Registering for the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests is the responsibility of students or their parents.
How to Register for the SAT
Registration can be most conveniently accomplished online at the College Board website (http://www.collegeboard.com). The standard registration deadline is typically four or five weeks before test date. Late registration may be available for an additional fee.
TIP: When registering online for the SAT, it is very important to record one’s College Board password. Resetting a College Board password is notoriously difficult! The password is required for postponing or canceling a test appointment, retrieving scores, and sending scores to colleges.
Testing Location
Students often assume that testing at school or a nearby test center is best. However, I advise my students to choose from test locations that are 15-20 minutes from their own schools. They’re often less distracted on test day if classmates aren’t around. Of course, if the test location is unfamiliar, then it’s advisable to check out the route and destination beforehand to avoid last-minute confusion.
Don’t Forget the QAS
I advise my students to also pay for the College Board’s Question and Answer Service (QAS). This service provides a copy of the test that they took. If a student needs to retake the SAT, then knowing which question types they got wrong and whether their mistakes were careless can be invaluable. NOTE: the QAS is only offered for the October and May tests.
PSAT Registration
Unlike SAT registration, PSAT registration is normally handled by high schools. Students who are uncertain about PSAT registration can check with their guidance counselors.
Most high schools have their students take the PSAT for the first time in mid-October of their sophomore year. Students take the test again in mid-October of their junior year. Only the test taken junior year makes a student eligible for the NMSQT – National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – acknowledgment.
