When Should You Take the SAT or ACT?

Debating when you should take the SAT or ACT? Your perfect test date comes down to scheduling and planning. Consider how much time you’ll need to prep, how packed your schedule is, and how many times you plan to take the test.

when to take sat or act

What's Important about ACT Test Dates

If you haven't already, check out the upcoming ACT test and registration dates. Here are some tips and ACT facts to help you make your decision about when to take the ACT.

What's Important about SAT Test Dates

Tweet: When to take SAT or ACT? As early as your schedule allows. Learn more http://bit.ly/1ZxSSJ6 @ThePrincetonRev

Take your first test as early as your schedule allows.

Check out the upcoming SAT test and registration dates to decide when to take the SAT and then read these SAT facts:

Choosing Your Best Test Dates

Consider your own schedule and plan ahead when picking your test dates. Do you act in the spring musical and plan to take several AP exams? Have you been dreaming of attending big state university since you were a toddler and already plan to apply early decision? We recommend taking your first SAT or ACT test as early as your schedule allows. If you plan to take both tests, plan to take them in consecutive months for the most efficient prep. Comprehensive prep courses can start as many as 8 to 10 weeks before the test.

How Many Times Should You Take the ACT and/or SAT?

For security reasons, ACT will not let you take the exam more than twelve times, and technically the SAT is unlimited. But we don't believe colleges will accept “taking standardized tests” as an extracurricular activity!

We recommend that you plan to take the ACT and/or SAT 1–3 times. Once you get the score you want, there’s no reason to take it again.

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About Rob Franek

Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief at The Princeton Review, is the company's primary authority on higher education. Over his 26-year career, he has served as a college admissions administrator, test prep teacher, author, publisher, and lecturer. Read more and follow Rob on Twitter: @RobFranek.

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