College Board, administers SAT Exam and also sets its eligibility criteria. As such, the College Board has not predefined any particular SAT eligibility requirements to take the SAT exam. Usually, 10+2 students apply for SAT, but 13 year olds or above can also appear for SATs. College Board allows guardians of students under 13 years of age to register for the SAT exam. Let's understand the SAT Exam Eligibility Criteria for 2025.
No, SAT does not require class 12th marks as part of SAT exam eligibility fulfillment or for the registration purpose. SAT exam only requires applicants to be undergraduates and those aiming to apply for the same in universities abroad. Thus, applicants can appear for SAT exam even if they are not class 12th passouts.
There is no age limit set by the College Board. But the rules are different for:
- If a candidate is 13 or old then he/she can create a free account on College Board and register online
- Candidates who are 12 years or younger can register only through mail or phone. Such candidates need not pay the phone registration fee
- Candidates studying in the eighth grade or lower need not include a photo during registration. However, they need a valid photo ID at the exam center
- There may be students who may want to go for PSAT and be eliible for giving the SAT exam.
You are nothing without it. They wont let you in. You need a valid passport. Security is super strict. A school ID is risky. Name on the ID proof must match the ticket. No ID, no test!
- SAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2025
- SAT 2025 Eligibility for Students with Disabilities
- SAT Exam Age Criteria 2025
- SAT Exam Eligibility FAQs
SAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2025
Indian students planning to study abroad for an undergraduate course may have to take SAT exam. If your shortlisted university requires SAT scores, then understand what is the SAT eligibility criteria:
- The conducting body sets no minimum or maximum age as SAT eligibility criteria.
- There is no bar on any educational board or background. All students who pass or are in high school can take SAT to study in USA, the UK and Canada.
- A maximum number of high school students between the ages of 17 to 18 appear for the SAT exam.
- There are no restrictions on SAT retakes. SAT is conducted eight times a year, students can either take once or retake multiple times without restrictions.
Students appear for the SAT exam dates based on their admission deadlines to undergraduate programmes in colleges/ universities abroad. As such, there are no predefined SAT eligibility criteria. Thus, students seeking admission abroad for undergraduate courses and requiring SAT exam scores are eligible to appear for the exam, irrespective of the country, university, course or even class XII scores.
Commonly asked questions
Indian students can appear for SAT in US states as well, they will be eligible if they or their parents hold citizenship of the US. In case of citizenship, Indian students will be eligible to give SAT as domestic students as well. The students must ensure where and when are they appearing for the SAT exam irrespective of their recent high school qualifications.
While in India, being an Indian citizen but also holding a US citizenship, applicants will be permitted to appear for SAT exam in either India or in the USA irrespective of where they are residing at the moment. But if the applicants holding a US citizenship will be eligible for a SAT exam fee waiver plus they will also get the benefit of being a domestic student.
It completely depends on the applicant where and how they wish to take the exam depending upon their circumstances and citizenship as well. Otherwise they are eligible to appear for SAT exam within their own country of residence.
SAT registration does not require 12th marks also because some students may sit for SAT exam before completing their class 12th. Thus, there is no such provision of appearing for SAT and requiring class 12th marks for the same. Applicants can register for the SAT exam even without qualifying for the class 12th exams.
SAT 2025 Eligibility for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who inform the College Board – the governing body of SAT about their condition beforehand are eligible to appear for the SAT exam with added facilities to make their SAT exam experience worth it. However, all the extra convenience must be approved beforehand by the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) unit. Once the facilities for disabled students have been approved, the applicants can appear for the SAT exam with accommodation. Students are not required to make a new request for each SAT exam. Students should note that no eligibility criteria are laid down for students wanting to appear for the SAT exam.
Facilities for Disabled Students for SAT Exam include:
- The use of Braille and large-print exams for visually impaired candidates
- One on one setting of test
- Provision for extra time for completion of the SAT exam
- The use of a computer for essays and
- A provision for extra breaks during the exam
Students with disabilities would not face issues, as all major SAT exam centres allowing disabled students to take exams at their centres would be equipped to handle such applicants.
Commonly asked questions
Applicants with disabilities can opt for accommodations to appear for SAT exam. At the test centre, accommodation applicants can get the following priviledges:
- Overall SAT's time and a half (that is, +50% time or 3 hours and 21 minutes + breaks)
- Double time (that is, and additional 100% time or 4 hours and 28 minutes + breaks)
- Extra breaks based on requirements for 5 minutes only
- Extended breaks again based on requirements for 20 minutes only
- Breaks as needed based on valid reason.
Yes, applicants with accommodation are eligible to extend their SAT exam duration only if they have prior permission. The duration extension will depend on the applicant's need.
Applicants taking SAT exam with accommodations should:
- Carry their SSD eligibility letter at all costs.
- Ensure they have permission for extended breaks.
- In case of extra time request, ensure that it is met.
- Applicants shoukd ensure that they stay on for their extended break or time request on the test day.
All these pointers will be applicable only if parents of the disabled applicants check the test centre, fulfil documentation before hand so that no documentation is required on the test day and ensure the dates of SAT exam are confirmed prior.
SAT Exam Age Criteria 2025
Check out the SAT exam's age criteria for international students:
- If a candidate is above 13 years, they are eligible to create a free account on College Board and register for SAT exam online.
- Candidates 13 years or younger can register through their parents or guardians. They can create an account on your behalf and you can appear for the exam. The registration here is also online.
- Candidates in the eighth grade or lower grade need not include a photo during registration. However, they need a valid photo ID at the SAT exam centre.
Have more questions regarding the SAT? Read SAT frequently asked questions and understand more about the SAT exam.
Commonly asked questions
Yes, 12 year olds can also sit for SAT exam, they are eligible for the exam, but they will not be able to register for SAT on their own. A guardian or parent will have to apply for SAT exam on behalf of the 12 year old. Thus, parent or guardian will have to take guarantee and register on behalf of their child for the SAT exam. Once the child turns 13, he/she can apply on their own if they still wish to appear for the SAT exam. Its best to prepre for SAT exam and then sit for the exam.
No, SAT doesn not usually demand class 12th scores or grades from its prospective applicants to deem them eligible for appearing for the SAT exam. The students may have to fill in their level of understanding of certain subjects and co-curricular activities and they will not be required to submit score related details even while registering. But it is definitely better to appear for SAT after class XII because of the level of knowledge.
SAT Exam Eligibility FAQs
Check out some more details about SAT eligibility criteria in the following section:
Commonly asked questions
Yes, applicants who have graduated from India and are looking for another bachelor's degree to study abroad, and require to fulfil the admission requirement of submitting a SAT score, are absolutely eligible to sit for the SAT exam. There is no descriptive age bar or definition of age in SAT eligibility. Hence, Indian graduates are eligible to appear for SAT exam.
There are no specific criteria laid down by The College Board for appearing for the SAT exam as to when should students take the SAT exam. But those students who are planning to apply abroad and the admission requirements include SAT scores then, applicants should know when to start studying for SAT. Since SAT is for admission to undergraduate programs candidates are advised to appear for their SAT while in standard 11th or 12th or even after passing out from school also.
Yes, international students can appear for SAT exam even after passing out from high school or one year later too. There are no age restrictions for applicants as to when they should appear for the SAT exam. Whenever students make up their minds for applying abroad and have SAT as an admission requirement, they can appear for the SAT exam.
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