SAT Dates in Denver, CO

Mountain climbers and ski slope aficionados, it’s time to start thinking about SAT prep! This is the place to be if you’re looking for SAT information in the Denver, CO area for 2022-2023 including dates that are unique to and free for Colorado students!

If you’re not a Denver local, welcome anyway! Most of these dates are national test dates, so even if you’re reading from the city in New York or from the beach in Florida, these dates are likely available to you too.

Kickstart Your SAT Prep with Test Geek’s Free SAT Study Guide.

Here are the upcoming SAT dates in the Denver area:

National SAT Dates:

Please note: As of April 2022, any dates underlined have been released by College Board as anticipated dates and have not yet been confirmed. Check here to see any and all official SAT dates, and to register for a test near you.

Free SAT and PSAT Dates:

Colorado State has funded for all students to take the SAT and PSAT for free. These tests are given on specific dates in-school and free of charge to you or your student. Here are the SAT dates for Colorado Students:

Not yet a junior, but looking to prepare for your free SAT Date? Test dates are rolled out yearly by the Colorado Department of Education but historically have always been held in April. The state does not provide the ACT or additional SAT tests for students looking to retake the test. Students will also only receive free testing on the primary test date decided by the CDE; free testing cannot be applied to any other SAT dates.

For more information on the free SAT and PSAT provided by the Colorado Department of Education, click here.

When should you take the SAT?

Timeline

All Colorado students will take the SAT in April of their junior year. If you do not get the score you need for your chosen universities, plan to take the SAT again in the summer before your senior year, or the fall of your senior year. Your testing schedule should plan for you to finish testing no later than the fall of your senior year. In order to get test results back and ready for college applications, you don’t want to wait until the last minute to start testing.

Retaking the SAT is very common, in fact, most students take the SAT 2 or 3 times, sometimes even 4. If your April test doesn’t go as planned, retaking is not a big deal. But when should you retest? This all depends on how your first test went. If you believe you performed poorly because of external reasons – not getting enough sleep, skipping breakfast, etc. – you may be more equipt to retake sooner than a student who was physically prepared but still fell short of their score goal.

General rule: Do not retake the SAT until you have received and processed your scores from the first test. It’s not uncommon to leave the testing center feeling like you totally slipped up and feel the need to register for a make-up right away. The truth is, the SAT is a 3-hour exam that takes intense mental focus and practice. Of course you aren’t going to feel great after! Don’t register for another test until you know you need to.

Preparing for the test

Having a pre-chosen required SAT date can be a blessing and a curse. As a pro, you know exactly when the test is, and in turn, can start scheduling your study time or tutoring appointments to prepare ahead of time. As a con, having an in-school SAT can be difficult on students involved in extracurriculars and heavy course loads; an April SAT date can be particularly tricky for student-athletes playing spring sports.

In the end, every student and their needs are different when it comes to the SAT, but deciding how much study time you need can be made easier by reviewing your practice test scores.

If you are looking for some casual score growth – 0-30 points – on the SAT, you’re looking at around 10-30 hours of study time. If you’re really dissatisfied with your current score projection and looking for a big point increase – more than 100 points – you may find yourself deep in as high as 40-80 hours of prep.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Get 1-on-1 SAT Help from a Test Geek Tutor

Based on your current schedule, this could be accomplished in a few weeks, but more realistically some months. If you have the time to dedicate 5-10 hours a week to SAT prep, you might only need to start studying after winter break. If you only have a couple of hours a week for studying you could benefit from starting your SAT prep in the fall. Most students study for the SAT between 1 and 6 months depending on their goals.

Score miracles can happen, but they aren’t always the most likely thing. If you’re finding yourself yearning for a score that seems out of reach, you may want to pursue an SAT tutor. Just studying likely won’t give you insane score results, you may have an issue with your test strategy altogether; that’s what tutors are for. Creating a study plan is integral to positive results, and a professional tutor can help you reach your goals. Find local Denver SAT tutors here!

Average Scores in Denver

What should your score goal be? A good place to start is the average SAT score for your area and the national average.

