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In this article, we’ll cover key considerations for answering the question “When do you take the SAT?” If you’re college-bound, you know taking the SAT for college admissions is an important part of your application. It’s a difficult test, so figuring out when to take the SAT is a big decision. It’s the first step in getting a great score.
After choosing your test date, you’ll have to find time to do some serious SAT preparation. You’ll have to balance the myriad commitments that you might have to school, family, work, sports, and community with your SAT studying. It’s imperative that you start your prep on the right foot. So after you choose a test date, you’ll need to determine your SAT prep timeline.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- The Digital SAT – Basic Facts
- What Is Section Adaptivity?
- How to Select Your SAT Test Date
- When’s a Good Time to Start Studying?
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
Let’s begin by discussing some basic facts about the digital SAT.
The Digital SAT – Basic Facts
The digital SAT is administered either at a test center or at your school. The exam length is 2 hours and 14 minutes. You may use your own computer, a school-provided one, or one on loan from the College Board. The exam is administered on a platform called Bluebook, which is downloaded onto each testing computer. When you log into Bluebook during the exam, all other features of your computer are locked.
Some recent changes to the SAT include allowing you to use a calculator for all Math questions. Additionally, the Reading and Writing section, which was formerly two separate parts of the exam, is now one section. There is no penalty for an incorrect answer, so it is in your best interest to answer each question, even if it is a guess. Finally, the exam is now section-adaptive, which we will cover in more detail later in this article.
KEY FACT:
The digital SAT is 2 hours and 14 minutes long.
The Two Sections of the Digital SAT
The digital SAT has two main sections:
- SAT Reading and Writing – This section has 2 modules, each containing 27 questions and taking 32 minutes to complete. You are tested on reading, word usage, grammar, and punctuation.
- SAT Math – The math section also has 2 modules, each containing 22 questions, and you have 35 minutes to complete each module. Roughly 3/4 of the math questions are multiple-choice questions with four answer choices. The remaining 1/4 of the math questions are fill-in-the-blank questions. If you don’t wish to use your own calculator, you may use an online Desmos graphing calculator, which you can access at the Bluebook app.
KEY FACT:
The digital SAT contains two sections, the Math section with 44 questions, and the Reading and Writing section with 54 questions.
Next, let’s discuss section adaptivity on the digital SAT.
What Is Section Adaptivity?
We mentioned earlier that the digital SAT is a section-adaptive exam. You have probably never heard of section adaptivity, but it is critical that you understand what it means. It could make a huge difference in your performance and your score!
A section-adaptive test adjusts the difficulty level of a module based on how well you performed on the previous module. In other words, the SAT customizes the second module of each section based on your performance in the first module. Let’s look at how section adaptivity works, using the Math section as an example.
In the first Math module, you will answer a mixture of easy, medium, and hard questions. If you score about 60% or better, the second Math module will present harder (and more score-enhancing) questions. On the other hand, if your first Math section score is less than 60%, then your second Math module will present easier questions, but correct answers won’t be worth as much.
The same algorithm is used for the Reading and Writing section. While it is important to do well on every section of the SAT, you can see that it is especially important to earn a great score on the first module of each section.
KEY FACT:
The SAT’s section adaptivity tailors the second module of each section based on your score on the first module.
Now that we understand the structure of the SAT, let’s focus on when is the best time to take the SAT.
How to Select Your SAT Test Date
The selection of your test date depends partly on where you will take the SAT. If you take the test at a test center, you have several SAT exam dates to choose from. On the other hand, if you take the SAT School Day, you will take the SAT when your school specifies the SAT test date for all students taking the test at your school. Let’s look at each situation.
Taking the SAT at a Testing Site
The College Board administers the SAT seven times each year at testing sites, in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December. You can find the exact SAT registration dates at the College Board website. Signup dates are flexible, as the SAT test schedule is published for an entire year. Testing sites are high schools or colleges. Students register individually and pay fees themselves. SAT test availability is limited, so you should not wait until the last minute to register. Generally, SAT deadlines are about two weeks prior to each exam date.
Two factors affect your decision about when to take the SAT:
- The application deadlines of your desired schools
- Whether you intend to apply by the deadlines of early decision (ED), early action (EA), or regular decision (RD)
So, let’s examine each application option.
Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision Considerations
Early Decision (ED)
Your college application deadline for Early Decision (ED) may be as early as November 1 of your senior year. In that case, consider taking the SAT in the spring of your junior year, either May or June. Then, if your score is disappointing, you will have plenty of time to study over the summer. You can retake the exam in late August and still easily meet your application deadline.
Note that it takes about 13 days after your test date for your scores to be available from ETS. Thus, you could also schedule your SAT for the October administration, but you’re cutting it close. (Note that there are no special SAT retake dates; if you want to retake the exam, just sign up for the exam as if it were your first time.)
