Consequences of the Cancellation of June SAT Exam

Don’t throw out your SAT prep book just yet.  While College Board has now announced the cancellation of the June 6th SAT exam, it has also clarified its plans for the future.  The SAT will be offered on August 29, September 26, October 3, November 7 and December 5.  

Students should not be lulled into complacency by announcements from some colleges that they will not be requiring SAT scores from the next applicant pool.  Colleges are concerned with getting the greatest number of applicants as possible and will therefore do whatever they need to do to get on the radar of college-bound students.  The more applications a college receives, the more competitive it can be in selecting its next incoming class.  Those students who submit impressive scores will certainly have a leg up on those who choose to skip the exam.

SAT scores are also beneficial for purposes beyond college admissions.  Many scholarship applications require SAT scores.  Many colleges use SAT scores to waive placement exams for freshmen year courses.  Many employers, including consulting firms Bain & Co. and McKinsey & Co. and banks like Goldman Sachs, inquire about a job candidate's SAT scores.

What if the coronavirus has not yet abated and school testing sites are still closed when the upcoming SAT test dates roll around?  College Board has announced its contingency plan to offer a digital SAT exam to be taken by students in their homes.  In a similar manner, College Board is launching digital Advanced Placement (AP) exams that will be taken by some three million students in their homes in just a few weeks.

Students do need to be proactive in registering for upcoming SAT exams.  Registration will open in May and early access registration will be offered to those students who had already registered for the (now cancelled) June SAT exam and those in the high school class of 2021 who have never before taken the SAT. Although College Board is asking high schools and other testing sites to increase their testing capacity, there is no guarantee that this will happen. It’s likely that seats will be at a premium as, throughout most of New Jersey, the last SAT exam that actually took place was back in December of 2019.  

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