After living through this awful pandemic for the last couple of months now, you might feel like the world is turning apocalyptic. You’re not the only one. Many of the normal milestones and events that we take for granted have essentially been put to a stop. For high school students, educators, and parents, however, the future feels especially uncertain. As of now, the College Board has canceled the April, May, and June administrations of the SAT due to the COVID-19 update in academic calendars across the nation.
So what should high school juniors do to get their SAT scores on time for their college applications now?
It’s a difficult question to answer and unfortunately, not one that anyone, not even the College Board, has a definite answer to. However, they do have some information to offer to concerned students, parents, and educators.
Also Read: How to Create an Effective SAT Study Plan
College Board’s SAT COVID-19 Update
Due to the circumstances surrounding the pandemic, the College Board has announced that the May 2020 and June 2020 administrations of the SAT and SAT Subject Tests have been canceled.
In regards to when the next administration of the exam will occur, the College Board had this to offer:
If it’s safe from a public health standpoint, we’ll provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration on September 26 and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October 3, November 7, and December 5.
Students can register for these administrations starting in May. We’ll contact students directly during the week of May 26 to provide an exact date. Eligible students can register with a fee waiver.
For those living abroad, the College Board is considering an additional international administration of the SAT. If this applies to you, check here for COVID-19 SAT updates.
SAT Registrations Post-COVID-19:
If you are a high school junior expecting to graduate in 2021 and have not yet received any SAT scores, you may be able to gain early access to the SAT registrations. Keep an eye on your email inbox for the invite.
Moreover, if you were registered for the June SAT, the College Board may also send you an early access pass to registering for the upcoming administrations of the SAT.
To those of you who do not fall under either category but need to take the SAT, there is still hope. The College Board is calling on its member schools and universities to open their campuses up as testing centers. This is in the hope that as many students possible can take the exam on a particular date.
We understand that students may still be anxious about how COVID-19 will affect their college applications, including the SAT. What if schools fail to reopen in the fall? No need to worry. The College Board is developing a secure, online version of the exam similar to the take-home AP exams.
Also Read: A Quick Guide to Writing the Best College Essay
Finally, the College Board suggests that students continue to use this extra time to prepare for the SAT. We agree!
How Should You Continue to Prepare for the SAT?
Let’s start with the good news first. You have more time to prepare for the SAT, almost an extra four months! The bad news? Well, we all know what they say about procrastination.
It can be easy to claim that you will be able to stay motivated to do well on the SAT during this pandemic. However, as many of us have already started to see, regular life feels like it has been paused. Deadlines feel less urgent now. With almost too much time on our hands, few of us are taking advantage of it in a productive manner.
Will you be able to stay productive and improve your skills for the SAT? Time (and your score) will tell. Moreover, will you be able to maintain the current level of knowledge you have right now?
If you are feeling a little doubt in your ability to stay motivated to study for the SAT, you are not alone. Many students are opting for expensive, time-consuming, and rigid programs designed by various test preparation companies.
But are they making the right choice? Is it worth spending thousands of dollars on SAT prep that is not customized to them? Wouldn’t it make more sense to study on their own?
If you are certain you can self-study the SAT and manage your time with the skills and strategies needed, you can rely on free resources like official practice tests or paid resources like SAT prep books. In such a case, you can find resources for effective self-studying down below:
-
Everything about SAT Preparation: The masterpost
-
How to Self-Study the SAT
-
Ace the SAT: Tips and Strategies to Achieve that Perfect Score
-
5 Best SAT Prep Books: Choose the Best SAT Prep Book!
If you are like most students, you will know that self-studying may not be the best route for you. On the other hand, you may not want to pay thousands of dollars for a rigid prep program. Moreover, is it really worth sharing the attention of one instructor with 20 other students during an online class?
What a dilemma. Luckily for you, there is a middle ground.
If you want focused, personalized SAT preparation at an affordable price, you will want to sign up for the Ultimate 12-Week SAT Prep Program designed by perfect-scorer Alex Mehregan.
In this program, you will get the motivation and guidance you need to score high on the SAT, your way. In summary, the program is:
- Curated by top SAT scorers
- 200+ score increase guaranteed
- Student-customized lesson plans
- 80 hours of learning with 12 high-quality mocks
Register here for the 12 Week online SAT Prep Program
What Next?
We hope you stay positive during these trying times. Take advantage of this extra time and score well on your SAT exams. Check back here for any SAT COVID-19 update.
At Talentnook, we are working towards ensuring that the learning does not stop. You can also take a break from this stressful period by learning something new and creative like playing an instrument, painting, creative writing, and more! Check out our online SAT lessons offering free trials.
