What is SAT?

SAT is the acronym for Scholastic Aptitude Test, which is conducted by College Board (an association of schools and colleges in U.S.A). This implies that College board sets the questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score report. ETS (Educational Testing Service) administers the test for College Board for the students seeking admission to the undergraduate courses in U.S.A.

SAT- I is a general test of verbal and quantitative reasoning accepted and required for admission to a bachelor degree program in a US university or college. The test is required for admission to undergraduate programs of most US universities. Many universities also require you to take SAT-II tests (specific subject test).

Why SAT?

Many colleges require the SAT I for admission because it is a standard way of measuring a student's ability to do college-level work. Because courses and grading standards vary widely from school to school, scores on standardized tests, like the SAT I, help colleges compare your academic achievements with those of students from different schools. This helps the colleges in making appropriate decisions about any student's ability to succeed academically. The SAT test score is also used as the basis for awarding merit-based financial aid. Colleges look at other things when making admission decisions -- like your high school record, personal essays, teacher’s recommendations, interviews, and extracurricular activities. Your SAT I test score is just one of many tools that help colleges make admission decisions.

Where can I appear for SAT test in India?

SAT is administered in India 6 times a year in the following cities -- Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Cochin, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Hyderabad, Kodaikanal, Calcutta, Madras, Pune, Mumbai, Mussoorie and New Delhi.

Who can Apply?

Indian students who have completed their 12 years of school education successfully from any recognised Indian board or university can take SAT for admission in the different streams available into various American colleges. There is no criteria of minimum marks etc. for appearing in the SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Tests, but several colleges need a good SAT score along with a good academic record.

What’s the Application Procedure for SAT?

You can apply for SAT online on College Board website (www.collegeboard.com) or ETS website (www.ets.org) or mailed to the same. The easiest way to register for SAT is by Online Registration (Credit Card required). Fill up the form online and mention your credit card number and other details.

What is the Scoring System of SAT? Total Score: Each of verbal and math sections are measured over a score of 200 to 800 total marks are 1600, out of which minimum 1100 should be obtained to ensure admission in to top universities.

Negative Marking: For the multiple-choice questions, if a question containing 5 choices is marked incorrectly, then one-fourth of a mark is deducted. If a question containing 4 choices is marked incorrectly, then one-third of a mark is deducted. No points are added or subtracted for unanswered questions. Any score in fraction is rounded off to the nearest whole number.

The SAT test scores are valid for Five years, i.e., most universities accept scores up to five years old.

How are SAT Scores Reported?

College board has the provision of reporting your SAT scores to a maximum of four universities of your choice, the cost of which is built into the SAT fee you pay. You have to mention the universities to which you want to send the scores in the SAT application form. You need to do some homework on which universities you’re finally going to apply, even before you sit for your SAT. For reporting to each additional university, the College board charges you $6.50 (approx. Rs. 280), payable by an international credit card or a dollar denominated draft.

What is the SAT Test fees for Indian students?

For SAT-I

The Total Amount is $ 69.50, which includes:
SAT Reasoning Test Fee =$29.50
International processing fee =$20.00
Security surcharge to test in India=$20.00
Late registration fee =$20.00(If registering late, add this amount)

For SAT Subject Tests

Registration Fee= $17.00
International processing fee =$20.00
Security surcharge to test in India= $20.00
Writing Test (If taken)= $17.00
Language Tests with Listening (If taken) = $ 18.00
All other Subject Tests (per subject)= $ 8.00 each
Late registration fee =$20.00 (If registering late, add this amount)

What is the mode of Payment for SAT?

Credit Card - Visa, Master card or American Express, Bank Draft (Dollar Draft, not Indian Rupees), Check Drawn on a U.S. Bank, United States Postal Service Money Order, International Money Order.

What’s the Content of SAT?

SAT-I, which is a Paper-based test (PBT), is of three-hour duration and it tests the verbal and mathematical reasoning skills of the students. It is scored on a scale of 200-800. As per College Board, "A candidate can take the test up to seven times a year to improve upon his/her previous scores." The Verbal as well as Math has two 30 minutes sections and one 15 minute section EACH. There is also an experimental section of 30 minute duration which can have questions from verbal OR math.

SAT-II is a subject test, which is of one hour duration and consists of mostly multiple choice questions. This is basically designed to test the subject knowledge that the student possesses and also tests how good they are at applying it. There are five general subject areas: English, Math, History, Science, Languages. A college may require one or more of the subject tests for admission and placement.

The 22 subject tests Include: Writing (with an Essay), Literature, U.S.History, World History, Math Level IC, Math Level IIC, Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics, French Reading with Listening, Spanish Reading with Listening, Modern Hebrew Reading, Italian Reading, Latin Reading with Listening, Japanese Reading with Listening, Korean Reading with Listening, Chinese Reading with Listening, and the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT).

About New SAT

As per college board, any student who wants to be admitted to the college in 2006 or later, will have to appear for new SAT starting from 27th march 2005.

The following changes will be incorporated:

A. The new SAT test will be administered for the class of 2006 (first new SAT test date: 27th March 2005).
B. The test fees will be increase by $10 to $12.
C. The testing time for new SAT will be approximately half-an-hour longer (Total time: 3 hours and 35 minutes).
D.The new SAT will have three sections - Writing, Math and Critical reading, each scored at the scale of 200 to 800
E. The essay questions will require the student to take a position on an issue in its support, for which the student need not have any prior knowledge about the topic.

What are PSATand NMSQT ?

PSAT is an acronym for Preliminary SAT.

NMSQT is an acronym for National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test.

The PSAT and NMSQT are designed to give enough practice for the main SAT test, also providing with a chance to qualify for scholarships sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The syllabus is same as for SAT - 1. The PSAT / NMSQT is taken by the Sophomores and Juniors, but only the test scores from Junior year are used to award Scholarships. This test is of 2 hours and 10 minutes duration and includes 5 sections.

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