SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

If you're looking for SAT test dates for 2016-17, look no further! The 2016-17 SAT testing year marks the first full year of the redesigned SAT, which shifted the scoring scale from 2400 to 1600 and introduced a combined Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score.

Continue reading to get info on all official 2016-17 SAT test dates, registration deadlines, and score release dates. We also offer tons of tips on how to find the best SAT test date for you!

SAT Test Dates 2016-2017

The SAT testing year follows the school year, running from the end of summer (August) to the beginning of summer (June). The exam is administered seven times a year (six internationally) on Saturdays; however, those with religious or other exemptions may request alternate test dates. All SAT test dates, registration deadlines, and score release dates for 2016-17 have been officially confirmed by the College Board.

SAT Test Dates 2016-17 (U.S.)

*The late registration deadline is one week earlier if you are registering by mail.

**Regular SAT only.

SAT Test Dates 2016-17 (International)

*SAT Subject Tests only.

As you can see from the tables, there are more SAT test dates in autumn than there are in spring. The College Board staggers the dates like this to align with college application deadlines. These autumn dates essentially offer seniors last-minute opportunities to improve their SAT scores before applying to college.

The 2016-17 testing year also marked the final year with a January test date. Starting in 2017, an earlier August test date will replaced the January test date. This August test date will not be available internationally. From 2018 onward, however, the March test date will be offered outside the U.S. to administer the regular SAT (no SAT Subject Tests).

Choosing an SAT Test Date: 4 Questions to Ask Yourself

Deciding on an SAT test date isn't easy. But by asking yourself the following four questions, you'll be able to select the best SAT test date for you in no time!

#1: When Are Your College Applications Due?

More important than anything else, you should know exactly when your college application deadlines are — and should therefore choose an SAT test date that'll for sure get your scores to your schools in time.

Most regular decision deadlines are around January 1, and most early action deadlines are November 1 or 15. The College Board sends out students' free score reports to schools about three to five weeks after each test date. (Exactly how many weeks this will take depends on the test date. Refer to the "Online Score Release" columns in the tables above for more info.)

Unfortunately, not all schools process SAT scores immediately upon receiving them. In fact, some schools can take a week to process scores. This means you may have to wait six or more weeks until your SAT scores are accepted and processed by your schools. And if you'll be ordering additional score reports, you can expect an even longer waiting period of around seven or eight weeks. Therefore, it's critical you choose an SAT test date well before your deadlines!

To help you decide on a test date, we've created an extensive table of college application deadlines (including late application deadlines). The latest recommended SAT test dates should have little to no trouble getting your scores to your schools in time, whereas the latest possible dates pose a far greater risk of delivering your scores late.

Remember, if your school doesn't receive or process your SAT scores by its deadline, your application could be disqualified, so plan accordingly!

*These test dates may or may not get your scores to your schools in time, so take caution!

#2: Will You Retake the SAT?

Another important question to ask yourself is whether you'll want to retake the SAT should you fail to hit your goal score.

Generally, we recommend taking the SAT two or three times in total:

• First, as a junior during your fall semester.
• Second, as a junior during your spring semester.
• Third, as a senior directly prior to or during your fall semester.

If you didn't take the SAT for the first time in the fall of your junior year, that's OK—just take it as soon as you can, preferably in the early spring. Even in this case, you should still have plenty of time to take the SAT once or twice more, either in the summer (remember, there's a new August test date!) or in the fall of your senior year.

Also, try to avoid scheduling back-to-back test dates. Doing this will only tire you out in the end, as you'll lack sufficient study time in-between tests. I suggest spacing out your test-taking schedule so you're not taking the SAT more than once a semester.

#3: How Long Will You Prep For?

Before choosing an SAT test date, calculate how much time you'll need to study in order to hit your goal score. A solid SAT study schedule generally lasts three to six months and ranges from 10 to 150 total study hours, depending on the number of points by which you want to improve your baseline score. (A baseline score is the score you get on an official SAT practice test before beginning any SAT prep.)

Below are our estimates for the number of prep hours required to make the following total point improvements on the SAT:

• 0-30 point improvement: 10 hours
• 30-70 point improvement: 20 hours
• 70-130 point improvement: 40 hours
• 130-200 point improvement: 80 hours
• 200-330 point improvement: 150 hours+

As you can see, smaller point improvements require significantly fewer study hours than larger point improvements. But how you allocate these hours is up to you. For example, if you've got three months before test day and want to improve by 100 points (40 study hours), you could study for a half hour every day or for three and a half hours every weekend. Ultimately, you decide how to arrange your study schedule—just try not to wear yourself out!

#4: Are There Any Conflicts You'll Need to Work Around?

Finally, don't choose an SAT date that'll conflict with any major commitments you have. Take time to ask yourself: do you have any plans you absolutely can't reschedule? Are you currently preparing for a school play or a sports tournament? When are your AP exams?

Be sure you consider the time leading up to a test date and not just the test date itself. Ideally, you'll have plenty of time to prep for the SAT in the months leading up to it, so look for dates that aren't surrounded by tons of activities and events. Remember, overwhelming yourself is the last thing you should be doing before the SAT!

What's Next?

Curious about SAT test dates for other years? We've got articles on SAT test dates for previous years and the current year. We also offer a handy guide to future SAT test dates with projections for the next three years!

Once you've decided on an SAT test date, your next step is to register for it! Read our comprehensive guide to learn how to sign up for a test date, select a test center, and pay for the exam.

Ready to get your best SAT score ever? Read the pros and cons of possible prep methods in our free ebook. And if you're aiming for a perfect score, our resident SAT expert will teach you everything you need to know, so you, too, can achieve a 1600 on test day!