When Should You Take the SAT?
Two recent phone calls with prospective clients reminded me there is a wrong time to take the SAT.
Call #1– The High School Freshman
The first call came from the parent of a rising 9th grader, looking to get a jump on all things college admission. While I’m glad this family is thinking ahead, now really isn’t the right time for the SAT.
Yes, students can take the SAT at any time, but I would expect a student’s scores would improve with a couple additional years of learning.
8th, 9th, and 10th grade students can benefit from strengthening skills tested on the SAT: critical reading, vocabulary, grammar, problem solving, and math. Reinforcing these skills can be done without formal test prep.
Call #2– The High School Senior
My second call came from the parent of a rising senior who hadn’t taken the SAT yet. Mom had spent the last year managing urgent issues with family and work and viewed college admission as something they would have time to prepare for later. Her son had been busy with sports, school, and extracurriculars and figured he would have plenty of time. Unfortunately, “later” has snuck up on them.
College applications will open next month and seniors will have the fall semester to apply, complete with SAT scores and essays. It sounds like plenty of time until you factor in early deadlines (often mid-October or November 1) and other pressures to apply sooner (college coaches who ask for completed applications in August or September or getting early review from a state university where you aren’t within range for automatic admission.) Most of my clients will submit their college applications in August, September, and October— not a lot of time if you are just getting started.
Putting off the SAT until senior year leaves you with only a few possible testing dates. This fall the SAT is offered Aug 22, Sept 12, Oct 3, Nov 7, and Dec 5. November and December might work, but for many students, those dates are too late.
Obviously this student will have to get started ASAP and do his best, but waiting until senior year adds extra pressure to an already stressful process.
When Should YOU Take the SAT?
The ideal time to prepare for and take the SAT is anytime during junior year.
Some students will be ready to test early this fall. Others may choose to wait until the spring. Both are good options.
Waiting until a student has taken more math or English is probably unnecessary unless the student needs to make up some academic deficiencies. Most of what you see on the SAT won’t be covered in school. A student who did well in Algebra I and Geometry and is taking Algebra II as a junior could take the SAT in the fall. They might have to practice with a few concepts, but as long as their foundational skills are solid, we can cover the details with quality test prep.
Schedule is often the overriding factor in deciding when to test. Students with busy fall schedules (football, volleyball, marching band, etc.) will have more time to focus on the SAT when these activities wind down. Students with demanding spring schedules (baseball, school show, AP exams, competition season, etc.) may want to get the SAT out of the way in the fall. Look at your junior year calendar and see if there is a better time to study and prepare.
Allow Time to Retest
On average, most students take the SAT between 2 and 3 times. Colleges will use your best results.
As you plan to take the SAT, be sure to allow some time to retest. That might mean a student prepares for the March SAT and retakes the test in May or June. But the student who takes the June SAT as their first exam must wait until August or September to retest and now the SAT is potentially delaying college applications.
We don’t like to think about it, but sometimes students have to miss the SAT due to illness or severe weather. If you have allowed time to retest, these cancelations are inconveniences rather than emergencies.
Conclusion
If you are early in this process, focus on skill building and retaining learning. You might work to improve areas of academic weakness, but you don’t need to start test prep. If you have a rising junior, now is your best time to plan. The SAT is given in August, September, October, November, March, May, and June of every year. Mark your preferred test date on the calendar and set an alert to begin studying a couple months before.
Having gone through the college admissions process with both of my own children, I know how easy it is to think you have more time, only to realize deadlines are upon you. A little planning now can save panic later.