SAT
Digital SAT
The digital SAT is College Board's undergraduate admission test and is accepted by most U.S. colleges; each college sets its own testing policy, and many are test-optional, so check the college's admissions website. It is taken on a laptop or tablet in College Board's Bluebook app, at a test centre or at school with a proctor. The test is adaptive: each section (Reading and Writing, Math) has two modules, and the second module is more or less difficult depending on performance on the first. College Board states no fixed expiry, but cautions that scores sent five or more years after the test date may be less valid predictors; scores can be superscored across attempts where a college allows it.
Frequency
8 weekend test dates a year (2026–27: Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Mar, May, Jun; same for U.S. and international)
Duration
2 hours 14 minutes (plus a 10-minute break)
Format
Computer-based
Score range
400–1600 (Reading and Writing 200–800 + Math 200–800)
Eligibility
No published academic prerequisite. College Board recommends taking it in the spring of junior year (11th grade) and again in the fall of senior year (12th grade), with no limit on retakes; students under 13 need a parent or guardian to submit a consent form before they can register.
Conducting body
College Board
Registration fee
US$68 (as listed by College Board in September 2026); testing outside the U.S. adds a flat US$43 international fee (US$111 total), and some listed international centres charge a further US$24 test-centre fee (listed through June 2027)
Source: College Board. Details here are for guidance only — fees, dates and eligibility change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
Verified against: College Board — SAT test fees; College Board — SAT international fees; College Board — SAT test dates and deadlines; College Board — how the SAT is structured; College Board — what do my scores mean? (score ranges); College Board — what to expect on test day (Bluebook, proctor); College Board — SAT device readiness; College Board — Parents FAQs: SAT (accepted by most U.S. colleges); College Board — how many times can a student take the SAT?; College Board — students under 13; College Board — sending archived SAT scores (“Using older scores”); College Board Blog — what is an SAT superscore? (test-optional colleges).
Last verified: 29 September 2026.
Universities that accept SAT
Acceptance can differ by level and programme — confirm on the programme’s own page.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Stanford University
California Institute of Technology
Princeton University
Yale University
Columbia University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Chicago
Cornell University
Brown University
Dartmouth College
Carnegie Mellon University
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Northwestern University
Duke University
New York University
NYU Abu Dhabi
Related / Next steps
Explore studying in United States →Guides that cover the SAT
6 min read
The Digital SAT, Explained
The digital SAT — its adaptive two-section structure, what subjects it tests, how scoring works, and what to expect on test day; for current fees, dates and score ranges we link to College Board's official site.
8 min read
SAT and ACT Testing Accommodations: Eligibility and How to Request Them
The official process for requesting College Board (SAT) and ACT accommodations — extended time, breaks, assistive tech — and the documentation involved. Verify on official sites.
7 min read
Score Choice Explained: Which SAT/ACT Scores to Send to Colleges
How SAT and ACT Score Choice work and how to decide which test sittings to report to each college. Always confirm each college's score-reporting policy on its official site.
7 min read
SAT for Gulf Universities
Where the SAT (and ACT) are used by universities in the Gulf, how the test fits into admission at American-style and international institutions, and why you should confirm every minimum score on the official university source.
7 min read
SAT vs ACT: Which to Take?
The digital SAT and the ACT — structure, content emphasis, scoring, and how to decide which fits your strengths. Neither test is universally better; colleges that use test scores accept both, and each sets its own policy.
8 min read
Digital SAT Section by Section: Reading, Writing, and Math Strategy
Module-by-module tactics for the adaptive digital SAT — Reading and Writing question types and Math, with a calculator allowed throughout. Verify current specifics on College Board.
7 min read
Should You Retake the SAT or ACT? Making the Decision
A decision framework for whether and when to retake the SAT or ACT — weighing score gains, timing, cost, and diminishing returns. Verify dates and fees officially.
5 min read
What Is a Good SAT Score? Explained
What "good" means in the context of SAT scores — the percentile concept, how to interpret your score relative to your target colleges, why there is no single universal cut-off, and where to find College Board's current score data.
Need prep advice for the SAT?
Ask GSB for a personalised study plan.
Ask GSB →Studying in the United States
Continue exploring the United States
Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for the United States — all in one place, each linked to its official source.
Popular topics · United States
Popular guides
View all →