Taking the new SAT with or without essay?

S18 is signed up to take the SAT for the first time in March, I told him to sign up for the essay even though this is his biggest weakness. After looking over the list of schools that don’t require the essay I’m thinking I should have him change to without the essay for his first sitting and then if he decides to apply to a school that requires the essay do the essay when he retakes the SAT the following year. I wish there were more schools on the list!

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/college-essay-policies