SAT Exams Guide 2022/2023: Eligibility, Fees, Registration & More

SAT Exams Guide… Do you wish to apply for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and you don’t really have much idea about it? If yes, then you shouldn’t bother yourself because you are on the right platform which will give you the necessary information about the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

WHAT IS SAT?

SAT simply means Scholastic Aptitude Test, the SAT exam is a recognized university admission test in the USA. The test lets you show universities what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. SAT exam, tests your knowledge of reading, writing, and mathematics – subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms. Most students take the SAT exam during their junior or senior year of high school, and a large number of universities use the SAT test scores to make admission decisions.

The SAT was founded in 1926 as an adaptation of the Army Alpha, an IQ test which had been used to check the intelligence of recruits to the US Army. From this test, taken only by a few thousand college applicants, eventually came the modern SAT as we know it.

It’s important to call to mind that taking the SAT test/exam is the first step in finding the right university for you as an aspiring undergraduate. You must bear in mind that SAT test/exam scores are just one of many factors that universities consider when making their admission decisions. High school grades are also very important. In fact, the combination of high school grades and SAT exam scores is the best predictor of your academic success in university.

WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE SAT EXAMS

SAT stands for ‘Scholastic Assessment test’ and is an entrance test for students aspiring to admit for undergraduate courses abroad, especially in the US and Canada colleges and universities. It is a written paper-pencil test and helps evaluate the language and mathematical reasoning skills of the applicants, or simply put you need the SAT to gain Admission into universities mostly about (similar to JAMB in Nigeria)

There are also added benefits of taking the exam. The College Career Military Readiness department has created a list of awesome reasons for students in the Carrollton-farmers Branch Independent School District to take the SAT exam

Below are some of the reasons why you should take the SAT exams

Opening Doors To College: College Admissions

• SAT scores are one way colleges can verify that you are qualified to attend their programs and be admitted to their schools. While many colleges are considering SAT scores optional for admissions this year due to COVID, we are not certain that they will continue the “score optional” practice beyond this school year. You may need test scores in the future if you change colleges, or if you apply to a community college the first year and later transfer to a university. Also, if you score higher on this SAT than any previous SAT tests you’ve taken before, colleges may “superscore,” or use the highest scores from each SAT you’ve taken.

Makes Your Name Available To Scholarship Programs

• In 2019, students who took the SAT and opted-in to Student Search Service were connected to $33 Million in scholarship opportunities. Opting-in is free and voluntary, and you can opt-in on your SAT answer sheet or through your College Board account. You’ll answer a few questions on your SAT answer sheet, such as your intended college major, so that colleges who offer that major can find you and offer scholarship application opportunities and admissions information to you.

Some Schools Award Scholarships Based Upon Qualifying SAT Or ACT Scores

• Having SAT scores could make students eligible for the scholarships that require them. Students should read scholarship requirements and applications thoroughly to determine if SAT scores are needed.

Balance A Lower GPA

• A strong score on the SAT may show colleges your potential if your GPA does not accurately reflect your ability. This is a way to demonstrate to college admissions committees how far you have advanced academically throughout your high school years

Connection To College Admissions Application Fee Waivers, For Students Who Qualify

• The College Board can offer fee waivers to students who qualify. These cover the fees for certain college admissions steps, such as sending additional SAT score reports to colleges and waiving admissions application fees.

It offers a wide array of opportunities both academically and otherwise and gives access to subjects and knowledge this going to stay with you your whole life and much more

TYPES OF SAT EXAMS

Covers three sections of SAT: SAT reading test, SAT writing and language, and SAT math test

The critical reading section includes reading passages and sentence completions.

The writing section includes a short essay and multiple-choice questions on identifying errors and improving grammar usage.

The mathematics section includes questions on arithmetic operations, algebra, geometry, statistics and probability.

Subject Tests usually referred to as SAT II is an hour-long, content-based tests that allow you to showcase achievement in specific subject areas where you excel. These are the only international admission tests where you choose the tests that best showcase your achievements and interests as a prospective undergraduate.

