of modules: 2
- Time per module: 32 minutes
- Question format: Multiple choice
- Passage style: Short, one-question-per-passage
- Topics: Literature, history, humanities, science
➗ Math
- Number of modules: 2
- Time per module: 35 minutes
- Question types: Multiple choice & student-produced responses
- Calculator: Allowed for the entire section
- Topics: Algebra, advanced math, data analysis, geometry/trig
☕ Break
- A single 10-minute break comes between the two main sections.
🔁 Why Is the Digital SAT Shorter?
College Board shortened the SAT when it went digital to:
- Reduce student fatigue
- Make the test more accessible and secure
- Introduce adaptive testing, where the difficulty of the second module depends on how you perform in the first
Despite the shorter length, the SAT still measures the same college readiness skills—just more efficiently.
🏁 How to Practice Pacing
Since each module is individually timed, you can move around within a module but can’t return once it ends.
Some tips:
- Practice full-length tests in Bluebook, the official testing app
- Use a timer to simulate real conditions
- Learn how to budget time per question (≈1.2 mins RW / ≈1.6 mins Math)
👉 Need help with pacing? Read our Reading Section Time Management Strategies.
✅ TL;DR
- The digital SAT takes 2 hours and 14 minutes
- Two sections: Reading and Writing (64 min), Math (70 min)
- One 10-minute break
- Adaptive test format with two modules per section
📚 Keep Learning:
FAQ
How long is the SAT in 2025?
The SAT now takes 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete. This includes a 64-minute Reading and Writing section, a 10-minute break, and a 70-minute Math section.
How many questions are on the SAT?
There are 98 questions total: 54 in Reading and Writing, and 44 in Math.
Is the SAT shorter than it used to be?
Yes. The paper-based SAT used to take 3 hours. The digital SAT is shorter, more focused, and gives students more time per question.
Can I take breaks during the SAT?
Yes, there is one 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing and Math sections.
Is the SAT adaptive now?
Yes. Both sections use a multistage adaptive format, which adjusts the difficulty of the second module based on your performance in the first.
Do I get more time per question on the digital SAT?
Yes. On average, you get more time per question compared to the paper SAT, which allows you to focus more on accuracy than speed.
