Prepare a School-Managed Windows or Apple Device
If you’re testing on a school-managed Windows laptop or tablet, Mac laptop, or iPad, start getting ready early because you’ll need someone at your school to install Bluebook and adjust device settings.
IMPORTANT: Ask for help at school before test day—you probably won’t have the permissions you need to fix issues on test day, and test day staff won’t either.
Who Should Follow These Instructions
Take action now if one of the following is true:
- You’re using a school-managed Windows or Apple device to take SAT Weekend.
You’re using a school-managed Windows or Apple device to take AP Exams, SAT School Day, or PSAT assessments at a test center or a school you don’t attend.
If you're taking AP Exams, SAT School Day, or PSAT assessments at the school you attend, the school is responsible for preparing school-managed devices and you don’t need to keep reading.
What Your School Needs to Do
Your school should refer to Device Readiness info for IT for instructions. Complete a form, and we'll ask them to help you.
Check the device to make sure it complies with all hardware and software requirements.
Download Bluebook on your testing device if you can’t do it.
Make sure Bluebook is allowed to auto-update and that all other required settings are applied.
What You Need to Do: Device Check
Make sure your device meets requirements and practice using Bluebook.
Open Bluebook.
Click Test Your Device. Get help at school if you need to.
Sign in to Bluebook with your College Board account. If you’re taking SAT School Day or a PSAT assessment, you can use a sign-in ticket instead. Your school can give you one.
Check all test information on your homepage.
Practice using Bluebook on your testing device and try out any accommodations you’re approved for.
To make sure you can connect on test day, take your device somewhere other than your school and home network and connect to Wi-Fi.
5 Days Before Test Day: Verification and Exam Setup
Verify your personal information and—if you’re taking SAT Weekend—generate your admission ticket.
Connect to the internet.
Close and reopen Bluebook to make sure you have the latest version.
Sign in to Bluebook.
To avoid issues during check-in, make sure the personal information on your homepage is accurate and matches your ID.
If you’re taking SAT Weekend, complete exam setup and generate your admission ticket.
Follow the instructions in the email we send you 5 days before the test.
If you’re taking SAT Weekend or AP Exams, memorize your College Board account credentials.
You can’t test without them, and Bluebook won’t save them.
Test Day Morning: Final Check
To avoid the most common issues that prevent testing, take these steps before leaving for your test center or school.
Connect to the internet.
Close and reopen Bluebook.
Click Test Your Device to make sure your device still has enough free space.
Sign in.
Check your homepage for last-minute messages and updated test site information.
Charge your battery.
FAQ
What should I do if I have trouble preparing my school-managed device for Bluebook testing?
Ask for help at school or complete a form and we’ll ask them to help you.
What is a school-managed device?
A school-managed device is owned and managed by the school you attend. It might be assigned to you all year or it might be one you borrow. These are not devices provided at the test center.
SAT Weekend: You must bring a testing device with you to the test center; it can be a school-managed device or a personal device. If you don’t have one, you can request a device from College Board.
AP Exams, SAT School Day, or PSAT-related assessments: If you take one of these exams at a school you don’t attend, or at a test center, you’ll probably need to bring a testing device with you. It can be a school-managed device or a personal device. Contact the host school or test center if they haven’t shared information with you
What happens when I click Test Your Device in the Bluebook app?
When you click Test Your Device, Bluebook checks the operating system, memory, and free space. It also identifies some settings that prevent successful testing. You’ll find out if you need to:
Update your operating system.
Clear space.
Use a different device, one with more memory.
However, a few rare but prohibited settings that prevent testing can’t be checked before test day. These are most common in school-managed devices, so if you’re using one to take SAT Weekend it’s especially important to ask for help at school. Complete a form, and we'll ask for you.
If the device doesn’t have enough memory, you can’t test on it. Try another device or request a device for SAT Weekend from College Board.
What if Windows warns me about Bluebook?
If you launch Bluebook soon after an update is released, you might be interrupted by a message that Windows protected your device. This is normal Windows behavior and does not mean bluebook is unsafe.
Students with a school-managed device should ask for help at school if they experience this issue.
If you see the warning message, click More info > Run anyway to proceed. This is a one-time step.
If you can’t click Run anyway:
- Open the folder containing the downloaded file.
- Right-click the file and select Properties.
- Check Unblock on the General tab.
- Click OK.
- Run the file.
Resources
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