2026-2027 Testing Calendar
SAT & ACT Test Dates 2026-2027: Every Date, Deadline & Score Release
All 15 national SAT and ACT test dates for the 2026-2027 school year, with registration deadlines, late deadlines, and score release dates. Verified against the College Board and ACT calendars and updated whenever either organization publishes a change.
Deadlines coming up
Current as of October 5, 2026. Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on the dates below.
Closes Monday, Oct 12
October 17 ACT
Regular and late registration have closed. October 12 is the photo upload and standby request deadline. Scores release October 27.
Closes Friday, Oct 23
November 7 SAT
Regular registration. Late registration closes October 27 with an added fee. Scores release November 20.
Closes Friday, Nov 6
December 12 ACT
There is no November ACT this year, so December 12 is the next ACT after October 17. Late registration runs through November 29.
Scores Friday, Oct 16
October 3 SAT
Testing is complete. Scores post October 16, in time for most November 1 early deadlines.
SAT Test Dates 2026-2027 →
Every SAT date, deadline and score release, plus anticipated 2027-2028 dates.
ACT Test Dates 2026-2027 →
Every ACT date with photo and standby deadlines, plus projected 2027-2028 dates.
SAT Test Dates 2026-2027
The SAT is fully digital, runs about 2 hours and 14 minutes, and is taken in the Bluebook app at a test center. All deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. ET.
| Test date | Registration deadline | Late registration | Scores released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2026SaturdayCompleted | Aug 7, 2026 | Aug 11, 2026 | Sept 4, 2026 |
| Sept 12, 2026SaturdayCompleted | Aug 28, 2026 | Sept 1, 2026 | Sept 25, 2026 |
| Oct 3, 2026SaturdayCompleted | Sept 18, 2026 | Sept 22, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Nov 7, 2026SaturdayNext SAT | Oct 23, 2026 | Oct 27, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 |
| Dec 5, 2026Saturday | Nov 20, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 |
| Mar 6, 2027Saturday | Feb 19, 2027 | Feb 23, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 |
| May 1, 2027Saturday | Apr 16, 2027 | Apr 20, 2027 | May 14, 2027 |
| Jun 5, 2027Saturday | May 21, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | Jun 21, 2027 |
There is no January, February, or April national SAT. The 2026-2027 calendar runs August through June with a gap between December and March.
SAT Dates and Deadlines: Direct Answers
When is the September 2026 SAT?
The September 2026 SAT is Saturday, September 12, 2026. Registration closed on August 28 and late registration closed on September 1. Scores are released Friday, September 25, 2026.
September is the first SAT most rising seniors take that still leaves room to retest before Early Decision and Early Action deadlines. If you sat for it, your score arrives roughly two weeks later, which is in time to decide whether to add the October or November date.
When is the October 2026 SAT?
The October 2026 SAT is Saturday, October 3, 2026. Regular registration closes Friday, September 18, 2026, and late registration closes September 22. Scores are released Friday, October 16, 2026.
October 3 is the last SAT with scores back before most November 1 Early Decision and Early Action deadlines. That makes it the single most contested date on the calendar. Test centers in Fairfield County, Westchester, and New York City fill first, so registering the week seats open rather than the week of the deadline is the difference between a five minute drive and a fifty minute one.
When is the November 2026 SAT?
The November 2026 SAT is Saturday, November 7, 2026. Registration closes October 23, late registration closes October 27, and scores are released November 20, 2026.
November scores arrive after November 1 deadlines but before most Regular Decision deadlines. Many colleges will accept a November SAT for Early Action if you list them as score recipients at registration, but you should confirm each school’s policy rather than assume it.
When is the December 2026 SAT?
The December 2026 SAT is Saturday, December 5, 2026. Registration closes November 20, late registration closes November 24, and scores are released December 18, 2026.
December is the final SAT of the calendar year and the last realistic date for seniors applying Regular Decision. For juniors it is often the first official score, taken after a fall of preparation.
What are the 2027 SAT test dates?
