Last Chance To Register for the August SAT Exam

The good news is that there’s still time to register for the August 24th SAT exam.  The bad news is that, if you’re living in Central NJ, taking the test will likely require a road trip as seats have already filled at most local high schools.  

The August SAT exam is being offered for the third consecutive year (replacing the March SAT) after being eliminated back in the 1970’s.  It’s extremely popular with students who view summer as the perfect opportunity to prepare for the exam without the pressures of school, homework and afterschool activities.  By taking the exam in August, students have the opportunity to put their newly acquired SAT strategies and skills to the test without waiting until October – which they had to do prior to recent years. But students interested in taking the summer test should sign-up soon as they are already in a “late registration” period with a final deadline of August 13th.

While any high school student can take the SAT on any test date, and ultimately use the scores for college admissions, the August test date is particularly attractive to rising seniors.  College-bound students are becoming more aware of the benefits of meeting “early action” (typically November 1st) college application deadlines.  So getting the SAT done in August provides time for them to get their scores back and, if necessary, take the test one more time on October 5th.

The fall of senior year is a particularly stressful time for students who are struggling to write college essays while completing their applications and focusing on their schoolwork.  If they can cross “taking the SAT” off of their to-do list, a lot of anxiety can be alleviated.

But younger students are also attracted to the summer SAT exam. Those who are heavily involved in competitive sports, band or other time-intensive activities during the school year often appreciate the opportunity to take the SAT during a more leisurely time of year.  Students also realize that the earlier they start to take the SAT, the more opportunities they have to address any areas of weakness in order to improve their scores.  When it comes time to file applications, most colleges allow students to submit only their highest SAT scores.  Some colleges even allow students to “superscore,” whereby they consider a student’s highest Math score from one test date and their highest Evidence-based Reading and Writing score from another. 

Regardless of their motives, students who want to take advantage of the August SAT test date need to register ASAP and should try to choose an air-conditioned test site – so they don’t sweat any more than necessary! 

Susan Alaimo is the founder of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362.