Is SAT similar to JEE?

No, SAT vs JEE are two extremely different exams. SAT is an exam for students aspiring to pursue undergraduate programs in the USA, Canada, India and some other study abroad destinations.

Can I appear for the SAT after preparing for JEE?

No, the syllabus for SAT and JEE are quite different. Even after preparing for JEE you will have to prepare yourself entirely for the SAT English section which is not covered in JEE.

Is there a validity for SAT and JEE scores?

Yes, SAT scores are valid lifetime whereas JEE scores are only valid for 1 year from qualifying the exam.

Can I get admission to IITs by clearing JEE Main or SAT?

No, IITs offer admission to students based on JEE Advanced scores and not JEE Main or SAT.

Is SAT Math more difficult or JEE Math?

No, SAT Math is generally considered to be easier compared to JEE Math. With complete focus on PCM subjects, JEE Math is definitely tougher than SAT.

SAT vs JEE: Which Exam to Consider?

Entrance exams are definitely a hard nut to crack. Here we are going to compare 2 of the most popular yet different exams i.e. SAT vs JEE. One of the most frequently asked questions among high school students is which is easier SAT or JEE? But what is more important is which exam you should consider based on your flair irrespective of its difficulty.

The basic difference between SAT and JEE is that SAT emphasizes on critical thinking and English language skills while JEE focuses on PCM subjects. But this is not all that you need to know. There is a lot more to consider which has been elaborated in this guide. Read through this guide for a detailed comparison of JEE vs SAT on the basis of requirements, exam pattern, syllabus, registration process, universities & more!

Table of Contents:

SAT vs JEE
Requirements for SAT vs JEE
Exam Details for SAT vs JEE
Registration for SAT vs JEE
Syllabus for SAT vs JEE
Universities Accepting SAT vs JEE
Which is More Difficult SAT or JEE?

SAT vs JEE

Before diving deep into the discussion and differences between SAT vs JEE, let us take a look at what exactly is SAT and JEE:

About SAT

Starting from SAT or the Scholastic Assessment Test, is an entrance exam that opens doors to universities abroad for international students.
It is taken by higher secondary school students and is administered by the College Board.
SAT is a general exam that allows students to take admission to any courses in colleges and universities around the world.

About JEE

Joint Entrance Exam or JEE is a national level entrance exam conducted for admission to colleges and universities in India.
The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Scores of JEE Mains are considered for offering admission to undergraduate programs in Engineering, Architecture, Planning and related programs.

Requirements for SAT vs JEE

To enroll for SAT or JEE, candidates are expected to fulfill certain basic requirements for eligibility. Take a look at the requirements for SAT vs JEE:

Requirements for SAT	Requirements for JEE
There is no age criteria to appear for the SAT. Students take the SAT while in class 11 or 12.	Here again, there is no age criteria to enroll for JEE. You can only take the JEE after clearing the class 12th examination.

Exam Details for SAT vs JEE

SAT and JEE vary from each other in many aspects pertaining to the exam pattern, duration, fees, etc. Here is a detailed discussion on the differences between SAT and JEE:

Exam Pattern for SAT vs JEE

SAT is a written offline exam that is conducted multiple times a year. The exam is only available in the English language.

There are 3 sections in SAT - Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
The total exam is of 154 questions and the composite score of the exam is from 400 to 1600.
The reading and writing section of the paper comprises 96 questions to be completed in 100 minutes.
There are 54 questions in the mathematics section to be answered in about 80 minutes.
For candidates appearing for the SAT with essay, an additional 50 minutes are allotted to answer 1 question.
There is no negative marking for wrong answers in SAT.

Suggested: A Guide for SAT Subject Test

JEE Main is a computer-based exam conducted online with an offline component for B.Arch. The exam is conducted twice a year in English, Hindi and other regional languages such as Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, etc.

The JEE paper has questions from Engineering, Architecture and Planning.
The paper offering admission to B.Tech courses has 90 questions each from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics of which 75 questions are compulsory.
For admission to Architecture programs, you must opt for paper 2 which comprises 77 questions from Math, Aptitude Test and Drawing Test with a total 400 marks.
If you are planning to enroll in Planning programs, you must also opt for paper 2 which has 100 objective type questions from Math, Aptitude and Planning for a total of 400 marks.
An important difference to be noted between the marking scheme of SAT and JEE is that one negative mark will be deducted in JEE for each incorrect answer.

Exam Dates for SAT vs JEE

It is important to be aware of the exam dates for SAT and JEE, to know exactly when to register for the exams. Take note of the exam dates for JEE vs SAT:

The JEE exam is conducted twice a year in June and July. The exam is expected to be conducted in 2 sessions in 2022 - session 1 between June 20 to June 29 and session 2 between July 21 to July 30.
SAT exam dates in India is administered multiple times throughout the year. The upcoming dates for SAT in 2022 are in the months of May, August, October, November and December.

