Top Exams to Study Abroad for Undergraduate Programs

Are you struggling to decide between the SAT or ACT after high school to study abroad? Based on the stats of a live poll at Shiksha Abroad, let us assess which undergraduate exams students are targeting to study overseas in 2025. Apart from the traditional method of exam score submission, let us also investigate whether they have reliable backup options.

Millions of international students apply to study abroad and aim to study in the USA, Canada, the UK and other popular destinations. Undergraduate admission to these countries is tough, and most of their universities require standardised scores of either SAT or ACT. Only recently, a poll was running live on Shiksha Abroad, and the question was “Which exam are you targeting for undergrad studies abroad?” Around 1,659 responses were recorded, and 83% of respondents chose SAT as their preferred option. We have tried to analyse plausible reasons behind each option and why or why not they can be suitable for applicants in the future. 

Most Preferred Exam Option for Undergrad Studies Abroad 2025: Poll

Based on the poll, where more than 1650+ respondents voted, here is what they have opted for in recording their preferred exam when applying for undergraduate admissions abroad:

Check out the poll breakdown on how students plan to appear for which standardised test for undergrad admissions abroad:

Based on the poll's stats mentioned above, we have analysed it for prospective students and detailed about the why and how of the chosen options:

• Highest Preference for SAT: The most striking finding is the dominance of the SAT, chosen by 83% of respondents. This indicates that within the group polled, the SAT is perceived as the primary or most suitable standardised test for pursuing undergraduate studies abroad (likely targeting US universities, as these are the main exams for US admissions).
• Hedging Bets (SAT and ACT): A notable minority (11%) will take both exams. This strategy suggests these students might be aiming for highly competitive institutions and want to maximise their chances by submitting the best possible score, or they are unsure which test format suits them better.
• ACT Not Highly Preferable: The ACT is significantly less popular than SAT exam. The reason being, that only 4% of respondents chose this option.
• Test-Optional/Free Colleges Unpopular: The summed percentage of three points (1% + 2%) explains that students do not need standardised tests. This goes to say that, vis-à-vis an ever-growing tide of US test-optional/free admissions policies, the vast majority of students in this plagiarism actually do value the taking and submitting of standardised test scores or believe their target institutions sometimes prefer them. This, therefore, shows an occurrence of classic along-the-lines thinking with an uncooperative mode of risk-taking for admissions.

These were the key findings based on the poll, poll options, and number of respondents. In the next section, let us delve deeper and understand the reason for choosing these options from a student’s perspective. 

Also Read: Which Exam to Give for Which Course to Study Abroad?

Understanding the Trend of Votes from Undergrads’ Perspective

Let us understand why SAT takes the spotlight based on the poll results in this section: 

Why is SAT a Popular Test Option?

With the highest voting share, SAT is a clear winner with 83% of the votes. What made the SAT a leading option among others? Here is what it means:

• Since the SAT has gone Digital, it has become a better version of its previous version, which was a pencil-and-paper test. Digital SAT is easy, flexible and shorter than its previous version.
• The SAT recorded 1.97 million test takers in 2024, compared to 1.9 million in 2023. Thus, a 3.68% YoY increase has been witnessed. In 2025, there can be a record-breaking number of SAT takers.
• Digital SAT is the only standardised exam that ALLOWS applicants to take the test on their devices, such as iPads, Macs, or Windows laptops. This feature is unique to SAT exams.
• SAT is now shorter in duration and has become adaptive post digitalisation, and, most importantly, test takers have witnessed an upgraded exam-taking experience.
• Initially, there were just seven SAT exam dates in a year. The College Board introduced eight SAT dates in 2025. One more date was added in September for applicants to improve their scores or take the exam right before the Spring intake admissions.
• The most crucial aspect of the SAT exam, which changed the whole perspective towards the SAT being a better exam, is the PERMISSION to use a calculator throughout the Math section. The Bluebook App has an in-built calculator, or applicants can carry manual calculators (specification-based) to their respective SAT exam centres.
• A lot of US universities have reinstated SAT scores as part of admissions and thus, a majority of the US universities are accepting SAT scores for admission. This is also the reason why SAT's popularity has increased. 
• Finally, the game changers were removing the optional essay from the SAT exam, which still applies to the ACT, removing no-calculator and calculator-allowed questions on the SAT exam, and combining Reading and Writing (RW) into one section. 

With the evolution from a paper-and-pencil test to a Digital format, the SAT exam has become a popular choice among students. The SAT exam pattern and SAT syllabus have also become more concise in testing students on the significant aspects of importance.