SAT Subject Tests allow you to differentiate yourself in the University admission process or send a strong message regarding your readiness to study specific majors or programs in University. In conjunction with your other admission credentials (your high school record, SAT exam scores, teacher recommendations, etc.), they provide a more complete picture of your academic background and interests.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE SAT EXAMS

Candidates should be informed that there are no minimum or maximum age criteria or SAT age limit fixed for students wanting to appear for the exam. General studies have shown that students belonging to the age group of 17 to 19 are among the highest to appear for SAT.

HOW TO GET SAT ADMISSION TICKET

This takes place after registering, your admission ticket is available as soon as you finish registering and you can print it any time before test day. You must bring your admission ticket to the test center in order to take the test.

Below are some instructions on how to get your SAT Admission ticket;

• Print Your Admission Ticket
• If you haven’t already, sign in to My SAT.
• Under “My Test Registrations,” find the information for your upcoming test date.
• Click “Print Your Admission Ticket (PDF)” for the PDF of your ticket.
• Before printing, review your admission ticket’s information to make sure it’s accurate. If there are important messages on your ticket, read them carefully so you know what to do.
• Your ticket may also have a message for your test center’s supervisor. In case there’s a mistake, read it to make sure it’s accurate.
• Print your admission ticket and bring it with you on test day.

SAT EXAMS FEE

As being one of the most Affordable exams fees on the planet the SAT exams fee is $55 Whereas in Nigeria the fees are N65,000 for the SAT subject test, candidates will have to pay an additional fee of $26.

SAT CANCELLATION FEE

The cancellation fee for SAT exam is extremely problematic as you receive no refund after five days before the exam and even if students do receive a refund, the amount is only $10. So, it’s advisable for you to go for a date change instead of cancelling your exam. In Nigeria, currently this amounts to N5,500 Naira.

SAT RESCHEDULLING FEE

For those who wish to reschedule their exam, you need to pay extra $30 to avail the service. Students also need to pay $30 if they wish to change their SAT exam to SAT Subject Test. Here are the rescheduling fees you should know:

• Change Test Centre – $30
• Late Registration Fee – $30
• Registering by Phone – $15
• Waitlist Fees – $53

For aspirants in Nigeria the applicants would have to pay the sum of N25,000.

HOW TO REGISTER FOR SAT

The best thing about the registration of SAT exams is that it’s as easy as, you can register for the SAT exam either online or by mail. For the online process, you have to make an account on the College Board website and fill all the requisite personal and academic details.

On the other hand, only those who fulfill the following criteria are can apply through mail:

• For instance if you are selecting a Sunday exam date for the first time and will be making the payment through check/money order.
• You are 16 years or below
• You are currently Facing issues in uploading photo through the online route OR
• You are registering through a representative.

HOW TO BOOK SAT SLOT

The Procedure for booking sat slots include

• Log in to SAT Home Page.
• Create an account on the portal.
• Choose the test centre.
• Choose a date.
• Choose a time slot.
• Enter all personal details.
• Pay the fee using an internationally accepted credit card.
• You will get a confirmation mail.

Candidates are advised to book their slots timely and in advance to avoid any end moment discrepancies.

The SAT exam is usually held from October to January internationally mainly on Saturdays. It is highly recommended to secure your SAT exam dates early in order to avoid any hassles at the last minute.

SAT EXAM SUBJECT FEES

SAT Exams subject fees include

• Registration fees – $26
• Each SAT Subject Test – $22 per test
• Language Test with listening – $26 per test.

SAT EXAM DATES

Sat Test Dates (US)

4th December 2021

March 12th 2022

May 7th 2022

June 4th 2022

Regular Registration Deadline

November 4th 2021

February 11th 2022

April 8th 2022

May 5th 2022

Late Registration Deadline

November 23rd 2021

March 1st 2022

April 26th 2022

May 25th 2022

LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT TAKE SAT EXAMS

SAT conducted by the college Board is accepted by numerous universities in countries like the US, UK, Canada Australia Germany and Singapore. SAT scores also play a vital role in helping students apply for undergraduate programs at 800+ universities worldwide.

Nigeria has also been known to take the SAT Exams

SAT EXAM PATTERN

Below is what the SAT Exam pattern looks like

SAT Reading

Comprising of reading comprehension, every passage under this section has 10-11 questions. Having a total of 5 passages of varying lengths, this section aims to evaluate your ability to comprehend written text, understand the meaning of words in different contexts as well as their associated terms with implied meanings.

