Whether you can refund your SAT registration depends on how far away your test date is
The College Board allows you to cancel your SAT registration and receive a refund, but the amount you get back depends on when you cancel relative to your test date. If you cancel at least 28 days before your test, you receive a full refund of your registration fee. If you cancel between 7 and 27 days before the test, you get a partial refund. If you cancel fewer than 7 days before the test, you receive no refund, though you may be able to transfer your registration to a future test date instead.
The refund goes back to the payment method you used when you registered — the same credit card, debit card, or PayPal account. Refunds typically process within 7 to 10 business days after the College Board processes your cancellation request, though your bank may take an additional 1 to 3 business days to post the money to your account.
Key Takeaways
- Cancel at least 28 days before your test date to receive your full registration fee back.
- Cancellations made 7 to 27 days before the test result in a partial refund; the exact amount depends on how close you are to test day.
- Cancellations within 7 days of the test date do not result in a refund, but you can transfer your registration to a future test instead.
- Refunds return to your original payment method and take 7 to 10 business days to process, plus additional time for your bank to post the funds.
How to cancel your SAT registration and request a refund
Log into your College Board account at collegeboard.org using the email and password you registered with. Go to your SAT registrations and find the test date you want to cancel. You will see a "Cancel Registration" button or link; click it and follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation.
The College Board will show you the refund amount you are may be able to access for based on the current date and your test date. Once you confirm the cancellation, the request is submitted when ready. You do not need to contact College Board customer service unless something goes wrong during the cancellation process.
Refund amounts based on when you cancel
| Time Before Test Date | Refund Status |
|---|---|
| 28 days or more | Full refund of registration fee |
| 7 to 27 days | Partial refund (amount decreases as test date approaches) |
| Fewer than 7 days | No refund; transfer to future test date available |
The partial refund for cancellations made 7 to 27 days before the test is not a fixed percentage — it scales down as you get closer to test day. The College Board calculates this on a daily basis, so a cancellation made 20 days out will result in a larger refund than one made 10 days out. When you initiate the cancellation, the system shows you the exact amount before you confirm.
What happens if you cancel too close to test day
If you cancel fewer than 7 days before your test, you forfeit the registration fee entirely — no refund is issued. However, you have an alternative: you can transfer your registration to a different SAT test date instead of canceling outright. This preserves your registration fee and lets you use it toward a future test.
To transfer your registration, follow the same process as cancellation but select "Change Test Date" instead of "Cancel Registration." You can choose any future SAT test date that has available seats in your region. This option is available even within the final week before your scheduled test, making it useful if you realize you are not ready but do not want to lose your money.
How long refunds take to appear in your account
After you submit your cancellation request, the College Board processes it within 1 to 2 business days. Once processed, the refund is sent to your original payment method. From that point, the refund typically appears in your account within 7 to 10 business days.
If you paid by credit card or debit card, your bank may take an additional 1 to 3 business days to post the credit to your account after receiving it from the College Board. If you paid by PayPal, the refund goes back to your PayPal balance first, and you can then transfer it to your bank account. Do not assume the refund failed if it does not appear when ready — the full timeline from cancellation to your account can stretch to two weeks.
Canceling an SAT registration you paid for with a fee waiver
If you registered using a College Board fee waiver, you cannot receive a cash refund because you did not pay a fee. However, you can still cancel your registration or transfer it to a future test date. If you transfer to a future test, your fee waiver applies to that new date as well, provided the waiver has not expired.
Fee waivers are typically valid for one year from the date they are issued. Check the expiration date on your waiver before transferring your registration, especially if you are moving your test date far into the future.
If your refund does not arrive
If more than 10 business days have passed since you canceled and you do not see the refund in your account, contact the College Board through your account dashboard or by phone. Have your registration confirmation number and the date you canceled ready. The College Board can confirm whether the refund was processed and investigate delays with your bank if necessary.
Refund delays are uncommon, but they can happen if your bank is slow to post credits or if there was an error in processing. The College Board keeps records of all cancellations and refunds, so they can track the status on their end and help resolve the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I took the test but want my money back?
No. Refunds are only available for cancellations made before your test date. Once you have taken the SAT, the registration fee is non-refundable. If you are unhappy with your score, you can retake the test by registering for a future date, but you cannot recover the cost of the test you already took.
What if I cancel but then want to take the test on the same date?
You can re-register for the same test date as long as seats are still available. However, you will pay the full registration fee again. If you cancel and then when ready re-register, you will not receive a refund for the first registration — you will straightforward have two separate charges.
Do I lose my refund if I transfer my registration to a future date instead of canceling?
No. Transferring your registration to a different test date does not cost anything and does not result in a refund. Your original registration fee is applied to the new date. You only receive a refund if you actually cancel the registration entirely.
Can I request a refund by phone or email?
The College Board requires you to cancel through your online account. You cannot request a refund by phone or email. If you cannot access your account, contact College Board customer service for help logging in, and then complete the cancellation yourself through the website.
What if my test was canceled due to weather or another emergency?
If the College Board cancels a test date due to circumstances beyond your control, you are automatically offered a refund or a transfer to another test date at no additional cost. You do not need to request this — the College Board will contact you with your options.