Understanding Other Options For Undergrads Based on Poll

Now that we have understood the reason why SAT is the undisputed leader, let us also understand perspective on other poll options here and weigh the pros and cons: 

1. SAT and ACT

This option of SAT and ACT was the second highest voted option, 11%. There can be multiple reasons why applicants choose this option; they may be:

• Confused between SAT and ACT, or
• Still deciding which is better - ACT or SAT, or
• They are interested in appearing for both exams.

Of course, whether these three options are deemed valid will vary case by case and personal preference. However, this option is clear-cut, suggesting that applicants may be interested in appearing for both; whichever exam gets them the highest score, they will submit it for their admissions abroad. 

While the ACT and SAT are given for the same purpose, the exam content varies to some extent. For example, the ACT has a Science section, whereas the SAT does not. So, those who are not confident enough about Science should take the SAT. On the other hand, applicants who wish to submit an optional essay should take the ACT rather than the SAT because the SAT has discontinued the optional essay testing. 

Based on these parameters, applicants must choose their options wisely and then register for the SAT or ACT. 

2. ACT

Around 65 respondents, or 4% of the total responders, feel they would opt for the ACT exam. Selecting ACT can be for various reasons: 

• Higher scoring opportunities on ACT exam, or
• Stronger command over Science concepts, or
• Wish to opt for the optional essay.

Based on these three reasons, applicants would be making up their minds. ACT is the best option for those with a good conceptual understanding of Math and Science subjects. Moreover, ACTs contextual knowledge of the language and emphasises testing the practical skills of the language. 

Applicants must also note that the ACT is not digitalised like the SAT; hence, it is still a pencil-and-paper or offline test for Indian students. The ACT will become digitalised in September 2025. In the year 2023, there were 1.38 million ACT takers, and in 2024, there were 1.37 million. Thus, the number of ACT takers dropped by 0.87% in 2024. Applicants must make their choices accordingly.

3. Targeting Test-Free Colleges

The next option, ‘targeting test-free colleges’ is a new concept for prospective undergraduates, but this option is available for studying abroad. Why applicants may be intrigued by choosing this option is as follows:

• Exam phobic applicants, or, 
• Applicants have had a good academic background and scores, and can target these colleges, or
• Applicants are confident about their application materials and hence, wish to apply here. 

Universities are test-free and do not require applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores only because they have a consistently excellent academic background, good recommendation letters, or well-drafted admission essays. Applicants are holistically evaluated based on their academic profile and are also assessed based on their involvement in extracurricular activities. 

So, those applicants who feel it is not worth spending on the SAT or ACT exams can opt for test-free colleges. To name a few, 

1. University of Pennsylvania
2. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
3. Northwestern University
4. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
5. University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

These are just a few test-free US universities. Many others can be considered, and applicants can apply for admission accordingly. 

4. Seeking Test-Optional Colleges

While a small percentage of applicants have chosen the test-optional colleges option, 16 voters still opted for by 16 voters. Reasons why applicants seek test-optional colleges are:

• They have a good academic background and have been school toppers, or, 
• Applicants do not want to take the stress of their applications and cut down on the exam part, or
• Applicants can be flexible with either submitting SAT/ACT scores or not, and apply accordingly.

Seeking test-optional colleges has been opted for because students have the option. Those who feel it is burdensome to take the SAT or ACT exams and are not confident enough to appear for these exams and get an average or above average score can also opt for this option. But this will not always work. The application must still be all-around and competent, backed by a strong statement of purpose, essays, goals, and relevant work experience through a CV. Some of the US universities which are test-optional are as follows:

1. Princeton University
2. Stanford University
3. University of Delaware 
4. Boston University
5. Columbia University

There are more on this list. Applicants must check the university pages and then apply to those universities that are test optional. 

What Does This Mean for Future Students?

Though the poll says everything, the best option offered in the poll for taking the SAT exam received 1,372 votes. Other options such as taking both SAT and ACT, or just the ACT, received fewer responses. Beyond that, it would be looking into test-optional or test-free colleges. This means:

• International students will have several options (as mentioned in the poll) that they can choose from depending on preference for future admissions.
• Since traditionally most applicants want to go by SAT, in due time, the number of SAT applicants will get really large, and it will play a major role in foreign admissions.
• While it is still very much a choice that is popular in the poll, that view also tells that SATs will continue to admit when there are other options like test-free or test-optional admissions.
• Thus, this direct view also sees a greater emphasis on the SAT, but since the ACT will also be going digital from September 2025, trends may or may not undergo any significant shifts.

To summarise, the poll shows a strong preference for the SAT among this group of prospective international undergraduate students, despite the test-optional movement. It is up to the applicant to choose the best possible option, which can boost their applications and help them get a spot at their preferred university.