All about the digital SAT for Iranian students
The SAT will be held completely digitally starting in 2023. This major change has transformed the test format and raised key questions for students and families—especially in countries like Iran.
The digital SAT is shorter and faster, with results released sooner. Thanks to Adaptive Testing, question difficulty adjusts to each test-taker’s performance, making every experience unique.
Important changes in the digital SAT
- Test time: 2 hours 14 minutes (instead of 3 hours).
- Questions: shorter passages and clearer prompts.
- Math: Desmos calculator available across all math sections.
- Results: released within days, not weeks.
- Security: different questions per test-taker reduce cheating.
SAT situation for Iranian students
According to the College Board, there are no official SAT centers operating in Iran. Applicants typically travel to nearby countries such as Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara), the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Qatar, or Armenia.
The list of international test centers is regularly updated on the College Board website—check the SAT test center search.
Why this matters for Iranian families
- Paper version fully discontinued—adapt to the digital format.
- Plan travel to a neighboring country to sit the test.
- Higher total costs (registration + travel + accommodation).
- Faster results can speed up the university application process.