We’ll keep this post regularly updated with the latest SAT and ACT news and our testing recommendations for students in the high school classes of 2021. Latest Update: 8/21/2020

SAT

SAT Test Dates

The May and June SATs have been canceled. The next test dates are:

August 29th
September 26th
October 3rd
November 7th
December 5th
January TBD if there is demand for it

These SATs will almost certainly occur as planned. Another nationwide cancellation (like in May or June) is extremely unlikely. However, each individual test center will make its own decision about whether or not to hold the SAT. We expect some test centers will hold the SAT as planned, while other test centers will cancel it.

SAT Registration

Registration for all fall test dates is now open for all students.

Online At-Home SAT Testing

The College Board had previously promised to offer at-home online SAT testing in the fall if test centers were unable to proceed with in-person testing. On 6/2/2020, the College Board announced it would cancel online fall testing due to concerns about inequity. There will not be any at-home online SATs offered in 2020.

Our SAT Recommendations for Rising Seniors

Register for Aug, Sep, AND Oct. We recommend that rising seniors register for the August 29th, September 26th, and October 3rd SAT dates as soon as registration is available. Taking three tests within a five-week period is a great opportunity for students to give themselves as many chances as possible at a great score within a short time period. Registering for all three SATs can be especially important in these unpredictable times, when we don’t know if testing will occur, if test centers will be overbooked with demand, if score releases will be delayed, etc.

Discuss a Plan for Resuming SAT Prep. With such a long gap between the onset of the pandemic and the next SAT (Aug 29th), it made sense for most SAT students to pause SAT prep for a while. Some students have benefited from occasional sessions to keep them on track and working on self-directed prep between sessions. We recommend resuming weekly sessions ahead of your test date, with amount of sessions depending on your situation. Touch base with your tutor to discuss a plan.

Our SAT Recommendations for Rising Juniors

Start with both a diagnostic SAT and ACT, work with us to develop a prep plan, and then register for tests accordingly. Even if you’d like to avoid the fall testing season, it can only help to get a head start on figuring out a test prep plan for junior year.

PSAT

The College Board has announced that high schools unable to offer the PSAT this October will be able to offer the PSAT in the winter.

Our SAT Recommendations for Rising Sophomores

Pursue your interests, read books, and try to enjoy the summer. Call us next spring!

Helpful Links

College Board Fall SAT Registration Info

College Board Announcements: June 2nd, April 15th

Our Facebook Live Info Session (April 14th)

What Happens if the June SAT and ACT are Canceled? (April 6th)

ACT

ACT Test Dates

The April ACT was canceled nationwide. The June 13th ACT and July 18th ACT were NOT canceled nationwide, but were only offered at several test centers in the Philadelphia area. Many nearby test centers canceled the test, including some at the very last minute.

The next test dates are:

September 12th
September 13th (Sunday test date. Not widely offered.)
September 19th (New test date. May not be widely offered.)
October 10th (New test date. May not be widely offered.)
October 17th (New test date. May not be widely offered.)
October 24th
October 25th (Sunday test date. Not widely offered.)
December 12th

On June 23rd, the ACT announced it was adding several fall ACT dates and opening up Sunday ACT test dates (usually offered for religious reasons only) to all students. Test center availability for the new dates may be limited.

These fall ACTs will almost certainly occur as planned. Another nationwide cancellation (like in April) is extremely unlikely. However, each individual test center will make its own decision about whether or not to hold the ACT. We expect some test centers will hold the ACT as planned, while other test centers will cancel it.

ACT Registration

Registration for the ACTs in September and beyond opened on Monday 8/3. Locations have filled up quickly, but it does appear that new test centers/dates are occasionally added. Check back regularly if you get shut out of your target test date.

Online At-Home ACT Testing

The ACT originally announced online at-home testing available starting in “late fall/winter”. However, the ACT’s latest announcement (6/23/20) made no mention of online testing. With the College Board canceling its fall online SAT, the ACT is unlikely to prepare an at-home online ACT anytime soon.

ACT Section Retesting

ACT section retesting has been postponed to 2021. Our opinion is that section retesting will never become a relevant part of the testing and admissions process.

Our ACT Recommendations for Rising Seniors

Resume Test Prep. We recommend resuming weekly sessions ahead of your test date, with amount of sessions depending on your situation. Touch base with your tutor to discuss a plan.

Our ACT Recommendations for Rising Juniors

Our ACT Recommendations for Rising Sophomores

Pursue your interests, read books, and try to enjoy the summer. Call us next spring!

Helpful Links

ACT Announcements: June 23rd, May 13th, April 16th

Our Facebook Live Info Session (April 14th)

What Happens if the June SAT and ACT are Canceled? (April 6th)

College Admissions

Test Optional

You may have heard lots of news about colleges going test optional for the class of 2021 and sometimes beyond. This article covers everything you need to know about test optional admissions and how you should approach them.

Deadlines

Only a handful of colleges have delayed their application deadlines or changing early decision policies for the class of 2021. We will update this if more colleges begin to make announcements.