By Shivali Shah, Co-Editor-in-Chief
The College Board recently announced a major change in how students can approach their SAT examinations, introducing the SAT-N, or Standardized Academic Test – Nocturnal. No longer will students be forced to spend their Saturday mornings taking the SAT; instead the SAT-N offers a 3:00 a.m. exam start-time.
Because the program is new, the College Board will initially offer the SAT-N only during the March and August test dates of 2027; however, it plans to expand the option to additional testing dates in the future
This change is a part of their Student-Centered Flexibility Initiative, or SCFI, aimed at improving students’ accessibility to the exam. “We’re really just trying to meet students where they’re at,” explains Maureen Forman, Vice President of the SAT Suite. “Our team has put a lot of work into this project, and we think it will really benefit those who take the exam.”
Pete Schaffer, a Test Design Manager on the SAT Suite team, explains that “70% of U.S. high schoolers find themselves studying late at night. Their circadian rhythms have adapted so that they are the most alert in the late nights and early mornings.” He added that the SAT-N is designed to align testing conditions with students’ natural productivity peaks.
The College Board faced several obstacles while planning the SAT-N. First, they had to develop a separate version of the exam in order to maintain test security. Because the SAT-N would begin at 3:00 a.m., students taking the traditional 8:00 a.m. SAT could otherwise gain access to test content, creating concerns about fairness and score validity.
Additionally, the organization struggled to recruit proctors willing to supervise the exam at such an early hour. Many adults were reluctant to wake up in the middle of the night, making staffing testing centers a significant logistical challenge.
Even so, early reactions from students suggest a strong interest in the new format. At River Hill, the release of this new exam is highly anticipated. “I usually go to bed at around 3:00 a.m. anyway,” explains sophomore Gabi McCray. “It’s when I feel the most productive on school nights—I’m more of a night-owl. Being able to take the exam when I feel like I’m the most productive will definitely improve my score.”
For others, the new time is simply more convenient. Homework, extracurriculars and hobbies are often pushed to the side on those SAT Saturday mornings, which students, such as senior Annika Borowski, find to be frustrating, “I have soccer games on Saturday mornings, so when I took the exam last year I always had to skip it and miss out on the games. Plus, the regular exam goes until noon, which took up nearly half of my day last year, time I could’ve spent studying or just relaxing and enjoying my weekend.”
Much of the buzz surrounding the SAT-N also stems from critics, who believe that offering an exam so early in the morning actually promotes bad habits among teenagers. Rebecca Sherry, a concerned parent of a River Hill sophomore, explains, “I try to keep my kids on a strict bedtime schedule. Staying up late really messes with the important sleep that my son needs, especially as a teenager who is still growing. I’m afraid that his learning and development will be negatively affected if organizations like the College Board encourage not getting enough sleep.”
As the SAT-N prepares for its debut in 2027, the College Board continues to emphasize flexibility and accessibility for students. However, with ongoing concerns about student health and logistics, the long-term success of the program will depend on whether its benefits truly outweigh its challenges.