Is the SAT essay still required?

    No. The SAT essay was discontinued in 2021 and is no longer part of the SAT. The Digital SAT has no essay component at all.

    Current status

    The SAT essay is gone. The Digital SAT has exactly two sections — Reading & Writing and Math — and no essay.

    Why it was removed

    College Board retired the essay in 2021. Colleges had stopped requiring it, and research showed it didn't add meaningful information beyond the writing portions of the rest of the test.

    What this means for your prep

    Do not leave this answer as background knowledge. Connect it to a practice decision: what to drill, when to test, how to pace a module, or how to interpret a score report.

    • If the answer is about timing or format, test it in a timed module.
    • If the answer is about scoring, run your current numbers through the score calculator.
    • If the answer is about tools or calculator policy, practice the relevant Math question type immediately.

    How to use this answer

    1. Turn the answer into one concrete prep decision: drill a skill, take a timed module, or update your score target.
    2. If the answer changes your strategy, test that strategy in the question bank before your next full module.
    3. Review the result immediately so the page becomes part of your prep loop, not just something you read.

    Common mistakes

    • Reading SAT rules without changing practice behavior.
    • Taking another full test before reviewing the last one.
    • Practicing broad mixed sets when a narrow skill drill would fix the issue faster.

    Use this answer

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