If you are a senior considering one more SAT, you still have time. The fall's last two dates, November 7 and December 5, are still open for registration, and both are one to two months away, which is enough time to make a meaningful difference.
But a retake only helps if your colleges will look at the new score, and only if the time it takes is worth more than the essays and applications it comes out of. So before you register, answer two questions.
If the answer to both is yes, a retake is worth it. Here is how to find out.
Will a new score still count?
Every college sets its own last test date. Two colleges with the same November 1 deadline can give opposite answers: one counts a November test, the other wants October. So check each college's testing page, not just its deadline.
Start with College Board's calendar. Scores come out about two weeks after each test.
| Test date | Register by | Late registration | Scores come out |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 3 (closed) | September 18 | September 22 | October 16 |
| November 7 | October 23 | October 27 | November 20 |
| December 5 | November 20 | November 24 | December 18 |
Then check four things for each college on your list.
What is the last test date it accepts?This is the real deadline, and it is often later than the application date.
Can scores arrive after I submit?Many colleges say yes. Then a December 5 score works for a January 1 deadline.
Can I self-report my scores?Many colleges take the scores you type into the application and ask for the official report only when you enroll.
Does it superscore?If a college takes your best Math and best Reading and Writing from different dates, a retake only has to beat one section.
Our college pages show each school's testing policy and, for many, the last test date it accepts. The college's own page is the final word.
If one college wanted October and you missed it, that application goes in with the score you have. November 7 may still work for the rest of your list.
Is a retake worth it?
You already have a score, so this is a quick decision.
Where does my score sit?Look it up with the college SAT score lookup, or browse colleges by SAT score. If you are already at the top of the range at every college on your list, spend the time on essays instead.
Is one section carrying the gap?If Math is in range but Reading and Writing is 50 points below, and your colleges superscore, you only need to raise Reading and Writing.
What if my colleges are test-optional?A score inside the range is worth sending. If your score is well below the range, apply without one and spend the time on essays. The exception is a merit scholarship with a published cutoff: crossing it is worth real money.
What will it cost me?Three to four hours a week for one to two months. Decide what you will spend less time on.
How to prep with one to two months left
Start with a baseline. If you have not taken a test recently, take one full-length practice test in College Board's Bluebook app. The official score report only shows results by content area; a practice test shows every question you got wrong. Work the weaker section, and redo your misses until you get them right.
For a week-by-week schedule:
- An 8-week SAT study plan: what to do each week.
- Four ways to prepare for the SAT when time is short: lessons, practice tests, tutoring, and apps, and how to combine them.