BIG NEWS: Changes to the Dates the SAT Will Be Offered

By now, many families with high school-aged students are well aware of the fact that the content and format of the SAT have been revamped and that the “Redesigned SAT” will be offered for the first time next month. Most families are not aware, however, of last week’s quiet revelation from the College Board that they’ve also decided to change the testing schedule.

What is the current SAT Schedule? What is changing?

Starting in 2017-2018, the College Board will no longer offer the SAT (or SAT Subject Tests) in January. Instead, an August administration will be added. This change could significantly impact students’ standardized test planning and preparation.

Who does this affect? And how?

First things first. I want to make one thing 100% clear. If you’re a junior or a senior, this does not affect you. It’s being implemented in the 2017-2018 school year.

If you’re a sophomore now (class of 2018), this change will be implemented during your senior year. Unlike the class of 2017, you will have the opportunity to take the SAT (or SAT Subject Tests) in August 2017. This allows you to prepare over the summer. Most Collegewise students are finished with all test taking by the end of junior year, and will not need to take advantage of this, but the student who wants to take one last shot at the test will now have that opportunity with the added benefit of preparation time that does not have to take place during the school year.

The August SAT test date, however, is replacing the January one. Traditionally, scores for the January SAT or subject exams have been the very last scores that college admissions offices accept from seniors who are applying to college because regular decision college admissions results are released in late March. This change to the testing schedule means that the class of 2018, and all later classes, will no longer have that last-minute testing opportunity. It means that the SAT and/or SAT Subject Tests will need to be finished slightly earlier.

If you are a freshman (class of 2019) or younger, you will only know this new schedule. Technically, you will also have the opportunity to take the SAT before you even begin your junior year. For several reasons, this would NOT be something Collegewise would recommend you do (with rare exceptions). August before your junior year begins could be a great time to take an SAT Subject Test because the timing would allow you to focus on preparing for it over the summer. Current freshmen will be the first group who can do this.

This change is very new, and it remains to be seen how it will affect standardized test planning and test-taking behavior. It is important for families to know about these changes because that knowledge and planning around them can lower families’ stress around the college application process.

Why did the College Board implement this change?

As things stand now, the ACT is offered in late September each year. This was a strategic move on the part of the College Board to jump ahead of the ACT’s timeline. The September ACT date is close to the summer, but the new SAT offering is even closer.

Rhiannon Schade is the Director of College Counseling at Collegewise of Millburn. She helps students and families navigate the college admissions process. Rhiannon earned her M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania in Higher Education in 2012 and has since been working in college admissions and private college counseling. If you have any questions or you think you may be a Collegewise family, you can reach Rhiannon at rhiannons@collegewise.com or 908-899-1430.

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Upcoming Event Announcement: Rhiannon will be presenting Finding and Applying to the Right Colleges for You for high school students and their parents in downtown Millburn on Tuesday, 2/23 at 7pm. There is no charge, but reservations are required. Please register here.