Why We Think the November and December SAT Run a Little Easier
College Board says no test date is easier. We think the calendar says otherwise, and it’s the best reason we know to book November 7 or December 5.
Ask anyone who sat the October SAT. One prep company that tracks every digital SAT rated October 2025 the hardest yet: 5 out of 5. October 2024 got a 4. August 2024 got a 4.5.
Now look at what came next. November 2024: 2.5. December 2024: 3. We don’t think that’s luck.
The most competitive US students take the SAT in August through October to make November 1 early deadlines. Separating a room full of 1500s takes more hard questions. November and December draw a broader crowd, so we think those tests are easier.
College Board says every date is equated so none gives an advantage. This is our read of the pattern. Here’s the evidence.
Exhibit 1: The fall crowd is the toughest crowd
- Weekend testers are a different league. In the class of 2025, students who tested only on weekends averaged 1173. Students who tested only at school averaged 906 (College Board).
- October is the early-deadline test. October 3 scores come out October 16, the last release before November 1. November 7 scores come out November 20, too late for most early rounds.
- The fall is getting crowded. When College Board added a September test date, it said fall registrations were up 15% in the US and 24% internationally from the year before.
- The last month-by-month numbers fit. In 2023, when only international students took the digital SAT, the “all testers” average on students’ score reports read 1276 in August and 1256 in October, then 1216 in November and December. College Board doesn’t publish a monthly series; these come from reports students posted.
Exhibit 2: Students feel the difference
How hard each digital SAT felt
Exhibit 3: Test forms really do differ
College Board’s own guide to equating says the questions change from date to date, and that one wrong answer on one test can cost as much as two or three on another. The adaptive design also sends strong students to a harder second module, and that is where the top of the scale gets decided.
The catch, and why it’s good news
An easier form comes with a stricter scale. On the paper SAT, three wrong answers in Math scored 770 in May 2017 but only 720 on the easier June 2018 test (Compass Education Group). So a gentler November won’t hand out points. It rewards precision: fewer questions you can’t crack, and every careless slip counts. Careless slips are the easiest thing to train out in three to seven weeks.
The parts that aren’t theory
- Second tries usually win. College Board says most students score higher the second time, and most colleges consider your highest score.
- Your scores land in time. November 7 scores come out November 20 and December 5 scores come out December 18, ahead of the early-January Regular Decision deadlines many colleges use.
- You choose what colleges see. Score Choice lets you pick which test dates to send, though some colleges ask for every score. Colleges that superscore combine your best sections across dates.
Register before the window closes
| Test date | Register by | Late registration by | Scores out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 7 | Fri, Oct 23 | Tue, Oct 27 | Fri, Nov 20 |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Fri, Nov 20 | Tue, Nov 24 | Fri, Dec 18 |
Deadlines close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and late registration costs $38 more.
Your plan
- This week: take one full-length practice test, timed, in one sitting. Sort every miss into “didn’t know it”, “misread it” or “ran out of time”.
- Next week: work only on the biggest group.
- Five days out: take a second full test under the same conditions and compare the groups, not just the score.
Going for December 5? Run that loop twice. Either way, install Bluebook now; College Board suggests at least 30 days before test day.
Start with one practice test today. Full-length, timed, with a written explanation for every question.
Take a free practice test →Two dates left. If we’re right, they’re the friendliest of the year. If we’re wrong, they’re still your second try, and second tries usually win.
This post shares Bluebear’s analysis and opinion. College Board states that equating makes scores comparable across test dates. SAT® and Bluebook™ are trademarks of College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, Bluebear SAT.