SAT^® TEST DATES AND REGISTRATION 2023 - 2024

For most students, the Spring of their junior year is the best time to take the SAT for the first time. The available SAT test dates in the Spring are typically March, May, and June. We recommend taking the SAT twice in the Spring of junior year due to the benefits of super scoring. Super scoring means that colleges take a student’s best Math score and best Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score and combine those for a super score which is used in admission decisions. A student who takes the SAT twice may get the same total or composite score each time, but if the second time the Math score is 40 points higher and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score is 40 points lower, the student’s super score will be 40 points higher because the college will use the highest section score from each test date.

1) Create a College Board account. You will be asked to provide your full, legal name and other identifying information. Make sure the name and information matches your photo ID.

2) Fill out your account profile with additional information you would like sent to colleges.

3) Choose whether to sign up for the SAT with essay or SAT without essay.

4) Upload a photo (read the specific photo requirements)

5) Submit your payment and print your admission ticket.

The process for rescheduling SAT test dates is the same for both the general SAT and SAT Subject Tests. Please follow the steps below:

1. Log into your College Board account to access your main profile page.
2. Under “My SAT”, you should see all the tests you’re registered for.
3. Locate the test you want to reschedule and click “Change Registration”.
4. A new page will pop up with your SAT admission ticket information on it. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Change my test date”.
5. You can now see all the new SAT date(s) you can change to. Thoughtfully select which date works best for you.
6. You will then select your test center, confirm that all of your personal details are correct, and input your credit card information to pay the reschedule fee.
7. Click “Submit” and you will receive an email confirmation with a new admission ticket reflecting your updated test date. Print out your admission ticket.

There are two recommended timelines for preparing for the SAT. The first is to plan to prepare right before the first time you’ll take the SAT (see above for when to take it). Whether you’re preparing with a book, a class, or a tutor you should begin to prepare about 3 months in advance. This should give you enough time to get refreshed on the content and learn strategies for all the question types without taking away from other time commitments like school and other activities. The advantage of this approach is that your preparation will be fresh in your mind on test day since you just learned it in the weeks leading up to the test.

The second timeline is using the Summer before your junior year to prepare. Junior year is usually the most rigorous academically for high school students. The thought of adding one more commitment on top of AP classes, sports, clubs, and other activities is a non-starter for many students. This means that preparing right before the March, May, or June SAT won’t be possible. The alternative is to prepare in the Summer before junior year. The Summer affords more time to learn strategies and do the practice that will make them second nature for you on test day. This plan works best when you can do a little bit of review and practice right before the first test date but far less than if you were doing all your prep right before test day.

How you prepare depends on how far you are from your goal score. Students can decide on a goal score based on data released by the colleges. Colleges typically release data called the Middle 50% scores for their school, which is the 25th percentile up to the 75th percentile for students who attend their school. Aiming for that second number (the 75th percentile) is a good place to start with a goal score. Data with some colleges’ Middle 50% scores is available here.

Also consider how much time you have; both how far away the test is and how much time you have to devote to prep during that period. With a score goal and a timeline, you’re ready to make an informed decision on how best to prepare for the SAT.

Students prepare for the SAT using books, live classes, tutoring, and self-study courses. Take a look at each one to decide which one will help you reach your goal score in the time you have. You can also give us a call and one of our test experts will help you find the best program for your situation.