The 2027 SAT dates published so far are March 6, May 1, and June 5, 2027. Registration deadlines are February 19, April 16, and May 21 respectively. Scores release March 19, May 14, and June 21, 2027. Every detail is on our dedicated SAT test dates page.
College Board typically publishes the following school year’s calendar in late spring. The 2027-2028 dates are expected around May 2027. If you are a current sophomore mapping out a testing plan, March and May of junior year are the two dates most families build around.
What are the SAT registration deadlines?
SAT regular registration closes about two weeks before each test date, and late registration closes four days after that. Every deadline expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
The four day late window is short and carries an added fee. It is also the point at which your choice of test center narrows sharply, because the convenient locations are already full. Two practical rules: register the day seats open for your preferred center, and treat the late deadline as a safety net rather than a plan.
When do SAT scores come out?
SAT scores are released about 13 days after each test date. August 22 scores posted September 4, September 12 scores post September 25, October 3 scores post October 16, November 7 scores post November 20, and December 5 scores post December 18, 2026.
Scores appear in your College Board account on the release date, usually in the morning Eastern Time. Colleges you designated at registration receive them within about ten days after that. Educators at your school see them a few days after students do.
Are the international SAT dates the same?
International SAT dates match the US calendar with one exception: the August administration is US only. Students testing outside the United States have seven dates rather than eight.
International registration deadlines follow the same two week pattern, but test center availability is far more limited and closes earlier. If you are testing abroad, register the day registration opens.
ACT Test Dates 2026-2027
The ACT now has a shorter core test with an optional science section. Registration deadlines fall about five weeks before test day, which is considerably earlier than the SAT.
| Test date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Photo / standby | Scores release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 19, 2026SaturdayCompleted | Aug 14, 2026 | Sept 1, 2026 | Sept 14, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Oct 17, 2026SaturdayNext ACT | Sept 11, 2026 | Sept 29, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Dec 12, 2026Saturday | Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 |
| Feb 27, 2027Saturday | Jan 22, 2027 | Feb 9, 2027 | Feb 22, 2027 | Mar 16, 2027 |
| Apr 10, 2027Saturday | Mar 5, 2027 | Mar 23, 2027 | Apr 5, 2027 | Apr 20, 2027 |
| Jun 12, 2027Saturday | May 7, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | Jun 7, 2027 | Jun 23, 2027 |
| Jul 10, 2027Saturday | Jun 4, 2027 | Jun 22, 2027 | Jul 5, 2027 | Jul 20, 2027 |
There are no ACT test centers scheduled in New York State for the July test date. New York students have six national ACT dates rather than seven.
ACT Dates and Deadlines: Direct Answers
When is the September 2026 ACT?
The September 2026 ACT is Saturday, September 19, 2026. Regular registration closed August 14 and late registration closed September 1. Scores are released October 6, 2026.
If you missed both deadlines, standby testing is sometimes available at centers with open seats. Standby is not guaranteed, requires a separate request through your ACT account, and carries a fee whether or not you are seated.
When is the October 2026 ACT?
The October 2026 ACT is Saturday, October 17, 2026. Regular registration closes Friday, September 11, 2026, late registration closes September 29, and scores are released October 27, 2026.
October 17 is the last ACT with scores back in time for most November 1 Early deadlines, and its registration deadline is only days away. This is the date to lock in now if your student is applying Early Decision or Early Action this fall.
When is the December 2026 ACT?
The December 2026 ACT is Saturday, December 12, 2026. Registration closes November 6, late registration closes November 29, and scores are released December 22, 2026.
December is the last ACT of the calendar year. For seniors it is the final chance to improve a score for Regular Decision. For juniors it is a reasonable first official attempt if fall preparation started in September.
What are the 2027 ACT test dates?
The 2027 ACT dates are February 27, April 10, June 12, and July 10, 2027. All four have published registration deadlines and score release dates.
The ACT publishes its calendar further ahead than the SAT, which is useful for families planning a two test sequence across junior year. Note again that New York does not offer the July administration.
What are the ACT registration deadlines?
