Choosing the right time to take the SAT is an important step in your college admissions journey. Many students face questions about when to schedule the exam, how many times to take it, and which testing dates align best with their academic schedules and college application timelines. In this blog post, we’ll provide guidance on how to make these decisions, with a focus on students taking the SAT during their junior year of high school.
Why Take the SAT During Junior Year?
Most students find that junior year is the ideal time to take the SAT. Here’s why:
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Time to Improve Your Score: Taking the SAT during your junior year gives you the opportunity to take the test more than once, if necessary. Studies show that many students improve their scores on a second or even third attempt. By starting early, you have ample time to prepare for and retake the exam before college application deadlines.
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Aligns with College Application Timelines: Colleges often offer early decision and early action application options with deadlines in November of senior year. Taking the SAT during your junior year ensures that your scores are ready in time for these early applications. If you wait until fall of your senior year, you may not receive your scores in time to apply early.
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Reduced Stress in Senior Year: Senior year is already a busy time with college applications, final coursework, extracurricular commitments, and leadership roles. Completing the SAT during junior year helps reduce your workload and stress during this critical period.
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Better Performance in Spring: Students generally perform better when they take the SAT in the spring of their junior year rather than in the fall of their senior year. Over the summer, students may experience a decline in retention of key math and academic skills. Taking the test while concepts are still fresh, particularly after completing coursework like Algebra 2, can improve performance.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Test Date
1. Your Academic Schedule
The SAT tests material through Algebra 2, so it’s important to consider where you are in your math coursework. If you’re taking Algebra 2 during your junior year, it’s best to wait until the spring to take the SAT. This allows you to be more familiar with key math concepts that will appear on the test.
For students who have completed Algebra 2 earlier, a fall or winter test date in junior year may be advantageous. This allows you to take the exam early and leaves time for retakes if needed.
2. Preparation Time
Effective preparation requires time and strategy. Ideally, you should start preparing for the SAT at least two to three months before your test date. Consider your current schedule, including classes, extracurricular activities, and other commitments, when selecting a date. For many students, summer or holiday breaks provide an excellent opportunity to focus on SAT prep.
3. Available Test Dates
The SAT is offered multiple times throughout the year, typically in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December. To maximize your chances of success, it’s best to choose a date that gives you enough time to prepare while also fitting into your academic and extracurricular schedule.
If you plan to take the test more than once, consider spreading your test dates across junior year. For example, you might take the SAT in March and then retake it in August or October.
Retaking the SAT: How Many Times Is Enough?
Many students benefit from taking the SAT more than once. Research shows that scores often improve on subsequent attempts, particularly when students dedicate time to targeted preparation between tests. Additionally, many colleges use a practice called superscoring, which combines your highest section scores from multiple test dates to create your best possible composite score. This means that even if you have an off day on one test, strong performance on another can still boost your overall results.
However, there’s no need to take the SAT excessively. Three attempts is generally a good maximum. Beyond this point, score improvements tend to plateau. Focus on meaningful preparation between test dates rather than taking the exam multiple times without a clear strategy.
To take full advantage of superscoring, it’s valuable to take comprehensive practice tests before registering for official exams. These practice tests, unlike official SATs, are not reported to colleges. This allows you to assess your readiness and identify areas for improvement without the pressure of potentially submitting lower scores to schools. Additionally, some colleges require all SAT scores to be submitted, so taking practice tests first can help you strategically approach your official test dates. You can register to take a proctored practice SAT exam completely free from Frontier Tutoring. Each practice SAT comes with a detailed score report so you know exactly what to study, as well as a score analysis meeting to go over how your scores compare to your college goals.
What If You Wait Until Senior Year?
While it is possible to take the SAT during your senior year, doing so can present challenges:
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Early Deadlines: Early decision and early action deadlines typically occur in November. Taking the SAT in the fall of your senior year may not leave enough time to receive your scores and submit them to colleges.
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Limited Retake Opportunities: If you’re unhappy with your score, you may have fewer opportunities to retake the test before application deadlines.
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Increased Pressure: Senior year is often packed with academic and personal commitments. Adding SAT preparation and testing to your schedule can create additional stress.
For these reasons, we recommend that students plan to complete their SAT testing during junior year whenever possible.
Preparing for the SAT: Key Steps
- Learn the Difference: Starting in 2024, the SAT moved fully digital. Take a look at our recent blog post to understand what has changed with the new digital SAT, and how it differs from the traditional paper SAT.
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Take a Diagnostic Test: Start by taking a full-length practice SAT to establish a baseline score. This will help you identify your strengths and areas for improvement.
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Create a Study Plan: Based on your diagnostic results, develop a study plan that focuses on your weaker areas. Consider enrolling in an SAT prep course or working with a tutor to receive personalized support. You may also benefit from a self-study program which allows you to work through SAT prep materials at your own pace and at a lower cost.
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Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is essential for improving your SAT score. Use official SAT practice tests and resources to simulate test-day conditions.
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Review Your Mistakes: After each practice test or study session, review your mistakes to understand why you got a question wrong. This will help you avoid similar errors in the future. Frontier Tutoring's curriculum assists with this process by providing video reviews for every problem on every worksheet so you can see exactly where you made a mistake and how to correct it for the future.
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Take Care of Yourself: Leading up to the test, make sure to get plenty of rest, eat well, and manage your stress. A healthy body and mind are crucial for peak performance on test day.
Final Thoughts
Choosing when to take the SAT is a personal decision that depends on your academic progress, schedule, and college goals. For most students, junior year offers the optimal balance of preparation time and flexibility. By planning ahead and dedicating time to study, you can achieve your best possible score and position yourself for success in the college admissions process.
If you’re unsure about your test date or need help preparing, Frontier Tutoring is here to support you. Our expert SAT instructors have all scored in the 99th percentile of the exam sections they teach, and they can help guide you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about our SAT prep options and get started on your path to college success.