SAT Writing

Having 4 passages with 10-11 questions each, you are expected to find errors, rephrase, and rewrite highlighted sentences with alternative text, amongst others. It focuses on assessing the candidate’s understanding of vocabulary as well as grammar.

SAT Mathematics

Constituted of two sub-sections divided into the 25-minute section provided with no calculator and a 55-minute section with a calculator allowed. It has 58 questions spread across varied basics of mathematics such as algebra, statistics, geometry, arithmetic, probability, data interpretation, and problem-solving questions.

SAT Essay

Aiming to analyse one’s quality of writing as well as English comprehension, this section has an essay question (650-700 words) focusing on an issue and asking the candidate to take a stance on one side of the topic. Make sure you keep your analysis limited to the given data with precise explanation and don’t elaborate upon personal opinions.

But bear in mind that the SAT Essay section has been said to have been discontinued.

SAT Writing Exam Pattern

You have to attend 44 multiple choice questions in 4 passages in 35 minutes

One of the following modes of writing will be present in the exam out of the narrative, argumentative and informative/explanatory

The passages revolve around topics like,

• Humanities
• Science
• Careers
• History & Arts
• Social Sciences

SAT Mathematics Pattern

The mathematics section comprises of two sections: One with a calculator. Second without Calculator

You need to attempt a total of 58 questions in 80 minutes

80% of questions are multiple-choice while 20% of them are grid ins

For Maths with a calculator: You have 30 MCQs and 8 grid-in questions

You need to enter your derived answers in the bubble sheet you are provided

Maths without calculator has 15 multiple choice questions and 5 grid-in questions

You will be given a set of formulas and references at the beginning of the test

If you are applying for courses in science, engineering, or maths, pay special attention to the ‘Maths without Calculator’ section.

SAT Reading Exam Pattern

The exam pattern will have 52 multiple choices in 5 passages to finish in 65 minutes.

Two passages will be from science fields

One literary passage will be from Classics or contemporary texts of the US or world literature

Texts from the U.S. founding documents or Great Global Conversation on topics like dignity, human rights, freedom, etc

Extracts from Economics, Sociology, Psychology, amongst others.

You must answer questions by telling a story, giving an argument, or explaining an experiment or study.

HOW SAT SCORE IS CALCULATED

The SAT exam is dimarcated into two sections as Reading & Writing and Mathematics when it comes to examining the answers. On a scale of 200-800, both sections are analysed and together they add up to a total of 1600. The SAT subject test scores are also measured on the same scale of 200-800. Along with this, there is an additional subscore report card of 20-80.

HOW TO ACCESS YOUR SAT SCORE REPORT

A simple step-by-step guide to getting your SAT results and score online:

• Visit the official website of the College and sign in with your user ID and password.
• Go to ‘My Organizer’ section
• Click on ‘SAT scores’
• You will be redirected to another page where you need to click on ‘Assess my scores’
• The candidate needs to enter their user credentials again and then and visit ‘my test scores’ section
• The SAT scorecard will appear on the screen. This scorecard will show your overall score, sectional score, subscore, essay score as well as the percentile score.

If you registered for the SAT by mail, then you will receive your SAT results and scorecard through the same. You can also get your SAT scores by phone on the day when the results and score are released but you will be required to submit an extra fee.

SAT SCORE VALIDITY

SAT Scores posses a five years validity period.

WHEN TO COLLECT YOUR SAT RESULT

As the SAT results are scores are announced within three weeks from the exam date, candidates can check their results on the official website of the College Board.

LIST OF COLLEGES THAT ACCEPT SAT SCORE

Due to the high relevance of SAT, it would be a near impossibility to list all the Colleges that Accept SAT score

Below are some of the top colleges that accept SAT Score;

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• University of Oxford
• Stanford University
• University of Cambridge
• Also for India they include
• Ashoka University
• Azim Premji University
• FLAME University
• KREA University
• Manav Rachna University
• Sri Sri University
• Srishti School of Art Design and Technology
• SRM Institute of Science and Technology.

CONCLUSION

The Essence of knowledge is power and what better way to accumulate knowledge than taking on Academic challenges like The SAT exams not only do you get opportunities to study abroad in conducive learning environment there are tendencies of scholarships being awards and the best part the knowledge acquired and the Academic exposure obtained stays with you for a life-time.

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