ACT regular registration closes about five weeks before test day, and late registration closes about two and a half weeks before test day. The ACT also sets a separate photo upload and standby request deadline a few days before the test.
The five week lead time surprises families who are used to the SAT’s two week window. It is the most common reason a student misses an ACT date. If you are considering the ACT at all, put the registration deadline in your calendar, not the test date.
When do ACT scores come out?
Multiple choice ACT scores are typically released about two to three weeks after test day. September 19 scores post October 6, October 17 scores post October 27, and December 12 scores post December 22, 2026.
Writing scores, when the optional essay is taken, arrive later than multiple choice scores. Score release can extend past the posted date if answer documents need additional processing.
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 8/9 Dates 2026
When is the PSAT in 2026?
The PSAT/NMSQT is given inside a testing window that runs October 1 through October 30, 2026. There is no single national PSAT date. Each school picks its own day within that window.
Because the date is set by the school rather than College Board, the only reliable way to find yours is to ask your school counseling office. Most schools test on a weekday in mid October and publish the date in the fall calendar.
Why the PSAT matters more in junior year
The PSAT/NMSQT taken in eleventh grade is the qualifying test for National Merit. A sophomore sitting is practice. A junior sitting is the one that counts, and in a competitive state the cutoff can sit above 1450 on the PSAT scale. It is also the first score most families see that reflects the digital, adaptive format the real SAT uses.
PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10
PSAT 8/9 is offered in both the fall window, October 1 through October 30, 2026, and the spring window, March 1 through April 30, 2027. PSAT 10 is offered in the spring window only. Both are administered in school and neither counts for National Merit. Their value is diagnostic: they show where a student stands two or three years before the SAT matters.
What about PSAT dates for 2027?
The fall 2027 PSAT/NMSQT window has not been published yet. College Board has historically set it as roughly the first four weeks of October, and the spring 2027 in school window for PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 is March 1 through April 30, 2027.
Which Test Date Should Your Student Take?
Picking a date is a scheduling decision as much as an academic one. Three rules cover most families.
Count backward from the deadline
Find the earliest application deadline that matters, then choose a test date whose scores post at least a week before it. October 3 SAT and October 17 ACT are the last dates that clear November 1.
Leave room for a second sitting
Most students improve on their second official test. Plan two dates from the start rather than deciding after a disappointing first score, when the calendar may have run out.
Avoid your busiest weeks
A test date that lands the Saturday after three AP exams, a championship game, or a college visit trip is a worse date than one two weeks later, regardless of what the calendar allows.
Still deciding between the two tests? Our breakdown of the ACT and the SAT for 2026-2027 walks through the format differences that actually change scores, and our free practice tests and resources let you try both before committing.
What If You Miss a Registration Deadline?
Missing a deadline is common and usually recoverable. What you can do depends on which test and how late you are.
- Use the late registration window. The SAT gives you four extra days after the regular deadline. The ACT gives you about two and a half weeks. Both charge an added fee, and both leave you choosing from whatever test centers still have seats.
- Check for a waitlist or standby. If late registration has also closed, the ACT allows a standby request until a few days before the test. Standby costs money whether or not you get a seat, and admission depends entirely on no shows at that center.
- Look at a center further away. Seats open in surrounding towns long after your first choice fills. A thirty minute drive is a fair trade for keeping your testing timeline intact.
- Take the next date instead. Often the right answer. One missed date rarely breaks a plan that had two sittings built into it, which is the strongest argument for planning two from the beginning.
The Testing Timeline: When to Do What
- Sophomore year, springTake PSAT 10 or a full length practice SAT and ACT. The goal is a baseline and a decision about which test fits, not a score.
- Summer before junior yearBegin structured preparation. Summer is the only stretch with real time in it, and students who use it typically need fewer sittings later.
- Junior year, OctoberSit the PSAT/NMSQT. This is the administration that qualifies for National Merit.
- Junior year, winter and springTake a first official SAT or ACT, most often the March or May SAT or the February or April ACT. Leave the summer open for targeted work on weak areas.
