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Can You Take the SAT After High School? What You Need to Know
What’s Covered:
- Can You Take the SAT After High School?
- Why Might You Take the SAT After High School?
- What is the SAT Registration Process for Non-High School Students?
- SAT Test-Taking Tips for Non-High School Students
- Get Your SAT-Related Questions Answered
So many high school students dread taking the SAT. But once you’ve graduated, do you still need to worry about it if you’re planning on attending college as an adult learner? Can you even take it later on? If so, what’s different?
With more and more students returning to school well after they’ve finished high school, college hopefuls and institutions alike are considering these questions. Here’s what you need to know.
Can You Take the SAT After High School?
Short answer: Yes!
Why Might You Take the SAT After High School?
If you’re applying to college as an adult (that is, in your mid-20s or older), that’s certainly a reason why you would consider taking the SAT. Even if you took the test in high school, colleges will most likely want to see more recent scores.
Or, perhaps you took a gap year toward the goal of improving your profile to get into your dream school. If that’s the case, retaking the SAT could be a step toward strengthening your academic index. Maybe you weren’t even able to sit for the test at all due to COVID.
Alternatively, you may be a community college student who wants to transfer to a four-year college or university. In addition to a strong college GPA, a high SAT score could improve your application.
Some colleges do waive the SAT requirement for students in these instances, particularly for adult applicants. But it’s important to check with the individual college to find out. You may choose to take the test anyway if you believe it will strengthen your application.
What is the SAT Registration Process for Non-High School Students?
You can register for the SAT online via your College Board account (if you don’t already have an account, you can create one via the same website).
You will be prompted to enter your 6-digit high school code. Since you are no longer a high school student, simply enter 000003 if you’re in the U.S. or a U.S. territory or 000004 if you’re in an international location.
Keep careful track of deadlines for registering for specific dates. There are fees if you register or modify your registration late.
SAT Test-Taking Tips for Non-High School Students
1. Brush up on the basics.
It’s probably been a fair amount of time since you’ve encountered the material on the SAT, so you may need a refresher. Review the topics that appear on the test, and spend some time brushing up on the basics — consulting old textbooks, studying online, and quizzing yourself on the material.
2. Take practice tests.
Take at least one full-length practice test to assess your starting point. Mimic real conditions, such as time allotted for each section, to understand your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you hone your strategy. Take additional tests along the way so you can evaluate your progress.
You can find free practice tests via resources like Khan Academy.
3. Use CollegeVine’s resources.
We have plenty of free resources, including SAT guides, practice questions, tips, and much more! They can help you prepare for the SAT so you feel fully ready on test day.
Get Your SAT-Related Questions Answered
Want to know more about taking the SAT? Visit our community for answers to your questions, tips, and additional guidance.
