The SAT homeschool matric is an option to pursue, in combination with the GED®, to apply to overseas universities.
Please always check that you will meet the admission requirements of the specific faculty of the university to which you intend applying in advance.
PLEASE NOTE that the SAT alone is generally not an acceptable matric equivalent. It is regarded as a university admission test, rather than a certification or qualification.
What is the SAT?
The SAT, formally known as Scholastic Aptitude Tests is a series of standardised tests used in the USA and internationally for university acceptance. It is now simply called the “SAT“. SAT tests are administered by the College Board in the USA.
Over 80 years ago the College Board created the first standardised college entrance test to help colleges and universities to assess which students would be more likely to succeed at tertiary level. The SAT is written annually by more than two million students in the USA and internationally.
[Please note that the College Board also offers SAT Subject Tests [TM] which are tests for individual subjects. However these are not required for South African matric purposes – it is just the SAT.]
What qualification do I get?
The SAT does not earn candidates a qualification but it can be taken any time a student feels adequately prepared to write it. Most high school students write it in Grade 11 or 12.
What must I study for the SAT homeschool matric?
The SAT is a 3h45 written test and consists of 10 separately timed sections:
- Three sections test critical reading (70 minutes total)
- Three sections test mathematics (70 minutes total)
- Three sections test writing (60 minutes total)
- One variable (unscored) section tests critical reading, mathematics, or writing (25 minutes total)
The test aims to assess college readiness rather than an ability to learn content material. It focuses on subject matter learned in high school and problem solving skills in three areas:
- Critical reading
- Mathematics
- Writing
It is comprised of three kinds of questions, which are machine scored, except for the essay:
- Multiple-choice questions
- Student produced responses (mathematics only)
- Essay question
Each section receives a score on the scale of 200–800.
A South African parent of two children who have written the SAT advises candidates to search online for SAT Prep Guides and to purchase about three different ones to work through. She recommends that you should get plenty of practice at test-taking by doing a minimum of 10 practice tests of 4 hours each in order to score well on the test.
Where do I get SAT preparation textbooks?
You can buy SAT prep books locally at online book stores.
The College Board has partnered with Khan Academy to offer free online tuition for the SAT
Various SAT prep books are available and there are also other websites offering free online SAT preparation.
Where do I write the SAT?
Students have the option of writing the SAT on 6 different dates throughout the year in South Africa. The tests are written at 8 centres around the country, but not every centre offers the test on all 6 dates.
Click here to find International Test Dates
The South African test centres are at the following venues in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Durban and various centres in Gauteng:
- University of Cape Town
- the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg
- University of Witwatersrand
- the African Leadership Academy in Honeydew
- the African Union International School in Midrand
- the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley-on-Klip
- Bohmer Secondary School in Bloemfontein
- St Henry’s Marist College in Durban
Do not contact the institutions hosting the test venue. All registrations and enquiries must be done online via the College Board website as they handle the administration of the tests.
How do I register?
The easiest way to register is online, with payment by credit card, although there is an option to register by mail.
The benefits of registering online are that you can select your test centre and test dates and find out about availability immediately, you get instant registration confirmation and online access for corrections and printing of your registration ticket.
You will need to upload a digital photo as part of the online registrations process, so have this ready. The photo you provide 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.
Tests must be booked online via the website of the College Board here: Register
You are advised to set aside about 45 minutes to get your registration done. There are four steps to register:
- Click “Register Now”
- Create a College Board Profile
- Pay by credit card
- Receive your registration confirmation
To create an accurate profile, in addition to a digital photo, you may be asked to supply the following when you sign up:
- Your email address
- A parent’s email address
- A parent’s birth date
- Your household’s income
- Your parent’s highest educational degrees
- Your most recent class rank
- Your average grades in all subject areas
- What classes you’ve taken and which year you’ve taken them
- Credit card information to pay for the test
You will need a code for your high school. As a homeschooler, use the code 970000
What does the SAT cost?
The SAT registration fee is USD $49.50 (or USD $68 for the SAT with Essay). Candidates outside the USA must pay an international process fee. In South Africa this fee is $43, so the total cost is USD $92.50 (June 2020).
Check for updated fees here.
As stated previously, the SAT on its own is not a recognised option for university acceptance.
You must first find out the entrance requirements of the institution/s of your choice before you pursue any of these options for that purpose.
More Pages Related to SAT Homeschool Matric
High School Homeschool South African Options