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<p>I have a problem with misquotations and selective editing, so I have to step in here with xiggi’s full post:</p>
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<p>I’m afraid I can’t have much sympathy for you. Unfortunately, it is easier to get angry than to do something constructive.</p>
<p>1) You could call them, as mentioned before.</p>
<p>2) The “algorithm” for choosing the test dates is publicized by the CB: For November, December, May, and June, the test is given on the first Saturday of the month. For October and March, the test is given on the second Saturday of the month. Finally, in January, the test is given on the fourth Saturday of the month. Holidays mess around with this, but it is a good starting point.</p>
<p>3) [This</a> CB link](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/register/test-dates]This”>SAT Dates and Deadlines – SAT Suite | College Board), which lists the SAT dates, has had the anticipated dates for next year for at least a month now.</p>
<p>College Board has canceled the pilot program. Appeared in today’s paper: <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/education/college-board-drops-plans-for-summer-sat.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/education/college-board-drops-plans-for-summer-sat.html</a></p>
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<p>Well, shame on me. Here I thought searching the official SAT website for future testing dates was constructive, but alas, no Fall test scores are provided.</p>
<p>As you recommended, I called the SAT at the phone number on the website to get the information. Nope. After punching through several layers, the recorded info only includes test dates for 2011-2012 school year.</p>
<p>As for the “algorithim” for the test dates, I don’t even know what that word means. Where did you find that info?</p>
<p>Thank for the “anticipated” dates on the CB website. Too bad they are not firm yet. How would the average Joe student or parent know to look there? Talk about more time wasted searching on a subject I detest.</p>
<p>In sum, I think you proved my point at best. No test dates are published on any webpage or available by official phone contact recording. Not very courteous if you ask me.</p>
<p>I think that Fig used the word algorithm to show the patterns used by the CB for its choice of dates. </p>
<p>As far as sites, although the information is not always of the best quality, there is always about.com. It usually shows up early on a google search: </p>
<p>[2012</a> - 2013 SAT Registration and SAT Test Dates](<a href=“http://testprep.about.com/od/registrationinfo/a/SAT_Test_Dates.htm]2012”>2020 SAT Costs, Fees and Waivers)</p>
<p>
Test Date Tests Offered Regular Registration Late Registration<br>
October 6, 2012 SAT and Subject Tests TBD TBD
November 3, 2012 SAT and Subject Tests TBD TBD
December 1, 2012 SAT and Subject Tests<br>
January 26, 2013 SAT and Subject Tests TBD TBD
March 9, 2013 SAT Test Only TBD TBD
May 4, 2013 SAT and Subject Tests TBD TBD
June 1, 2013 SAT and Subject Tests TBD TBD
And for the ACT [2012 - 2013 ACT Test Dates and ACT Registration Facts](http://testprep.about.com/od/registrationinfo/a/ACT_Register.htm)
Test Date Registration Late Registration<br>
June 9, 2012 May 4 May 5 – 18
September 8, 2012 August 3 August 4 - 17
October 27, 2012 September 21 September 22 - October 5
December 8, 2012 November 2 November 3 - 16
February 9, 2013
(no NY) January 11 January 12 - 25
April 13, 2013 March 8 March 9 - 22
June 8, 2013 May 3 May 4 - 17
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<p>Of course, there is always the risk that some tests might be cancelled. Who knows, perhaps Mrs. Stone and Captain Bob at Fairtest might write more letters. ;)</p>
<p>This said, I think that those dates are pretty much set. Ypu might check the last few years to check the accuracy of the FigAlgorithm* </p>
<p>*soon to be copyrighted!</p>
<p>Thank you, xiggi. But again, why should anyone expect to have to search for the SAT dates from sources other than the official SAT publication?</p>
<p>Btw,
Having been forced to peruse the SAT website again, I noted that this is the published recommendation by CB about when to take the test, which I don’t think corresponds to your recommendation:</p>
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<p>I read that differently, Bay. </p>
<p>What CB is reporting is what actually happens in their world, not necessarily what they ‘recommend’ (which is probably bcos they don’t make such a recommendation).</p>
<p>^Ok, you are probably right about that.</p>
<p>They pose it as the answer to the question, in large type, “When is the best time to take the SAT test?”</p>
<p>They should get points deducted for responding with a non-answer.</p>
<p>I believe this link was already provided by someone else, but I’ll post it a second time. It is a College Board link, and yes, it does have anticipated 2012-2013 SAT test dates. Scroll down the page.</p>
<p>[SAT</a> Test - SAT Dates and Deadlines](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/register/test-dates]SAT”>SAT Dates and Deadlines – SAT Suite | College Board)</p>
<p>This link was found easily by searching on Google.</p>
<p>Ok, not to belabor this, but what were your search terms? I put in 2012 sat test dates and did not get that info from CB. Just pointing out that it is not that easy to find. Or else my search skills are horrible but I don’t think so.</p>
<p>I do get the same link by typing SAT Test Dates 2012</p>
<p>[SAT</a> Test - SAT Dates and Deadlines](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/register/test-dates]SAT”>SAT Dates and Deadlines – SAT Suite | College Board).</p>
<p>However, google seems to rearrange the results of searches based on prior searches. You also might try SAT Test Dates 2012 2013 and see if that comes up.</p>
