SAT is a standardized test administered by the College Board and is required to be taken by students seeking admission to undergraduate schools. The full form of SAT is the Scholastic Assessment Test, which was earlier known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test. SAT exam has been developed to evaluate the written, verbal and mathematical skills of the candidates. Applicants aspire to pursue undergraduate courses, particularly in the US and Canada, are required to take the SAT exam.
SAT Subject Test
Conducted by the College Board, SAT 1 or more commonly referred to as the Scholastic Assessment Test is required to be taken by students seeking admission to undergraduate schools. SAT 1 is a general test that has been developed to evaluate the written, verbal and mathematical skills of the candidates. SAT 2, on the other hand, is a more subject-focused test. Students looking to get admission to a particular course are required to take the SAT Subject Test to demonstrate their knowledge of that particular subject.
Age Limit to Appear for SAT
Candidates should be informed that there is no minimum or maximum age criteria fixed for students wanting to appear for the exam. General studies have shown that students belonging to the age group of 17 to 19 are among the highest to appear for SAT.
Number of Times One can take SAT Exam
There are no restrictions set by the College Board, students can take the SAT exam as many times as they want.
Educational Eligibility Criteria for SAT
There are no specific eligibility criteria set by the College Board, the body that conducts and manages the SAT exam. However, it can be taken by students who are in high school. Students who want to apply for undergraduate studies abroad are required to have successfully completed their high school education to move to the next level of their learning.
Skills Requirement
SAT exam analyses Mathematical, Critical Reading and Writing skills of the candidates. According to the College Board, they test the skills which students have learned in their schools. They test the skills which are required for the academic success of the students in college.
In case of Cancelling SAT Exam
Candidates should note that no matter how early you cancel your SAT Test, you would not be entitled to a full refund. Candidates who have registered for the exam and are required to cancel the same would be eligible for a $10 refund if the candidate cancels the test 5 days in advance.
Candidates are required to pay an extra fee of $30 for SAT Exam date change. They are required to log into their SAT account and put in a request for a date change.
SAT Exam Fees
Candidates looking to appear for their SAT are required to pay a fee for the same. Candidates can check out the detailed SAT Fee levied below:
- The fee for only the SAT exam is $47.50 + Non-U.S. Regional Fee. Non-U.S. Regional Fee for students giving SAT Test in India is $49, so the total SAT fee is $96.50.
- The fee for the SAT exam with Essay is $64.50 + Non-U.S. Regional Fee. So, the total fee for the SAT exam with Essay is $64.50 + $49 = $113.50.
- For subject tests, candidates have to pay an additional $26 as a basic subject test fee.
- For SAT subject tests, some additional fee might be required.
SAT Cancellation Fees
Canceling your SAT Registration is an expensive affair and students are always advised to go for a date change rather than canceling the exam entirely. Candidates should keep in mind that Registrations cannot be refunded later than five days before test day, and candidates are only refunded $10 whether they have opted for SAT or the SAST along with Essay.
SAT Rescheduling Fees
Candidates who are looking to change their SAT Test Centre or SAT Test Date or changing between the SAT and SAT Subject Tests or vice versa are required to pay an extra $30 to avail similar services.
Fee-waiver for SAT
Students belonging to the 11th and 12th grade in the US or US territories are eligible for SAT Fee Waiver. US Citizens residing outside the country can also get their fee waived off. However, SAT Subject Test fee waivers are available for students in grades 9-12.
The Best Time to Give the SAT Exam
The SAT Exam is held multiple times round-the-year. Students looking to appear for their SAT are advised to choose an exam date 3-4 months before their application deadline, to avoid any last minute error. Candidates can choose from the various SAT Test centres located across major cities in India.
SAT Syllabus
SAT syllabus includes course the students have already studied in their school over the years. So if you are good at studies at school, you should not have any issues preparing for the SAT Syllabus. The syllabus includes:
1. Writing Section
- SAT writing has three sections
- Essay section – 25 mins
- Multiple choice sections – 25 mins and 10 mins
2. Critical Reading Section
- SAT contains three critical reading sections
- Reading comprehension – 25 mins
- Sentence completions – 25 mins
- Paragraph-length critical reading – 20 mins
3. Math Section
- SAT contains three Math sections
- Algebra and functions – 25 mins
- Geometry Statistics – 20 mins
- Probability and Data analysis – 20 mins
SAT Exam Pattern
Number of Questions: 154
Duration: 3Hrs with 50mins of extra time allotted for Essay (optional)
Total Score: 1600
SAT Scores
The SAT is divided into two sections, Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. These two sections are scored on a 200-800 point scale, for a maximum total score of 1600. SAT Subject Test scores are measured on a scale of 200 to 800. There are additional sub scores reported on a 20-80 scale. The scores of a student reflect on how he/she is compared with other students who have appeared for the test. Visit SAT Score Reporting for a detailed understanding of how scores are calculated in SAT.
A Good SAT Score for Colleges
An average SAT score is around 1000. Anything above 1200 is considered a good SAT score. The maximum anyone can score on the SAT is the perfect score of 1600. Since you receive scaled scores, you should have some understanding of SAT scaled scores and percentiles.
SAT Score Validity
The SAT scores are valid over a period of 5 years, until or unless there has been a change in the criteria for SAT. Candidates mostly do not use their SAT scores till five years or so. They usually take new tests and then they apply to the desired colleges. Students can also order an additional copy of their scorecards for the purpose of sending it to more colleges and can pay a sum of $ 9 (433.224 INR).
SAT Result
The scoring for SAT is evaluated out of 2400 (from 600 to 2400). Subject wise scores range from 200 -800, where 200 is the minimum and 800 is the maximum score. The scores for the exams are available after 3 weeks of taking up the examination. Colleges have different criteria for selecting students on the basis of their scores.
Good to Know Information
Validity of SAT
- The validity of SAT score is for a period of 5 years, from the day of the declaration of SAT result.
Age Criteria
- There is no specific age criteria laid down by The College Board for appearing for SAT exam. However, since SAT is for admission to undergraduate programs, candidates are advised to appear for their SAT while in standard 11 or 12.
SAT Exam pattern in the US and Asia
- The SAT examination held in the US and Asia would be in English and contains the exact number of questions. However, “The College Board” uses different versions of the test in a single day.
Admission through SAT scores in Indian Colleges
- All Indian Universities that are affiliated with the India Higher Education Alliance, introduced by The College Board are accepting SAT scores for admissions.