What to Expect on SAT Test Day

As the SAT administration dates approach, we want to lessen the uncertainty that has resulted from covid-19. One way we can do this is by making sure you know what to expect leading up to test day.

Health and safety

Our top priorities are the health and safety of students and educators. Local schools and test centers make individual decisions about whether to administer the SAT. All weekend test centers must adhere to College Board requirements or local health and safety guidelines if more stringent. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• At centers where masks are required, all students and staff must wear a mask regardless of vaccination status upon entering the test center and throughout the duration of testing. We recommend you bring a spare. You won't be allowed into the testing center unless you are wearing one. (Take a full-length practice test while wearing a mask before test day to prepare yourself for the test day experience.)
• You’ll be required by test centers to be seated at least 3 feet away from other students.
• Check your test center’s website for any additional health and safety measures so you’ll be prepared to follow them.
• If you don’t feel well on test day, please stay home. Contact Customer Service to cancel your registration at no charge, and re-register for a different administration. Please contact Customer Service no later than the day of your scheduled test administration to cancel your registration.  If we receive a report of a positive covid-19 case from someone at your test center, we will notify students and staff present on test day as well as local health authorities. Your information may be shared for contact tracing purposes if necessary.

To comply with local and College Board health and safety regulations, at centers where masks are required, be ready to agree to the following when entering the test center or testing room:

1. You don’t have covid-19 or reason to believe you have covid-19. Symptoms include cough, fever, chills, muscle pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, and recent loss of taste or smell.
2. You agree to wear a mask the entire time you're at this test site.
3. You agree to follow the health and safety guidelines in place in this test site as instructed by testing staff. NOTE: Testing staff will follow the most stringent guidelines in effect for this site.
4. By entering the testing center and testing room, you accept the risk of covid-19 exposure. Although we’ve taken measures to create a safe environment, it’s impossible to remove all risk.

You should also check your test center's website for any additional or specific entry requirements it may have. 

If you're traveling to test, it's your responsibility to know and follow any quarantine requirements or travel restrictions in the location where you're testing. Test centers may require proof that you've followed quarantine requirements and/or travel restrictions at check-in. 

Students who violate requirements put in place by their test center or College Board will be dismissed from the test center, their scores will be cancelled, and they will not receive a refund. 

Communicating with you about test center closures and reduced capacity

Some locations may have reduced capacity because of social distancing guidelines. We’re checking with test centers and asking them to report closures or reduced capacity as early as possible to ensure students are informed and to reduce uncertainty ahead of test day.

We’ll communicate changes about your test center’s status as quickly as possible. Be aware that there may be a delay between the test center closing and the email notification. In the days leading up to each test, we’ll give updates about test center closures as often as possible. We also suggest you check directly with the test center, and visit the test center’s website, the day before and morning of the test.

While your status in My SAT will be updated as frequently as possible, there may be delay with last-minute closings. Test centers may have closed or rescheduled to a makeup date at the last minute, even if there is still an active admission ticket. Please check this page, your email, and the test center's website the night before and the morning of the test, especially if you're planning to travel to your test center. 

We may need to get in touch with you if your test center makes the decision to close or reduce capacity between now and test day. Check your emails every day, and if you are in the U.S. opt in to receive texts. Here's how you can make sure we're able to contact you. 

What to do if your SAT registration is canceled

Visit our website to register for a future test date. If you can’t find a seat at a nearby test center for your preferred date, be sure to check out other test dates.

See upcoming SAT dates here.

Colleges understand that not all students are able to take a college entrance exam because of test center closures and reduced capacity due to covid-19. While almost all still accept scores, most are rightfully being flexible for students who are unable to test. You should check the college’s website for the most updated information on their application requirements.