Take the SAT exam in India to study in US and Canada

Planning to take SAT exam for admission to US or Canadian university? Check out everything about SAT exam, changes it has witnessed over time, the average SAT score for US universities and Canadian universities and other corresponding details in this article. 

SAT or Scholastic Assessment Test is a standardized exam conducted for admissions in universities abroad mostly to undergraduate courses. On the larger side, a maximum number of US universities and also Canadian universities accept the SAT exam. Along with the SAT exam, international students also have an alternative option to appear for the ACT exam and submit their scores eventually. Check out how ACT is different from SAT.

The advent of the new SAT exam style referred to as SAT Digital, has made the preparation and conduct of the exam even easier for international students. There is a huge difference between the old SAT format and the new SAT format. The duration of the SAT exam has reduced and the section-wise pattern has also changed. The new SAT exam was introduced for Indian students in the year 2023. Check out the article as to how and when to take the SAT exam in India for US and Canadian university admissions. 

Why Take SAT Exam in India to Study in US or Canada?

Students who wish to study in US and Canada should consider giving the SAT Digital exam because of a lot of advantages Some of the reasons to give the SAT exam that should be considered are because of the following reasons:

• The SAT Digital exam duration has been shortened by an hour and a half.
• Also, calculators are allowed for all Maths question answering rather than a certain section only in SAT Math Section.
• Students can appear for SAT Digital on their own laptops or iPads and any other device allowed by College Board. 
• In case Indian students do not have access to a personal device, they can opt for a device which will be provided to them at the SAT exam centre.
• Overall, there is more time designated to answer each question on the SAT exam.

SAT exam takers will have the advantage of appearing for the SAT Digital exam conducted across all Indian centres irrespective of the city chosen. The question paper is also unique and there is no scope for cheating also. Thus, SAT exam preparation would not be very extensive either.

US Universities Accepting SAT Exam 2024

Check out the top 10 universities in the USA accepting the SAT exam for admission:

Despite the pandemic, the above-given universities are still accepting SAT exam scores for admission. However, after the pandemic, a lot of US universities have become test-optional and some universities like Columbia University have ceased to accept SAT or ACT exam scores for admission from 2023 onwards. Thus, it is advised that Indian students planning to take SAT exam to apply to US universities should check if SAT is actually acceptable, test-optional or if no standardised test score is required before registering for SAT exam and paying the exam fee.

Universities Accepting SAT Exam in Canada 2024

Check out the top 10 Canadian universities accepting SAT exam scores in the table below:

While Indian students aiming to study in Canada need to choose between ACT and SAT, there may be some universities which would to even require students to make a choice. Universities like - the University of Waterloo don't even require an SAT score. The above-given universities may be test-optional and some of its courses may not even require a minimum SAT exam cut-off score as well. Hence, Indian students must check before applying.

When to Register for SAT Exam for US and Canada University Admissions?

Once the Indian student makes up his/her mind to study in US or study in Canada and shortlists universities for undergraduate application can first check the university intakes. For example, US intakes are majorly in Fall and Spring and the same applies to Canada as well. Check out which intake to apply to for admission in the US or Canada:

• Study in Canada in Fall
• Fall Intake in USA
• Spring Intake USA

Once the applicant chooses the intake for admission application to study in US or Canada, they can then begin preparing for SAT exam. Check out: When to start preparing for SAT exam? To prepare for SAT exam an applicant may need a month or two, which also depends upon his/her previous knowledge and command over the subjects tested. Upon preparation, one must go for enough SAT mocks and when the applicant feels he/she is confident enough they can register for SAT exam.

There are limited SAT exam dates available, hence registration must be done as soon as they open for the designated test dates for which the applicant wishes to appear for. Also, there are no minimum eligibility criteria for SAT exam takers, so there should be no hindrance in applying for it too.

SAT Exam Dates 2024-25 for Indian Students 

SAT exam dates vary for each month and usually, there are two options of dates provided while registering for SAT exam and only one option is to be chosen. Each SAT exam date has a deadline for registering, there are late registration deadlines too and scope for changes of SAT exam dates for a stipulated time period only. 

Indian students must be very careful before choosing their SAT exam dates so that they don't have to come back to change them and pay an additional fee for the test date change. The SAT exam results and scores are released within a short span of exam conduction, but applicants should still keep extra time in hand in case they wish to sit for the SAT exam again before applying to US or Canadian universities. 

SAT Exam Centres in India

Indian students registering for SAT exam can choose any of the Indian cities as their SAT exam centres based on their location. It is recommended that students choose to appear for SAT exam at that SAT exam centre which is within reach of the applicants and in a few kilometres of distance only. Some of the Indian cities where SAT exam is conducted are as follows:

• New Delhi
• Bangalore
• Ahmedabad
• Amritsar
• Calcutta
• Kanpur
• Cochin
• Pune
• Mussoorie
• Kodaikanal
• Hyderabad
• Mumbai
• Chennai

The list of SAT exam centres in India is not limited to the above-given list, there may or may not be a certain test centre for a specific test date. But generally, all major cities of India have a few designated locations where SAT exam is conducted. Thus, one must check for the SAT exam centre availability before choosing a test centre. 

SAT Exam Pattern for Indian Students

Check out the latest updated SAT Digital exam pattern proposed by the College Board specifically for Indian students is as follows:

The SAT Digital Exam pattern has changed a bit with shorter questions, duration of the overall SAT exam, an overall score rather than section-wise scores and the use of calculators for all Math section questions. For detailed analysis check out the SAT exam syllabus.

There is a stark difference between ACT and SAT and keeping in view of the recent changes, yet SAT Digital is shorter, better and more convenient for Indian students. Also, the US and Canada's admissions though do not widely require standardised test scores for undergraduate admissions, but SAT is a preferable option for Indian students at the present juncture for applying to US and Canada or even other countries abroad.