Deciding when to sit for the SAT for the first time can be a stressful choice. Which year of high school is best? What time of year is best? Here are some year-by-year tips:
Sophomores: taking the SAT at all can be risky; many colleges are going to insist you send them your full testing history. Because of this, you should make sure you’ve got a solid handle on all the concepts which will be presented on the test before going into a real testing situation. This is most crucial when it comes to math: Algebra 2 is generally not taken until junior year and a large portion of SAT math will be presented in this class. However, that’s not to say there’s nothing you can do your sophomore – or even freshman – year to arm yourself for the future. If you decide to brave the storm and sit for a real SAT, definitely wait until the end of spring.
Juniors: testing should be foremost on your mind; the ideal first time to take the SAT is usually the late in the fall or early winter. This way, you’ll have seen most of the concepts being presented and the stress of AP or IB tests won’t be in full swing yet. The November and December test dates are ideal. Once you get results back, second semester can be a good time to retake the test. We recommend taking the test 2-3 times total, and this schedule will let you know where you are, what to fix, and you won’t be under immense amounts of pressure to get it done.
Seniors: this fall will probably be your last chance to take the test, especially if you’re planning on applying Early Action or Early Decision. If you haven’t been prepping before, it’s not too late but expect an uphill battle. On the other hand, if you’ve prepared properly, the SAT should be familiar at this point. Sitting for it on one of the earlier test dates (probably in October) will give you a chance to get your scores back, decide if you should go for one final push, and set realistic goals for the types of schools to which you will apply.
Of course, some of you may have decided you are sick of the SAT and would prefer to opt for the ACT. Knowing which test is better for you is important; regardless of whether you choose SAT or ACT, the advice above is quite applicable.
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