Spring SAT Testing Season Begins as Participation Continues to Grow

SAT participation continued its upward trajectory this fall, with more than 2 million students in the class of 2025 taking the SAT at least once—up from 1.97 million in the prior year. U.S. registrations increased 15% year over year, and international registrations rose 24%, underscoring sustained demand across domestic and global markets.

At the same time, expanded test center capacity ensured that growth did not limit access. Significant progress has been made in addressing capacity challenges that affected select markets in prior administrations.

All major metro areas maintained at least a 10% capacity buffer, and weekend administrations operated with more than 50% surplus capacity nationwide. In high-demand states such as California, Washington, and Illinois, 105,000 seats were added (a 45% year-over-year increase) significantly reducing the number of students traveling long distances to test.

Enhancements—including a new September administration, real-time seat availability alerts, and a pilot waitlist feature— further increased flexibility for students.

Looking ahead, demand for testing remains strong. We will continue to monitor capacity, particularly in historically constrained areas, and work to add seats as needed in order to ensure that all students can access the SAT when and where they need it.