SAT Exam 2025: Registration, Test Dates, Centres, Fees, Eligibility, Score & Results

The Scholastic Aptitude Test, also known as SAT, is one of the widely recognised standardised test scores for admissions to undergraduate degrees abroad. SAT evaluates high school students based on reading, writing, and math. The test is conducted every year by the College Board. Each year, more than 25000 take the SAT exam. Over 40 Indian universities now accept the SAT as a standardised test for admissions. About 85 countries and 3,000 institutions accept SAT scores across various academic streams, including Arts, Commerce, and Science. Indian students taking the SAT exam have to pay a total fee of $111 (INR 9,670), which includes the SAT registration fee for the year 2025 is $68 (INR 5924), plus a $43 (INR 3746) international fee. The SAT exam 2025 is a multiple-choice, computer-based test that is scored on a scale of 400-1600.

The SAT exam is divided into two main sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. It includes a total of 98 questions, with 54 questions in the Reading and Writing section and 44 questions in the Math section. Students are allotted 64 minutes to complete the Reading and Writing section and 70 minutes for the Math section, making the total test duration 2 hours and 14 minutes (or 134 minutes). Each section is divided into 2 equal-length modules, and there is a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing section and the Math section. The first module of each section contains a broad mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on how you perform on the first module, the second module of questions will either be more difficult or less difficult.

Why Should You Take the SAT?

SAT exam is the most popular entrance test that high school students take who want to take admissions in colleges abroad. In 2024, more than 1.97 million high school students took this test. Taking the SAT is strong evidence that you're ready for college and have what colleges are looking for. Here are a few benefits of taking the SAT exam:

• Nearly an hour shorter than traditional standardized tests
• More time per question, allowing for deeper focus

  Built-in graphing calculator available during the Math section

• Shorter reading passages make reading tasks more manageable
• SAT has no negative marking for wrong answers.
• SAT prep includes only high school Maths topics.
• SAT improves your numerical knowledge.
• Few grad schools grant SAT scholarships to Indian students based on their SAT scores.
• The majority of top USA colleges require SAT scores for undergraduate admission.

SAT Exam Overview

The SAT exam is offered in a fully digital format worldwide, making it more accessible. You have a total of 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete the SAT Test. Test-takers can bring and use the device they are most comfortable with, such as their laptop, tablet, or a school-issued Chromebook, which is a convenience to the students.

How to Register for the SAT Exam?

The most important decision while registering for the SAT exam is to decide when and where you want to take the test. So students must first decide when and where they want to take the SAT and then register online. The registration process takes about 30 minutes. The following are some basic instructions to be followed while registering for the SAT Exam:

• Check SAT Test Centres

Start by checking SAT center locations near you. Since seat availability can vary by location, it's better to explore multiple centers. You will see real-time seat availability during the registration process.

• Choose Your SAT Test Date

Select a test date that aligns with your academic schedule. Most students take the SAT for the first time in the spring of their 11th grade and retake it in the fall of 12th grade to improve their scores.

• Sign In or Create a College Board Account

To register, you must have a free College Board account. If you already have one, simply sign in. If not, you can create a new account on the official College Board website.

Note: Only the student can complete the registration. Parents, guardians, or school counselors cannot register on behalf of the student.

• Complete Your SAT Registration Online

Once logged in, enter your personal information, select your test date and preferred center, and upload a photo that meets the College Board's guidelines. Make sure all details are correctly filled out to avoid any issues on test day.

Different Ways to Register for the SAT Exam

You can register online from the SAT website, by mail, or by phone. The easiest way to sign up for the SAT is to register online. Before you register, make sure you have a photo and a form of payment.

Online SAT Registration:

• Candidates need to create a profile on the College Board website.
• After the profile is created, fill out the application form by providing Personal Information, High School Information, and Contact Information, like mobile number, email ID.
• Then create a Student Profile
• Select the Test and Test Center
• Upload a clear passport-size photograph
• Use a credit card or PayPal for payment
• Print the admission ticket for future reference

SAT Registration by Mail:

Candidates need to register by mail if:

• Requesting testing closer to home
• Requesting Sunday testing for the first time
• Paying by check or money order
• Younger than 13 years old
• Not able to upload a photograph
• Registering through an SAT international representative

To Register by Mail:

• Students need to request the SAT Student Registration Booklet from a counselor or the College Board
• Fill out the application form
• You must mail the form along with a check or money order for the application fee using the registration envelope to:

  College Board SAT Program

  P.O. Box 7502

  London, KY 40742-7502.

SAT Exam Fees 2025

For indian students SAT registration fee is $68 (INR 5924), plus a $43(INR 3746) international fee. Additional fees are charged for the following services. All additional fees related to SAT testing are the same regardless of whether students choose to test inside or outside the United States.

SAT Payment Methods

The college board does not accept cash for registration fees. Students must pay the fee before the SAT exam registration deadline to avoid late registration fees. You can pay SAT registration and other fees with these methods:

• Credit card: American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, and JCB.
• PayPal: If you don’t have a PayPal account, create one before you register. Payment through PayPal isn’t available in Ghana.

How to Cancel the SAT Exam?

