Why Take the March SAT in 2026

Today, I want to tell you why it’s so important to take the March SAT in 2026.

There are now eight SATs offered each year, but the first five are front loaded at the beginning of the school year: August, September, October, November, and December. After that, there’s a long break, with only three tests remaining: March, May, and June.

This creates a real challenge for juniors. Junior year is testing year, and the summer before 12th grade should be the time to move on from the SAT and start working on college essays and applications. Some of those applications are due as early as October 15th, November 1st, and November 15th.

If the goal is to finish SAT testing during 11th grade (it should be!), and if the goal is to take the SAT two or three times to maximize your superscore, then you should plan to take the March SAT.

If March will be your first SAT, your ideal plan is March, then May, and then June if you need it. If March is your second or even third SAT, you may be able to be done entirely—or at least give yourself the option to choose between May or June.

One of the biggest mistakes students make is waiting until May or June to take their first SAT. That’s when AP exams, final exams, spring sports, prom, and countless other commitments all collide. Spring gets busy fast.

Students often say, “I’ll just kick the can down the road and work on it in the summer. There’s an August SAT and a September SAT.”

That’s a big mistake.

It’s extremely difficult to focus on college essays and applications while also doing test prep. It’s even harder when you don’t yet know your scores and aren’t sure which colleges should be on your list.

So put the March 14th SAT on your calendar, circle it in red, and reach out to us at 732-556-8220 or Questions@SolutionPrep.com if you’d like some help!