Is The SAT Canceled Due To Weather? Snow Storm Jonas Closes Testing Centers, Make-Up Dates Posted

477028703 — Several testing centers have decided to cancel their administration of the SAT Saturday due to the weather forecast. Getty Images

Street cleaners, bus drivers and anyone hoping to enjoy their weekend received the bad weather news Thursday that a huge winter storm is expected to slam the Northeast in the coming days. But one group was quietly rejoicing: high school students. Several testing centers have canceled their administration of the SAT scheduled for Saturday.

Each local center — usually a school — makes its own call as to whether it calls off the SAT for situations like inclement weather, natural disasters or power failure, according to the College Board website. As of Thursday afternoon, 18 centers had announced they were shutting their doors. Virginia had the most closures, but Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and West Virginia also decided to reschedule.

"Our primary concern is the safety of everyone taking exams," College Board spokeswoman Jaslee Carayol wrote in an email. The College Board maintains a current list of closed centers here.

Most makeup tests were set for Feb. 20. At that time, students will take the current or "old" SAT, Carayol said. The new SAT — which will have no penalty for wrong answers and be more transparent, among other changes — debuts March 5. The new version will also have an optional essay, more graphs and fewer confusing vocabulary terms.

About 351,000 students are registered to take Saturday's SAT, according to the AP. Some of them were celebrating on social media Thursday:

THANK GOD THE SAT IS CANCELLED
— Syd (@SydMacon) January 21, 2016

all i want is for my sat to get cancelled
— shadi (@shadi_bb) January 21, 2016

well then the SAT is cancelled. Maybe it's a sign I should study with my extra time ... naaaah
— elizabeth (@bxstillelizzie) January 21, 2016

SAT CANCELLED ____ thank you snow
— melony (@melonyshulman) January 21, 2016

Meanwhile, the College Board itself announced it was canceling the Saturday SAT at certain locations in Asia due to a security issue, the Washington Post reported. "This decision is based on evidence that some students have been exposed to test materials intended for this administration. We have done our best to limit the number of centers canceled and the impact to students," spokesman Zachary Goldberg wrote in a letter to schools.