SAT
Used for undergraduate admission and merit scholarships at US universities. It is also accepted by many universities in Canada, the UK, Australia and Singapore, and by several Indian private universities.
Eligibility
It is open to school students, generally in Class 9-12. There is no minimum score or subject requirement. There is no limit on attempts, and most students sit it two or three times. Colleges using 'superscoring' combine your best section scores across sittings. Indian students need a valid passport as ID.
Age limit: No age limit (test-takers 21+ face some restrictions on centre testing)
Exam pattern
The digital test is taken on the Bluebook app at a test centre and lasts 2 hours 14 minutes. Reading and Writing has two modules of 32 minutes each, with 54 short-passage questions in total. Math has two modules of 35 minutes each, with 44 questions in total (about 75% multiple choice and 25% student-produced response). It is adaptive by module: how well you do in module 1 decides how hard module 2 is. The total score is 400-1600, with each section scored 200-800. There is no negative marking, and the built-in Desmos graphing calculator is available for all of Math. Scores are released within about two weeks.
Syllabus at a glance
Reading and Writing covers Craft and Structure (words in context, text structure, cross-text connections), Information and Ideas (central ideas, evidence, inferences, including from graphs and tables), Standard English Conventions (grammar and punctuation) and Expression of Ideas (transitions, rhetorical synthesis). Math covers algebra, advanced maths (quadratics, functions, exponentials), problem-solving and data analysis, and geometry and trigonometry, at roughly Class 10-11 CBSE/ICSE level.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Registration deadline for 7 Nov 2026 SAT (late registration/changes until 27 Oct) | 23 Oct 2026 | confirmed |
| SAT test date | 7 Nov 2026 | confirmed |
| SAT test date (registration deadline 20 Nov 2026) | 5 Dec 2026 | confirmed |
| SAT test date (registration deadline 19 Feb 2027) | 6 Mar 2027 | confirmed |
| SAT test date (registration deadline 16 Apr 2027) | 1 May 2027 | confirmed |
| SAT test date (registration deadline 21 May 2027) | 5 Jun 2027 | confirmed |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- The Official Digital SAT Study Guide – College Board
- The Critical Reader: Digital SAT Edition – Erica L. Meltzer
- The College Panda's SAT Math – Nielson Phu
- Princeton Review Digital SAT Premium Prep – The Princeton Review
- Barron's Digital SAT Study Guide Premium – Brian W. Stewart
How toppers play it
- Module 1 decides whether you reach the harder module 2, and only the harder module gives access to 700+ section scores. Be careful and accurate in module 1 rather than fast.
- Master the built-in Desmos calculator. Many algebra, systems and quadratic questions can be solved by graphing in seconds.
- With no negative marking, answer every question. For grid-in answers, check the entry rules for fractions and negatives.
- In Reading and Writing, the passages are short and each question stands alone. Do grammar (Conventions) questions quickly to bank time for inference and Rhetorical Synthesis questions.
- Plan for two sittings, for example October/November of Class 12 for US Early Action deadlines (1 Nov) or December for Regular Decision. Register early, as centres in Indian cities fill quickly.