Thousands of Idaho high school students who missed out on taking the SAT in the spring will take it today with the state picking up the tab.

The test is geared toward seniors who missed the test in the spring, when they were juniors, when the onset of the coronavirus pandemic caused the state to cancel its annual free SAT Day.

Each year, the state pays $1 million to pay for all students who are enrolled in at least one class in a public high school at the time of the exam to take the SAT.

More than 22,000 students from 33 different schools have ordered tests for this week, State Department of Education spokeswoman Kris Rodine said.

Every student who takes the test will take it in-person, at school during the school day, Rodine said. There is no take-home or virtual option. Students who attend virtual schools received vouchers to take the test in-person at a different school.

Students also had the option to take the test Sept. 23. A makeup date is available Oct. 27.

Even though Idaho’s colleges and universities waived college entrance exams as an admissions requirement for 2021-22, it is still a high school graduation requirement for students to complete one.

Students may satisfy the high school graduation requirement by taking the SAT on the state’s dime or by signing up and paying for another test, such as the ACT, on their own.

For this year’s juniors, the free SAT Day is scheduled for April 13, 2021.

For the Sept. 23 SAT test day, 17 schools placed test orders for a total of 462 students, suggesting this week’s test day is by far the more popular choice.

“Since taking a college admissions test is required for high school graduation, we expect most of the class of 2021 to take the SAT this year,” Rodine said in an e-mail to Idaho Education News. “Others may opt to take the ACT instead.”