SAT, which is an acronym for Scholastic Assessment Test, is one of the most crucial exams to be undertaken by students to seek admission to the best undergraduate schools abroad. Presently, SAT is a pencil-paper test designed to evaluate the verbal, written, and mathematical skills of candidates.
Most of the colleges in the US and Canada will ask you to take up SAT to be eligible for their undergraduate courses. Also, many top schools offer SAT scholarships to students based on their SAT scores.
Moreover, since 2018, more than 45 prominent universities in India have started considering the SAT score for admission.
In essence, SAT is for all students aspiring to make it to the premier undergraduate schools abroad as well as in India.
Who can apply for SAT?
There is no set SAT exam eligibility criteria for appearing in the SAT test as per The College Board, which is the conducting body of the SAT. Nonetheless, the following pointers can help you understand when is the best time to apply for the SAT.
- Educational eligibility criteria
Students who aspire to apply for undergraduate studies abroad are required to have completed their high school education successfully before proceeding to the next step of learning.
- Age criteria
Students usually appear for this examination in class 11th or 12th or after they have finished high school and are aiming for undergraduate courses.
It has been observed that students within the age group of 16-19 years are among the highest test takers.
- How many times can you appear for the SAT?
In India, SAT is administered 5 times a year and students can appear for the SAT exam as many times as they want. But, typically students prefer taking the exam twice, once at the end of their junior year and then at the inception of their senior year.
SAT syllabus
The syllabus for SAT comprises four sections that intend to test the knowledge you have gathered over the years in school. The order of the sections is as follows:
- Reading Section
Number of Questions: 52
Time allotted: 65 minutes
This is a reading comprehension section entailing 5 passages, each followed by 10 to 11 multiple choice questions based on the given passages.
- Writing Section
Number of Questions: 44
Time allotted: 35 minutes
This section entails 4 passages, each followed by 11 multiple choice questions based on the given passages.
In this section, you need to find errors and fix the sentences to be grammatically and logically correct. Quintessentially, this section intends to assess your vocabulary, language, and grammar skills
- Maths Section
Number of Questions: 58
Time allotted: 80 minutes
This section can be further subdivided into Calculator and No-Calculator sections.
The Calculator section comprises 38 questions and the time allotted is 55 minutes, whereas the No-Calculator section entails 20 questions with 25 minutes allotted to the same.
- Essay (Optional)
Time allotted: 50 minutes
Although this section is optional, many students opt for it to demonstrate their strong language and grammar skills to prospective universities.
Note: Since there is no negative marking in the test, it is recommended to attempt all the questions within the given time frame.
SAT exam dates for 2023-2024
As far as 2023 is concerned, the exam was conducted on June 3 this year. And, the upcoming exam dates are anticipated as follows:
- August 26, 2023
- October 7, 2023
- November 4, 2023
- December 2, 2023
For the year 2024, the Spring School Year SAT exam dates are anticipated as follows:
- March 9, 2024 (Digital)
- May 4, 2024 (Digital)
- June 1, 2024 (Digital)
Note: For the present-day status of the test dates and available test centres for SAT, please visit the official College Board website.
SAT exam centres
The SAT 2023 exam centres are located across all the major cities in India.
