Staying on top of the 2025 SAT® test dates helps your child create an ideal timeline for the upcoming school year. Once they know when they should finalize their scores, they can work backwards to determine the best SAT test date for their needs. They can go back even further to decide when they should begin SAT prep to further maximize their time on test day.
The SAT is typically offered in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December for a total of seven test dates throughout the year. While, generally, the spring is the most popular time to take this exam, your child may find a summer date better suits their needs.
Before delving too deeply into factors your child should consider before choosing their test date, let’s first examine the anticipated 2025 and 2026 test dates.
Confirmed 2025-26 SAT Test Dates
As of January 2025, not all of the upcoming test dates have been listed, but you can find a chart of the released dates below.
Aug. 23, 2025*TBDTBD
| SAT Test Date | Registration Deadline | Changes, Cancellation, and Late Registration Deadlines |
|---|---|---|
| Mar. 8, 2025 | Feb. 21, 2025 | Feb. 25, 2025 |
| May 3, 2025 | Apr. 18, 2025 | Apr. 22, 2025 |
| Jun. 7, 2025 | May 22, 2025 | May 27, 2025 |
| Sep. 13, 2025 | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 4, 2025 | TBD | TBD |
| Nov. 8, 2025 | TBD | TBD |
| Dec. 6, 2025 | TBD | TBD |
| Mar. 14, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| May 2, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| Jun. 6, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
*Anticipated test dates
While not all of the dates are confirmed, there is generally a 16-day window between the registration date and the actual test date. There’s also a 4-day window between the regular registration date and the late registration date. If your child applies during late registration or has to cancel during the change deadline, there will be a small fee.
If your child plans on borrowing a device from the College Board, they must register and request their device at least 30 days before their test date. If your child is testing with accommodations such as extended time, you’ll need College Board approval before you register. Since it can take up to seven weeks to receive approval, submit a request early to make the registration process as smooth as possible.
When Is the Best Time to Take the SAT?
The best time to take the SAT depends on when your child plans to finalize their test scores.
At C2 Education, we generally recommend taking the SAT in the spring of your child’s junior year as it gives your child enough time to learn the material they’ll need to do well on the exam at a comfortable pace. If your child wants to dedicate time solely on their SAT prep with minimal school-related obligations, we also recommend taking the SAT in the summer between their junior and senior years.
Although those are our general recommendations, we understand each child has their own timeline for when they want to finalize their scores and apply for college.
Many students begin SAT preparation before junior year, giving them ample time to meet their score goals. However, official test scores earned before junior year are generally less helpful in bolstering students’ college applications. Colleges prefer to see more recent scores as an indicator of the student’s present abilities. For example, Carnegie Mellon University specifically encourages scores from 11th or 12th grade since they better demonstrate the student’s skills upon entering college.
Some students may find themselves on the opposite end of that spectrum, and don’t take the SAT until fall of their senior year. Waiting this late leaves little room for mistakes if they plan to submit their college applications in the spring.
When Should You Take the SAT for the First Time?
If your child hasn’t taken the PSAT™ 10 or PSAT/NMSQT®, we generally recommend taking the SAT for the first time in the fall or winter of junior year. Taking the exam at least once before the spring gives your child time to adjust to testing conditions and material. They can use this time to work through their nerves, see their strengths, and form a plan to help them earn their target score the next time.
There’s a chance they can earn their desired score the first time they take the exam. If so, they can spend the spring working on their college essays and applications.
How Many Times Should You Take the SAT?
Generally, we recommend taking the SAT at least twice because it gives your child space to work through their nerves and adjust to the digital test without stressing about earning a perfect score the first time. If your child has taken the PSAT or an SAT prep program that works practice in testing environments into its curricula, they may be able to earn their desired score the first time around.
How Late Can You Take the SAT?
The latest your child can take the SAT is the fall of their senior year, but we don’t recommend waiting this late. Their senior year is already jam-packed with finalizing college essays, submitting college applications, coursework, extracurricular activities, and making time for friends they may not see after graduation. Adding SAT prep and the stress of doing well basically on the first try could negatively impact their performance.
When Should You Start Studying for the SAT?
The amount of time students need to prepare for the SAT depends largely on their starting skill level. Students who have broad knowledge gaps will need longer to reach their goals than students who begin SAT prep with a firm foundation in place.
Students should plan to spend a minimum of three months focused on intensive SAT prep, though many benefit from longer-term preparation. This provides the time needed to adjust to the digital SAT’s adaptive format, skills being tested, testing conditions, and more.
At C2 Education, we adjust our curricula to your child’s current needs and long-term goals. We teach them invaluable test-taking strategies to help them quickly increase their chances of choosing the right answer when facing higher level material. We immerse them in the same testing conditions they’ll experience on test day, so they know exactly what to expect when taking the SAT.
Plan Ahead with C2 Education
From our summer boot camp to our Digital SAT Prep program, we have a program that can help your child earn their ideal score on their preferred timeline. Ready to help your child feel confident on test day?
Visit a C2 center near you or call us at 888-312-3814 to learn more.
