How to Change an SAT Test Date

Students can change their SAT date by canceling their existing test date and scheduling a new one.
Although students will receive a registration fee refund, there is a cancellation fee.
Students should cancel and reschedule their SAT if they are not prepared for the exam or they have a scheduling conflict.

As your SAT date approaches, you may be wondering – Can I change the test date? The answer is yes, you can! You can reschedule your SAT date by canceling your existing test date and scheduling your new one.

Here are some reasons you might want to change your SAT test date, advice on rescheduling, and a step-by-step guide to help you schedule your new SAT.

When Can You Change Your SAT Date?

The deadline for changing an SAT test date depends on the actual date of the SAT. Generally, students should reschedule their exams about 1-2 weeks before the test date to avoid further fees. For exact deadlines, visit the College Board website. These are also the deadlines for cancellation and late registration.

You should change your SAT test date as soon as you know it no longer works for you.

How Can You Reschedule your SAT?

To reschedule your SAT, you need to

Log into your My SAT College Board account
Cancel your existing registration date before 11:59 pm on the Thursday prior to your test date to avoid late cancellation fee
Receive registration fee refund
Pay $25 cancellation fee (or $35 for late cancellation)
Register again for the new desired SAT test date

There are fee waivers available for those who cannot afford the cancellation fees. All students who change their SAT date will also have to make sure they print off the new admissions ticket to be brought to the test. The old ticket will not be accepted at the test center.

Students can also change other information through their My SAT account including photo, address, high school information, and score reports.

Why Should You Change Your SAT Date?

There are usually two reasons you might want to change your SAT date: you’re not prepared or the date no longer works for your schedule.

1. You’re Not Prepared for the SAT

How much time have you spent studying for the SAT since you selected a test date? How many practice tests have you taken? If the answers to these questions are “little to none,” you may just want to change your exam day.

Failing to be prepared for the SAT can truly impact your college choices, and may even result in you getting a rejection letter from your dream college. While many schools say the test is optional now, that doesn’t mean it won’t give you the boost you need over other students who did sit for the exam (or the ACT).

However, it’s important to keep in mind that you can always take the SAT again. You are not restricted to sitting for the exam once! And you don’t want to fall into the mindset of “I’m not ready” even after you’ve studied for months. Anxiety has a way of getting the better of us, but don’t let that be the reason you delay your SAT. You might not feel ready, but if you’ve been preparing, you’ve got this.

2. You Have a Scheduling Conflict

Of course, life happens, and you may just have an unavoidable scheduling conflict that coincides with your SAT exam. While you should still try to make your SAT date, you may not be able to. In these cases, you should reschedule your test with any future obligations in mind to avoid further cancellation fees.

Always Keep Your College Application in Mind Before Changing Your SAT Date

Colleges often require SAT scores before a certain date in order to be attached to your application in January. This means the latest you should schedule the SAT is by December to ensure your results are given to your school in January. If you are applying under Early Action or Early Decision, you may even need your scores a bit earlier.

If you are changing a test date, you will want to keep these deadlines in mind as well. Scheduling your exam too late could mean your schools never see your score!

Colleges that have rolling admissions, however, may accept your SAT by a later date. And, some schools have made the SAT optional or refuse to accept any SAT or ACT scores from their applicants. So if you have any questions about when you can take the final SAT to count towards your college application, reach out to the admissions department for more information.

Think Before You Change the Date

Some students may be cutting it to the wire and not truly have time to reschedule before college applications are due, even if they feel they’re unprepared. There are also fees associated with rescheduling. Whatever you choose, make sure you’ve thought about it from all angles.

Colleges and universities are looking for certain scores from their students on the ACT and/or SAT. Thankfully, many schools release accepted students’ scores! Using College Raptor, you can see how you stack against students who were just accepted to your dream school and know what to aim for yourself. Get started for completely free at this link.

Think before you act

Changing your SAT date is easy! You simply have to log into your College Board account, cancel your current exam, and schedule a new one. However, before you do this, you should always consider if it’s the best option for your education. Some students may be cutting it to the wire and not truly have time to reschedule before college applications are due, even if they feel they’re unprepared. There are also fees associated with rescheduling. Whatever you choose, make sure you’ve thought about it from all angles.