SAT® Participation Tops 2 Million for the Class of 2025: Key Takeaways

The College Board just reported that more than 2 million students in the Class of 2025 took the SAT®—up from 1.97 million last year and the first time since 2020 that participation has cleared the 2M mark. This was also the first graduating class where nearly all students tested digitally, with 97% taking the exam online.

So, what does this surge in participation tell us? Simply put: quality SAT® prep is in demand. More students testing means more families actively looking for guidance, support, and proven strategies to raise scores. For tutoring businesses, this isn’t just a positive trend—it’s an opportunity to expand offerings, tailor prep to the digital format, and capture new clients at a moment when testing momentum is clearly on the rise.

The Numbers That Matter for Tutors

Here are the key takeaways from the College Board’s latest report:

• 2M+ SAT® takers in Class of 2025 (up from 1.97M in Class of 2024).

• 97% of students tested digitally.

• 68% tested on a school day — nearly 1.36 million students.

• Average scores: 521 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, 508 Math.

• 39% met both college readiness benchmarks, still below pre-pandemic levels.

• 3.4M students took a PSAT®-related assessment in 2024–25.

Why this matters: More students in the testing pipeline means more parents actively thinking about prep. The lower readiness percentages show there’s still a significant gap to close — exactly where strong tutoring programs can make a difference.

What’s Driving This Growth?

Two big forces are fueling participation increases:

1. School-Day SAT® programs
   According to the College Board, “68% of the class of 2025 took the SAT on a school day, compared to 66% of the class of 2024.” School partnerships make testing more accessible, which in turn expands the pool of students who’ll need prep.

2. Colleges are reinstating test requirements.
   With top universities moving back to SAT®/ACT® requirements (stay tuned, more on this topic next week!), students are motivated to test seriously. Families who may have dismissed the need for test prep and the significance of test scores during the height of test-optional are now reconsidering.

How Tutors Can Respond Right Now

Here’s how to align your business with these trends:

• Offer School-Day SAT® packages: Position short prep programs around fall and spring school-day administrations.

• Leverage PSAT® data: Convert PSAT® results into personalized study maps for juniors. This makes for a natural on-ramp to SAT® prep.

• Build Digital SAT® expertise: Families want tutors who understand the adaptive format, timing differences, and strategies unique to the digital version. 

For all you need to know about the Digital SAT®, check out our posts:

• New Digital SAT® Insights: Comparing Scores and Strategies

• What Can Test Takers Expect on the Digital SAT® Reading & Writing Modules?

• 3 Ways to Attack the New Digital SAT® Reading and Writing Modules

• What to Expect on the New, Adaptive Digital SAT® Math Test

• The New and Anticipated Digital SAT® Is Coming Soon: Here's Everything We Know!

• The Most Important Questions About Digital SAT® Score Reports Answered

The Big Opportunity Ahead

Participation is up. Benchmarks indicate that a large portion of students are underprepared. Colleges are making scores matter again.

For test-prep businesses, the message is clear: demand isn’t just rising — it’s here. Families are actively looking for guidance from tutors who can navigate the digital SAT®, map out smart retake strategies, and help them weigh SAT® vs. ACT® options. The need is real, the timing is now, and the opportunity is yours to capture.

More students testing = more growth opportunities. At Clear Choice, we provide 100% custom-branded SAT® & ACT® curriculum and software, detailed diagnostics, and digital resources designed to help you capture this surge in demand. Contact us today for a free demo and see how we can help you supercharge your tutoring business.