image

SAT Exam 2023: Dates, Registration, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus, Preparation, Results & Score

SAT is a standardized test offered by the College Board. The Scholastic Assessment Test, also called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, is the Full form of the SAT.

The College Board administers the SAT as a requirement for admission to undergraduate programs abroad, particularly in the US. The SAT is an MCQ exam that is taken on paper and pencil. Five weeks before the exam date, SAT registration can be completed. Candidates must pay $109 for the SAT exam, which includes the regional charge. 

School Board SAT is administered seven times a year, depending on the location, and at least five times a year in most nations. Evidence-based reading and writing, math, and an optional writing portion make up the two core sections of the SAT. 

In 3 hours, candidates must respond to 154 questions. The 400–1600 range of the SAT is frequently used for undergraduate program acceptance.

Simply said, the SAT is a challenging test. The candidate must sit for four hours and respond to all the math and English questions. While some questions are straightforward, others are highly intricate. 

The hardest part of the SAT is the Critical Reading section.  A strong command of English is the primary criterion for the SAT exam. In contrast, the SAT's ideas from the 10th grade and the formulas are also provided on the question sheet.

Why take SAT Exam?

The SAT is essential for various reasons when applying to college programs.  Here are a few reasons you should take the SAT exam:

  • Few graduate colleges provide students SAT scholarships based on results.
  • College Board SAT scores are requested on some employment applications.
  • The SAT excludes difficult science sections that may be simpler for students without a science background.
  • Candidates have more time on the SAT for math, writing, and English than they do on the ACT.
  • The SAT preparation solely covers high school arithmetic topics.
  • On test day, the SAT represents the math formulas.
  • On the SAT, there is no penalty for incorrect answers.
  • The SAT essay resembles a commentary on a particular subject.
  • For undergraduate entrance, most elite US universities demand SAT scores.
  • When comparing the costs of the SAT and ACT exams, the SAT exam costs less.

SAT Exam: Purpose

The purpose of the College SAT exam is to evaluate students' high school-level math, reading, and writing skills to determine their eligibility for admission to college programs overseas. Here are some advantages:

  • enhance your English-speaking abilities
  • Your understanding of mathematics is enhanced.
  • SAT results can help students to be eligible for scholarships.
  • The SAT's costs are not too high compared to other entrance examinations.

Types of SAT

There are two types of SAT. They are SAT 1 and SAT 2. 

Students applying to undergraduate programs must take the SAT 1, often known as the Scholastic Assessment Test, which the College Board administers. The SAT 1 is a generic test designed to assess applicants' written, verbal, and mathematical abilities. 

The SAT 2 is an exam that is more subject-specific in comparison. To prove their proficiency in a given subject, students applying for admission to a particular course must take the SAT Subject Test. 

The College Board will no longer offer SAT Subjects starting in June 2021. Aspirants only need to take the SAT 2022 now to be admitted to their preferred UG program.

SAT: Eligibility Criteria

The College Board has not established any rigid eligibility requirements for the SAT. Candidates must pass the test to be considered. Both Citizenship and a passport are required for SAT eligibility. A picture, a name, and a signature should be on it. Any tattered, soiled, worn, or otherwise flawed document won't be accepted. 

The following minimum requirements must be met by anyone who wishes to take the SAT:

Educational Qualification

  • There are no formal educational requirements to take the SAT exam. Students in high school who desire to apply for undergraduate studies overseas to advance to the next level of their education can take the SAT.

Age Criteria

  • There is no upper or lower age limit for applicants to the College SAT. High school graduates are eligible to apply for the SAT. According to research, individuals between the ages of 17 and 19 are most likely to take the SAT.

Recent Changes in SAT Exam 

SAT test results are now optional at several institutions and colleges. The SAT is turning digital in the upcoming years. SAT will be digitized for everyone by 2024. 

The SAT exam will be given by Proctor in testing facilities and will be graded out of 1600. SAT The SAT exam specifications no longer include subject tests but are exclusively for American students. 

The following are a few additions to the SAT:

  • The test will last two hours instead of three.
  • Various topics for reading comprehension
  • Calculator use in the Quant section
  • Additional time between questions and sections
  • Results are available quickly and in a few days.

SAT: Exam Fees

The additional requirements of the candidates affect how much the Sat exam costs. For SAT exam costs and additional service charges, see the table:

Test

Fee

SAT

$109

SAT with Essay

$117

Late registration

$30

Change in Registration

$30

SAT Registration fee

$60 along with a regional fee of $49

SAT Test Centre change

$25

Cancel SAT Registration

$25

Additional Score Report

$12 per report

Rush Report

$31

Scores on the phone

$15 per call

Archived score

$31

SAT question and answer service

$16

SAT student answer service

$16

Hand score verification

$55

Each SAT Subject Test (Except Language Tests with Listening)

$22 additional per test

Language Tests with Listening (Only available in November)

$26 additional per test

SAT: Exam Cancellation Fees

SAT exam cancellation can occur when the applicant is unwilling to take the test on a specific day and is reluctant to reschedule. If so, they can simply cancel their test by failing to show up. The College Board will immediately disregard the results of that candidate. SAT registration cannot be canceled five days before the scheduled test. A partial refund of $10 will be given if registration is canceled. Processing of refunds begins six weeks following the test date.