You may notice Colorado’s state average SAT score is lower than the national average. Don’t freak out! States that require students to take the SAT are more likely to have lower averages because of the number of students taking the test. Remember, if all Colorado students are required to take the SAT so are the students who aren’t planning on going to college, and thus have way less motivation to perform well. Their scores play a role in the average as well.

These scores may not be your ultimate score goal, but they are important to be aware of to make sure you’re on the right track before you start applying to colleges.

What score do you need for college applications?

If you aren’t ready to flee from the mountains just yet and are looking for universities within Colorado State, you’re in luck! Colorado is home to some top-tier state schools and specialized private schools. One thing to note: having an SAT score that only meets the national/Colorado average will not be enough for most universities in Colorado. Take a look at the average SAT scores for popular Colorado universities:

Some more good news: Colorado is the first state to ban legacy admissions, and has lifted the SAT and ACT requirement at public colleges within the state. What does that mean? Colorado public universities are not required to ask for test scores in their applications, but that doesn’t mean that can’t still do that. It is optional for universities to ask for test scores or not, so make sure to check with the colleges on your shortlist to see if you’re applying for one of these schools. Even if it isn’t required, there are still benefits to taking the SAT, like access to more scholarships.

Trying for schools in other states? Remember: an acceptable or average SAT score at a Colorado university may not be enough for universities in other states. For example, if you’re interested in applying to schools in Oregon, your test scores will need to reflect the average Oregon student’s test score (1104 SAT), not a Colorado student’s average test score (1012 SAT) in order to be a competitive candidate.

Once you have your shortlist of schools you plan on applying to, make sure you are aware of the average test score of an accepted student at that institution. Even if a school says they don’t have a specific benchmark for test scores, they do expect their students to perform a certain way and it’s on you to be ready to tackle those scores.

What should you bring to the test?

These next 5 things are the most important things to remember to bring with you on your test day. So important that if you forget even one of them, you may not be able to take your test. Don’t forget!

1. A mask

Though mask mandates are loosening in the Denver area, your test center may still require one. Bring one with you; best-case scenario, you don’t have to wear it. If you show up on test day without a mask, and the test center does require it, you may not be able to take the test.

2. A calculator

Your test center is not required to provide calculators, and likely won’t have extra if you forget yours at home. Double-check that you have yours before you walk out the door in the morning! Remember: not every calculator is created equal. Students are permitted one 4-function, scientific, or graphing calculator as long as they are not on the list of prohibited calculators. Make sure that your calculator follows the qualifications or you won’t be able to use it on the exam. To check if your calculator is good to go, visit this link.

3. #2 pencils

Same as the calculator, the location you’re taking your test at doesn’t have to provide them, so it’s best to pack your own. These have to be #2 pencils, not mechanical pencils, pens, crayons, scented markers, feather quills – you get the gist. Bring two just in case, and make sure they have reliable erasers. If you bubble in an answer and want to change it later, you need to be thorough in removing any old markings from your score sheet.

4. Your admission ticket

Upon registering for the SAT, you should be provided with an admission ticket. Print this out and bring it with you to your test! If you forget your ticket on test day, your scores may be delayed, or worse, you may not be able to test. If you’ve lost your admission ticket, you can always print a new one here.

5. Photo ID

This ID must be an original, current (valid) ID issued by a city/state/federal government agency or your school. If you do not bring one with you, you may not be allowed to take your test. This ID must also be in hard plastic card format. Paper or electronic formats are NOT acceptable – looking at you, temporary driver’s license folks.

… Anything else?

I could go on forever about everything you can and can’t bring to your next test – a wristwatch, yes. chainsaw, no. – but at the end of the day, you know yourself best. Definitely don’t forget those first 5, you will need those to actually be able to take the test; anything after that is up to you so long as it’s permitted. If you’d like a snack or a water bottle with you for breaks, feel free. If you’re wondering if you can bring something I didn’t mention, a “Can I bring x to the SAT?” Google search should suffice. More often than not, if it isn’t essential to take the test, it’s likely not permitted; don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Get Ready!

It goes without saying that you should study for the big test. ACT and SAT preparation can be a stressful and anxious experience, but it doesn’t have to be! Reach out to a local tutor to help you strategize your study plan and prepare you to reach your score goal!