Registration for Fall Administrations Opens May 28
The process for SAT registration has changed and we are sending this to you in advance so you can be ready for questions that may come from students and families. The most important things to know are:
- Fall SAT Registration Opens 5/28 for Priority Groups – we will prioritize students who haven’t had a chance to test for August, September, and October SAT.
- We are communicating with all students – all students will be able to register on June 3rd and we have examples of what we’re sending students via email, web, and blog posts. We’ll also be providing updates on capacity via email and social media through the summer.
- We are continuing to work to expand capacity – we are adding test centers and adding seats at existing centers. We’ve already added a September administration and confirmed nearly all states and districts will offer a fall school day administration.
- We Need Your Help: We’re calling on our partners in higher education to become test centers. Learn more and sign up today.
We have developed a set of FAQs on the SAT registration that is available online.
Spring SAT Administrations Canceled
Based on the advice of public health officials who made it clear it's not safe to gather students in one place, the SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ administrations for May and June were canceled. Additionally, the March administration was limited. . Many U.S. states have closed schools for the rest of the academic year, and globally there are widespread school closures across 192 countries.
Expanded Administration & Capacity this Fall
If it’s safe from a public health standpoint, we'll provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes:
| Test Date | Score Release |
|---|---|
| August 29 | September 24 |
| September 23* | October 15 |
| September 26 | October 12 |
| October 3 | October 19 |
| October 14* | November 9 |
| November 7 | November 23 |
| December 5 | December 21 |
| *indicates School Day test administration | |
We’re working hard to make the SAT available in school and out of school as soon as the public health situation allows. It’s important to know as of this spring, nearly all of our state and many of our district partners have expressed their interest in providing SAT School Day administrations in September or October.
Registration for the August, September, and October weekend administrations is now open for priority students. Specific information is available in our FAQ.
Become A Test Center
For each administration, we’re preparing to significantly expand our capacity for students to take the SAT when schools reopen. We’re calling on our member institutions and local communities to open their doors and provide additional test center capacity so every student who wants to can take the SAT.
Become a test center today by visiting sat.org/BecomeATestCenter
If Schools Can't Reopen
In the unlikely event that schools do not reopen this fall, the College Board will provide a digital SAT for home use, much as we’re delivering digital exams for 3 million AP students this spring. As we’re doing with at-home Advanced Placement Exams, we would ensure that at-home SAT testing is simple; secure and fair; accessible to all; and valid for use in college admissions.
The idea of digital testing is not new to College Board. Tens of thousands of students have completed the SAT in a digital format since 2016. Hundreds of thousands of students have completed a digital assessment across the SAT Suite. A digital SAT taken at home will not be a new SAT; it will measure the same content and skills that the SAT measures, and that research shows are connected to college readiness. It will remain a powerful tool that lets students show their strengths and connect to college.
As we monitor the situation, we will be sharing information regularly with higher education starting this summer.
Predicting Academic Outcomes through the Pandemic
We know that admissions and enrollment leaders rely on information an SAT score provides about students’ college readiness. We continue to urge flexibility in admissions processes as we continue to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic. We encourage colleges and universities to explore recent College Board research around the utility of AP course and Exam information in admissions and the insights into student performance that these measures can provide. Additionally, ACES™, the College Board’s free online validity study service, can allow institutions to explore different predictors of college success, including students’ average AP exam score and number of AP courses/exams taken.
How We’re Communicating These Changes
We are engaging in a robust outreach plan to students and families, prioritizing the class of 2021 along with students who were registered for the June administration. Through these communications we are working hard to notify students of scheduling changes and upcoming opportunities for them to test. The College Board is also reaching out directly to students, parents, and high school counselors to inform them of how and when students can register for an upcoming administration, our fall schedule, our digital plan, and how they can get the latest information.
We also urge you to encourage students to put their best foot forward by submitting all relevant information, and to be creative in requesting non-traditional information that highlights students’ strengths. We have produced a series of documents with exemplar language from our member institutions:
- Early Considerations and Guidance for Enrollment Leaders PDF/138.71 KB
- Communicating Reassurance to Prospective Applicants in Light of COVID-19 PDF/107.86 KB
- Communicating Test Flexible Admissions Policies in Light of the Coronavirus PDF/134 KB
About Fee Waivers
All students who have been assigned fee waivers can access them through the College Board's student reporting portal. Students who used a fee waiver for a canceled spring assessment can apply that waiver to a new SAT administration by calling College Board customer service (866 630-9305).
For first time test-takers, we are working with schools and districts to give them electronic fee waiver codes that new test takers can use to register for the August SAT weekend administration. If students are unable to connect with a counselor or school administrator for these codes, they can call College Board customer service. We will then notify the relevant school and district officials that their students need guidance and intervention.
Finally, in compliance with local, state, and federal safety regulations, College Board’s phone support hours are 9am – 6pm ET, M-F. We recognize that, due to the new schedule and high volume of calls, wait times may be longer than normal. Thank you for your patience as we work to serve you.
Looking Forward
As we navigate this evolving situation, we'll continue to rely on your expertise to ensure students have what they need as they apply to college during the 2020-21 school year.
Please know that we support colleges that are rightfully emphasizing flexibility for the admissions process for next year; each institution will decide what flexibility means for them. We're committed to giving students as many chances as we can to show their strengths.