Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 12:20     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
Mine did October senior year and got the score back before Nov 1 deadlines (but it is cutting it close). She had taken it in the summer as well. Also consider ACT, especially if you have a good science background bc it has a science section that isn’t too difficult.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 12:15     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
1) Make sure child finishes algebra 2 by 10th grade as algebra 1, 2 and geometry are most valuable for SAT. 2) Take practice tests the summer before junior year and throughout junior year. 3) Take prep classes junior year (we liked money back Princeton Review with guarantees for 1500+ or 1500+). 4) Take actual SATs in spring/summer after junior year. Then if you want to take it again you have September and October senior year.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 11:38     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Every kid is different.

For DC, it worked really well to study the summer after sophomore year, take the SAT the first time that August right before junior year and the PSAT two months later.

Then they paused all thoughts of the SAT and focused on school, all the way through AP exams.

By that point, they had visited a bunch of schools (during long weekends and breaks during junior fall and spring) and knew where they wanted to apply.

Their SAT score put them in range, but they felt they could do better. Plus they were now naturally motivated after seeing the schools in person. It felt more real.

So they did more targeted prep and took it a second time in August before senior year. One year later, both parts of their score went up and they were right where they wanted to be.

Again, this really depends on the kid. Some are naturally motivated and mature enough to get maximum value out of the prep before junior year. Some will see more improvement a year later. Good luck!


This is what both my kids did



I'm on my third. My first two kids did something similar except that they took December and got their target score so stopped. This was great as junior year is so stressful and they had spring to focus on school and APs and spring sports. My third followed the same path but it seems likely will need to take it at least once more. (Still waiting for dec results.). Will likely take the in-school test in March and hopefully then be free to spend spring and summer on other things.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 11:20     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
Anonymous wrote:Every kid is different.

For DC, it worked really well to study the summer after sophomore year, take the SAT the first time that August right before junior year and the PSAT two months later.

Then they paused all thoughts of the SAT and focused on school, all the way through AP exams.

By that point, they had visited a bunch of schools (during long weekends and breaks during junior fall and spring) and knew where they wanted to apply.

Their SAT score put them in range, but they felt they could do better. Plus they were now naturally motivated after seeing the schools in person. It felt more real.

So they did more targeted prep and took it a second time in August before senior year. One year later, both parts of their score went up and they were right where they wanted to be.

Again, this really depends on the kid. Some are naturally motivated and mature enough to get maximum value out of the prep before junior year. Some will see more improvement a year later. Good luck!


This is what both my kids did
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 11:03     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
My kid took a SAT prep class the summer between 10th and 11th and took the August SAT in 11th. Did well but tried again in September and kept that score. Did the PSAT in October of 11th. No more standardized testing after Fall of 11th for them.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 11:03     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
Another who did August of Junior Year to get a baseline, the focused on school year classes and took for a second time in June after junior year.

I tried having my younger one take it in December of junior year but with end of semester finals it was too much. Looking like his first one will be in April and I can see testing stretching into early fall.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 10:53     Subject: Re:Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
Taking SAT Oct. jr. year and again in June just after jr. year worked out well for my kid.

I'm glad he got it all done before senior year as I didn't realize how stressful this first semester of senior year would be for him. Rigorous classes and the pressure to maintain As for the transcript, along with filling out apps, writing essays (he is not a fast writer) - and I wasn't prepared for the emotional roller coaster of deciding on ED or not ED, try for super reach colleges or let that idea go, etc. It's been A LOT.

Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 10:52     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
Anonymous wrote:Every kid is different.

For DC, it worked really well to study the summer after sophomore year, take the SAT the first time that August right before junior year and the PSAT two months later.

Then they paused all thoughts of the SAT and focused on school, all the way through AP exams.

By that point, they had visited a bunch of schools (during long weekends and breaks during junior fall and spring) and knew where they wanted to apply.

Their SAT score put them in range, but they felt they could do better. Plus they were now naturally motivated after seeing the schools in person. It felt more real.

So they did more targeted prep and took it a second time in August before senior year. One year later, both parts of their score went up and they were right where they wanted to be.

Again, this really depends on the kid. Some are naturally motivated and mature enough to get maximum value out of the prep before junior year. Some will see more improvement a year later. Good luck!


This was my DS as well. Prep in the summer after sophomore year, if your math allows. He took twice in the late summer/fall of junior year then worried about his full and rigorous junior year classes and AP tests. Then took again twice in late summer/early fall of senior year.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 10:50     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
Anonymous wrote:Every kid is different.

For DC, it worked really well to study the summer after sophomore year, take the SAT the first time that August right before junior year and the PSAT two months later.

Then they paused all thoughts of the SAT and focused on school, all the way through AP exams.

By that point, they had visited a bunch of schools (during long weekends and breaks during junior fall and spring) and knew where they wanted to apply.

Their SAT score put them in range, but they felt they could do better. Plus they were now naturally motivated after seeing the schools in person. It felt more real.

So they did more targeted prep and took it a second time in August before senior year. One year later, both parts of their score went up and they were right where they wanted to be.

Again, this really depends on the kid. Some are naturally motivated and mature enough to get maximum value out of the prep before junior year. Some will see more improvement a year later. Good luck!


Great advice. I hope you take it. I did same thing. Every test and the middle was lower and impacted school work and well-being.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 10:46     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
Whenever they think they are ready and have time
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 10:45     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
My kid took the SAT twice - in November and March of junior year.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 10:31     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
We took it December junior year.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 10:02     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
Every kid is different.

For DC, it worked really well to study the summer after sophomore year, take the SAT the first time that August right before junior year and the PSAT two months later.

Then they paused all thoughts of the SAT and focused on school, all the way through AP exams.

By that point, they had visited a bunch of schools (during long weekends and breaks during junior fall and spring) and knew where they wanted to apply.

Their SAT score put them in range, but they felt they could do better. Plus they were now naturally motivated after seeing the schools in person. It felt more real.

So they did more targeted prep and took it a second time in August before senior year. One year later, both parts of their score went up and they were right where they wanted to be.

Again, this really depends on the kid. Some are naturally motivated and mature enough to get maximum value out of the prep before junior year. Some will see more improvement a year later. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 09:52     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
The NMSQ PSAT is always October of junior year. Some schools offer it as practice to 10th graders as well. Beyond the possibility of $, it’s really not relevant for applications.

For the SAT, many start taking it in fall or spring of junior year anyway, and I’d recommend that if your kid has done algebra 2 by then. If they need to retake, the August, September, and October tests in senior year will get scores back in time for EA/ED applications.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2025 09:49     Subject: Dumb Question: when do you take SAT for ED/EA?
If everything is moved earlier, when do you do PSAT? When do you do SAT? Esp. if you're trying to leave the possibility of taking it twice?