If you've recently tried to sign up for a digital SAT in Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, you may have been dismayed—and astonished— to discover that no test seats were available within a reasonable driving distance. While other areas such as Boston, Washington DC, and Chicago have seen seat shortages, the West Coast has been by far the hardest hit region.
Why are West Coast test seats so limited?
In California in particular, seat shortages are linked to shifting attitudes towards standardized testing. In 2021, University of California schools became test blind, meaning that they no longer consider SAT or ACT scores as part of the admissions process—even when students submit strong results. As a result, many high school administrators tend to feel that these tests have limited impact on students' futures and that school resources are best spent elsewhere.
Some administrators have also cited difficulties in recruiting proctors due to low pay as a roadblock to providing increased test access. Additionally, others have expressed reluctance to allow their schools to be used as national test centers, stating that if they do, local students won't benefit because seats will simply be scooped up by out-of-state and international test takers.
What next?
College Board has commented that the lack of test seats is unacceptable, and they're committed to finding an answer. Here's what they're doing right now to rectify the situation:
- Reaching out to previous test sites. Many schools that served as test sites in the pre-Covid pandemic era have stopped offering the exam, and College Board is hoping to bring the SAT back to these locations. This is College Board's preferred solution, since these schools are already accustomed to handling students and standardized testing. In order to address potential concerns for schools that become national test sites, College Board is looking at ways to to hold specified numbers of seats for local students or limit the number of out-of-state or international testers.
- Opening up untraditional testing centers. College Board has begun using convention sites, conference centers, and other rented locations in metro areas in which SAT seats are sharply limited. They've already gone this route with some success; after they added untraditional testing sites for the August exam earlier this year, they had 1,000 seats left over. However, because these sites are added after other sites have already been booked up, this solution tends to be reactive, rather than proactive, and more stressful for the families and students involved.
- Exploring partnerships with institutions of higher education. College Board has begun talks with colleges and universities, with the goal of using campus spaces as testing sites and arranging for colleges to speak to test takers about their school or campus in exchange. This approach seems to offer a win for both universities and the College Board, but, because the SAT is only offered on seven fixed weekends per year, testing dates may conflict with on-campus events such as homecoming or parent-weekend. College Board is currently considering ways to offer some flexibility on testing dates, and they report that they're optimistic that they'll find a solution.
For the moment, College Board is focusing on finding answers for students taking fall exams first, and is busy adding seats at untraditional centers for November and December SAT administrations. Over the next few weeks, they'll expand their focus to find answers for spring test takers.
What should you do if you can't find a seat in your area?
If you don't see any local testing options, there are steps you can take beyond simply preparing for a long roadtrip. Be sure to try the following:- Sign up for College Board emails. When they adds seats, College Board sends an email blast to alert students in that geographic area. To ensure you receive these emails, sign into your College Board account at https://www.collegeboard.org/, and then go to "Account Settings." Click on the "Subscriptions" tab and make sure that the boxes for "SAT & PSAT-Related Assessments" and "College Board News" are checked.
- Call College Board customer service. Let them know you are trying to find a seat and the area. This will alert them that there is a need in your region. If you are in the United States, you can call (866)756-7346. If you are abroad, you can call +1(212)713-7789.
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