You can change your SAT test date through the College Board website, but the window to do so is narrow and fees may explore
The College Board allows you to move your SAT to a different test date, but you must request the change before a specific important date. That important date is usually about one week before your originally scheduled test date, though the exact cutoff changes with each test administration. You make the change through your College Board account online — there is no phone line or paper form for this. If you miss the important date, you cannot change the date; you would have to cancel and register for a new test date from scratch.
Changing your date costs money. The fee varies depending on how close you are to your test date and whether you are changing to a date in the same test cycle or a future one. College Board publishes these fees on their website when you log in to make the change, so you will see the exact amount before you confirm.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your SAT date through your College Board account online up to about one week before your test date.
- Changing your date incurs a fee that College Board displays in your account before you confirm the change.
- If you miss the change important date, you must cancel your registration and register for a new test date as a new registration, which costs the full test fee again.
- Some test dates fill up and close to new registrations, so changing to a popular date may not be possible even if the important date has not passed.
- Score release dates differ by test date, so moving your test may delay when schools see your scores.
How to change your date through College Board
Log into your College Board account at collegeboard.org using the email and password you registered with. Go to your SAT registration and look for an option to change your test date — this is usually labeled "Change Test Date" or "Reschedule" and appears near your current registration details.
Click that option and you will see a list of available test dates. Not every date will be available; some dates may be full or may not be offered in your region. Select the date you want and review the change fee. If you agree to the fee, confirm the change. You will receive an email confirmation with your new test date and admission ticket.
The change takes effect when ready. Your old test date is cancelled and you are now registered for the new one. Do not show up to your original test date — you will not be admitted.
important date for changing your test date
The important date to change your date is typically the Tuesday one week before your test date. If your test is on a Saturday, the important date is usually the Tuesday of the week before. College Board lists the exact important date for each test date on the registration page, so check there rather than assuming.
If you try to change your date after the important date has passed, the system will not allow it. At that point, your only option is to cancel your registration and register for a new test date. Cancelling means you lose your registration fee and must pay the full test fee again to register for a future date.
What happens if a test date is full
Some test dates, especially those in popular months like March and May, fill up before the registration important date. If the date you want is full, the College Board website will show it as unavailable and you cannot select it.
In that case, you have two choices: pick a different available date, or wait to see if more seats open up. Occasionally College Board adds additional test dates or opens new testing centers, but you cannot count on this. If you need a specific date and it is full, registering for a different date is the safer choice.
Fees for changing your test date
College Board charges a fee to change your test date. The amount depends on how soon your original test date is and whether you are moving to a date in the same test cycle or a later one. As of now, the fee is typically between $30 and $50, but this varies and College Board may adjust it.
You will see the exact fee in your account before you confirm the change, so you know the cost before you commit. The fee is non-refundable — if you change your date and then cancel, you do not get the change fee back.
Cancelling instead of changing
If you decide not to take the SAT at all, you can cancel your registration. Cancelling is different from changing your date. When you cancel, you forfeit your registration fee and your test date is removed from your account.
If you cancel and later want to take the SAT, you must register again as a new registration and pay the full test fee. Cancellation important date are different from change important date — you usually have until the day before your test to cancel and receive a refund of your registration fee. Check the College Board website for the exact cancellation important date for your test date.
How score release dates work when you change
When you change your test date, your score release date changes too. Scores are typically released about two to three weeks after your test date, though this varies slightly by test date. If you move from an earlier date to a later one, your scores will come out later, which may affect your college process timeline.
Check the score release date for your new test date before you confirm the change. College Board lists this on the registration page. If the new score release date is too late for your college important date, you may need to consider registering for a different test cycle instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my SAT date more than once?
Yes, you can change your date multiple times as long as you do so before each important date and pay the change fee each time. However, each change costs money, so changing repeatedly becomes expensive. Plan your test date carefully to avoid multiple changes.
What if I change my date and then want to go back to the original date?
You cannot undo a date change. If you change to a new date and then want your original date back, you must cancel your current registration and register for the original date again as a new registration, paying the full test fee.
Do I get a refund if I change my test date?
No. Changing your date costs a fee, and that fee is not refundable. You are paying to move your registration to a different date, not to get money back.
Can I change my test date if I already received my scores?
No. Once you have taken the SAT and received your scores, you cannot change that test date. If you want to take the SAT again, you must register for a new test date as a new registration.
What if my test was cancelled due to weather or another emergency?
If College Board cancels a test date, they will contact you and offer you the option to move to another date at no charge, or to receive a refund. Follow the instructions in the email College Board sends you to reschedule or request your refund.