SAT Score Release Dates
October 1, 2018
So the SAT is just around the corner. How do you feel about your overall preparedness? For many high school students, this has been an exam for which they've been preparing for quite some time, especially with the PSAT and other precursor tests. Timing your test date correctly is vital, as you want to make sure you have the score you need while also meeting all of your application deadlines. It's a lot of work and takes some serious preplanning with a calendar months in advance.
Let's explore the published test and score release dates, both for students in the United States and around the world. Hopefully, this helps you figure out when to sit for this vital exam and when you aim to get your scores back!
SAT 101: The Basics
Before we get into specific test and score release dates, let's look at the basic structure of the SAT. For most of you, this will be a review, as no doubt you're already steeped in SAT format and effective strategies!
| SAT Test Section | Length of Time | # of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 65 minutes | 52 |
| Writing | 35 minutes | 44 |
| Math | 80 minutes | 58 |
2018-2019 U.S. SAT Score Release Dates
The SAT is administered pretty frequently in the United States, and thankfully, exact dates of score releases as well as essay evaluations/scores are given, as well. Take a look at the following test dates and score release dates through June of 2019:
| SAT Exam Date | SAT Score Release Date Multiple Choice | SAT Score Release Date Essay |
|---|---|---|
| October 6, 2018 | October 19, 2018 | October 21, 2018 |
| November 3, 2018 | November 16, 2018 | November 18, 2018 |
| December 1, 2018 | December 14, 2018 | December 16, 2018 |
| March 9, 2019 | March 22, 2019 | March 24, 2019 |
| May 4, 2019 | May 17, 2019 | May 19, 2019 |
| June 1, 2019 | July 10, 2019 | July 14, 2019 |
2018-2019 International SAT Score Release Dates
International score release dates vary, as the SAT is not as frequently given around the world as it is in the U.S. There are no "set dates", but more so estimates of release windows. Below are four dates from now until May of 2019. Hopefully, if you're aiming to take the SAT abroad, you have registered already, as these spots can fill up pretty quickly!
| International Exam Date | International SAT Score Release Date |
|---|---|
| October 6, 2018 | October 19-21, 2018 |
| December 1, 2018 | December 16-18, 2018 |
| March 9, 2019 | March 22-24, 2019 |
| May 4, 2019 | May 17-19, 2019 |
Reasons for Delayed Results
Some students may not receive their results at the aforementioned projected dates. There are a handful of reasons as to why, which are as follows:
- Test Administration Irregularities: With the College Board being very strict about how the SAT is administered, if there was any breach of protocol on the part of the proctor or overall process, there may be an investigation pending, temporarily halting the release of your SAT results.
- Test Sheet Errors: If you mis-bubbled any fields on the test registration page, then your answer sheet could have gotten separated and the College Board might need extra time locating it.
- Cheating: If you were reported for cheating—either by a test administrator or fellow test-taker in the room, then the College Board could be launching an investigation and be in the process of possibly cancelling your score, if confirmed. Clearly, if you did not cheat, you have nothing to worry about, so rest assured the situation will settle and your score will be on the way.
It's important to be patient with yourself as you wait for your test results from the College Board. Find useful and productive activities to partake in while you do so, avoiding excess worry and hardship. Also, avoid registering for a retake before getting your results back. None of us are psychic and we can't make accurate predictions, so sit back and wait to hear about your hard work before making other SAT plans.