SAT: Rescheduling Fees

Through the official College Board account, applicants can modify their SAT exam date. Candidates must cancel their SAT registration after registering for the revised exam date because it is no longer necessary. Before the standard change deadline, candidates must pay $28; after the regular change deadline, they must pay $35. Rearranging SAT exam dates is not subject to any time constraints.

Registration for SAT 2022

The SAT website offers online, postal, and phone registration options. The SAT registration period is open all year round. Those who didn't make the late deadline date can sign up for the waitlist. They have developed three strategies that institutions might use to assist candidates:

  • extending the deadlines for sending scores;
  • fair treatment of applicants who were unable to take the test owing to COVID-19 and equal consideration of them alongside those who were able to;
  • Taking into account applicants who could only take the exam once.

SAT: Online Registration

  • To apply, candidates must register on the College Board website.
  • Once the profile has been created, complete the application form by entering your contact information, such as your phone number and email address, as well as your personal and high school information.
  • establish a Student Profile next.
  • choose the test and test location
  • Upload a clear passport-size photo.
  • Pay with a credit card or PayPal.
  • Save the printed entrance ticket for later use.

SAT: Registration by Mail

  • Candidates must ask a counselor or the College Board for the SAT Student Registration Booklet.
  • Complete the application form.
  • Candidates must mail the application to College Board SAT Program P.O. Box 7502 London, KY 40742-7502 using the registration envelope and include a check or money order for the application fee.

Exam Dates for SAT 2022-23

This year, there are only a few SAT exam dates left. The problem is somewhat complicated because most graduate programs don't require the SAT. The most frequent query among applicants looking for SAT exam dates 2022 is "Does 2022 require SAT?" It should be mentioned that while most foreign universities have made the SAT exam optional, the scores will still be considered if submitted. 

Here is the information on the SAT exam dates for the 2022-23 session after looking at the official SAT website. It should be noted that the SAT exam dates listed below are only for candidates who do not currently reside in the United States or one of its union territories. For that, see the table below:

SAT Exam Dates

SAT Exams Available

October 1, 2022,

SAT Test

SAT Subject Test

December 3, 2022,

SAT Test

SAT Subject Test

March 11, 2023,

SAT Test

May 6, 2023,

SAT Test

SAT Subject Test

June 3, 2023,

SAT Test

SAT Subject Test

SAT: Exam Pattern 

The SAT 2022 is a paper-and-pencil, offline exam.

The College Board SAT lasts for three hours. SAT exam with essay lasts for three and a half hours. The college exams include the SAT Reading test, Writing and Language test, and Math test with and without a calculator.

The optional SAT essay portion and its outcome are assessed separately. Some colleges demand it. The SAT score range is 400 to 1600.

Section

Time in Minutes

Number of Questions

Time per question

SAT Reading

65

52

75 seconds

SAT Writing and Language

35

44

48 seconds

Math No-Calculator

25

20

75 seconds

Math Calculator

55

38

77 seconds

Essay (optional)

50

1

-

Total

3 hours, 50 minutes (3 hours without essay)

154 (+1 essay prompt)

-

SAT: Exam Syllabus 

The SAT plays a significant part in determining a candidate's academic aptitude. The two most popular SATs are the General and Subject tests.

Students who want to be admitted to undergraduate universities typically take the SAT General Test. It evaluates a candidate's written, verbal, and mathematical abilities.

The 20 SAT topic tests are further broken down into 5 categories. These SAT themes are further divided into more specific categories. The different SAT Subjects comprise

  • SAT Mathematics
  • SAT Languages
  • SAT Science
  • SAT Literature,
  • SAT History 

SAT: Score

On a scale from 200 to 800, the SAT exam is graded for each section. The aggregate scores from each component make up the final SAT score. The maximum SAT score is 1600, or 800 plus 800. A different score is awarded if the test's essay portion is taken. Three categories—Reading, Analysis, and Writing—make up the SAT essay score, which ranges from 2 to 8. The SAT Score Calculator scales the raw SAT score according to predetermined guidelines. The average SAT score is 1000.

For 2022, a score of 1510 or higher is regarded as the 99th percentile or highest score. An excellent SAT score for a candidate falls between 1200 and 1210, or in the 75th percentile.

A 1600 SAT score is the highest one may achieve. A 400 on the SAT is the lowest possible score. Thus, the Math section score plus the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion score make up the entire SAT score. Consequently, each SAT part is given a score between 200 and 800.

