When the College Board released the testing schedule for the next three years, something was different: an August SAT test date.
For the first time in almost 40 years, students will be able to sit for a summer SAT test date. The August SAT will replace the January test date starting August 26, 2017.
What’s the reasoning behind this change? Katherine Levin, spokeswoman for the College Board, states a summer SAT date will “provide students with earlier opportunities to take the SAT before submitting college applications, and more time to focus on coursework, school activities, and college applications in the fall of their senior year.”
Check out the new SAT dates on the College Board website here
What this means for students
The omission of the January test date means that students who choose to prepare for the SAT over winter break in order to avoid overlap with AP exam season now lose that opportunity. The spring testing season may be slightly overwhelming for those students. At the same time, a summertime SAT allows students to focus solely on preparing for the test instead of trying to balance prep with schoolwork. Additionally, kids who prep during the summer don’t have to wait until October to finally sit for the official exam. With an August test date, the material stays fresher in students’ minds and students do better on test day.
The added SAT date will also lessen some stress due to test score delays and college application deadlines. Many students have already been affected by several College Board delays in the past year. This additional test date now gives seniors two attempts at the SAT before early applications are due, and allows ample time for scores to be submitted to schools.
With any change, however, comes some challenges. August, being one of the hottest times of the year in the country, puts schools without air conditioning at a significant disadvantage. Furthermore, some schools (such as those in the Northeast) do not start school as early as August, and school guidance and counselors are not happy with the College Board cutting their summer breaks short.
Though the change won’t be implemented for another school year and a half, we already predict that the August test date is likely to be one of the most popular test dates on the calendar. For years, ArborBridge students have been disappointed to find out that the SAT wasn’t given in the summer. And many have said if it was given then, they would definitely sign up for it. Now, with this new opportunity, we expect (and the College Board is banking on) a strong interest in August test dates.
How will this affect you?
Current juniors (class of 2017): Ignore the change. You’ll be done with college applications before it goes into effect.
Current sophomores (class of 2018): You’ll be testing right in the middle of the change. During your junior year you will see the old testing schedule. During the your senior year you will see the new testing schedule. This is a big win for you! It means you get an extra test day: you get January in junior year AND August in senior year.
Current freshmen (class of 2019): When you start taking the SAT in your junior and senior years, the new schedule will apply.
