--- title: How Long Is the SAT With Breaks? · PrepScholar description: How long is the SAT test exactly, with and without breaks? Find out how many hours the SAT is to prepare correctly. image: https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/360031/body_satintro.jpeg --- **[![PrepScholar](https://www.prepscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PrepScholar-Logo-Colored.png)](https://www.prepscholar.com/)** CALL NOW: [+1 (866) 811-5546](tel:18668115546) [![Start Free Trial](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/360031/interactive-171805697634.png)](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKJluK2NyG3jpAJh%2F2lClc1fhnVHyMZoQonqRxtJngB8FMX6lc78F84JqOaVAL0d36TA5%2FYuH%2FLCJw8AG3ewREi%2F7a3XDouZgjxWfYCBUge6z76KnSykOxONl3avMK0gUjJGpJdyJE2BDTx8g3bsgHwMtx4Kr9Jfh6Jr7WA2XEIgtLw1OoVvAMo4Kw%3D&webInteractiveContentId=171805697634&portalId=360031) ## Choose Your Test SAT Prep ACT Prep [PrepScholar Advice Blog](https://blog.prepscholar.com/) ☰ - Search Blogs By Category - [SAT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/sat) - [ACT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/act) - [College Admissions](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/college-admissions) - [AP and IB Exams](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/advanced-placement-ap) - [PSAT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/psat-info-and-strategies) - [TOEFL](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/toefl) - [GPA and Coursework](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/coursework-gpa) # [How Long Is the SAT With Breaks?](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-long-is-the-sat-with-breaks) ![author image](http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/360031/author_lauren.png) Posted by [Dora Seigel](https://blog.prepscholar.com/author/dora-seigel) | Updated on August 14, 2024 [SAT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/topic/sat)   ![body_satintro](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/body_satintro.jpeg?width=202&name=body_satintro.jpeg) The SAT is a marathon that takes up your whole Saturday morning. But exactly how long is it? **How long is the SAT with breaks? How long is it with the Essay section? Without it?** This article gives the answers to these questions and also offers a few key tips on how to use SAT breaks to your advantage on test day.   ## What Is the Total Time for the SAT Plus Essay Test? **Including breaks, the SAT is exactly four hours and seven minutes long.** This time includes all sections (Reading Test, Writing and Language Test, Math No Calculator Test, Math Calculator Test, and [optional Essay](https://blog.prepscholar.com/should-i-take-the-sat-essay)) as well as all breaks. Here is the exact breakdown of time by section: | **Section** | **Order on Test** | **Total # of Questions** | **Total Time (Minutes)** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Reading | 1 | 52 | 65 | | ***Break 1*** | ***2*** | ***—*** | ***10*** | | Writing and Language | 3 | 44 | 35 | | Math No Calculator | 4 | 20 | 25 | | ***Break 2*** | ***5*** | ***—*** | ***5*** | | Math Calculator | 6 | 38 | 55 | | ***Break 3*** | ***7*** | ***—*** | ***2*** | | Essay (Optional) | 8 | 1 | 50 |   There are three breaks throughout the test. There is a **10-minute break** after the Reading section and a **five-minute break** after the Math No Calculator section. For these two breaks, you can leave the room, use the restroom, eat a snack, etc. However, for the final break, which is after the Math Calculator section, you're given **just two minutes** to stretch next to your desk; you may not leave the room at this time.   ![body_lookwatch.jpg](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/body_lookwatch.jpg?width=145&name=body_lookwatch.jpg "body_lookwatch.jpg") *Use a watch to keep track of your time!*   ## What If You're Taking the SAT Without the Essay? If you're taking the SAT without the Essay, the order and timing of the test are the same, except you'll leave right after the Math Calculator section and will not stay for the Essay. **The total time for the SAT without the Essay (with breaks) is three hours and 15 minutes.** Here is the SAT without Essay chronological timing breakdown: | **Section** | **Order on Test** | **Total # of Questions** | **Total Time (Minutes)** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Reading | 1 | 52 | 65 | | ***Break 1*** | ***2*** | ***—*** | ***10*** | | Writing and Language | 3 | 44 | 35 | | Math No Calculator | 4 | 20 | 25 | | ***Break 2*** | ***5*** | ***—*** | ***5*** | | Math Calculator | 6 | 38 | 55 |   ## How to Use SAT Breaks to Your Advantage The breaks always come after the **1st, 3rd, and 4th sections, so use them to recharge.** Move, stretch, use the restroom, drink water, and eat energy-packed foods. Bananas are great! If you need help picking a snack, we've got a [list of 11 excellent ones](https://blog.prepscholar.com/best-sat-snacks). It can be hard on your body to sit for so long, so definitely use the breaks to move around. Also, remember that **the breaks get shorter as the test continues.** The second break is your last chance to use the bathroom or grab a snack before almost two more hours of testing, so be sure to use it!   ![body_satbanana](https://360031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/360031/hubfs/body_satbanana.jpeg?width=189&name=body_satbanana.jpeg) *Minions are awesome.*   ## What’s Next? **Preparing for the SAT?** You should read [our free ultimate SAT study guide](https://blog.prepscholar.com/the-ultimate-sat-study-guide-for-sat-prep). 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She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography. ## Ask a Question Below Have any questions about this article or other topics? 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The Graduate Management Admissions Council® does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with, the owner or any content of this website. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Dora Seigel", "url" : "https://blog.prepscholar.com/author/dora-seigel" }, "dateModified" : "2024-08-14T17:04:22+00:00", "datePublished" : "2017-12-21T04:00:00+00:00", "description" : "How long is the SAT test exactly, with and without breaks? Find out how many hours the SAT is to prepare correctly.", "headline" : "How Long Is the SAT With Breaks?", "image" : "http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/360031/body_satintro.jpeg", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-long-is-the-sat-with-breaks", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.prepscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PrepScholar-Logo-Colored.png" }, "name" : "PrepScholar" } } ```