SCHOLASTIC ASSESSMENT TEST (SAT)

 What is the SAT?

The SAT standing for Scholastic Assessment Test is a standardized college admission test which is conducted by the College Board. It is generally used by colleges and universities to evaluate a student's readiness for undergraduate level study. The SAT checks a student's skills in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Rather than testing their knowledge of a particular school curriculum, they assess the skills such as reading comprehension, grammatical proficiency, data analysis, algebra, and problem solving.

 

Who takes the SAT? 

The SAT is mainly taken by high school students willing to apply to undergraduate degree programs, particularly to universities in the United States. Students also take the SAT to apply to universities in other countries that consider SAT scores during admissions. 

Students take the SAT: 

• For applying to universities abroad or in the United States, that require SAT scores. 
• To strengthen that university application. 
• To get certain merit-based scholarships.
• To complement school grades.

Students following different curriculum such as CBSE, CISCE, state boards in India, IB, Cambridge IGCSE, A Levels, American curricula, and other international curricula can take the SAT exam. There is no specific educational qualification imposed as a prerequisite for registering for the SAT exam by the College Board. But the students should check the admission requirements of each university they are willing to apply, because SAT policies differ between universities.

 

Where are SAT scores accepted?

SAT scores are accepted by many international universities, but are primarily used for undergraduate admissions in the United States. Students should always check the university’s admission requirements before applying because acceptance policies differ by university, program and applicant’s educational background.

Some of the countries where SAT scores are accepted-

United States- Harvard University, Stanford University, Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, Cornell University, University of New York, University of Michigan, etc.

Canada- University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Waterloo, and more.

United Kingdom- Oxford University, Cambridge University, Imperial College, King's College London, and more. Some of the universities accept SAT scores of students who follow US curriculum. The SAT scores alone are not sufficient for students from CBSE or CISCE boards.

Australia- Melbourne University, Australian National University, University of Sydney, etc.

Singapore- National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University, etc.

European countries - Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, France and more. (University examples- Amsterdam University, Bocconi University, Trinity College Dublin, etc.)

Middle East countries- United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. (University examples- New York University in Abu Dhabi, Qatar University, etc.)

Asia - Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand. (University examples- University of Hong Kong, Waseda University, Keio University, etc.)

 

SAT Exam Format

The SAT is conducted digitally for both U.S. and international students. It comprises of two sections-

• Reading and Writing section
• Math section

 

Students get 64 minutes to complete the reading and writing section and 70 minutes to complete the math section, which sums up for total 2 hours and 14 minutes. There is a 10-minute break in between the sections. The two sections include two equal-length modules, the first of which is a combination of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on your performance in the first module, questions of the second module will be either more difficult or less difficult.

Section	Time	Questions
Reading & Writing	64 minutes	54 questions
Mathematics	70 minutes	44 questions
Total	134 minutes	98 questions

 

Reading & Writing Section

Students are evaluated on:

Reading Comprehension

• Main idea
• Vocabulary in context

 

Grammar

• Sentence structure
• Punctuation
• Verb Agreement
• Pronouns

 

Information & Ideas

• Understanding passages
• Interpreting data

 

Mathematics Section

• Algebra
• Linear equations
• Inequalities
• Functions

 

Advanced Math

• Quadratic equations
• Polynomial functions
• Exponential functions
• Non-linear equations

 

Problem Solving & Data Analysis

• Ratios
• Percentages
• Statistics
• Probability
• Graph interpretation

 

Geometry & Trigonometry

• Angles
• Circles
• Triangles
• Area and volume
• Right triangle trigonometry

Questions from Maths section are mostly MCQ-based but few are in SPR (Student Produced Response) format which means that options will not be given to choose from as is done in MCQ format. In SPR, the students have to solve and directly enter the answer of the given question.

 

Is calculator allowed during examination?

Yes, students can bring an approved calculator or use the built-in Desmos graphing calculator that is available in the testing application.

 

SAT Scoring

Section	Score Range
Reading & Writing	200–800
Mathematics	200–800
Total Score	400–1600

 

How to register for SAT?

Create a College Board account- Visit the College Board's official website and create an account using the personal information required. Students already having an account can simply log-in to their account.

Select exam date and location- Select a date and a test centre within the options available. Students have to register early to get preferred test centres.

Upload your recent photo- Upload your recent photo that should be according to the College Board’s photo requirements.

Payment- Pay the SAT exam registration fee online using an available payment method and complete your registration process. International students may have to pay additional fees.

Download your confirmation details- Once registration is complete, download your registration confirmation document, then take out a hard copy and carry it along on the SAT exam day.

 

How to check SAT results?

• Log into the official SAT student score portal by entering the required credentials.
• There, you can see your last SAT score displayed on the screen.
• If you want to view your performance insights in details, choose the score summary.
• Make sure to save the score report and attach it with the bachelor's degree application.