| City/State | Test Centre | Address | Centre Code |
| Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad International School | Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, India | 63122 |
| Delhi Public School (DPS) | DPS School Bopal, Ahmedabad, India | 63113 | |
| Kanpur | Allenhouse Public School, Khalasi | 10/441, Khalasi Line (Gate No 3), Kanpur, India | 63262 |
| Mumbai | Anjuman Islam HS | Opp, Csmt (vt) Railway Station, Mumbai, India | 63108 |
| Bombay Teachers Training Cell | Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, Mumbai, India | 63107 | |
| Delhi Public School (DPS) | Palm Beach Marg, Sector 52, Navi Mumbai, India | 63103 | |
| Nahar International School | Nahar’s Amrit Shakti, Chandivali, Mumbai, India | 63223 | |
| Fravashi International School | Adjacement To Gangapur Dam Rest, Nashik Mumbai, India | 63198 | |
| Podar ORT International School | 68, Worli Hill Estate, Mumbai, India | 63104 | |
| NES International School | Opp Sardar Pratap Singh Garden, Mumbai, India | 63208 | |
| Kolkata | Assembly of God Church School | 125/1 Park Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, India | 63120 |
| Bangalore | Bangalore INTL School | C/o Bangalore International School, Bangalore, India | 63116 |
| Bishop Cotton Boys School | St Marks Road, Bangalore, India | 63100 | |
| Canadian International School | 4 + 20 Manchenahalli, Bangalore, India | 63377 | |
| Inventure Academy | Whitefield Sarjapur Road, Bangalore, India | 63132 | |
| The International School Bangalore | NAFL Valley, Whitefield – Sarjapur Road, Bangalore, India | 63123 | |
| Neev Academy | Sy # 16, Yemalur Kempapura Road, Bangalore, India | 63117 | |
| Bhopal | Billabong High International School | Beyond Bhadbhada, Bhopal, India | 63110 |
| Jodhpur | Bodhi International School | Shikargarh Mini Market Road, Jodhpur Rajasthan, India | 63219 |
| Kolkata | South City International School | 375 Prince Anwar Shah Rd, Kolkata, India | 63129 |
| Calcutta International School | 724 Anandapur, Kolkata, India | 63126 | |
| Pune | Mahindra International School | P26 Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Pune, India | 63232 |
| Mahindra United World College India | Village Khubavali, Po Paud, Pune, India | 63224 | |
| Cathedral Vidya SCH Lonavala | The Cathedral Vidya School, Village Shilatne, Po, India | 63233 | |
| University of Pune | Arts Faculty Building, Pune University, Pune, India | 63235 | |
| Hyderabad | Chirec Public School | 1-55/12, Kondapur, Kothaguda Post, Hyderabad, India | 63133 |
| Delhi Public School (DPS) | Plot 44, 42a Nacharam Mallapur Road, Hyderabad, India | 63152 | |
| Sreenidhi International School | Aziz Nagar Moinabad R R District, Hyderabad, India | 63149 | |
| The Gaudium School – Kollur Campus | Velimela Village, Ramachandrapuram, Hyderabad, India | 63248 | |
| Lucknow | City Montessori InterCollege | Vishal Khand -2, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, India | 63325 |
| Chennai | CPS Global School | The Road, Sh 50, Chennai, India | 63137 |
| Hiranandani Upscale School | 5/63, Old Mahabalipuram Rd, Padur Po, Chennai, India | 63245 | |
| Coimbatore | CS Academy Coimbatore | 262 Vlb Engineering College Road, Coimbatore, India | 63207 |
| Indore | Daly College Indore | Residency Area, Indore, MP, India | 63215 |
| Indore | Emerald Heights International School | Opposite Akashwani A. B. Rd, Rau, Indore, India | 63141 |
| Srinagar | Delhi Public School (DPS) | Athwajan, Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, India | 63260 |
| Ranchi | Delhi Public School (DPS) | Sail Township, P.o-dhurwa, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India | 63247 |
| Vijayawada | Delhi Public School (DPS) | Nh5 Nidamanuru, Vijayawada, India | 63226 |
| Surat | Fountainhead School | Opp Ambetha Water Tank, Kunkni Gam, Surat, India | 63266 |
| Gurgaon | Lancers International School | DLF Phase – V, Sector 53, Gurgaon, India | 63160 |
| GD Goenka World School | G. D. Goenka Education City, Sohna, Haryana, India | 63159 | |
| Pathways World School | Pathways World School Aravali, Gurgaon, India | 63157 | |
| Ooty | Good Shepherd International School | Good Shepherd Knowledge Village, Ootacamund, India | 63222 |
| Ludhiana | Harvest International School | Jassowal-kular, Ludhiana, India | 63216 |
| Dehradun | Hopetown Girls’ School | Rajawala Road Selakui, Dehradun, India | 63142 |
| New Delhi | Metro Delhi International School | Aipf Campus, Mission Hospital Rd, New Delhi, India | 63213 |
| JVSD Girls Senior Secondary School | D-2 Jhandewalan Extension, Karol Bagh, New Delhi, India | 63210 | |
| Jaipur | Jayshree Periwal International School | Mahapura Sez Road, Jaipur, India | 63165 |
