The Scholastic Assessment Test is a standardised, computer-based exam designed for high school students applying to undergraduate programmes in the United States, Canada, and other countries. It evaluates reading, writing, and math skills to assess college readiness. The exam is scored out of 1,600 and is administered by the College Board through the Bluebook app.
According to a report in NDTV, The SAT consists of two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math, each scored out of 800.
The English section comprises 54 questions to be solved in 64 minutes, including multiple-choice questions, vocabulary, punctuation, and sentence completion. The Mathematics section includes 44 questions with 70 minutes allotted, of which 75 per cent are multiple-choice. There is no provision for negative marking.
The exam duration is hours and 14 minutes. It is conducted seven times a year: March, May, June, August, October, November, and December.
General SAT score ranges for top universities are:
Harvard: 1460-1580
Stanford: 1440-1570
MIT: 1520-1570
Top Global Universities as per QS World University Rankings 2026 that accept SAT scores
The edition features over 1,500 of the world's leading institutions, representing more than 100 locations worldwide. Here are the top 10 universities globally.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Imperial College London
Stanford University
University of Oxford
Harvard University
University of Cambridge
ETH Zurich
National University of Singapore (NUS)
UCL
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)