Within minutes of registration opening, every SAT seat in my county—and throughout Suffolk County, Long Island—was already reserved. I wasn’t alone. On Long Island, securing a spot to take the SAT feels like winning the lottery. Despite New York University and many SUNY schools no longer requiring test scores for admission, there’s still a severe shortage of testing sites. Students are being forced to travel long distances just to sit for the exam, turning an already stressful process into a logistical nightmare.
According to the College Board, the nonprofit organization that administers the SAT, more than 500,000 students in New York took the test during the 2022–2023 school year. But when 2024 registrations opened last spring, there were only 12 testing sites in the Bay Area, and every seat for the August 24 exam filled almost instantly. Less than half of the schools that served as test centers before the pandemic have reopened, the College Board told The San Francisco Chronicle. To address the shortage, the organization has been persuading schools to reopen and asking current sites to expand seating. Last year, this led to 3,000 additional seats being added across seven new locations in New York.
However, more students are signing up for the SAT again as many colleges reinstate testing requirements. According to The Washington Post, after a sharp drop in 2020 due to test center closures, participation has risen every year since, reaching 1.9 million students for the Class of 2023. College Board spokesperson Holly Stepp added that part of the shortage comes from site administrators unwilling to supervise exams on weekends. In New York, many schools also avoid offering in-school SAT days, fearing they would disrupt classroom instruction.
A search of the College Board’s database for the August 24 test date showed 123 testing sites within 100 miles of New York City, with only 11 still offering seats. Dallas had 70 sites, 22 of which still had openings. By contrast, the Bay Area had only 12 testing sites, all fully booked. The nearest open test center for Bay Area students was 405 miles away, putting Northern California test-takers at a serious disadvantage.
In Sacramento, Grant Union High School senior José Morales traveled two hours to Oakland on June 1, expecting a long morning and lots of caffeine. What he didn’t expect was the test’s abrupt cancellation due to Wi-Fi issues at the downtown Marriott Hotel—leaving roughly 1,400 students stranded without an exam. “We know school officials don’t want to come in early on a Saturday,” Morales said. “But it’s worse when students have to scramble for seats at other venues, or have their tests canceled after traveling hours to get there.”
While many debate whether the SAT still matters, it remains a factor in admissions. According to FairTest, only four percent of four-year colleges are completely test-blind, meaning they don’t consider scores at all. Around 87 percent are test-optional, and nine percent still require them. For Lely High School senior Shamara Bornelus, who attends a Title I school, the SAT represents opportunity. She earned a 1500 and believes her score strengthens her college applications, especially to test-optional schools that consider all aspects of a student’s record. “I think lower-income students who score well—even if it’s below average for a school—show real dedication,” Bornelus said. “The SAT demonstrates effort and ability. For holistic admissions, every piece of information helps, and the SAT really exemplifies that.”
In previous research, the University of California faculty senate found that students admitted with low SAT scores were two to five times more likely to drop out after one year and up to three times less likely to graduate than those with higher scores. Critics, however, argue that the SAT favors wealthier students who can afford private tutors and prep classes. Yet, as The New York Times reports, “Affluent students can pay for test prep classes and take the tests multiple times. Yet the evidence suggests these advantages account for only a small part of the score gaps.”
Students who miss the chance to test may lose out on college and scholarship opportunities that still require SAT scores. This especially affects low-income families, for whom scholarships can make college attainable. Though expensive prep programs remain out of reach for many, free tools like Khan Academy and College Board fee waivers can help students prepare—if they can secure a seat. Ultimately, only schools and districts can decide whether to offer an in-school SAT day, depending on student interest and available resources.
New York students deserve fair access to college entrance exams. It will take community advocacy and district-level cooperation to expand test availability. “The College Board needs to open more seats—especially in New York,” Morales said. “Every student should be able to take the SAT within 30 minutes of where they live. I never want to travel two hours again just to take a test.”
