The College Board began offering the SAT and Subject Tests in August 2017 for the first time, and eliminated their January test date in 2018. Fewer test centers were available in August 2017, since schools had a lighter staff during the summer.
The ACT also changed its test schedule, adding a July test date, effective July 2018. July test dates are not available in NY test centers, but students can travel to another state if these particular test dates suit them.
Finally, the College Board has instituted a faster score release policy, in which scores for multiple-choice questions will be available 13-19 days after each test date; with essay scores available 24 days later. For example, for the March 9 test date, multiple choice scores will be available March 22; and essay scores will be available March 25-27.
Why did the College Board Add an August Test Date?
The August College Board test date is likely a response to the increase in seniors applying through early admissions and the consequent growth in SAT testers in the fall (see chart below). Over the past decade, there has been a significant shift towards early applications, in which seniors apply in November, and receive notification in December.
In large part, students are taking advantage of the strategic boost of applying early. The admit rates are typically much higher, and colleges are filling an increasing percentage of their freshman class through early admissions, leaving fewer spots to fill during regular admissions. As a result, the entire standardized testing schedule has shifted to earlier test dates. For early admissions, students need to complete their testing (SAT, ACT and Subject Tests) by October.
In addition to the recently added July 2018 date, the ACT also offers a test in September, an ideal time for seniors because they can prepare over the summer, and are just starting to deal with the academic requirements of senior year. The SAT has been steadily losing ground to the ACT over the past few years, and a strategic modification of the testing schedule may be an effort by the College Board to recover ground.
Who Should Take the August Test?
The August test date is ideal for seniors who would like an additional chance to improve their SAT or Subject Test score after their junior year testing, or would like to take additional Subject Tests. The summer typically provides a less intense environment in which to prepare, without the pressures of schoolwork.
For rising juniors, we do not advise taking the SAT until November or December, because students typically experience meaningful growth and maturity over junior year, and continue to learn content that can boost their scores.
One exception, however, would be rising juniors who are pursuing athletic recruitment, and need early testing scores for coaches to make a determination about whether they are viable candidates.
For each student, deciding when and how often to take the SAT or ACT depends on a variety of factors, including whether you are applying to colleges through early or rolling admissions, the selectivity of your colleges, how much time you can devote to test preparation, and your competing time commitments.
The college testing environment is constantly undergoing changes. To help you sort through testing options and plan for successful college admissions, contact us at www.collegiategateway.com. As always, we’re happy to help!
2018-19 SAT and Subject Tests Test Dates
Note that Subject Tests are not offered in March. Also, while Literature, US History, Math 1, Math 2, Biology, Chemistry and Physics are offered every testing date (but March), World History and Language tests vary by month. In addition, although you can choose to add more Subject Tests on the day of testing (with a maximum of three), the one test that you cannot add on the spot is Language with Listening, because that requires special equipment.
| SAT Date | SAT Subject Tests Available | Registration Deadline | Late Registration Deadline |
| March 9, 2019 | *SAT Subject Tests not offered on this date | February 8, 2019 |
February 19, 2019 (for mailed registrations) February 27, 2019 (for registrations made online or by phone) |
| May 4, 2019 | Literature U.S. History Mathematics Level 1 Mathematics Level 2 Biology E/M Chemistry Physics French Spanish |
April 5, 2019 |
April 16, 2019 (for mailed registrations) April 24, 2019 (for registrations made online or by phone) |
| June 1, 2019 | Literature U.S. History World History Mathematics Level 1 Mathematics Level 2 Biology E/M Chemistry Physics French German Spanish Modern Hebrew Italian Latin |
May 3, 2019 |
May 14, 2019 (for mailed registrations) May 22, 2019 (for registrations made online or by phone) |
| August 24, 2019 | Literature U.S. History World History Mathematics Level 1 Mathematics Level 2 Biology E/M Chemistry Physics French Spanish |
Not yet announced | Not yet announced |
| October 5, 2019 | Literature U.S. History Mathematics Level 1 Mathematics Level 2 Biology E/M Chemistry Physics French Spanish |
Not yet announced | Not yet announced |
| November 2, 2019 | Literature U.S. History Mathematics Level 1 Mathematics Level 2 Biology E/M Chemistry Physics French with Listening German with Listening Spanish with Listening Chinese with Listening Japanese with Listening Korean with Listening |
Not yet announced | Not yet announced |
| December 7, 2019 | Literature U.S. History World History Mathematics Level 1 Mathematics Level 2 Biology E/M Chemistry Physics French Spanish Latin |
Not yet announced | Not yet announced |
*Test Dates and Subject Test offerings for August 2019 through December 2019 are anticipated, but not yet confirmed by the College Board.