When Do You Take the SAT 2022?

A high or acceptable score on the SAT and ACT (but especially the SAT) is necessary to secure admission to a good college. But with so many SAT dates, it’s hard to know when to take the SAT. 

When do you take SAT practice tests, and in high school, what grades take the SAT?

Today we’ll help you sort through your options to determine the absolute best time for you to write the SAT, as well as the ACT. 

So, when do you take the SAT? Let’s find out! 

When Are SATs Taken?

First thing’s first: when is the SAT taken? 

SATs are usually available around the same time every year. This year, the 2022-2023 SAT dates are as followed:

Scheduled Dates:

• March 12, 2022
• May 7, 2022
• June 4, 2022

Anticipated Dates:

• August 27, 2022
• October 1, 2022
• November 5, 2022
• December 3, 2022
• March 11, 2023
• May 6, 2023
• June 3, 2023

Questions to Ask Yourself: When Do You Take the SAT?

The right time to take the SAT depends on a few factors. Ask yourself the following questions:

    1. When Are Your College Admission Deadlines?

Make sure you know your college admission deadlines to account for the time it takes to practice for your test, take the test, and get the results to your colleges. Most admission deadlines for college are in December or January preceding your Fall semester, with early admission deadlines often in the November prior.

    2. When Are Your SAT Release Dates?

Check out our article about SAT release dates to find out when you’ll find out your score. Usually, release dates are about two weeks after test dates. 

    3. How Long Do You Need for SAT Prep?

When should I take SAT prep courses? The College Board recommends at least 2-3 months of test prep before you take the SAT, which may include practice questions and tests or official practice from the Khan Academy. 

    4. Do You Plan on Retaking the SAT?

When do students take SAT tests for the first and second time? It’s good preparation to take the SAT more than once, to make up for a poor first score. You might consider taking your first SAT in the Spring or Summer of your Junior Year, giving them ample time to take the test a second time in the late Summer or Fall of your senior year. Before your junior year, you may want to just focus on test prep. 

How to Use a Second SAT Test Score for College Admission

Different colleges see SAT scores differently. For example, if you took the SAT twice, some colleges will allow SAT Score Choice. This means you can pick which score you send to the college (the higher one, of course). 

Other colleges automatically conduct SAT superscoring, where they take the highest averages from your SAT to create their own score. Check your college admission deadlines to find out how they approach SAT evaluation. 

When Do We Take the SAT? - Sample Schedule

Let’s assume you follow the guidelines of the College Board and offer yourself a minimum of 2-3 months to study. Then, you also account for wanting to take the SAT twice, just in case. With these factors, here’s a sample schedule you might consider for taking the SAT. 

Year	Action
Freshman and Sophomore Years	Test Prep
Spring of Junior Year	SAT Test 1 (March 12, 2022, May 7, 2022, June 4, 2022)
Fall of Junior Year	SAT Test 2 (August 27, 2022, October 1, 2022) Note:  November 2022 SAT Test if you’re not looking for early admission

 

When To Take the ACT?

The ACT functions similarly to the SAT in terms of test date availability and recommended prep. Experts recommend that you take the ACT twice, once in the Spring of your junior year and again in the Fall of your junior year. 

Conclusion

When do you take SAT prep? Ideally in your freshmen, sophomore, and a bit of your junior year. When do you take the SAT? Twice — once in the Spring of your junior year, and again in the Fall of your junior year. This gives you ample time to study for months in advance and take the test twice to make up for a poor first test score. 

Ready to take the SAT? Continue your quest for knowledge by reading our article about average SAT scores and the SAT test length.