If you want to cancel your SAT Exam, you can do so in your My SAT account. If you decide to cancel your SAT registration, you can receive a full refund of the registration fee as long as the cancellation is made by 11:59 p.m. ET, before test day. However, a cancellation fee will still apply. If you cancel before the change deadline, the cancellation fee is $29 (₹2,509). If you cancel after the change deadline but before 11:59 p.m. ET, the fee increases to $39 (₹3,374). If you cancel your registration and later choose to take the test on that same date, you’ll need to register again and pay the full fee.

How to Reschedule the SAT Exam?

If, in certain cases, you want to reschedule your SAT Exam dates, you can do that. You can change registration information or test dates after you register. To change the test date, you must cancel and register for a new test. The following table shows the instructions if you want to change one or more details in your registration

SAT Photo Requirements

Students have to upload their photo as part of the registration while filling out the form. On test day, test center staff will compare the photo to your photo ID to ensure security. If the photo you upload doesn't meet the listed requirements, you won't be allowed to test:

• You can take a photo using a digital camera or smartphone.
• You can also upload a photo from your device, Facebook, or scan a paper photo.
• Accepted file formats include JPEG, GIF, or PNG.

  You must be recognizable in the image.

• You should be the only person in the photo.
• The photo must include your head and shoulders in full view.
• Your entire face, both eyes, and hair must be visible.

  Head coverings worn for religious reasons are allowed.

• The photo should be in focus, with no blurriness.
• Make sure there are no dark spots or shadows on your face.
• Black-and-white photos are also acceptable.

Your SAT Photo Will Be Rejected If It Has Any of the Following Issues:

• One or both of your eyes are not visible or are blocked (for example, if you're wearing sunglasses).
• The photo includes more than one person.
• The image quality is poor, making you unrecognizable.
• Excessive lighting or shadows obscure your appearance.
• You're wearing a hat or head covering that is not worn for religious reasons.
• The photo has been digitally altered to change your appearance (including the use of filters) or has been tampered with in any way.

SAT Test Centres India 2025

India has 50+ test centres for the SAT exam. Below is a comprehensive list of test centres for the SAT in India.

SAT Score

The total score range os the SAT exam is 400-1600. Each section has a score of 200-800. The highest score of the exam is 1600, and the minimum score is 400.

SAT Scores

Students can check their SAT scores by signing into their College Board account. You can click on the See Score Details to view additional score insights. The SAT Score Calculator converts the raw SAT score into a scaled score based on specific rules. The digital tests continue to measure the reading, writing, and math knowledge and skills that students are learning in high school and that matter most for college and career readiness

How to Send SAT Scores?

After your SAT scores are available in your College Board account, you can start sending scores to different institutions that you wish to. Universities require SAT Score reports to be sent directly from the College Board rather than accepting copies. Candidates can either select 4 to 5 universities during registration, and the College Board will directly send the scores after their release without any additional cost. If you want to change, add, or remove your free score recipients from SAT Weekend, you'll need to do so within 9 days of your test. If you fail to do so within 9 days of your test, you will have to pay the score reporting fee

• Standard Delivery: Scores are sent electronically and usually delivered within 5–10 business days after your order is placed, or a couple of weeks after test day if you selected score recipients during registration.
• Rush Delivery: Available only for scores that have already been released. With this option, scores are typically sent within 1–4 business days.

How to Cancel SAT Scores?

If a student feels like the SAT score is not good enough or up to the mark, then he/she can cancel the score within a stipulated time. One must cancel no later than 11:59 p.m. ET one week after the test date. You can cancel your score as soon as you leave the test center. The following are the instructions to cancel your SAT Score:

• Go to the My SAT website and sign in to your account.
• Find your specific SAT date under the "My Scores" section.
• Click on the option labeled "Unsure about scores?"
• Agree to the Cancellation of SAT Scores Agreement.
• Follow the provided instructions to complete the score cancellation process.

Note: After a request to cancel scores is submitted, scores can't be reinstated or reported to you or any institutions.

Universities Accepting SAT Scores in India

This table lists universities in India that accept SAT scores for admission.It also highlights whether the university participates in the Free SAT Score Sends program and the India Scholars Program for eligible students.

SAT Exam Books

A list of SAT exam books for preparation that will help you grasp the concepts of SAT exam subjects easily is as follows:

• The College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide - Check PDF
• Barron's SAT Study Guide Premium - Check PDF
• Barron’s SAT, 29th Edition - Check PDF
• Kalli’s SAT Pattern Strategy - Check PDF
• Kaplan SAT Prep Plus - Check PDF
• The Princeton Review's Cracking the SAT - Check PDF
• McGraw-Hill Education SAT Elite - Check PDF

SAT Practice Papers

Practice papers are a great way to understand the SAT format and question types. It also helps track your progress and improvements. Here is a list of Practice test papers for the SAT

SAT Writing: You must solve SAT Writing and Language sample papers to improve your scores for these sections

SAT Reading: A few samples of SAT reading are provided below:

SAT Math: SAT Math practice papers are the best way to achieve a high score.

If a high school student is aiming for higher studies abroad, then the SAT Exam is the first and foremost step of the journey. Starting right from registration online to choosing the test centre, every step must be taken carefully. The students must read all the dos and don'ts while filling the form and also on the exam day. Also, understanding the exam pattern,syllabus and creating a proper strategy for preparation can get you a good score and therefore a good college.