Important insights for the December 7, 2024 SAT: The final Digital SAT of 2024 and last opportunity for high school seniors to improve their scores for regular decision applications.
The December 7, 2024 SAT marks the final Digital SAT offering of the year. While this exam represents the last chance for seniors to improve their scores before regular decision deadlines, we generally recommend completing SAT testing well before this date.
For most students, especially seniors focused on college applications and juniors dealing with end-of-semester coursework, this may not be the optimal test date. However, for specific situations and well-prepared students, it could serve as a strategic option.
While this is technically the final opportunity for seniors to take the SAT before regular decision deadlines, we strongly advise against waiting until December. The month of December should ideally be spent perfecting college applications and essays rather than preparing for and taking standardized tests.
However, if circumstances have led you to this point and you absolutely need one more attempt, this is your final opportunity. Just be prepared to balance SAT preparation with college application work, which can be extremely challenging.
For most juniors, we recommend waiting until March 2025 rather than taking the December SAT. The timing of this exam often conflicts with final exams and end-of-semester projects, making it a particularly stressful period.
However, there are two scenarios where juniors might consider this date:
The same guidance applies to ambitious sophomores considering this test date. Unless you're achieving practice scores significantly above your target score, it's better to wait and continue building your foundational knowledge.
Remember that you'll have numerous opportunities throughout your junior year to take the SAT when you're better prepared and under less academic pressure.
After a full year of Digital SAT administration, the College Board has established consistent difficulty patterns. Students should expect:
The difficulty level should be comparable to previous 2024 Digital SAT exams, as the College Board has fine-tuned their testing format throughout the year.