SAT test dates for 2026–2027: the full schedule, deadlines, and how to pick.
Every SAT test date for 2026–2027 with its registration and late-registration deadlines and score-release window. Use it to pick a date, hit the deadlines, and plan your prep around your college application timeline with room to spare.
Test Ninjas Research · Verified September 29, 2026 · 9 min read
01
2026–2027 SAT Test Dates
Every year, College Board sets the SAT exam dates for the next one to two years. The table includes past and future administrations in the 2026–2027 testing year, with the regular and late registration deadlines and the score-release date for each test day.
2026–2027 SAT test days with regular and late registration deadlines and score-release dates.
Test Day
Registration Deadline
Late Registration
Student Score Release
August 22, 2026
August 7, 2026
August 11, 2026
September 4, 2026
September 12, 2026
August 28, 2026
September 1, 2026
September 25, 2026
October 3, 2026
September 18, 2026
September 22, 2026
October 16, 2026
November 7, 2026
October 23, 2026
October 27, 2026
November 20, 2026
December 5, 2026
November 20, 2026
November 24, 2026
December 18, 2026
March 6, 2027
February 19, 2027
February 23, 2027
March 19, 2027
May 1, 2027
April 16, 2027
April 20, 2027
May 14, 2027
June 5, 2027
May 21, 2027
May 25, 2027
June 21, 2027
When will you get your scores? Each test's score-release date is in the last column above. For release times, what can delay scores, and how to send them to colleges, see our SAT score release dates guide.
The best SAT date is the one that gets you a score you're happy with before your earliest college deadline — with a spare test date in reserve in case you want to retake. Two rules of thumb:
Most juniors take the SAT for the first time in the spring (March, May, or June), then retake in the fall of senior year if they want a higher score.
Leave a buffer. Choose a first attempt early enough to leave another accepted test date for a retake. Student score release, official score delivery, and college processing are separate steps.
Work backward from the college’s last accepted administration and score receipt deadline. The examples below depend on the institution’s policy and do not guarantee timely receipt:
October 2026 student scores: October 16. November: November 20. December: December 18. Confirm each college’s score reporting and receipt rules.
Application deadline
Typical date
Possible administration, if accepted
Early Decision / Early Action
Nov 1
October SAT
Scholarship & priority deadlines
Nov–Dec
October or November SAT
Regular Decision
Jan 1
November or December SAT
Rolling / spring deadlines
Feb–Apr
December; March only if March 19 scores fit the deadline
Planning to retake? Most colleges superscore the SAT — combining your best Math and Reading & Writing sections across dates — so a second sitting can only help. See how many times you should take the SAT.
Took the October 3 SAT? Scores are scheduled for release on October 16, 2026. If you want a retake this fall, the next dates are November 7, 2026 (register by October 23; late registration and changes by October 27) and December 5, 2026 (register by November 20; late by November 24). Our November 2026 SAT preview covers what to expect.
Retaking in November or December? Practice the real format first.
Take a free full-length digital SAT practice test to see which section has the most room to grow before your next date.
The best score comes from weeks of practice, not cramming the week before. Work free Digital SAT questions now so your chosen Saturday feels like something you've already done.
Choose your test date and center. Search by ZIP code or city. Popular centers fill up early, so register well before the deadline — and not every center offers every date.
Upload a clear, recognizable photo. It prints on your admission ticket and is checked against your photo ID on test day.
Pay the fee — or apply a fee waiver. The SAT costs $68 in the U.S. (see the full fee table below). Eligible U.S. students can register for free with a fee waiver from their school counselor.
Print your admission ticket and bring it, along with an acceptable photo ID, on test day.
Don't know your target score yet? A free adaptive practice test shows where you stand before you commit to a date and a $68 registration fee.
Don't pick a date blind — know your starting score.
Create a free Test Ninjas account and take a full-length adaptive practice test. Find your baseline first, then lock in the SAT date that gives you enough runway to improve.
The SAT is administered in the morning of the designated test day across various locations. The exact timing can vary slightly by country due to different time zones and local regulations, but typically the exam begins early to accommodate the lengthy testing procedure.
Typically, the exam begins around 8:15 – 8:30 AM and ends around 10:45 – 11:00 AM local time, and it is always given on a Saturday (with the exception of SAT School Days) to avoid school conflicts. This means that students in certain time zones will take the exam earlier than others.