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<p>The College Board has its shares of inconsistencies. On the one hand, they insist that preparing for the test should not increase one’s score by more than 30 or 60 points (probably changed a bit since the days of the 1600 SAT) and that such increase might be accounted by “aging” a bit and be more familiar with the test. And yet, they do sell an online “prep” package and have “offered” it to residents of states such as Georgia and New York. Do we really believe they sold the “package” to the officials by saying … “Look this ain’t working too well, but you should buy it for the kids?” </p>
<p>However, back to the discussion of my recommendation --which is NOT based on taking the tests in 9th grade. What I have recommended is to start in the summer between the sophomore and junior year with the objective of sitting for the PSAT and SAT at the same time. The reason is that the PSAT might be important for certain students who have the potential to score high. Fwiw, some students might have started a slow preparation after receiving the scores of a practice PSAT taken in 10th grade. But again, the summer before the Junior year is ideal as one can devote more time than during school and should not have the pressure of the “last” summer before senior year.</p>
<p>The benefit should be to have the preparation bringing up the PSAT score as opposed to take it … just to see what happens. After receiving the scores of the PSAT and SAT scores, one might continue the preparation for the January administration or even a later date. If all fails, there is always the summer before senior year and the October senior year session. </p>
<p>If I might repeat what I wrote before, the idea is to follow a slow and consistent approach as opposed to intense cram sessions. With the bonus of plenty of time and low pressures, one can see a consistent increase in comfort with the ways of TCB. A longer period of preparation also allows for checking the latest discussions on the test and keep the information fresh. </p>
<p>And, fwiw, this does not require taking 35 to 50 past tests and learning silly lists of 3500 words. We are talking about 2-3 sections a week, including some with open books and WITH the answers. </p>
<p>Again, there are no “best” approaches, as the testers are individuals with a wide range of prior preparation. I do, however, like what I advocate because it is extremely low cost, low pressure, and that it … has worked rather well for more than a few students. And, if I am wrong, there is always Princeton Review to take a few thousand dollars from your wallet, and send a stressed out student to take the latest test possible.</p>
<p>You can find the Fig-orithm here: ( just in case you thought I made it up 
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<p>[SAT</a> dates](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools)</p>
<p>The dates from the formula aren’t always correct, but it is correct almost all the time. (For 2012 it worked for 6 out of the 7 dates).</p>
<p>Anyway, I admit it would be nice if the CB could put the anticipated fall dates up earlier than May.</p>
<p>For parents who took the SAT themselves, here is my time-saving competitor to the xiggi method of test prep:</p>
<p>1) Look up the renormed version of your own scores and your spouse’s scores.<br>
2) If you took the writing test when it was an SAT II, add that in. Otherwise, multiply your old test scores by 1.5.
3) Average the results for yourself and your spouse.
4) Is the average good enough for your son or daughter’s target school? In that case, no prep is needed.</p>
<p>For parents who did not take the SAT, but whose son or daughter took the PSAT as a sophomore:</p>
<p>1) Multiply the PSAT score by 10.
2) Is the result good enough? Then no prep is needed.</p>
<p>This eliminates the tedium of the slow-and-steady preparation method, leaving more time for things that are worthwhile (or even for staying up till 2 am working on school work that is not really worthwhile). Thought that some of the posters on this particular thread might be a receptive audience.</p>
<p>Oh, my kids can thank their lucky starts that they did better – soooo much better – than I did on the SAT. I took the SAT during Homecoming weekend and had more important things on my mind!</p>
<p>ETA: My kids did a modified xiggi and did really well. At least I think it’s a modified xiggi. I got tired of reading that outrageously long thread (not xiggi’s fault) and so kind of winged it based on what I’d read up to that point. I’m a former marathon runner so could appreciate the idea of mixing up the kinds of effort needed to achieve your goals (some work timed, some not, some open book, etc).</p>
<p>Okay, let me revise that to suggest that parents start from the SAT scores they <em>should</em> have received (thus eliminating the interfering effects of homecoming, etc.)</p>
<p>I will throw in the added thought that it is worthwhile for students to learn which of the rules of grammar CB insists upon, and which it regards as “more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules” [Ref: Jack Sparrow] for the writing test. They seem to be fairly strict about parallelism, to the point of favoring slightly awkward constructions over shorter ones that are still pretty clear. Your kids may have their own personal “bug-a-boos.” </p>
<p>I do think test prep may be worthwhile for students who had weak math programs in their high schools or who forget math quickly. Test prep also tends to be worthwhile for first-generation Americans, if they have not fully acculturated. Inapplicable assumptions, based on one’s own culture, can interfere with performance on the CR part of the test. In these cases, xiggi’s method may suffice, or it might even be worthwhile for the student to take a prep course.</p>
<p>This is what happens when you let a profit-minded institution like Collegeboard decide the futures of college-bound children. Their first priority is money, and how to make it.</p>