Early Action (EA)
Mid-November is generally the EA deadline. Thus, your timetable should follow that discussed for ED. Optimally, take the SAT in spring of your junior year. But note that you have an extra date (early October) for taking the SAT in the fall. You have a bit more flexibility in scheduling your SAT test date because of this.
Regular Decision (RD)
If ED or EA don’t apply to you, then you have a regular decision (RD) deadline of approximately January 1. In this case, you have many options for choosing your SAT test date. You could take it as early as the spring of your junior year, or you could take it as late as the fall of your senior year. You have four possible dates to take the test in the fall (August, October, November, and December), so you have lots of options for scheduling your SAT (and even a retake) while still meeting your RD application deadline.
TTP PRO TIP:
Use your application deadline (EA, ED, or RD) to plan your SAT testing date.
Taking the SAT on “SAT School Day” at Your School
Another option for taking the SAT is to take it on what is called “SAT School Day.” The test is administered during a normal school day at your school. Each participating school schedules its test date and pays for all tests administered. The test is digital, and its computer administration is identical to that of a testing center.
SAT School Day testing doesn’t allow you to choose your test date. However, even if the test date chosen by your school is not optimal for you to adequately prepare, you can take the SAT to get a feel for what test day is like. Then, if you need to take the SAT again, you’ll have valuable insight into the test experience.
KEY FACT:
You might have the opportunity to take the SAT at your school on SAT School Day.
Now that we have insight into the best time to take the SAT, let’s look at when we should start studying for the SAT.
When’s a Good Time to Start Studying?
Your decision about when to start studying for the SAT is not cut-and-dried. If you finish studying too early, you might pass your peak before the test. Similarly, if you underestimate how much time you’ll need to study, you may need to skip some important topics and be stressed out and ill-prepared on test day. So what is the best time to begin your SAT prep? To help you make your decision, let’s look at some factors to consider.
First, Determine Your Target Score
It may be surprising to learn that the vast majority of SAT students have given no thought to their target SAT score. When they are asked what score they hope to get, they say something like “as high as possible” or “I don’t care. I just want to get it over with.” Neither response is a very good start to prepping for a great SAT score! So, instead, you want to approach the start of your studying with a specific number as your goal score.
What Score Do You Need for Your Desired Schools?
Determining your target score is easy. Look up the SAT scores of students who were recently accepted at your desired schools. You will find that the SAT score for students admitted to Harvard is about 1520, which is in the 98th-99th percentile range. Other top-tier schools such as MIT, Yale, and Stanford have similar average SAT scores.
If, instead, you are interested in a highly-regarded state university, such as Ohio State or the University of Florida, your target score will need to be in the high 1300s to mid-1400s. This score range is in the top 10% of all SAT scores. If a school provides a range of acceptable scores for applicants, you don’t want to set your target score at the low end of the range. It’s a safe bet to aim for at least the average score of accepted students.
What Score Qualifies You for a Scholarship?
A second reason for establishing your target score is to know what score is needed for scholarship applications. Many scholarship awards are based on your SAT score. Thus, it’s critical that you research any minimum SAT scores required for qualifying. A great SAT score could be worth literally tens of thousands of dollars!
TTP PRO TIP:
Know your target SAT score by researching the scores of admitted students at schools in which you are interested.
Get more information about SAT scores and their percentiles by using the College Board’s SAT User Percentiles Chart.
Once you know your target score, you should take a practice test to get your baseline score.
Second, Take a Practice Test
Once you know your SAT score goal, you want to know how close you are by taking a practice test. For your first practice test, don’t spend a lot of time trying to study for it. You might review a few math formulas or grammar rules, but don’t spend an inordinate amount of time preparing. The result of your practice test will provide your baseline score, which you will compare to your target score. The gap between these two scores will give you a sense of how much studying you will need to do.
The SAT is now digital, so you will need to download the free Bluebook app, which is the SAT’s digital testing platform, from the College Board website. There are 4 free practice tests, so take the first one and save the remaining three for later.
TTP PRO TIP:
Take a realistic practice SAT on Bluebook to establish your baseline score.
Once you have your baseline and target scores, you can determine how much time you’ll need to prepare for the SAT.
Third, Determine How Long You’ll Need to Study
By subtracting your baseline score from your target score, you’ll know how many points you need to improve during your SAT preparation.You can then use the Score Improvement chart to estimate the number of hours you’ll need for your prep.
| Score Improvement Needed | No. of Hours |
|---|---|
| 0-20 | 10 |
| 30-50 | 20 |
| 60-100 | 30 |
| 110-130 | 40 |
| 140-200 | 80 |
| 210+ | 120+ |
The study time obtained from the chart is only a very rough estimate. Many variables affect the amount of study time you will need, such as:
- the difficulty level of the topics you need to learn
- whether you need to focus more on math or on verbal
- the study resources you choose
- your attitude about studying for the SAT
TTP PRO TIP:
The difference between your target SAT score and your baseline SAT score will help you estimate how much time you’ll need for your SAT preparation.
