College admissions test timeline
Below we’ve provided you with a general timeline for taking the college admissions tests. This is a good guide for most students, but you should always take into account your academic, extracurricular, and personal schedule and which standardized tests are required by the colleges on your application list when determining what test dates are best for you.
We strongly recommend that students take the SAT or ACT more than once. It doesn’t matter how much you know, if you’re not mentally prepared on that morning, it can make a big difference in your score.
Sophomore Year
Students who take courses during their sophomore year that correspond to an SAT Subject Test, such as Biology or World History, should consider taking the SAT Subject Test directly following the course while the material is still fresh in their minds.
Junior Year
Students should take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of their junior year. By the end of junior year, students should have taken the SAT or ACT and SAT Subject Tests at least once.
Senior Year
When planning your test-taking schedule, keep in mind that the fall of your senior year will be your last chance to retake the SAT or ACT and to take any of the SAT Subject Tests.