Digital SAT: 5 Crucial Steps To Pause Time On Your Bluebook Practice Test (And Why You Must Not On Test Day)

The ability to pause your Bluebook practice test is a feature intentionally included by the College Board, but it comes with a critical caveat. As of December 2025, the Bluebook application allows students preparing for the Digital SAT to save their progress and exit the practice test, effectively pausing the timer, which is a lifesaver for scheduling flexibility. However, understanding *how* to use this feature—and more importantly, knowing why it is strictly different from the real exam—is essential for effective preparation. This article provides the definitive, up-to-date guide on how to pause your practice test using the Save & Exit function, details the specific pause feature for students with accommodations, and lays out the crucial differences between practice and the actual test day to ensure your preparation is realistic and effective.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Pausing the Bluebook Practice Test

The Bluebook app is designed to mimic the real Digital SAT experience, but it offers more flexibility during practice. The standard method to pause a practice test is not a traditional "pause button" but rather a Save & Exit function. This allows you to stop the current session and resume exactly where you left off at a later time.

1. The Standard Pause: Using 'Save & Exit'

This is the method used by the vast majority of students taking one of the official full-length practice tests on the Bluebook app.

• Step 1: Locate the Menu. While in the middle of a section on your practice test, look for the 'More' menu or the settings icon (often three dots or three lines) in the top corner of the screen.
• Step 2: Select 'Save & Exit'. Within this menu, you will find the option to Save & Exit the practice test. This action immediately stops the timer and saves your progress, including all answers you have marked and the current question you are viewing.
• Step 3: Confirm and Close. Confirm your choice. The Bluebook application will close the test session.
• Step 4: Resume Later. When you log back into the Bluebook app and navigate to the Practice and Prepare section, you will see your saved practice test listed with a Resume option. Clicking this will place you back in the test exactly as you left it, with the remaining time on the clock.

Crucial Tip: While the feature exists, the College Board strongly recommends taking at least one practice test in one sitting under timed conditions to accurately simulate the pressure and fatigue of the actual test day.

2. The Accommodation Pause: The Dedicated 'Pause' Button

For students who have an approved College Board accommodation for breaks as needed, the Bluebook app provides a dedicated and timer-stopping Pause feature. This is a significant distinction from the standard test experience.

• Before Starting: You must have already selected your accommodations (e.g., Break as Needed) before launching the practice test. This setting is usually chosen during the initial setup or configuration of the practice session.
• The Location: If accommodations are active, a dedicated Pause feature will appear directly below the timer on your screen during the test.
• The Function: Selecting this option will stop the clock entirely, allowing you to take your necessary break without losing testing time. This feature is specifically tied to the approved accommodation.

The Critical Difference: Practice vs. The Real Digital SAT

This is the most important section for any student preparing for the Digital SAT. The ability to pause the *practice test* is a preparation tool, but it is not available in the same way on the *actual* exam. Failing to understand this distinction can lead to lost time on test day.

The Real Digital SAT: Unscheduled Break vs. Pause

On the actual Digital SAT, the Bluebook application manages time strictly. There are two types of breaks:

1. Scheduled Breaks (Timer Stops)

After the first module of the Math section, all students receive a mandatory, scheduled 10-minute break. The test timer stops completely during this break.

2. Unscheduled Breaks (Timer Continues)

If you need to take a break at any other time during a section (e.g., for a restroom visit), you can go to the More menu and select Unscheduled Break. Crucially, the test timer will keep running while you are away. You will lose valuable testing time.

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The only exception to the timer running during an unscheduled break is for students with the pre-approved breaks as needed accommodation. For these students, the dedicated Pause button stops the clock. For everyone else, the clock runs.

Advanced Time Management Strategies for the Digital SAT

Since pausing is not an option on the actual exam, effective time management is the most vital skill to master during your preparation using the Bluebook app. You must learn to manage your time at the module-level to succeed.

Mastering the Clock on Test Day

• The One-Minute Rule: A common strategy is to allocate roughly one minute and a half per question for the Reading and Writing module, and slightly more for the more intensive Math questions. If a question is taking significantly longer, you must know when to move on.
• Analyze Your Timing Patterns: Use the full-length practice tests on Bluebook to analyze where you typically slow down. Are you spending too much time on a specific question type (e.g., geometry or context-based reading)? Pinpoint these weaknesses and practice them in isolation.
• Practice Under Timed Conditions: Even though you *can* pause the practice test, commit to taking the final 2-3 full-length tests in a single, uninterrupted sitting. This builds the stamina and mental discipline needed for the actual exam.
• Get Comfortable with Desmos: The built-in Desmos graphing calculator is a major time-saver for the Math section. Practice using its features extensively so you don't waste precious seconds trying to figure out the interface on test day.

By using the Save & Exit feature responsibly for scheduling convenience, but committing to rigorous, timed practice, you will ensure you are fully prepared for the strict timing of the Digital SAT exam. Remember: the Bluebook app is your training ground, but the real test demands uninterrupted focus and efficient use of every second.