History of the SAT

The SAT turns 100 next year! While it might seem hard to believe, given the modern version of the test students get today, the SAT predates sliced bread (1928), the ballpoint pen (1931), and TV (1927). And while the name is the same, the test has changed substantially in both its purpose and content areas. In order to understand where the test is going, it’s important to know its history– so let’s take a look at the SAT’s history!

College Board Exams Before the SAT

Before the SAT existed, the path to college was much more individualized– and much more elitist. Each institution created its own entrance exams, meaning a student applying to multiple schools might face several different tests. This system favored students from elite preparatory academies, where teachers tailored instruction toward those specific exams. 

Colleges acknowledged these problems, and in response, the College Board was created in 1889. It established a nationally administered set of standardized essay tests that were based on the curricula of those elite preparatory schools, where most students attended either the Ivy League or the Seven Sisters. While this meant that there was now a test that could be studied, it was still out of reach for most students. 

1926: The First SAT

The first SAT was administered in 1926 to just over eight thousand students. The early SAT focused on vocabulary and analogies, designed to measure innate ability rather than learned knowledge. Harvard was one of the first universities to adopt the test widely, using it to identify promising students from across the country who might not have attended elite preparatory schools.

However, the test’s origins were not without controversy. Early standardized testing was explicitly used to justify racial exclusion and biased theories about intelligence. But what the SAT actually showed, even in its early days, was that there was no basis for this exclusion–  environmental and educational factors shaped performance, not race or sex. 

This realization helped shift the SAT’s purpose away from ranking innate ability toward evaluating academic readiness and creating an academic meritocracy. This theme of accessibility and overcoming bias has been part of the SAT’s iterative process since its earliest days. 

The Growth of the SAT

By the 1940s and 1950s, the SAT had become a central part of college admissions. The Second World War and the postwar period accelerated this transformation. The G.I. Bill opened college doors to millions of returning veterans, making higher education far more accessible. To handle the surge in applicants, colleges needed a common measure of readiness, and the SAT provided it.

In the early years, the SAT was part of a larger suite of College Board tests. There were originally nine separate subject exams, ranging from Latin to physics, but over time, the SAT’s reasoning test became the flagship. By the 1960s, millions of students were sitting for the exam each year, and it was firmly established as a rite of passage for college-bound students in the United States. 

Modernizing the SAT

The 1970s found the SAT under increasing scrutiny from educators. Critics argued that standardized tests favored students from wealthier backgrounds who could afford preparation and that the questions reflected cultural biases. In response to these debates, the SAT underwent significant changes in the late 1970s and 1980s. 

The main changes came about in the questions, which became less culturally specific and began to reflect the skills actually needed for college success. The test also became more transparent, publishing guides and sample questions to help students understand what to expect and better prepare for the test.

The Beginning of the Modern Era 

By the 1990s, the SAT looked more like the test students recognize today. In 1994, the College Board introduced a revised format that eliminated antonym questions, added longer reading passages, and incorporated more advanced math. The verbal section was renamed “Critical Reading,” and calculators were allowed on the math section for the first time. These changes reflected the evolving expectations of high school curricula and the growing emphasis on analytical thinking.

In 2005, one of the biggest changes in the SAT’s history arrived: the introduction of the Writing section. This new component included an essay scored on an 800-point scale, bringing the total possible score to 2400. The essay required students to craft a short argument in response to a prompt, testing clarity, organization, and command of language.

The new Writing section was designed to better reflect college-level communication skills, and many universities initially welcomed it. However, over time, studies showed that essay scores did not reliably predict college performance in the same way that standardized testing did. The additional section also increased testing time, leading to concerns about fatigue and test anxiety. While the 2400-point version remained in place for a decade, it became clear that the format needed refinement to balance comprehensiveness with fairness.

The Pandemic Years 

In 2016, the SAT reverted to a 1600-point scale, removing sentence completion questions and refocusing on evidence-based reading and writing. The optional essay remained until 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything.

With schools closed and testing centers shuttered, millions of students faced cancellations and uncertainty. Colleges temporarily suspended test requirements, and “test-optional” admissions policies became widespread. The College Board responded by discontinuing the SAT Subject Tests and retiring the essay entirely. These shifts reflected both logistical realities and growing debates about how standardized tests fit into equitable admissions practices.

The pandemic forced the testing world to adapt quickly. Remote learning accelerated digital transformation, and the College Board began developing a fully digital SAT. This new version aimed to maintain reliability while reducing barriers for students across the world.

The SAT in the Digital Age

Today’s SAT looks dramatically different from its early predecessors. The digital test, introduced globally in 2024, is shorter (about two hours instead of three) and adaptive, meaning question difficulty adjusts based on performance. The content still emphasizes reading comprehension, grammar, and math reasoning, but it now draws on more relevant and diverse material. Passages are shorter, and the math section allows an on-screen calculator for all questions.

Students take the test on laptops or tablets, using College Board’s secure Bluebook app. Scores arrive faster, and digital testing enables more flexible scheduling and security measures. The adaptive format aims to provide a more personalized testing experience while maintaining consistent standards across test-takers.

The Future of the SAT 

Despite challenges to the SAT, it is firmly entrenched in the college application process– and while no test is perfect, the SAT’s come a long way from its early days. From its origins in IQ testing to its current role as a digital tool for assessing readiness, the SAT has adapted to reflect changing ideas about fairness, opportunity, and what it means to measure academic potential. As it turns 100, the test remains a key part of the college admissions conversation; proof that even a century-old exam can continue to evolve with the times.

If you’re one of the nearly 2 million students preparing to take the SAT this year, you’re preparing for a place in history! It’s students like you who made the SAT what it is, and thanks to an ever-increasing demand for transparency, comprehensive preparation is within reach. If you want to feel more confident and comfortable going into the test, Prep Expert® can help. We have SAT prep courses for every test date, all taught by top 1% instructors who know the exam inside and out. Whether you’re taking the test for the first time or aiming to boost your score, our proven approach can help you perform at your best.