Taking the SAT® as a senior is possible; it just requires a bit more proactivity than those taking it as a junior. Senior year is typically packed with completing college applications, AP classes, part-time jobs, and holiday breaks that could throw off your score submission timeline if you’re not careful.
The silver lining in all of this? A little forethought and proper planning can make this process less stressful and ensure your scores reach your preferred schools before their application deadline closes.
Tip 1: Choose SAT Test Date Based on College Application Deadline
Time is limited when you take the SAT as a senior, so it’s important to understand how much you realistically need to finalize your scores. It’s generally recommended to take the SAT at least twice to earn your ideal score, and this is still possible as a senior even if you’re applying Early Action or Early Decision.
Before we explain how to choose your deadline, let’s first look at the upcoming SAT dates for the 2025-26 school year released by the College Board.
| SAT Test Date | Registration Deadline | Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, and Late Registration |
| Aug. 23, 2025 | Aug. 8, 2025 | Aug. 12, 2025 |
| Sept. 13, 2025 | Aug. 29, 2025 | Sept. 2, 2025 |
| Oct. 4, 2025 | Sept. 19, 2025 | Sept. 23, 2025 |
| Nov. 8, 2025 | Oct. 24, 2025 | Oct. 28, 2025 |
| Dec. 6, 2025 | Nov. 21, 2025 | Nov. 25, 2025 |
| March 14, 2026 | Feb. 27, 2026 | March 3, 2026 |
| May 2, 2026 | Apr. 17, 2026 | April 21, 2026 |
| June 6, 2026 | May 22, 2026 | May 26, 2026 |
As always, students planning to borrow a device from the College Board should register and request their device before the registration deadline, ideally 30 days before their preferred test date.
Most scores are released within two to four weeks after you take the SAT, and it takes another five to 10 business days for scores to be submitted to the schools if sent through standard mail. This could be cut to one to four business days if sent via rush shipping, but both estimates exclude weekends and holidays.
Since most college application regular deadlines end around mid- to late January, we’ll say January 21st for the sake of the examples to come, your scores should ideally be submitted before then. When deciding how much time you’d need, err on the side of caution by considering the worst case scenario and giving yourself more wiggle room within your deadline.
Using the January 21st deadline above, we can now work forwards, or backwards, to determine the latest test date you can comfortably register for to ensure your test scores arrive on time.
If you’re interested in taking the December 6 SAT, you could expect your scores to be released between December 19 and January 5. Looking at those dates, you’re probably thinking, “Wait, wouldn’t the scores be released on January 2 at the latest? Why did you expand it to the fifth?”
Tip 2: Don’t Forget to Factor Holidays into Your Calculations
If we were calculating our examples strictly on the number of business days between December 6 and January 21, you’d have ample time to comfortably submit your scores. However, there are several holidays sprinkled close together between November and January. The College Board may be short staffed or closed during this time, meaning potential delays in when your scores are released.
While each district may have slightly different timelines for their breaks, generally speaking, Thanksgiving break lasts two business days. Since Christmas break bleeds into New Year’s break, offices will be closed for an additional 10 business days. That means, automatically, 12 business days have been removed from your timeline, making it even tighter than you may have initially anticipated.
So, let’s take another look at the example with the January 21 deadline.
If you take the SAT on December 6, the two to four week score release window overlaps with the winter holidays. While some places may be open on December 26, it’s safer to assume they won’t since most people are likely traveling. This would extend the deadline to January 2, but, like December 26, it’s safer to assume the office will be closed as it’s the tail end of winter break.
This makes Monday, January 5 the latest those scores could be released. Now, factoring in an additional five to 10 business days for standard delivery, your scores will likely make it to the colleges on your list between January 12 and January 20.
But wait, wouldn’t it be January 19 if it’s five to 10 business days? January 19 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, meaning businesses will be closed. So, while you could technically get your scores in before the deadline, it will be uncomfortably tight.
If you’re able to pay extra for rush shipping, these scores could be released between January 6 and January 9, giving you more wiggle room between score submission and the deadline. But why pay extra for rush shipping when you could take the exam earlier?
Tip 3: Study Smarter, Not Harder With an Effective Plan
With deadlines coming at you from all angles, now isn’t the time to try and figure things out alone. Working with an experienced tutor can help you quickly identify where you need the most support and tailor their approach to helping you learn skills that will have the biggest impact on your scores.
At C2, our SAT Prep program immerses you into the same testing environment you’ll experience on the big day, ensuring you can perform your best when it matters most. With our customized software and subject matter experts at the ready, you can familiarize yourself with its current digital format and receive the support you need to maximize the tools at your disposal.
Tip 4: If Possible (And It Is), Take the SAT Twice
Waiting until the December deadline may seem tempting, but it’s honestly more stressful than it’s worth. The College Board recommends taking the SAT at least twice, and we couldn’t agree more. Putting all of your eggs in one basket can add extra stress on you, making it harder to perform your best. This could negatively impact your score, and if you’re out of time, you can’t retake it.
Plan to finalize your SAT scores in November, but take the exam at least once between August and October. With a little less stress surrounding an earlier testing experience, you may be able to finalize your scores well before your self-imposed deadline.
Aside from reduced stress levels, you may be able to take advantage of superscoring, which can boost your scores in different sections of the test. Let’s say you take the SAT twice, and on the first time you didn’t do so well in Math but you did a great job in Reading. The second time you did much better in Math, but were weaker in Reading.
Superscoring would allow college admissions teams to take the Reading score from the first test and the Math score from the second test, as they only look at the highest scores you submit. This could give you a more competitive edge over those who only took the SAT once.
Tip 5: Submit Your Test Scores and College Applications Separately
While it’s tempting to submit your entire application at once, you don’t have to do that. Especially since the College Board can submit scores on your behalf. Submit your college application, recommendation letters, personal statement, and transcript as soon as you’re ready as it can take a few weeks for the scores to reach the schools.
In the meantime, make sure to log into the College Board portal and:
- Choose the colleges you want to receive your scores as soon as you register for the SAT
- Use rush shipping if your scores are released after the winter holidays
Checklist for Seniors Taking the SAT
- Take the SAT at least once between August and October
- Finalize scores no later than November 8 to minimize score release delays due to holidays
- Choose score recipients during SAT registration
- Maximize SAT Prep by working with an experienced tutor (don’t prep alone)
- Submit applications before mid-January (use rush delivery if your score release date is in January)
Taking the SAT as a senior is doable, as long as you’re aware of your timeline and how holidays can impact it. You don’t have as much room for error as a junior would, so give yourself as much buffer time as possible. With a clear prep strategy and an expert in your corner, you can still submit a strong, competitive college application with minimal stress and panic.
Need help staying on track to take the SAT as a senior? Contact us today and book a free consultation!