SAT: Range of Score

TheSAT score ranges for each component are listed below:

SAT Scores

Details

SAT Score Range

Total SAT Score

Sum of Math and EBRW

400 – 1600

Sectional Scores

EBRW, and Math

200 – 800

Test Scores

Reading, Writing, and Language, Math

10 - 40

SAT Essay (Optional Essay)

Reading, analysis, and writing

2 – 8

Cross-test scores

Analysis in history/social studies/science focused on specific questions of EBRW and Math

10 – 40

Subscores

Reading and Writing and Language: Command of Evidence and Words in Context. Writing and Language: Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions. Math: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving, and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math.

1 – 15

SAT: Validity of the Score

  • Although SAT scores technically have no expiration date and are valid indefinitely, many universities do not accept scores that are more than five years old. So, you might consider retaking the SAT if your scores are more than five years old.

SAT: Exam Preparation

  • Reading: Since the SAT exam consists of four to five lengthy readings, reading comprehension is a bigger priority throughout the preparation. Look through the newspapers and periodicals. Concentrate on powerful adjectives to aid in your understanding of implications. Examine SAT sample questions to obtain a sense of the question format.
  • Intellectual Math: The individual should take part in SAT practice exams and work on their mental math skills. Manage your time to complete math SAT practice tests.
  • Eliminating Techniques: Research online to learn effective elimination techniques for SAT exams. Finding the incorrect answers can occasionally be more straightforward than finding the right ones. Candidates will become knowledgeable enough to weed out the bad ones. Candidates can use various techniques from SAT online tutoring to raise their scores.
  • Collect Reliable SAT Study Materials: Candidates must study from reliable resources that provide information about the SAT exam, such as the Official SAT Study Guide 2020 Edition, Barron's books, vocabulary flashcards, and others.
  • Recognize Rhetorical Questions: Rhetorical reading questions make up a small portion of the SAT. Examining these questions' structure, development, and presentation will help candidates learn how to respond to them. Consider how the writing furthers the author's intention.
  • Coaching for the SAT is offered online and offline by several institutions. Candidates can choose an SAT coaching program based on the costs, scheduling, and amenities offered. For your convenience, a few are mentioned in the table below.
  • Practice the SAT mock test to better understand time management. Time can be wasted on passage-related questions. As a result, during the preparation phase, practice a sufficient number of SAT exam questions.
  • Focus on Strengths and weaknesses: By completing online SATs, concentrate more on your weak areas. The candidate will gain a better grasp of their areas of weakness.
  • Create an SAT Study Guide: Work within your schedule to create an SAT study guide. Calculate the commute time, whether you are coaching or going to school. Spend more time studying for the SAT on the weekends.
  • Focus on SAT Vocabulary: To correctly respond to the evidence-based reading and writing section, learn new SAT vocabulary from flashcards daily. Online, candidates can access various flashcards for SAT vocabulary preparation. Candidates can learn new terms through SAT online coaching while preparing.
  • Remember to Bring a Watch or Timer: The SAT centers may not always have a reliable timer. Therefore, having your own is a must at all times. Use a timer to practice your SAT mock test.
  • Choose a reading plan: Discover the ideal reading method for taking an SAT course. Is it reading the questions first or just skimming them? You can use a variety of SAT practice tests to develop a reading approach.

SAT: Exam Books

The following is a collection of SAT exam preparation books that will make it simple for you to understand the concepts behind the SAT exam's subjects:

  • The College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide(2006) 
  • Barron’s SAT, 29th Edition
  • The Princeton Review's Cracking the SAT, 2020 Edition 
  • Kalli’s SAT Pattern Strategy 
  • Kaplan SAT Prep Plus 2021
  • McGraw Hill Education SAT Elite 2021 Edition

SAT: Test day checklist

  • Updated admission ticket
  • Acceptable photo ID
  • Face covering masks
  • Accepted calculator
  • Two no. 2 pencils along with erasers

SAT: FAQs

IS SAT difficult?

The SAT is simple for students who have done exam preparation well in advance. The test may be more challenging for some students due to time constraints, new concepts, and slow passage reading. The SAT is easier than some other tests because of predictable patterns, the lack of memory requirements, and multiple-choice questions.

 What is a good SAT score?

A score between 1300 and 1500 (Math: 650 to 750, Reading/Writing: 650 to 750) is considered to be good. Students with SAT scores between 1330 and 1520 are listed as accepted by colleges like Emory University, with an acceptance rate of 25.2%.

How much is the Exam Fee for SAT?

The exam fee for GMAT is $60.

How many times can you take the SAT?

The SAT can be taken as many times as the student desires.

Is 1200 a good SAT score?

A 1200 SAT score is just over the average, with the average SAT score being 1059.

Share On