| Neerja Modi School | Shipra Path Manasarovar, Jaipur, India | 63221 | |
| Kodaikanal | Kodaikanal International School | Seven Roads Junction, Kodaikanal, India | 63166 |
| Ajmer | Mayo College | Sri Nagar Road, Ajmer, India | 63136 |
| Bhubaneswar | Mother’s Public School | Unit-I, Beside Indoor Hall, Bhubaneswar, India | 63114 |
| Vadodara | Navrachana International School | Vasna-bhayali Road, Vadodara, Gujarat, India | 63148 |
| Raipur | N.H. Goel World School | Vidhan Sabha Road, Raipur, India | 63244 |
| Visakhapatnam | Oakridge International School | NH-16, Behind HP Petrol Bunk, Visakhapatnam, India | 63337 |
| Rajkot | P V Patel Smarak Trust Galaxy School | C/o. S N Kansagra Sch, University Rd, Rajkot, India | 63154 |
| Noida | Pathways School Noida | Ssc-2 Sector-100, Noida, India | 63205 |
| Cochin | Sacred Heart College | Thevara-Cochin-13, Cochin, India | 63130 |
| Bhubaneswar | Sai International School | 5-a Chandaka I.e., Infocity Rd, Bhubaneswar, India | 63119 |
| Bhilwara | Sangam School Of Excellence | NH-79, Chittorgarh Bypass Rd, Bhilwara, India | 63121 |
| Guwahati | Sanskriti The Gurukul | Vill Gugh Ahomgaon Po Garchuk, Guwahati, India | 63150 |
| Old Goa | Sunshine Worldwide School | 20/1- B, off NH-4a, Bypass, Old Goa, Goa, India | 63230 |
| Erode | The Indian Public School | Senapathipalayam, Erode, India | 63227 |
| Suri | The Levelfield School | Husnaad, Suri, India | 63267 |
| Gwalior | The Scindia School | The Scindia School, Fort, Gwalior, India | 63206 |
| Calicut | The White School International | Hilite Knowledge Village, Parammal, Calicut, Kerala, India | 63333 |
| Aurangabad | Wockhardt Global School | E-1/NP-1, Sez, Five Star Industrial, Aurangabad, India | 63241 |
| Mussoorie | Woodstock School | Tehri Road, Mussoorie, India | 63190 |
| Madurai | Vikaasa World School | Oomachikulam Alanganallur Rd, Madurai, Tn, India, India | 63269 |
How to prepare for SAT?
Nearly 1.4 million students appear for the SAT every year. So, if you aspire to get into the best undergraduate university abroad, you must start preparing as early as possible to score an edge over your peers.
The following are a few key tips to help you excel in the exam.
- SAT preparation is all about perfecting your high-school knowledge and acquiring a deeper perspective on the relevant topics through diligent practice.
- Apart from the prescribed syllabus, you must also focus on reading non-fiction viz. newspapers and magazines on a daily basis to help you master reading the long passages during the actual exam.
- Use flashcards to improve the recall during SAT preparation.
- Practice test questions across all the sections regularly and constantly evaluate your progress.
- During the last month, make sure you indulge in rigorous revision and keep appearing for mock tests to get a hang of the actual examination.
How SAT coaching can help you score better?
If acing the exam is your target, it is recommended you resort to SAT coaching from a coaching institute of good repute.
The best coaching institute can create the perfect journey map for you to improve the chances of your selection into some of the best foreign institutes.
In a reputed coaching institute, you can focus on all the sections of the syllabus in a systematic way, you get access to the latest test content, and you can resolve your doubts at the earliest.
You can also opt for online SAT coaching for many compelling reasons as follows:
- You can avert exhaustion and the time wasted on commuting, and learn from the comfort of your home.
- You can leverage the best study material, practice a multitude of test questions and access the class recordings at your convenience.
- Doubt resolution can be done quickly and on a personal level.
- Self-assessment becomes easy as you know where you and your peers stand, which will further motivate you to study harder.
If you are considering online SAT coaching, LilacBuds can be your companion to help you attain your goals.
LilacBuds is India’s digital-first global study abroad consultant driven to empower students for gaining the best global education possible.
Their team of adept tutors and mentors can design the perfect study map for you, cover the syllabus in a structured manner, give you a rigorous practice of the test questions, and provide personalized attention and doubt resolution to help you score well. It doesn’t end here!
The mentors at LilacBuds provide end-to-end guidance, right from preparing for the test, to profile building to shortlisting the best schools to seeking admission in the best possible university assenting to your SAT score. Good luck!
