SAT Exam Eligibility 2024: Age Limit, Qualifications, Requirements

Are you planning to take the SAT 2024? 

If yes, along with its syllabus, it is vital to understand who can take the SAT exam. The SAT exam eligibility is designed to be inclusive, allowing any student to participate regardless of their educational background. The SAT examination assesses the readiness of high school students trying to get admission in undergraduate programs to the top foreign institutions. 

With the SAT, students can showcase their academic potential and open doors to international educational opportunities. A good SAT score also makes students eligible for scholarship programs. The examination makes it easier for the admissions panels of colleges and universities to choose the right applicants.

SAT 2024 Exam Highlights 

Feature	Details
Conducted by	College Board
Sections	1. SAT Reading and Writing (RW) 2. SAT Math
Total Score	1600 (combined score for RW and Math sections)
Test Focus	High school knowledge
Subject Test	Not required for international students.
Optional Essay	No longer available
Previous Format	Included the reasoning tests, subject tests, and an optional essay.
Current Format	Simplified to RW and Math sections only
Standardization	Uniform for all international students

Eligibility for SAT Examination

The eligibility for the SAT is straightforward; there are no age or grade restrictions, making it an ideal test for those aiming to study abroad. The College Board, which administers the SAT, provides clear guidelines on its official website for students to register and prepare for the exam. But there are some rules that one must know of. 

Age Criteria

The SAT examination has no official age limit for applicants. It does not have a minimum or maximum age limit. However, the examination is mostly taken by students in the age group of 16-19 years as it is intended for high school students. However, since it does not have any age limit, the test can be taken by anyone aspiring for admission to top global universities.

Attempts

The SAT examination is conducted seven times a year. There is no limit to the number of attempts, and students can appear for multiple tests until they achieve their targeted SAT score.

Documentation

Applicants for the SAT examination must provide a valid passport. They must produce a national photo ID proof or military identification card if they don’t have a passport.

English Proficiency

Fluency in English is a must. Applicants should be proficient in reading and writing English. The medium of communication and studies at most globally ranked universities is English. 

SAT Eligibility Criteria for Students with Disabilities 

There are no additional criteria for students with disabilities who want to appear for the SAT exam. The only requirement for students with disabilities is that they should inform the governing body, i.e., the College Board, about their disabilities in advance to take the SAT exam with added facilities.

The approval for all the facilities has to be obtained beforehand from the College Board’s services for students with disabilities unit. Once the application for the test with added facilities gets approved, it can be used for both SAT General and SAT Subject tests. 

Some of the facilities for disabled students for SAT Exam re as follows:

• Use of Braille and large-print question paper for visually impaired candidates
• Allotment of extra time for SAT exam completion
• Implementation of computer for essays, and
• Extra breaks during the exam

SAT Eligibility Criteria for Application Fee Waiver

If you are seeking a SAT fee waiver through College scholarship Service (CSS), the only criteria that you must meet is belonging to a low-income group. Students in their 11th and 12th standard must prove they are financially backward, i.e., belonging to the families who make up to $100,000 a year.  

Once they get shortlisted for the SAT exam fee waiver, the school counselor or a representative will guide them through the process. Indian students are also eligible for up to 90% SAT registration fee waiver under College Board India Scholars Program.

Recommended Reads:

SAT Preparation Books	Syllabus for SAT	SAT Exam Centers
SAT Exam Dates 2022	SAT Exam Pattern	SAT Scores & Results
SAT Registration

Top Universities Accepting SAT

Students preparing for the SAT examination should be aware of the top-ranked colleges and universities that accept the SAT scores. Here’s a list of the top universities worldwide accepting SAT examination scores for undergraduate programs. 

University	Country
University of Oxford	UK
Yale University	Canada
Stanford University	USA
Harvard University	USA
Princeton University	USA
University of California	USA
University of Toronto	Canada
University of Chicago	USA
University of Columbia	USA
University of Michigan	USA
University of British Columbia	Canada
University of Cambridge	UK
Imperial College of London	UK
University of Manchester	UK
McGill University	Canada
University of Montreal	Canada

Related Article: Universities Accepting 1200 SAT Score

SAT Registration 2024

Here's a point-wise summary of the SAT exam registration process:

1. Create a College Board Account: Start by creating an account on the College Board website if you don't already have one.

2. Register Now: Visit the SAT registration page and click "Register Now" to begin the process.

3. Personal Information: Enter your details.

4. Test Date and Center: Choose your preferred test date and select a test center from the available options.

5. Photo Upload: Upload a photo that meets the College Board's requirements.

6. Fee Waiver: If eligible, enter your fee waiver code to register for free and receive additional benefits.

7. Review and Confirm: Review all the information you've entered, add any optional services or practice materials, and confirm your registration.

SAT Exam Dates 2024

The below table shows the SAT exam date along with the last date to register: 

SAT Test Date Aug 2024 -June 2025	Registration Deadline	Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, and Late Registration
Aug 24, 2024	Aug 9, 2024	Aug 13, 2024
Oct 5, 2024	Sept 20, 2024	Sept 24, 2024
Nov 2, 2024	Oct 18, 2024	Oct 22, 2024
Dec 7, 2024	Nov 22, 2024	Nov 26, 2024
Mar 8, 2025	Feb 21, 2025	Feb 25, 2025
May 3, 2025	Apr 18, 2025	April 22, 2025
June 7, 2025	May 22, 2025	May 27, 2025

You can also read: SAT-Accepting Universities in Australia

SAT Exam Fees 2024 

The current SAT registration fee is $60. Beginning from August 24, 2024, the SAT registration is $68.

