Harold’s SAT Prep Cheat Sheet - When To Take Each Exam - Scores & College Admission

Sep 14, 2026

Harold’s SAT Prep Cheat Sheet compiles a practical timeline for PSAT and SAT testing, specifying when each exam is taken by grade and highlighting key considerations such as the PSAT/NMSQT October window for National Merit eligibility. It also summarizes 2026 administration dates for SAT and ACT, presents SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 score ranges, and connects typical SAT benchmarks to Texas and out-of-state college admissions. The sheet concludes with a focused overview of the NMSQT scholarship pathway.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

When to take each exam

Exam dates (2026)

Scores and score ranges

Section and total scores

Texas college admission scores

Out-of-state college admission scores

National Merit Scholarship (NMSQT)

Harold’s SAT Prep Cheat Sheet 13 August 2026 Formerly the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) When To Take Each Exam | Exam | Version | When To Take It | | Why | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | PSAT Exam | PSAT 8/9 | Freshman | 9th grade | Optional early practice | | | PSAT 10 | Sophomore | 10th grade | Practice run | | | PSAT/NMSQT | October as Junior | 11th grade | October exam counts for National Merit Scholar eligibility (NMSQT) . Only 1 chance. | | SAT Exam | SAT | Spring as Junior | 11th grade | Ideal first attempt. Aligns with Algebra 2 completion
Gives time for retakes | | | | August between Junior and Senior year | 12th grade | Popular for students who prep over the summer | | | | Fall as Senior | 12th grade | Great for score improvement before early action (Nov 1) | Exam Dates | Exam | Dates In 2026 When SAT Exam Is Administered | | | --- | --- | --- | | PSAT 8/9 | March 2–April 30, 2026 | | | PSAT 10 | March 2–April 30, 2026 | | | PSAT/NMSQT | October 1–30, 2026
Schools may administer it on Saturday, October 17, 2026. | | | SAT | 14-Mar-26
2-May-26
6-Jun-26
15-Aug-26 | 12-Sep-26
3-Oct-26
7-Nov-26
5-Dec-26 | | ACT | 14-Feb-26
11-Apr-26
13-Jun-26
11-Jul-26 | 19-Sep-26
17-Oct-26
12-Dec-26 | Scores | Assessment | SAT | PSAT/NMSQT | PSAT 10 | PSAT 8/9 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Total Score | 400–1600 | 320–1520 | 320–1520 | 240–1440 | | Section Scores | 200–800 | 160–760 | 160–760 | 120–720 | | Additional Items | Scores are typically available 2–4 weeks after test day. | NMSC Selection Index Score on a scale of 48–228 . | | | Texas College Admission Scores | School | Texas University Name | Typical Student SAT Score | Test Required | Level | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Rice | Rice University | 1550 | | 2. Top Tier Private | | SMU | Southern Methodist University | 1400–1420 | | 2. Top Tier Private | | Trinity | Trinity University (San Antonio) | 1390–1405 | | 2. Top Tier Private | | UT | University of Texas at Austin | 1360–1390 | Test
optional | 3. Top Public Research | | BU | Baylor University | 1300–1400 | | 2. Top Tier Private | | TAMU | Texas A&M University (College Station) | 1260–1380 | | 3. Top Public Research | | UTD | University of Texas at Dallas | 1280–1290 | | 3. Top Public Research | | TCU | Texas Christian University | 1230–1300 | | 2. Top Tier Private | | UD | University of Dallas | 1230–1290 | | 2. Top Tier Private | | UH | University of Houston | 1240–1250 | | 3. Top Public Research | | AC | Austin College (Sherman) | 1200–1310 | | 3. Top Liberal Arts | | TTU | Texas Tech University | 1130–1310 | | 4. Mid Tier Public | | UNT | University of North Texas | 1100 | | 4. Mid Tier Public | | ACU | Abilene Christian University | 1070–1270 | | 5. Mid Tier Private | | SHSU | Sam Houston State University | 1030–1200 | | 5. Mid Tier Public | | DBU | Dallas Baptist University | 1030–1210 | | 5. Mid Tier Private | | TWU | Texas Woman’s University | 1035–1060 | | 6. Mid Tier Public | | TAMU
Corpus | Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi | 1020–1180 | | 5. Mid-Tier Public | | TXST | Texas State University | 1020–1180 | | 5. Mid Tier Public | | SFA | Stephen F. Austin University | 1000–1180 | | 5. Mid Tier Public | | CCCC | Collin County Community College | NA | | 7. Open Admission | | UTA | University of Texas at Arlington | 1010–1250 | | 3. Top Public Research | | UTSA | University of Texas at San Antonio | 1020–1220 | | 4. Mid-Tier Public | | UTEP | University of Texas at El Paso | 900–1120 | | 5. Mid-Tier Public | | UTRGV | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 970–1170 | | 5. Mid-Tier Public | Out-of-State College Admission Scores | School | University Name | Typical Student SAT Score | Test Required | Level | State | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Caltech | California Institute of Technology | 1555 | Y | 1. Ivy Level | CA | | JHU | Johns Hopkins University | 1555 | Y | 1. Ivy Level | MD |

FAQs

When should a student take the PSAT/NMSQT for National Merit consideration?

The PSAT/NMSQT is taken in October during junior year, and it is the qualifying test version tied to National Merit eligibility.

What are the 2026 SAT administration dates listed in the cheat sheet?

The SAT is administered on 14-Mar-26, 2-May-26, 6-Jun-26, 15-Aug-26, 12-Sep-26, 3-Oct-26, 7-Nov-26, and 5-Dec-26.

What score ranges does the sheet provide for the SAT and PSAT versions?

It lists SAT total scores from 400–1600 and section scores from 200–800, and provides total and section ranges for PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 as well.

Sep 14, 2026

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