When is the latest date to take the SAT for regular decision?

I'm planning my schedule and need to know the last SAT test date that colleges will accept for regular decision applications. How late can I take it without missing deadlines?

The latest you can take the SAT for regular decision generally depends on when the college's regular decision deadline is. Many regular decision deadlines are around January 1st, so October, November, or early December of your senior year would typically be the latest SAT test dates you could consider. However, you should keep in mind that it takes about two weeks for your scores to be released, and additional time for them to be sent to and processed by colleges.

It's also important to remember that this can vary by college, so it's a good idea to confirm SAT score deadlines with each college to which you plan to apply. Some colleges have later deadlines or will accept January or even March SAT scores, but these are less common. Lastly, be aware that taking the SAT this late gives you less time to retake the test if you're not happy with your scores, so it might be a good idea to plan to take the SAT a bit earlier.

Whichever test date you choose, make sure to give yourself enough time to prepare for the SAT to maximize your score!