Sat

Sat is a term that appears in multiple, unrelated uses in English and in acronyms.

In grammar, sat is the simple past tense and past participle of sit. It denotes a completed act of sitting in the past, as in the sentence “She sat by the window.”

In calendars and scheduling, Sat is a common abbreviation for Saturday. It is used in schedules, calendars, and informal writing to refer to the sixth day of the week in the commonly used Western convention.

As an acronym, SAT most often refers to the Scholastic Assessment Test, a standardized exam for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is administered by the College Board and is designed to assess reading, writing and language, and math skills. Scores are typically reported on a 400 to 1600 scale, combining the two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. The test has undergone redesigns over time; an optional essay portion was offered in the past but was discontinued in 2021. The SAT is commonly used in admissions decisions alongside or in place of other assessments such as the ACT.

Beyond these uses, Sat may appear in specialized or context-specific meanings, including as an abbreviation in certain technical fields or as part of proper names. In most cases, context clarifies whether Sat refers to a past tense verb, a calendar abbreviation, or the college-admissions test.