How do I Retake the SAT?

If you're here, you're probably getting ready to take your first SAT or you've just taken the exam and want to know how to retake it. No problem, it may seem confusing at first, but we'll outline it for you in steps! ⬇️

🎠 How Do I Retake the SAT?

Thinking of retaking the SAT and going for round 2 (or 3, 4, onwards)? No problem! The registration process is actually pretty straightforward and similar to when you first registered for the exam.

• • Here is a list of upcoming SAT dates for the 2023-2024 school year. Click "Register" underneath the date you're interested in! Note that each session has a registration deadline, a late registration deadline (you will have to pay extra $$$), and a deadline to make changes to your test date and/or center. Also keep in mind that some tests may be digital, and others are paper and pencil as they traditionally have been.
• • You'll be redirected to a different website (mysat.collegeboard.org/login) where you'll have to log in.
  1. • For Step 1: Enter Your Information. Verify that you have the correct name, high school, grade, and address. You'll also be asked to fill out information regarding demographics, GPA and class rank, courses you've taken, high school activities, and future plans.
  2. • For Step 2: Select Date and Test Center. You'll select your test date and center. Pick a date and place that works best for you! Some students, for example, pick the August date since they have time to prepare over summer break. Because of the high volume of students registering for the exam, you'll have 20 minutes to finish registering to reserve your seat at a test center you're interested in.
  3. • For Step 3: Upload Your Photo. Review and/or edit the photo you used on the first time you registered for the SAT. Make sure that it follows the photo guidelines (visible face, hea,d and shoulders in full view, and with proper lighting and focus) so that you are identifiable on test day.
  4. • For Step 4: Check Out. You'll input your billing info. If you want, you can add the Question-and-Answer Service (QAS) or the Student Answer Service (SAS) as part of your score report for $16. Either service provides valuable insights (areas of strength/improvement, etc.) to help you practice and prepare if you plan to retake the SAT and will be available online. If you have a fee waiver, no need to worry as you'll be billed $0 . . . which is amazing!
• • Once you're done with all four steps, give yourself a pat on the back. You just registered for a retake of the SAT! 👍

Should You Retake the SAT?

Still on the fence on whether you should do a retake or not? Here are some things you can consider!

📈 Grade Level

Are you a high school freshman, sophomore, or junior? Go for it! You have spare time to invest in SAT prep to get as high of a score as possible by the time your senior year comes around. 

If you're a high school senior applying for college, you can still do a retake by October (most Early Action/Decision schools) or December (most Regular Decision schools). At that point, however, I recommend spending that hypothetical SAT prep time on refining the other parts of your application: essays, extracurricular activities, and other aspects that may benefit you in a holistic admissions process.

🏆 Level of Competitiveness

When building your college list, you should organize them into these categories: 

1. • Safety schools: these schools are very likely to admit you. You should feel safe in being admitted and potentially attending.
2. • Match schools: you match their admitted student profile and they match the needs you have for a school, but they may be more challenging to receive admission to.
3. • Reach schools: these are the most selective in the nation. Admission may be extremely competitive and likely unpredictable.

Every year, most colleges release a range that shows the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile of the standardized test scores of their applicants. You can find this under a school's Common Data Set. In fact, you can look up "[college/university] common data set" or "[college/university] cds." 

Let's look at Purdue University's 2020-21 CDS as an example:

In this case, Purdue's middle 50% of SAT scores lie between 1190 and 1430. If possible, you should strive to be within (or even above) that range! However, not making it to that range at the end of your college application won't make or break your application, either. Remember that SAT scores are just one piece of the holistic admissions puzzle!

💰 Affordability

As of writing June 2023, the SAT costs $60. If you're also a prospective AP, IB, CLEP, and/or ACT exam taker, you know that testing costs can quickly add up. 

If you qualify for a fee waiver, you can get all these benefits including 2 free SAT registrations, 2 free Answer Services, unlimited free score reports, and no late fees! If you do NOT, consider the budget you're working with. Some schools often have PTA or administration-wide programs that help shoulder these costs. Be sure to ask your school's counselors and officials!

🎭 Closing Remarks

We hope this was helpful as you continue on your college admissions journey! You got this! If you think you do want to retake the SAT, or just signed up for a retake, be sure to check out our resource about how the SAT is scored.