PSAT test dates 2026–27, by window.

2026–27 PSAT Dates at a Glance

All three PSATs are given at school, during College Board's testing windows. Not sure which one you're taking? See which PSAT to take.

Which Window Is Yours?

Your grade decides which PSAT you take, and the test decides the window.

How Schools Pick the Day

College Board sets the window; your school or district picks the day inside it, usually a school day. That's why two schools in the same town can test weeks apart, and why College Board's website can't tell you your own date.

For the PSAT/NMSQT, schools can also choose Saturday, October 17, 2026. If your school uses a state testing program, the state may set the day.

To find your date, check the school calendar or counseling newsletter, or ask your counselor or the school's test coordinator. Then plan backward from it: our free PSAT practice tests are full-length and adaptive, like the real test.

Registering, and Homeschooled Students

You can't sign up for the PSAT on College Board's website. Schools and districts register their own students, so if your school gives the test, you're on its list. Many schools cover the fee; ask what yours charges.

Homeschooled and away students test at a school that gives the PSAT. College Board's guidance:

• Contact participating schools or the district office at least four weeks before the window opens: by early September for October, by early February for spring. Some districts want earlier notice.
• You aren't in the school's registration file automatically. Ask to be added to its list of test takers.
• Have your name, date of birth and home school details ready. Homeschooled students only need to say they're homeschooled. Bring your SSD number if you have approved accommodations.

Score Release Dates

Scores come out in waves. Your day depends on when your school sends its answers to College Board, not on the day you tested.

More on finding your wave and where to see scores: when do PSAT scores come out. Once you have them, see what a PSAT score means and the PSAT to SAT converter.

Which Date Counts for National Merit

Only the PSAT/NMSQT in 11th grade. For the Class of 2028 that's the October 1–30, 2026 window (or October 17 if your school offers the Saturday date). The PSAT 10, the PSAT 8/9 and a 10th-grade PSAT/NMSQT don't count.

Missed your school's day? While the window is open, ask your counselor whether you can test on another day or at another school. If you miss the junior-year test because of illness or an emergency, National Merit has an alternate entry route; contact NMSC as soon as possible. Details are in our National Merit guide, and you can check where you stand with the Selection Index calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions