When test day approaches, there are always some students who decide they no longer want to take the SAT.

For some, they feel unprepared for the test, and they want more time to study before they take it. Others decide they would rather take the ACT instead. Some finalize their college lists and realize that they aren’t obligated to take the test to apply to their top schools.

Regardless of the reason why a student might not want to take a test they signed up for already, it’s important to know that it is possible to cancel an SAT registration.

If you find yourself wanting to pass on taking an upcoming SAT administration, here are steps that you can take:

Skip the test

It’s really that simple. If you don’t want to take the test, don’t show up for it! 

While you won’t be able to receive a refund for the test if you choose this method, you don’t have to worry about your “no show” affecting your score report. It is simply reported as a no-show, and no record is kept nor is your name associated with missing the test.

This is the easiest way for you to cancel your test if you don’t want to take it. However, if you do want to get at least some of your money back, there are other canceling options you can choose instead.

Canceling before or on test day

You can officially cancel your SAT through your My SAT account and receive a full refund of your registration fee. However, you will have to pay a cancellation fee.

If you cancel before the cancellation deadline for your test administration, the cancellation fee is $25. If you cancel on test day or after the cancellation deadline for your test administration, the cancellation fee is $35.

You can cancel your registration by following these two steps:

• Sign in to your My SAT account and go to the registration you want to cancel.
• Select Cancel Registration.
• Either cancel the registration or register for a new date prior to canceling

Switching your registration date

While you might feel the need to cancel your SAT registration, consider whether you might just need to change your registration date instead.

It costs $29 to change the date of your test, which can save you a couple of dollars if you want to cancel your test at the last minute.

Simply go to My SAT, select Change Registration, and select a new test date.

Reducing the likelihood of canceling a SAT registration

While unforeseen circumstances do occur, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances that you will need to reschedule or cancel your SAT registration.

Pick your test date carefully

There is an art to choosing the perfect SAT test date. You want to make sure you select a test administration that is early enough that you have plenty of time to retake the test if you need to improve your scores, but you also want to make sure it is late enough that you have plenty of time to study and prepare for the test.

If you choose a date without considering how much time you have to study, you may find that you are unprepared when it gets closer to your test date, which may lead you to have to cancel your SAT registration.

You should also consider the extracurricular activities and other events that you have on your schedule in the coming months. If your schedule is too packed for you to take a Saturday test or for you to spend time preparing for the test, it will increase the likelihood that you will have to cancel.

Study with experts

Many people who cancel their SAT registrations do so because they feel unprepared. You can avoid this feeling by taking an SAT prep course like the ones offered through Prep Expert.

When you take an SAT prep course, you will have an experienced instructor who is able to guide you through all of the content that you will need to know on test day, and you will learn the strategies you need to tackle the test.

In addition to taking an SAT prep course, you should also consider hiring a private tutor. A private SAT tutor will help you identify and address your weaknesses on the test so that you are ready to earn a great score when it’s test day.

Sign up for an SAT prep course through Prep Expert or work with one of our private tutors today!