- Summer before senior yearRetest if needed, or use the August SAT and finalize your college list.
- Senior year, September and OctoberLast realistic dates for Early Decision and Early Action. The October 3 SAT and October 17 ACT are the final two that clear November 1.
- Senior year, November and DecemberFinal sittings for Regular Decision. After the December dates the testing calendar is effectively closed for the Class of 2027.
New 2026 guides
Which Colleges Require ACT Science? →
Science is optional now. Official policies at 136 colleges, and whether you should take it.
The Classic Learning Test (CLT) in 2026 →
Where the CLT is accepted, how scores convert to the SAT and ACT, and who should take it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next SAT test date?
The next SAT is Saturday, November 7, 2026. The regular registration deadline is October 23, 2026, and late registration closes October 27, 2026. After that, the next SAT is Saturday, December 5, 2026.
When is the next ACT test date?
The next ACT is Saturday, October 17, 2026. Regular and late registration have closed, but standby requests are open through October 12. There is no November ACT this year, so the next ACT open for registration is Saturday, December 12, 2026, with a regular deadline of November 6, 2026.
How far in advance should I register?
Register as soon as registration opens for the date you want. Preferred test centers in Fairfield County, Westchester, and New York City fill early, and the SAT late window is only four days long. Registering early is how you control where you test, not just whether you test.
How long do SAT scores take?
About 13 days. Scores from the September 12, 2026 SAT post on September 25, and scores from the October 3 SAT post on October 16. Colleges you selected at registration receive them within roughly ten days after your release date.
How long do ACT scores take?
Two to three weeks for multiple choice scores. September 19, 2026 scores post October 6, and October 17 scores post October 27. Writing scores arrive later than multiple choice scores when the optional essay is taken.
Is there a January, February, or April SAT?
No. The national SAT calendar for 2026-2027 has eight dates: August, September, October, November, and December of 2026, then March, May, and June of 2027. There is a three month gap between the December and March administrations.
Can I still take the September 2026 ACT?
Only through standby. Regular registration closed August 14 and late registration closed September 1. A standby request can be submitted through your ACT account until September 14, but a seat is not guaranteed and the fee applies whether or not you are admitted to the test center.
Which fall date is the last one that works for Early Decision?
For most colleges with a November 1 deadline, the October 3 SAT and the October 17 ACT are the last administrations whose scores arrive in time. November SAT scores post November 20 and are accepted by some schools for Early Action if the college is listed as a score recipient at registration, but you should confirm that policy school by school rather than assume it.
Are the 2027-2028 dates out yet?
Not yet. College Board typically publishes the following year’s SAT calendar in late spring, so the 2027-2028 dates are expected around May 2027. ACT publishes further ahead, and its 2027 dates through July are already set. This page is updated as soon as either organization posts new dates.
Do I need to take both the SAT and the ACT?
No. Every college in the United States that considers test scores accepts either one, with no preference between them. Take a full length practice test of each, then commit to whichever produced the better result and the more comfortable experience. Preparing seriously for one test beats splitting your time across two.
What is the PSAT date for 2026?
There is no single national PSAT date. Schools administer the PSAT/NMSQT on a day of their choosing inside the October 1 through October 30, 2026 window. Ask your school counseling office for your specific date.
Do SAT and ACT deadlines expire at midnight?
SAT deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the posted date, regardless of where you live. If you are registering from the Pacific time zone, that is 8:59 p.m. local. ACT deadlines also close on the posted date, and the ACT sets a separate later deadline for photo upload and standby requests.
Ready to prep for one of these dates?
ConnectPrep students average a 200 point SAT increase with one on one tutoring, in person across Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and beyond, or live online nationwide. We build the plan around the date you picked, not a generic curriculum.
Keep planning: compare the two tests in ACT vs SAT for 2026-2027, work through our free practice tests and resources, see what a top score is actually worth in is a 1580 SAT score good enough, look at intensive options with SAT Bootcamp and ACT Bootcamp, or map the whole application year with college admissions counseling. New York families can also check Regents exam prep and NY State Test dates.