We highly recommend arriving at your test center well in advance to avoid any last-minute stress and to get familiar with your testing environment.
Tip: Arrive at your test center at least 30 minutes early. Bring a valid photo ID and your admission ticket.
05
Test Locations
SAT test centers are distributed across thousands of locations, typically hosted in high schools, colleges, or designated testing centers. Availability varies by test date, so a center near you may offer some dates but not others.
To find the nearest test center, visit College Board's official test center search page, where you can search by country or city. Look up centers well in advance and plan your logistics accordingly — especially if your test center is not local.
We also recommend registering early, as slots in popular locations can fill up quickly and some centers may not be available for every test date.
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International SAT Testing
Students outside the United States take the SAT on the same weekend dates listed above — the Digital SAT runs on one global schedule. A few things differ internationally:
Not every center offers every date. International seats fill quickly, so register as early as possible and have a backup center in mind.
Sunday testing is available for students who can't test on Saturday for religious reasons — request it during registration.
Higher fees. International students pay the $68 base fee plus a $43 non-U.S. regional fee — $111 total (see the fee table below).
The SAT registration fee is $68 in the U.S. Most students pay only that, but changes, late registration, and extra score reports each carry their own fee. Here is the current schedule:
U.S. SAT fees verified September 29, 2026. Amounts are set by College Board and can change.
Service
Fee
SAT registration (U.S.)
$68
SAT registration (international)
$111 ($68 + $43 regional fee)
Late registration
+$38
Change test center
$34
Change test date
Cancel + re-register
Cancel registration
$34 ($44 after the change deadline)
Extra score reports (first 4 free)
$15 each
Rush score reports
$31
Waitlist request
$0
To change your test date, cancel and register again. The $34 center change is a separate service. The cancellation policy charges $34 by the change deadline or $44 afterward, through Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET before test day; the remaining registration fee is refunded.
Fee waivers: Eligible low-income U.S. 11th and 12th graders can take the SAT for free — waivers cover registration, late-registration and cancellation fees, and unlimited free score reports. Ask your school counselor. For the latest amounts, see College Board's official fees page.
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Test Format
The Digital SAT consists of two major sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. Each section is split into 2 modules, with a 10-minute break dividing the sections. The entire exam is 2 hours 14 minutes (excluding the break), significantly shorter than the old pen-and-paper SAT.
Two sections, four adaptive modules, 2 hours 14 minutes. Read the full Digital SAT format guide so nothing on test day — timing, tools, or question types — is a surprise.
The SAT is offered in August, September, October, November, and December 2026, and March, May, and June 2027. Check the table above or the official College Board website for the most current schedule of upcoming test dates and registration deadlines.
The SAT typically begins around 8:15-8:30 AM local time and ends around 10:45-11:00 AM. It is always administered on a Saturday, with the exception of SAT School Days.
The SAT costs $68 to register in the United States. Students testing internationally pay $68 plus a $43 regional fee, for $111 total. Additional fees apply for late registration ($38), changing your test center ($34), canceling ($34, or $44 after the change deadline), and extra score reports ($15 each after the first four, which are free). Fee waivers are available for eligible U.S. students and cover registration and unlimited score reports.
Most juniors test in spring and retake in fall. October 3, 2026 scores are scheduled for October 16; December 5 scores for December 18. These can fit November or January applications only if the college accepts the administration and its self-reporting or official score receipt rules allow it. Earlier dates leave more buffer.
There is no limit on how many times you can take the SAT. Most students take it two or three times. Because the vast majority of colleges superscore — combining your best Math and Reading & Writing section scores across dates — retaking generally can only help your final score.
Yes, through your College Board account. Changing your test center costs $34, subject to seat availability. To change your test date, you cancel your current registration and register for the new date. Canceling by the change deadline costs $34 ($44 if you cancel later, up to the Thursday before test day), and the rest of your registration fee is refunded. Fee waivers cover cancellation fees for eligible students; the test center change fee still applies.
Visit College Board's official test center search page at satsuite.collegeboard.org to search by country or city. Register early as popular locations fill up quickly and not every center offers every test date.
Want to see SAT dates alongside your ACT, AP and PSAT dates? Our high school test calendar puts them all in one view.
Prep before your test date
Pick a date, then walk in ready for it.
Test Ninjas is built for the Digital SAT — full-length adaptive practice tests with the real question counts and timing, a complete course, and an explanation on every question. Create a free account and take a baseline test to find your starting score before you register.