How Many Times Can You Take the SAT? Your Questions, Answered (2025 Update)
How Many Times Can You Take the SAT? Your Questions, Answered (2025 Update)
If you didn’t get your dream score the first time—don’t worry.
Many students take the SAT more than once. But how many times can you take it? And how do colleges feel about it?
We answer all your key questions below.
❓ Q: Is there a limit to how many times I can take the SAT?
A: No, the College Board does not limit the number of times you can take the SAT.
You can register and take the test as many times as it’s offered—as long as you pay the fee and meet the deadlines.
Most students take the SAT 2 to 3 times.
❓ Q: How often is the SAT offered?
A: In the U.S., the SAT is typically offered 7 times per year, usually in:
March, May, June, August, October, November, and December.
For international students, there are usually fewer dates (about 4 per year).
❓ Q: Is it bad to take the SAT too many times?
A: Not necessarily. Most colleges only ask you to submit your best scores.
Some schools even superscore, meaning they take your highest section scores across multiple test dates.
That said, taking the SAT more than 4 times without improving can raise questions. It's better to focus on targeted prep between retakes.
❓ Q: Will colleges see all my SAT scores?
A: Only if you choose to send them.
You control which scores go to which colleges via Score Choice, a College Board policy that lets you send only the scores you want.
Exception: A few selective schools may ask you to send all scores (e.g., Yale, Georgetown). Always check the school's policy.
❓ Q: Should I retake the SAT?
A: Retake the SAT if:
- You’ve prepared better since your last test
- Your practice scores are improving
- You’re applying to schools where a small score boost helps
Don't retake if:
- You’ve already maxed your potential
- You haven’t changed your prep strategy
- You’re running out of test dates before deadlines
❓ Q: What’s the best time to take the SAT?
A: Ideal test timeline:
- First SAT: Spring of 11th grade
- Second SAT (if needed): Summer or Fall of 12th grade
This gives you time to prep, retake if needed, and submit scores before college deadlines.
❓ Q: What if I do worse on a retake?
A: That’s okay! You don’t have to send that score.
Just use Score Choice and send your best result. Many colleges only consider your top score or superscore your results.
✅ Smart Retake Strategy
| Attempt | Goal | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Benchmark | Discover baseline score, identify weak areas |
| 2nd | Improvement | Target weakest sections with smart practice |
| 3rd | Polish | Focus on timing, tricky question types, and mental game |
🚀 How PrepMind Helps Between Retakes
- 🧠 AI mistake analysis after each practice session
- 🔁 Retry logic for patterns you keep missing
- 📄 Upload your score report, and get a custom study plan
- ⏱️ Timed sets to simulate real test pacing
We don’t just tell you what to study—we help you learn from every attempt.
✨ Final Answer
You can take the SAT as many times as you want.
But success comes from smart prep between attempts, not just repeating the same mistakes.
👉 Get your personalized SAT retake plan with PrepMind
Written by the PrepMind Editorial Team. Last updated: May 2025.