SAT Eligibility Criteria 2023: Check Age Limit, Minimum Qualification & Score

SAT Exam Eligibility: The conducting body of SAT, the College Board has not set up any SAT eligibility for candidates wanting to appear for the exam. Originally referred to as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, then the Scholastic Assessment Test and now commonly called the SAT exam is conducted for undergraduate admission to colleges/universities abroad. The College Board which is the official SAT conducting agency have not laid down any specific eligibility criteria for SAT exam for students appearing for one of the most recognized entrance exams for undergraduate studies abroad.

Students who are planning to travel overseas to take admission to undergraduate studies are required to successfully qualify for the SAT exam. The College Board has not set up any SAT eligibility criteria as far as the age limit is concerned. There is no minimum or maximum age limit set by the conducting body for aspirants wanting to register for SAT exam. However, students are required to have successfully passed high school to seek admission to undergraduate studies. Students belonging to the age group of 17-19 years have recorded the highest turnout for the SAT exams. Countries that majorly accept SAT scores and results are the United States of America (USA), Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), Singapore, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand among others.

 Also read: SAT Exam Syllabus

Key Points for SAT Eligibility 2023

SAT exam eligibility for Indian students willing to apply for colleges abroad which accept SAT scores must fulfil the following SAT eligibility criteria:

• The College Board is the official conducting body of the SAT exam
• There is no minimum or maximum age set by the conducting body as SAT eligibility criteria.
• SAT is widely accepted in countries like USA, UK, Australia, and Canada.
• Students appear for SAT for admission to undergraduate programmes in colleges/ universities abroad
• A maximum number of high school students between the ages of 17-18 appear for the SAT exam

SAT 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 SAT 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, this can be used for both SAT General and SAT Subject Test. Students are not required to make a new request for each SAT exam. Students should note that there are no eligibility criteria laid down for students wanting to appear for SAT.

Facilities for Disabled Students for SAT Exam include:

• The use of Braille and large-print exams for visually impaired candidates
• 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

Related reads:

• Taking SAT Practice Tests: Tips and Resources
• How to score 2200 on SAT?
• When Should You Start Studying for SAT?

Types of SAT

Broadly speaking, the SAT exam is of two types

• SAT Reasoning Test
• SAT Subject Test

SAT Reasoning Test

The SAT Reasoning Test evaluates the candidate’s knowledge of reading, writing, and mathematics which are taught in high school. The entire SAT is held for a duration of 3hrs and 50mins. Students should note that the organizing body has not specified any SAT eligibility criteria for students wanting to appear for SAT. Most students start preparing early on, when they are in Class 11 and appear for the exam in their Class 12. The main purpose of the exam is to assess the student's skill set that is taught in schools and which are important and will stay with the student for their lifetime. The SAT exam evaluates the candidates on their knowledge in Reading, Writing, and Quantitative Aptitude in general.

SAT Subject Test

The SAT Subject Test evaluates a candidate’s knowledge in specific subjects. The SAT exam is an hour-long and is content-based in nature that allows students to showcase achievement in specific subject areas where they excel. The SAT Subject Test can be taken in the following subjects, English, History, Mathematics, Science, and Foreign Languages. Not all foreign colleges/ universities require students to appear for the SAT Subject Test and hence, students should check with their education institutions before appearing for the exam.

Aspirants wanting to pursue undergraduate studies abroad can either opt for the SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject test depending on the college/course requirement. The SAT exam is held multiple times outside the US and there are no SAT eligibility criteria laid down by the College Board. Candidates are required to register for the SAT well in advance to avoid any last-minute hassle. Candidates are required to choose from the available SAT dates and Test Centres that are most convenient to them.

Age Criteria for SAT

• 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

Have more questions regarding the SAT? Read SAT frequently asked questions and understand more about the SAT exam.