How to Change your SAT or ACT Test Center

Change, according to Barack Obama, is never easy, but always possible. When it comes to changing the location where you take your official SAT or ACT, our estimable ex-President is only half right.

ACT, Inc. makes changing your test center a relatively simple process:

Log in to your ACT web account and select “Make changes to your registration” or call ACT at 319.337.1270 no later than the late registration deadline for your preferred test date. You will need to know your preferred test center, test option, and/or test date and have a valid credit card number with expiration date and security code.

If a seat and materials are available for your test option at your new preferred test center on your preferred test date, you will be assigned there and charged a Test Center Change fee.

The fee to change a test center for the same ACT test date is currently $26.00. Test center changes are not possible after the late registration deadline for a given test date, but standby testing is an option.

The College Board provides somewhat clear guidance about SAT test center changes as well, although acquiring all the facts required a long wait for one of the organization’s obviously overbooked customer service reps:

You can make changes to your test date, test center, and/or the type of test you’re taking. Check the date listed on your ticket under Registration Corrections to see if there’s still time to make these changes. To change test information, use your online account or call Customer Service. You’ll need a form of electronic payment (credit card or, if making changes online, PayPal) for the change fee.

The fee for changing your SAT test center is quoted as $28 on the College Board customer service line or $29 online. As with the ACT, test center changes may only be made up to the late registration deadline for a given test date. However, the College Board will not allow students to apply for waitlist status at one location once they have a confirmed seat at a different one. As far as taking the SAT goes, the test center on your ticket once the late registration deadline passes is the only option you have.

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