A guide to finding your best SAT date

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At this point in time, some of you may have one or two SAT experiences under your belt, or you're in the middle of the SAT preparation process. Whether you're taking the SAT for the first, second or even the third time, it's important to create a test-taking strategy to determine the test date that works best for you.

When choosing an SAT date, consider asking yourself these 4 questions:

1. When are the application deadlines for the schools I'm looking to apply to?
2. What dates are best if I'm applying Early Action? Early Decision? Regular Decision? Rolling Admissions?
3. If needed, when can I retake the SAT?
4. What other important tests will I have to take, such as subject tests, AP tests, midterms/finals - and when are they?

Application timeline

As you start to organize your college applications, keep due dates in mind, and if they apply to you, early action or early decision deadlines. These dates will help you decide when to take the SAT. You'll want to allow yourself sufficient time to study, register, take the exam and then reflect on your test scores and potentially take the test a second time.

Each college has its own deadlines, and it's important that you map your test taking strategy around those dates. For example, many Ivy League schools have early January as their regular decision deadline, meaning you could take the SAT as late as October for early decision/action and as late as November for regular decision.

RELATED: 4 things to watch out for when applying to a top school

Be careful not to wait until the last possible test date to take your SAT. If by chance you're unhappy with your score, you'll want to allow yourself enough time to reflect, study and retake. And remember it takes three weeks to receive your SAT scores and then you'll need to give yourself time to send them with your final application. Don't procrastinate - choosing an SAT date should be right at the top of your to-do list, along with deciding which colleges you'll be applying to.

Scheduling SAT prep

As you edge closer to your graduation date, you'll find your schedule filling up with extracurricular activities, summer programs, sports, AP coursework, midterms and finals - and the list goes on. After looking at your year at large, consider important college application due dates, and then plan out a solid month or so when you can dedicate at least 90 minutes, three times a week to SAT studying. Finding a time when you can commit to an SAT study schedule will be a direct correlation to when you actually sit down to take the exam.

Choosing the best SAT test date

The best test date will depend on you and your readiness, which includes concentrated SAT preparation, sufficient planning and important college application deadlines. The key is to outline a plan starting your junior year or roughly a year before your first important college admission and scholarship deadlines. Start by including any application due dates, and then go backwards giving yourself sufficient time to:

• study and take your first SAT test
• receive your SAT scores and reflect on them
• allow yourself time to take a second SAT test and review your scores
• submit on time with your college applications

This article originally appeared on the Ivy Advisors blog.

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To help you create a strategy to finding your best SAT test date, please review the following 2017-2020 test dates and deadlines for the SAT – for both U.S and International students provided by The College Board.

2017–2020 U.S SAT Administration Dates (Anticipated)