SAT, is one of the most crucial exams to be undertaken by students to seek admission to the best undergraduate schools abroad. Though the SAT was originally a pencil-paper test designed to evaluate the verbal, written, and mathematical skills of candidates, presently the SAT is fully digital.
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, the SAT is for all students aspiring to make it to the premier undergraduate schools abroad as well as in India.
Who can apply for the 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, the SAT is administered 7 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 digital SAT comprises two sections that intend to test the knowledge you have gathered over the years in school. The order of the sections is as follows:
- Reading & Writing Section
Number of Questions: 54
Time allotted: 64 minutes
The reading and writing section tests the ability to understand and analyze texts, identify main ideas, support arguments effectively, and utilize proper grammar. The section is divided into two 32-minute modules.
- Maths Section
Number of Questions: 44
Time allotted: 70 minutes
The Math Section consists of algebra, advanced math, problem-solving and data analysis, geometry, and trigonometry. The usage of a calculator is allowed throughout this section. There are mainly MCQs but for 25% of questions, the students have to fill in the answers. The math section is divided into two 35-minute modules.
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 2024-2025
As far as 2024 is concerned, the exam is about to be conducted on March 9 this year. And, the upcoming exam dates are anticipated as follows:
- May 4, 2024
- June 1, 2024
- August 24, 2024
- October 5, 2024
- November 2, 2024
- December 7, 2024
For the year 2025, the SAT exam dates are anticipated as follows:
- March 8, 2025
- May 3, 2025
- June 7, 2025
- August 23, 2025
- October 4, 2025
- November 1, 2025
- December 6, 2025
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 2024 exam centres are located across all the major cities in India.
Location |
SAT Test Center | Address |
SAT Test Center Code |
Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad International School | Judges Bungalow Road Opposite Rajpath Row Houses Bodakdev Ahmedabad – 380 0540 | 63122 |
Delhi Public School | NH 5 Nidamanuru Opposite Best Price Vijayawada Andhra Pradesh – 521 104 | 63113 | |
Kanpur | Allen House Public School | 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 | |
Aditya Birla World Academy | Vastu Shilp Annexe Gamadia colony JD Road Tardeo Mumbai Maharashtra – 400 007 | 63189 | |
Cathedral and John Connon School | 6 Purushottamdas Thakurdas Marg Fort Mumbai Maharashtra – 400 001 | 63185 | |
Jamnabai Narsee School | Narsee Monjee Bhavan7 North-South Road JVPD Scheme Hatkesh Society | 63191 | |
Singapore International School | Mumbai On National Highway No. 8 Post Mira Road Next To Thakur Mall Dahisar East | 63192 | |
Amritsar | Spring Dale Senior School | Fatehgarh Churian Road Amritsar – 143 001000 | 63238 |
Bangalore | Bangalore International School | Gedalahalli Hennur Bagalur Road Kothanur Post Bengaluru – 560 077 | 63116 |
Bishop Cotton Boys School | 15 Residency Road Bengaluru – 560 025 | 63100 | |
Canadian International School | 4 & 20 Manchenahalli Yelahanka Bengaluru – 560 06400 | 63377 | |
Ebenezer International School Bangalore | Singena Agrahara Road Via Huskur Road / A.P.M.C. Yard Huskur P.O Electronic City | 63118 | |
The International School | NAFL Valley Whitefield – Sarjapur Road Near Dommasandra Circle Bengaluru – 562 125 | 63123 | |
Bhopal | Billabong High International School & Kangaroo Kids | Beyond Bhadbhada Neelbad Bhopal – 462 04400 | 63110 |
Bhubaneshwar | Mother’s Public School | Unit 1 Bapuji Nagar Bhubaneshwar – 751 00900 | 62114 |
SAI International School | Plot-5A Chandrasekharpur Infocity Road Bhubaneswar – 751 0240 | 63119 | |
Chandigarh | Strawberry Fields High School | Sector 26 Chandigarh – 160 019000 | 63139 |
