How Do I Write the SAT in South Africa?

How to write the digital SAT in South Africa

Find out how to write the SAT in South Africa or internationally.

What is the SAT? How do I study for the SAT? Where can I write the SAT? What does the SAT cost? How to find the test dates for the SAT.

What is the SAT?

The SAT is an American college admission test, which is used in the USA and internationally to assess eligibility for university entrance. The SAT tests are standardised tests, administered by the College Board in the USA.

Around the globe, over two million students write the SAT each year.

Most universities around the world accept students with a combination of a GED® plus a prescribed score on the SAT.

Students who wish to study overseas should check the admission requirements for the faculty of the intended institution as each faculty, at each university, may have its own requirements, over and above the legally required minimum.

This option is accepted in South Africa for foreign students, but not for South African citizens. 

Foreign students with a GED and SAT may apply to Universities South Africa (USAf) for a certificate of foreign conditional exemption to foreign students wishing to study at a South African university, provided they meet their gazetted criteria.

Where can I write the digital SAT?

You can’t take the digital SAT at home! You have to take it at a test centre! The exam will be administered by a proctor.

Each year, the SAT is written on 6 set dates at test centres around the world.

Click here to find SAT test dates and available SAT test centres. Select the “Outside the United States” option.

In South Africa, there are 12 SAT test centres listed. Not all test centres may offer the test on all 6 test dates. Some may only offer the SAT twice a year, so check when you will need to write to get your results in time for university application closing dates. Sometimes there is a waiting list, so book early. 

What must I study for the digital SAT?

The digital SAT is a 2h14 test and consists of two separately timed sections:

• Reading and Writing: Students have 64 minutes to complete the Reading and Writing section
• Math: Students have 70 minutes to complete the Math section. With the digital SAT, an onscreen calculator will be available for every math question.

Each section is divided into two equal length modules, and there is a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing section and the Math section. 

Most of the questions are multiple choice, though some of the math questions ask you to enter the answer rather than select it.

On all questions, there’s no penalty for guessing: if you’re not sure of the answer, it’s better to guess than leave the response blank.

The SAT is scored out of a maximum of 1600. Each section, Math and ERW, is scored on a scale ranging from 200 to 800, adding up to the maximum possible score of 1600. It’s crucial to note that the SAT employs a ‘rights-only’ scoring approach, meaning there are no deductions for incorrect answers.

Where can I find SAT prep material?

The College Board offers an app, called the Bluebook™, for students to use to prepare for the digital SAT. You can download the Bluebook™ and take a full-length SAT test in the same application that you will use on test day.

Download the Bluebook™

According to the official SAT website information: “Full-length digital SAT practice in Bluebook familiarizes students with the test application interface and supporting tools and features like formula sheets, digital accommodations, and calculators.”

The College Board has also partnered with Khan Academy to offer free online tuition for the SAT. Khan Academy presents a digital SAT course that includes videos, articles and worked examples. These resources were created to help you understand and experience what’s new and improved about the digital SAT.

The College Board has partnered with Khan Academy to offer free online tuition for the digital SAT. This is also the official SAT test prep.

What device do I need to take the digital SAT Test?

You can run the Bluebook™ testing app on a Windows or Mac device, an iPad, or a school-managed Chromebook.

• Your device must be able to connect to Wi-Fi.
• On test day, your device must be fully charged; it will need to stay on for 3–4 hours. We also recommend you bring your device’s power cord or a portable charger.
• Before test day, you’ll need to download Bluebook to the device you’re going to test with. Then 1–5 days before your test, you’ll complete a quick exam setup. The application will confirm that your device meets all requirements, then it will download your test and generate your admission ticket.

How do I register for the digital SAT?

You must book your digital SAT test online via the website of the College Board here: Register

You will need to upload an ID photo during the online registrations process, so have this ready. The photo you upload will become part of your Admission Ticket. The photo must be a good quality head and shoulders front facing shot, like an ID photo, and must be easily recognisable as YOU on the test day.

Hats are not allowed in the photo but you may wear a religious headscarf. However, the photo must show your facial features clearly, and your scarf must be tucked neatly behind your ears. 

You will also need the following information to complete your SAT profile:

You can download the SAT Registration and Test Guide

To create an accurate profile, besides having the photo ready, you will also need the following information:

1. Your full legal name as it appears on your photo ID. College Board uses your legal name on test day to confirm your identity, but if you have a preferred first name, you can provide it in your College Board
   account. We’ll use your preferred first name in all other communications with you.
2. date of birth
3. gender
4. mailing address
5. phone number
6. An acceptable photo of yourself that closely resembles the photo on your ID and that will match
   how you look on test day. Your photo won’t appear on your admission ticket, but testing staff will
   have access to it in their roster. See details at sat.org/photo.
7. The name of your high school. If you were home educated, you will need a code for your high school. As a homeschooler, use the code 970000
8. Acceptance of the Terms and Conditions for taking the SAT.
9. A description of the type of testing device you’ll use to take the test
10. Credit card information to pay for the test

It will probably take you about 30-45 minutes to complete your online SAT registration. There are four steps to register:

1. Click “Register Now”
2. Create a College Board Profile
3. Pay by credit card
4. Receive your registration confirmation