Exam Duration for SAT vs JEE

The standard duration for both SAT vs JEE is 3 hours. However, there is a slight difference if you are planning to appear for SAT with essay, take a look:

Duration for SAT	Duration for JEE
The duration of SAT without essay is 3 hours while students appearing for SAT with essay will be allotted an additional 50 minutes i.e. the total duration of the exam will be 3 hours and 50 minutes.	The total duration for JEE Mains is 3 hours.

Exam Fees for SAT vs JEE

Here is how much you have to pay for SAT and JEE at the time of registration:

The registration fee for SAT without essay is $101 i.e. 7,500-7,700 INR and for SAT with essay is $117 i.e. 8,900 INR.
JEE Main registration fee for male candidates of unreserved/ OBC category is 650 INR. The registration fee for female candidates of unreserved/ OBC category and SC/ST/PwD/Transgender candidates is 325 INR.

Registration for SAT vs JEE

It is best to know the steps of the registration process for entrance exams be it SAT or JEE and register as early as possible to be unbothered by paperwork while preparing for these exams.

Here are the simple steps to be followed to register for SAT:

SAT registration can be completed online or via mail.
To register, you will have to make a student account on the college board website with your personal details.
After the student account is created, you can upload necessary documents and enter your preference for centre and date of examination.
Once you have completed the application and paid the application fee, the hall ticket will be made available for you.
Make sure you enter correct details during registration and also check the hall ticket as well.

Take a look at the application process for JEE Mains:

You can fill out the application for JEE Mains online.
The application form can be easily downloaded from NTA’s official website.
Prepare all necessary documents required for registration and submit it along with the application fee.
You can make the payment of the application fee online after which you will receive a receipt showing confirmation of payment.
The admit card for JEE Mains is released by NTA a few days before the exam date.
Once you receive the admit card, carefully check your personal details, exam center, time slot and rules related to the exam.

Syllabus for SAT vs JEE

Let us briefly discuss what subjects are covered under the syllabus for SAT:

Generally, the syllabus for SAT is the curriculum taught in high school.
The exam covers questions related to Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
SAT reading has 5 passages of which you can expect 1 from Social Science, Economics, Psychology or Sociology, at least 2 related to Biology, Physics, Chemistry or Earth Science, 1 from fiction and another 1 or 2 from the constitution and foundation of the US.
SAT writing has passages from Science, Humanities, Social Studies and Careers.
SAT math syllabus focuses on algebra, functions, geometry, statistics, probability and data analysis.

Suggested: 11 Steps SAT Preparation Guide

Now let us see how the syllabus of JEE is different from that of SAT:

JEE has a specific topic-wise syllabus divided into paper 1 and paper 2.
The subjects covered under paper 1 are Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
Paper 2 covers Mathematics, General Aptitude and a choice between Drawing and Planning depending on whether you wish to apply for B.Arch or B.Plan program.
The physics section of paper 1 tests the theoretical and experimental skills of students.
Physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry are covered by the chemistry section.
Around 19 topics related to the class 11 and 12 math syllabus are covered under the mathematics section.
The drawing test in paper 2 is conducted on a sheet and involves sketches, landscape, etc.
Planning for B.Plan program in paper 2 of JEE covers general awareness, social science and thinking skills.

Universities Accepting SAT vs JEE

SAT is one of the most commonly accepted entrance exams for studying in the US. Infact high SAT scores can help you prove English language proficiency without taking any additional English language test. We have provided a list of the top 10 universities in US accepting SAT scores:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Stanford University
University of California - Berkeley
University of California - Los Angeles
Yale University
University of Texas at Dallas
University of Michigan
Cornell University
Princeton University

JEE scores are accepted by almost all reputed engineering and architecture colleges and universities in India, especially NITs. Here is a list of top 10 institutions in India accepting JEE scores:

National Institute of Technology - Tiruchirappalli
National Institute of Technology - Warangal, Telangana
National Institute of Technology - Calicut, Kerala
National Institute of Technology - Kurukshetra, Haryana
National Institute of Technology - Rourkela
Delhi Technology University, Delhi
Birla Institute of Technology - Mesra, Jharkhand
Jadavpur University, Kolkata
Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
Amity School of Engineering, Noida

Which is More Difficult SAT or JEE?

The only question that really matters to students is which is more difficult SAT or JEE? Well, there is no definite answer to which is more difficult. Both papers have equally tricky sections which may leave students startled without thorough preparation. The English and Math sections of SAT will rigorously put your knowledge to test. On the other hand, JEE is a science based exam with challenging analytical and conceptual questions. Speaking outside of the syllabus for the exams, the preparation stress, cut off, clearing rate and number of students appearing for the exam is definitely higher in case of JEE.

Suggested: What After SAT Exam?

From all the discussion above, you must have got an idea about what you should consider JEE vs SAT? Rather than expecting an easy paper, it is best to be well-prepared and have clear concepts to qualify any competitive exams with good SAT score or JEE score. Depending on your interests and aptitude in a particular area, the exam automatically becomes easy or difficult. In the end, it is all about what you aspire to achieve and how hard you are willing to work for it.