If you want to attend college, you may be interested in taking the SAT. A lot of focus in placed on preparing for and doing well on the test. Yes, this is very important. After all, many colleges and universities use SAT scores to determine enrollment eligibility. Although you want to study and prepare for the SAT, it is first important to schedule the test. When doing so, you should have a number of options. What should you choose?
As previously stated, you should have many options when scheduling your SAT. The SAT schedule does change yearly, but a pattern has developed over the years. Typically, there is a test available in October, November, December, January, March, May, and June. Usually, the March tests are for the SAT only, not the SAT Subject tests.
You now know when the SAT tests are usually offered, but how should you choose? You should take a number of factors into consideration.
Your school year. Are you a junior or a senior in high school? If you are junior, you have more flexibility. If you are a senior, you are on a timeline. Although colleges and universities have different guidelines concerning applications, most recommend that seniors apply for their freshman year of college by December of their senior year. If you are senior, that automatically eliminates half of the SAT tests available. Remember, college officials determine your eligibility by using your scores. You should aim for an October or November test.
If you are a junior in high school, do not get started too early. The SAT covers a wide range of English and math subjects covered in high school, including the junior year. Don’t take the SAT before you are able to familiarize yourself with some of these subjects. For high school juniors, it is usually best to wait towards the end of the school year. A SAT test in May or June allows you to absorb the information learned in classes and apply it towards your SAT.
If you are interested in taking the SAT Subject Tests. These tests are designed to test your knowledge in a specific subject, like English, History, Mathematics, Science, and Languages. For example, a high school student applying to a college English program will benefit from taking the SAT and the SAT Subject Test for English. You want to take the SAT Subject tests before you send out your college applications, but after you have learned as much information as possible. For example, most students are finished with World History and US by the end of their junior year. Taking these tests at the end of your junior year is advised, as you just completed the courses in question.
If you want to get the best test score possible. Preparing for the SAT is easy. Most students rely on the information learned in classes and then just review their notes. With that said, not everyone scores as high as they would like. If the colleges you wish to apply to do consider SAT scores and you did poorly on the test, you may want to retake the SAT. Yes, you can, but consider the dates. Remember the deadline for submitting your college applications. Schedule your first SAT test so that there is time for a retake if your performance was not up to par.
Two factors you should not take into consideration is daytime and location. All SAT tests require students to arrive by 7:45. This time does not change. If you are not morning person, do not hope or wait for a later test. Instead, set your alarm and get a good night sleep. As for location, there are numerous test centers across the country. You should have a test center located nearby. They do change. If you live in a small town, do not wait for the SAT test to come to your school, as it may not. Most small town students must travel one or two towns to find a test center. Luckily, you should not have to travel far.
If you have yet to schedule your SAT test, keep the above mentioned points in mind. You want to schedule your tests, especially the Subject Tests, when you are most familiar with the information. As for registration, a specific deadline is given for each SAT date. Typically, it is one month before. Late registration is available, but even that has deadlines and you must pay a late fee.