Now that you have an estimate of how many total study hours you need, let’s discuss how to determine how much to study each week.
Fourth, Decide How Many Hours You Can Study Each Week
Life is busy! You have so many demands on your time: school, friends, family, job, athletics, community service, and others. There is no doubt that finding time to devote to your SAT prep will be challenging.
You need to consider “the big picture.” Getting the best education possible will play a big role in your entire future. A great SAT score increases the probability that you will be admitted to the college of your dreams, and this, in turn, will give you your best shot at getting your dream job, too. In addition, a great SAT score will “up” your chances of being awarded scholarships, and this will help decrease your cost of college. Thus, earning an impressive SAT score is worth every minute that you spend studying!
TTP PRO TIP:
A great SAT score is an investment in your future.
Remember, SAT studying will be a temporary disruption in your life. So, remind yourself that you can delay some activities for a month or two so that you can commit your time to your SAT preparation. A few weekends spent studying instead of going to a movie or hanging out with friends will be a small price to pay for getting into the college of your dreams! Make SAT studying a major priority in your life. Decide how many hours you can realistically commit to your SAT prep each week, and stay true to your commitment.
TTP PRO TIP:
Make a realistic decision as to how many hours you can commit to SAT prep each week.
Many students wonder whether to study during their time off from school. Let’s discuss.
Studying During Holidays or Summer Break
You might find it convenient to do some or all of your SAT preparation during holidays or summer break. Studying during these periods will be less stressful because there are fewer demands on your time. Without other academic or social commitments, you may find it easier to learn and retain the SAT material. For many students, studying during summer break aligns perfectly with the late August administration of the SAT.
TTP PRO TIP:
SAT studying during holidays or summer break may be a perfect study strategy.
Let’s now discuss the importance of sticking to the study schedule you created.
Make a Study Schedule and Stick to It
After you have decided how many hours you can commit each week to your SAT preparation, you can calculate how many weeks or months you’ll need. Use the chart above to find how many hours needed to study, and then divide that number by the number of hours you can study each week. The answer will tell you how many weeks you should plan for your SA preparation.
For example, you want to raise your SAT score by 70 points. The chart indicates you will need about 30 hours of prep time. So, if you plan to study 6 hours each week, you will need approximately 30 / 6 = 5 weeks of study. This translates to a little more than one month.
After you have calculated how many months you’ll need for SAT studying, count backward from your SAT test date to determine your studying start time. For the example above, a student who has chosen an early May SAT test date should start studying no later than the middle of March.
To keep yourself on track, you might consider using a calendar, either paper or digital, to record your planned study hours. If you decide to commit 6 hours each week, enter the days and times on your calendar. And once you commit, don’t skip or shorten your scheduled study time! Think of your study time as much a responsibility as going to school or to a job.
TTP PRO TIP:
Once you commit to a study schedule, keep your commitment.
Key Takeaways
Deciding when to take the SAT is not an easy decision. In this article, we have looked at the factors you should consider when choosing your enrollment dates for the SAT. These include whether you’ll be taking the SAT at your own school during SAT School Day or taking the SAT at a testing center. Another important factor is your application deadline, be it for Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), or Regular Decision (RD). Some good SAT test advice is to plan your testing date to ensure you’ll have a cushion for a retake in case you need one.
Once you have decided on a test date, you will need to determine how much time to study for the SAT. You’ll want to determine your target score and your baseline score. Compare the two scores to determine how much of a score improvement you’ll need, and estimate how many hours of study time you’ll need to make that improvement.
Then you will need to review your responsibilities and priorities so that you can plan your SAT study schedule. Once you’ve committed to it, you will need to ensure that you do not veer from it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best time to take the SAT?
You should take the SAT so that the score is available prior to your application deadline.
Is it okay to take the SAT multiple times?
There is no harm in taking the SAT more than once. Just make sure you have studied sufficiently before your retake so that you have a good chance of getting a higher score.
Should I take the SAT in junior or senior year?
If you are seeking either Early Admission (EA) or Early Decision (ED), you should take the SAT in the spring of your junior year of high school. Taking it this early will allow you to retake the exam in late August if you need to increase your score.
If you are applying for Regular Decision (RD), then you have multiple opportunities to take the SAT in the fall of your senior year and still meet the application deadlines.
What’s Next?
This article has focused on when to take the SAT. Get a solid start to your prep by learning more about getting a good start to your SAT studying.
A big issue for most high school students is finding enough time for studying. Read this article to learn some effective tips for SAT prep when you have a busy schedule.
Good luck! Happy studying!
