If you've seen older SAT prep materials, admissions guides, or college application checklists mentioning an "SAT Essay" section, you've encountered something that no longer applies to most test-takers. Here's the full picture.
What Was the SAT Essay?
For many years, the SAT included an optional Essay section added at the end of the test. It asked students to read a persuasive passage and then write an analysis of how the author built their argument — evaluating the use of evidence, reasoning, and stylistic elements. It was scored separately from the rest of the SAT on three dimensions (Reading, Analysis, Writing), each scored 2–8, for a maximum of 8/8/8. The Essay scores did not factor into the 400–1600 composite score.
Some highly selective universities previously required or strongly recommended the Essay; others ignored it entirely. The inconsistency in how it was used made it a source of significant confusion for applicants.
Why Was It Discontinued?
College Board announced the discontinuation of the optional SAT Essay in January 2021 and stopped offering it at weekend test centres that same year. The reasoning included low and declining uptake among students (since it was optional and many colleges didn't require it), limited evidence that it added meaningful information beyond what the rest of the SAT already measured, and a broader move to simplify the test experience.
The Current Status
The SAT Essay does not exist for standard test administrations. The Digital SAT — which launched fully in 2024 — has no Essay component. The test is 2 hours and 14 minutes of Reading and Writing and Math, with no writing section of any kind.
There is a narrow exception: in some US states where the SAT is administered on a school day as part of a state-mandated assessment programme, an Essay may still be included as a state requirement. This applies only to domestic US school-day testing in specific states — it does not apply to international test-takers sitting the SAT at test centres in India or elsewhere.
For Indian Students
If you are an Indian student registering for the SAT at an international test centre in India, there is no Essay component. Your test is Reading and Writing and Math — 2 hours 14 minutes total. You do not need to prepare for an essay, practice timed writing, or factor any essay score into your preparation targets.
Any SAT prep resource that includes substantial essay preparation content was likely written before 2021 and is outdated on this point. Focus your preparation time on the Reading and Writing and Math sections.
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Take the Free Practice Test →Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an essay on the Digital SAT?
No. The Digital SAT does not include an essay section. The test consists of Reading and Writing and Math only, for a total of 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Did any US colleges require the SAT Essay?
Some previously did, but since the Essay has been discontinued, no college can currently require it. If you see an older guide mentioning essay requirements, that information is outdated.
Should I prepare for any writing section on the SAT?
The Reading and Writing section tests grammar, rhetoric, and reading comprehension through multiple-choice questions — not through free-response writing. There is no timed writing or essay to prepare for on the current Digital SAT.