Students Should Register ASAP for the August SAT

Registration is open for the August 28th SAT exam, and interested students should sign up quickly. If past years are any indication, there will likely be a shortage of available seats in Central New Jersey and families may have to embark on a road trip to get a seat for this extremely popular testing date.

The August SAT exam is being offered for the fifth consecutive year 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 for the fall SAT exams, which are offered the first Saturday in October, November and December.

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. 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 2nd.

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 their to-do list, a lot of anxiety can be alleviated.

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 just 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 site – so they don’t sweat any more than necessary! 

Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review that, for the past 25 years, has offered PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362