SAT Exam Cancellation and Rescheduling Fee

Service	Fee
Change of test center	$29
Cancellation fee	$29
Late cancellation fee	$39
Late registration (after the regular deadline but before the late registration deadline)	$34

SAT Digital Exam Pattern 2024

The Digital SAT has two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. Students have 64 minutes for the Reading and Writing section and 70 minutes for the Math section, totaling 2 hours and 14 minutes.

Component	Duration	Number of Questions or Tasks
Reading and Writing	64 (two 32 minute modules)	54
Math	70 (two 35 minute modules)	44
Total	134 minutes	98

Each section is split into two equal-length modules with a 10-minute break between the sections. The first module in each section includes a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. The difficulty of the second module is determined by the student's performance in the first module.

There is no negative marking to encourage students to make educated guesses.

Digital SAT Exam Syllabus

The SAT exam syllabus is designed for candidates in high school or about to finish high school.

The Digital SAT has two components: Reading & Writing and Math. 

1. The Reading and Writing section of the Digital SAT consists of short passages (or passage pairs) followed by a single multiple-choice question. Questions cover four content domains: 

1. Craft and Structure, 
2. Information and Ideas, 
3. Standard English Conventions, and 
4. Expression of Ideas

This section is divided into two modules, each including questions from all four domains.

Passages range from 25 to 150 words and cover subjects like literature, history and social studies, the humanities, and science. Questions fall into four content domains:

• Information and Ideas: Tests comprehension, analysis, reasoning, and the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information from texts and graphics.
• Craft and Structure: Assesses comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning skills needed to understand and use high-utility words in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and connect related texts.
• Expression of Ideas: Evaluates the ability to revise texts for effective written expression and to achieve specific rhetorical goals.
• Standard English Conventions: Tests the ability to edit text to conform to Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.

2. The Math section has two modules, each including a mix of question types like multiple-choice and student-produced responses. 

Content areas include:

• Algebra: Linear equations, inequalities, and systems
• Advanced Math: Complex equations and functions
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis: Ratios, percentages, and data interpretation
• Geometry and Trigonometry: Angles, shapes, volumes, and trigonometric functions.

SAT Exam Score Release 2024

SAT scores are usually available two to four weeks after the test. The exact time depends on whether you took the SAT on a weekend or a weekday (school day). 

• Weekend SAT: Scores are available about two weeks after taking the test on a Saturday.
• SAT School Day: Scores from tests taken during the school week are available in about three to four weeks.

For each SAT, scores are sent to colleges about ten days after their release date. You can log in to your SAT account and access your score in the ‘Online Score Report’ section.

SAT Preparation Tips

Preparing for the SAT can be a significant step toward your academic goals. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Understand the test structure: 

Familiarize yourself with the format of the SAT, including the types of questions and the time allotted for each section.

2. Practice tests: 

Regularly taking full-length practice tests can help you get used to the test conditions and identify areas where you need improvement.

3. Review mistakes: 

After each practice test, review your answers, especially the ones you got wrong, to understand your mistakes and learn from them.

4. Study materials: 

Consider purchasing an SAT prep book or other study materials that cover all the topics tested on the SAT.

5. Online or in-person courses: 

You might find it helpful to take an SAT prep course online or in-person to get structured guidance.

6. Join a study group and hire a tutor: 

Studying with peers can provide motivation and allow you to learn different strategies for tackling the test. If you need more personalized help, hiring an SAT tutor can provide one-on-one support tailored to your needs.

7. Focus on weak areas: 

Pay extra attention to the subjects or question types that are most challenging for you.

SAT Exam Centers in India 

More than 130 SAT exam test centers are located throughout India, spanning more than 30 cities. When you are registering for the SAT exam, you have the option of selecting your SAT exam center based on your location and accessibility. 

The top states and cities that have multiple SAT centers are:

• Mumbai
• Bangalore 
• Delhi
• Pune
• Indore 
• Lucknow
• Kanpur
• Ahmedabad 
• Hyderabad 
• Chennai 
• Chandigarh 
• Kochi

SAT 2024 Exam Scholarships

The SAT exam offers various scholarship opportunities for students. The National Merit Scholarship Program is one of the most prestigious scholarships that use the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores to identify eligible juniors for recognition and scholarships.

Students who score well on the PSAT/NMSQT may also qualify for additional scholarships through partnerships with other organizations. These scholarships can provide significant financial support for college education, covering tuition, books, and other expenses.

Students need to prepare thoroughly for the PSAT/NMSQT to maximize their chances of receiving these valuable scholarships. 

Know More: SAT Scholarship for Indian Students: Eligibility & Scores Required

Conclusion

The SAT exam is a critical milestone for students aspiring to enter undergraduate programs, particularly in the United States. Its eligibility criteria are remarkably inclusive, welcoming high school students of any nationality and background to demonstrate their readiness for college-level education. 

By not restricting candidates based on age or grade level, the SAT exam ensures that all aspiring undergraduates have the opportunity to showcase their critical reading, writing, and mathematical skills. 

This inclusivity not only underscores the SAT's role in democratizing access to higher education but also encourages a diverse and vibrant pool of applicants to pursue their academic dreams on a global stage.

For more queries related to SAT eligibility, get in touch with the counselors of upGrad Abroad.