How to Navigate SAT/ACT Cancellations Due to the Coronavirus

COVID-19 has disrupted virtually every part of daily life across the U.S. and around the globe. It should come as no surprise that the ACT and SAT have both been affected by the virus.

If you’re stressed about the uncertainty surrounding these exams and are worried about testing in time for college admissions, you’re not alone. Here’s everything you need to know about testing during these unusual times, and how you can stay on track.

What Dates are Canceled or Rescheduled?

The ACT has rescheduled its April 4 exam to June 13, and the College Board has canceled its May 2 and June 6 administering of the SAT, as well as the make-up exam for the March 14 test (scheduled for March 28). 

What are the Future ACT/SAT Dates?

At the moment, the COVID-19 situation is fluid and there are as many questions as there are answers. If COVID-19 is controlled by summer, there are available ACT test dates in June and July. The June 6 SAT has already been canceled. If the pandemic isn’t resolved, it is possible that the summer ACT test dates will also get canceled—making September the earliest available time to take the ACT, and August for the SAT. Like many other things at this time, these dates remain in flux; however, the College Board has announced that it plans to add an additional September 26 SAT sitting to give students more opportunities to test. 

As of now, here are the upcoming test dates for the SAT and ACT.

Upcoming ACT Dates: 

 *No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date

Upcoming SAT Dates:

Fortunately, it’s not just the ACT and College Board that will adapt to the evolving COVID-19 situation. It’s possible that colleges will also make changes to their dates and policies, taking steps such as extending regular decision deadlines to allow more time for testing, or choosing to go test-optional. 

If you’re worried about getting a strong score in a limited amount of time, you may want to add a couple test-optional schools to your list. More than 1,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. already consider themselves test-optional or test-flexible, and you can learn more about these schools in our article Everything You Need to Know about Test-Optional Schools. 

Students who have already taken the SAT or ACT may be wondering how their current score impacts their chances of acceptance. Our free Chancing Engine will not only help you predict your odds, but also let you know how you stack up against other applicants, and which aspects of your profile to improve. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to gain access to our Chancing Engine and get a jumpstart on your college strategy. It’s a great way to take a step back during this tough time and look at the bigger picture.

How Should You Prepare for the SAT/ACT Now?

At the moment, you should keep practicing for the nearest test dates. While there is no need to intensively study at this point, now is a great time to get some extra practice in, especially if your school is closed. CollegeVine has an extensive collection of both ACT and SAT resources available on our blog. Some useful ACT posts include:

• Top 10 ACT Tips for Acing the Exam
• Finding and Achieving Your Target ACT Score
• Common ACT Mistakes
• The CollegeVine Guides to the ACT

If you feel like you’re coming to the end of your ACT study materials, no worries. Check out these Links to all the Official ACT Practice Tests + Other Resources.

Some other helpful SAT posts are: 

• 25 Tips and Tricks for the SAT
• How to Get a Perfect 1600 Score on the SAT
• 4 Test Prep Goals to Help You Ace the SAT
• The CollegeVine Guides to the SAT

Consider Working On Your College Essay 

Normally, CollegeVine encourages students to write their essays later in the application cycle, but with standardized tests getting canceled and pushed back, many hopeful college students are facing very full fall schedules—getting started on your essay now can help ease that burden. 

The Common App prompts were recently released for 2020-2021. This year’s questions are unchanged from the ones used in last year’s cycle. To learn how to best tackle these essays, check out our post, How to Write the Common App Essays (With Examples!)

These are difficult times for everyone. At CollegeVine, we’re here to support you. COVID-19 is a constantly-changing situation, and we want to ensure you have access to the most up-to-date info in one place. Visit our Coronavirus Info Center to check for any new developments in college admissions during these unusual circumstances.