Junior year is when most students take the SAT, and for good reason. Your teen has covered most of the math and English content tested, and there's still time to retake if needed before college applications are due.
Here's how to choose the best timing for your student's situation.
For most students, March or May of junior year is the ideal time for a first SAT attempt. According to College Board data, the majority of SAT test-takers are juniors, and spring testing aligns perfectly with when students have completed the necessary coursework.
Why does spring work so well? Most students have finished Algebra II and Geometry by this point, which covers the bulk of SAT math content. Similarly, their English and reading skills from junior year coursework translate directly to the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections.
Spring also leaves room for a retake in the fall of senior year if needed, while still meeting early application deadlines for competitive schools.
March can be a lighter month academically for some students, making it easier to focus on SAT prep. May, however, gives your teen a few more months of academic growth and preparation time.
One important consideration: May gets crowded. Many students are juggling AP exams, final projects, and end-of-year commitments. If your teen is taking multiple AP courses, March might feel less overwhelming.
Some students are ready to test earlier. If your teen completed Algebra II in sophomore year or over the summer, taking the SAT in August or September of junior year can work well.
An early attempt takes some pressure off later. Your teen gets familiar with the test format and sees where they stand. If the score is strong, you're done early. If not, there's plenty of time to prepare for a spring retake.
Students who already prepared for the PSAT in October of sophomore year often find the transition to the SAT in fall of junior year feels natural. Our test prep approach helps students build on that PSAT foundation to prepare confidently for the SAT.
Taking the SAT in sophomore year makes sense for a small group of academically advanced students who have already mastered Algebra II and feel confident with the content. However, we don't recommend rushing into testing before your teen is truly ready.
Starting too early can lead to frustration and wasted time, especially if your student hasn't yet developed the reading comprehension and analytical skills that naturally mature during high school. Most students benefit from waiting until junior year when they're genuinely prepared to perform their best.
The SAT is offered seven times per year: August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. Knowing these dates early helps you plan around your teen's academic calendar and avoid conflicts.
Here's what to keep in mind when choosing a test date:
Leave processing time. College applications move quickly, especially for early decision and early action deadlines. Plan for at least one month between your teen's test date and when scores need to reach colleges.
Avoid schedule overload. Junior year is busy. AP classes, extracurriculars, and leadership roles all compete for your teen's time and energy. Choose a test date when they can dedicate focused preparation time without burning out.
Plan for retakes. Most students take the SAT two to three times. Many colleges use superscoring, which means they'll combine your teen's best section scores from different test dates to create the highest possible composite. A thoughtful timeline includes room for improvement.
One of the smartest strategies is timing the SAT after your teen completes the relevant coursework. If they finish Algebra II at the end of junior year, a May or June test makes sense. If they complete it by winter, March becomes an option.
Strong study habits and time management skills matter as much as content knowledge. When your teen feels organized and prepared, they naturally perform better on test day.
At LifeWorks, we help students approach the SAT with confidence by focusing on more than just test-taking strategies. Our SAT preparation program develops the information processing and logical thinking skills that lead to higher scores while also building the executive function skills that support long-term success. When students feel prepared and supported, they naturally perform better.
Get in touch to learn how we can help your teen approach the SAT with confidence and clarity.
