A Comprehensive Guide For SAT Exam

The opportunity to study abroad in countries like the USA and Canada has been an aspiration for many. It not only does give one's career a boost but also helps open up a whole new world. So how does one get into the prestigious American and Canadian universities? One of the alternatives is to appear for the SAT exam. It is a standardized test accepted internationally for admissions into reputed institutions in US and Canada. The Scholastic Assessment Test abbreviated as SAT is primarily used for admissions into undergraduate courses. It is a 3-hour long test and is known to be conducted approximately 7 times annually. The fees for the test vary depending upon the country and can be anything between USD 52.50 to USD 101.50. Additional charges may apply if you are taking the test outside the United States. 

Eligibility, Registration, And Exam Pattern

The SAT exam has no major eligibility requirement and the students can easily register online. However, the only exception here is that students in the age bracket of 12 years and below need to apply by mail. In order to register online one must create a student profile on College Board’s website. It is a non-profit private organization in the United States that owns SAT. Once you have filled in all the requisite information select a test and the test center. Lastly, upload a clear front-facing photograph and after that make the necessary payment. The mode of payment can be either a credit card or through your PayPal account. Once you have finished completing all the formalities take a print of the admission ticket. 

For registering by mail the first step is to request an SAT registration booklet either from the College Board or any counselor. The next step is to mail the filled-in application form to the below-mentioned address. 

College Board SAT Program

P.O. Box 7502

London, KY 40742-7502

If you wish to register by mail the payment can be made either via cheque or money order. Apart from the age criteria, you have to register by mail if you wish to take the test on a Sunday or at a center closer to home. Also registration through the mail is mandatory if you are doing so through an SAT international representative. 

The duration of the exam is 3 hours and 50 minutes and it comprises four components. The first one is the Reading test comprising of 52 questions the next is the Writing and Language test with 44 questions, then there are 58 questions related to Mathematics. Other than these there is the fourth component which is an essay. It is an optional component since it is required only by a select few colleges. Students can take this up if the college they wish to apply to falls in the category. 

The SAT Result

Once the exam is conducted the scores or the results are released after three weeks of the exam date. It can be accessed via your college board profile. A typical SAT score report would include marks scored in each question, sectional score, and the total score as well. Apart from this it also reflects the overall percentile scored by the student. Once the scores are received one can forward it to the colleges they are eligible to apply to via phone or mail. As per the rules, up to four score reports can be sent for free. If it exceeds the said limit additional charges would apply for the same.