Chennai | Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School | 1 Anderson Road Cochin House Chennai – 600 0060 | 63134 |
CPS Global School | 63137 | ||
Anna Nagar Campus | A 80 IIIrd Avenue Anna Nagar Roundtana Anna Nagar East Chennai – 600 102 | – | |
Thirumazhisai Campus | Thiruvallur High Road SH 50 Off Ponamallee Motel Highway Thirumazhisai Chennai – 600 124 | – | |
Cochin | Sacred Heart School | Thevara Pandit Karuppan Rd Thevara Ernakulam | 63130 |
Delhi NCR | Pathways School | Sector 100 Noida – 201 301 | 63205 |
Gujrat | Navrachana International School | Vadodara Vasna-Bhayali Road Vadodara – 391 41000 | 63148 |
Gurgaon | Pathways School | Gurugram Faridabad Road Gurugram – 122 003 | 63146 |
Pathways World School | Aravali Off Gurugram Sohna Road Gurugram – 122 102 | 63157 | |
St. Michael’s Senior Secondary School | Shivpuri Sector 7 Gurugram – 122 00100 | – | |
Heritage Experiential Learning School | Sector 62 Gurgaon – 122 011 | 63156 | |
Guwahati | Sanskriti – The Gurukul | Village Gugh Ahomgaon P.O. Garchuk NH – 37 Opp ISBT | 63150 |
Hyderabad, Telangana | Sreenidhi International School | Near AP Police Academy Near Appa Junctiion Aziznagar Moinabad Hyderabad | 63149 |
Uniti Foundation | Paigah Plaza702 Palace Colony Rd Basheer Bagh Hyderabad | 63153 | |
Oakridge International School | Nanakramguda Road Cyberabad Khajaguda Manikonda Hyderabad | 63147 | |
Delhi Public School Hyderabad | Survey No 74 Khajaguda Village Golkonda Post Hyderabad – 500 0080 | 63152 | |
Jaipur | Jayshree Periwal International School | Mahapura Rd Narayan-Y-Block Mahapura Rajasthan – 302 0260 | 63165 |
Kodaikanal | Kodaikanal International School | Seven Roads Junction Club Road Kodaikanal Tamil Nadu – 624 1010 | 63166 |
Kolkata | La Martiniere Calcutta for Boys | 11 Dr. U. N. Brahmachari Street (Loudon Street) Elgin Kolkata West Bengal – 700 017 | 63131 |
South City International School | 375 Prince Anwar Shah Rd South City Complex Jadavpur Kolkata | 63129 | |
United States – India Educational Foundation | The American Center 38A Jawaharlal Nehru Road Kolkata West Bengal – 700 071 | 63127 | |
Assembly of God Church School | 125 Park St Mullick Bazar Taltala Kolkata | 63120 | |
Lucknow | City Montessori School | 12 Station Road Lucknow00 | 63325 |
Maharashtra, Pune | Symbiosis International School | Gate No. 3 Symbiosis Viman Nagar Campus Off. New Airport Road Viman Nagar | 63234 |
UWC Mahindra College | Village Khubavali P.O. Paud Taluka Mulshi Pune Maharashtra – 412 108 | 63224 | |
Savitribai Phule Pune University | Ganeshkhind Pune Maharashtra – 411 00700 | – | |
Sohana, Haryana | G. D. Goenka World School | G.D. Goenka Education City Sohna-Gurgaon Road Sohna – 122 10300 | 63235 |
Mohali | Learning Paths School | Plot No 3 Sector 67 Behind Niper Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar Punjab – 160 062 | 63239 |
Mussoorie | Woodstock School | Tehri Road Landour Near Landour Community hospital Mussoorie Uttarakhand – 248 179 | 63190 |
New Delhi | United States India Educational Foundation | 12 Hailey Rd Hamdard Nagar Vakil Lane Connaught Place | – |
Ooty | Good Shepherd International School | Ooty Good Shepherd Knowledge Village M. Palada Post Nilgiris Ooty | 63222 |
Surat | Fountainhead School | Opp. Ambetha Water Tank Kunkni Gam Rander-Dandi Road Olpad Surat | 63266 |
Trivandrum | Trivandrum International School | Edackode P.O Korani Kerala – 695 1040 | 63331 |
Vijayawada | Delhi Public School | NH 5 Nidamanuru Opposite Best Price Vijayawada Andhra Pradesh – 521 104 | 63226 |
Visakhapatnam | Oakridge International School | Nanakramguda Road Cyberabad Khajaguda Manikonda Hyderabad | 63147 |
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 passages during the actual exam.
- Use flashcards to improve 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 to gain 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 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!