After being suspended for four years, the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) will be reintroduced in Egypt starting in June 2025, according to Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif.
SAT is a standardised test widely used for college admissions in the US and elsewhere. It assesses students’ skills in reading, writing and math, helping universities determine the applicant’s readiness for undergraduate studies. The exam is administered by the College Board, a US-based non-profit organisation that develops and manages university entrance tests.
Egyptian students studying for the American Diploma used to take the test until September 2020. It was then suspended in Egypt following incidents of cheating through leaked questions.
Abdel-Latif and Matthew Chovanec, director of the College Board’s International Team for Southwest Asia and North Africa, last week signed a joint protocol to reintroduce the SAT exam in Egypt starting next month.
The initiative is part of the Ministry of Education’s vision to enhance pre-university education and strengthen globally recognised university preparation programmes.
According Abdel-Latif, the return of SAT in Egypt reflects confidence in Egypt’s international education system.
On SAT’s implementation, the minister emphasised “the importance of carefully selecting exam centres to ensure that trustworthy and qualified institutions are chosen, guaranteeing smooth operations and maintaining the highest standards of integrity and privacy.”
In 2020, then minister of education and technical education tarek shawki announced that the College Board had decided to end its operations in Egypt following the discovery of massive cheating.
Recalling the incident, ministry spokesman Shady Zalata told Al-Ahram Weekly that the exam model in Egypt was the same as that in China, allowing some to exploit the time difference between the two countries and sell the exam in Egypt.
Since then, many Egyptian students have opted to travel to countries including the UAE where SAT continues.
Alternatively, students sit for the Egyptian Scholastic Test which is a standardised admission test designed for students in the American education system in Egypt to be accepted in Egyptian universities. However, it is not recognised in all international universities.
Recently there have been calls from parents, along with educational institutes, for the reintroduction of SAT while stressing the need for international recognition.
In previous statements, Abdel-Latif explained that the return of SAT for American diploma students in Egypt was necessary to provide equal opportunities for students, ensuring the accuracy of the exams using digital mechanisms conducted internationally. He underlined coordination with the College Board to ensure the exams would be conducted accurately and efficiently online, aligning with international standards.
The SAT exam consists of two sections: SAT 1 includes reading and writing which also includes grammar and editing skills in addition to mathematics.
SAT 2 includes specialised subjects related to the specialty pursued by each student.
Chovanec noted that the grading is based on both exams and projects and activities.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 22 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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