2026 SAT Test Dates, Registration Deadlines, and Score Release Windows

TL;DR: There are 8 Digital SAT administrations in 2026, running from March 14 through December 5. The US domestic registration fee is $68; international testing costs more (verify on satsuite.collegeboard.org). Score release typically arrives 13–15 days after the test date. Regular registration usually closes about 4 weeks before each test, with a late-registration window extending roughly 2 more weeks closer to test day.

2026 Digital SAT calendar

Test Date	Regular Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline	Score Release (estimated)
Saturday, March 14, 2026	Friday, February 13, 2026	Tuesday, February 24, 2026	March 27–29, 2026
Saturday, May 2, 2026	Friday, April 3, 2026	Tuesday, April 14, 2026	May 15–17, 2026
Saturday, June 6, 2026	Friday, May 8, 2026	Tuesday, May 19, 2026	June 19–21, 2026
Saturday, August 22, 2026	Friday, July 24, 2026	Tuesday, August 4, 2026	September 4–6, 2026
Saturday, September 12, 2026	Friday, August 14, 2026	Tuesday, August 25, 2026	September 25–27, 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026	Friday, September 4, 2026	Tuesday, September 15, 2026	October 16–18, 2026
Saturday, November 7, 2026	Friday, October 9, 2026	Tuesday, October 20, 2026	November 20–22, 2026
Saturday, December 5, 2026	Friday, November 6, 2026	Tuesday, November 17, 2026	December 18–20, 2026

Deadlines and score-release dates are estimated based on College Board's standard 4-week regular / 2-week late / ~2-week score-release pattern. Verify the exact dates on satsuite.collegeboard.org before registering.

How to choose a test date

The right test date depends on whether you are a US junior planning ahead, an international student syncing with university deadlines, or a senior planning a retake. Three concrete planning rules:

1. US juniors: aim for March, May, or June

Take your first SAT in spring of junior year. That gives you a baseline before summer prep and leaves the August–November administrations open for one or two retakes before early-decision and regular-decision deadlines. Most early-decision deadlines fall on November 1, so the October 3 administration (scores released around October 16–18) is typically the last safe ED-friendly date. The November 7 sitting can work for regular decision but is tight for ED.

2. International students: register at least 5 weeks out

International seats fill faster than US seats, and some country/center combinations are competitive. Treat the regular deadline as advisory — you should be registered with a seat confirmed at least 5 weeks before your target date, not on the deadline itself. The international fee is higher than the US $68 base; check the exact total for your country on satsuite.collegeboard.org.

3. Retake scheduling: leave a 6-week gap

If you took a recent administration and want to retake, score release lands ~2 weeks after test day. Decide on a retake date that gives you at least 4 more weeks of targeted prep after seeing your score breakdown. That works out to a ~6-week minimum gap between consecutive sittings.

What happens if you miss the regular deadline

You have two options:

• Register late. Late registration is open for roughly 2 weeks after the regular deadline, with an additional late fee on top of the $68 base. Same test date, same content, just more expensive.
• Skip to the next administration. If late fees plus seat scarcity make the date impractical, the next test is usually 4–8 weeks out depending on where you fall in the calendar.

There is no "walk-in" registration for the Digital SAT. Bluebook requires a registered account tied to a confirmed seat. Showing up at a center without registration will not work.

Fee waivers (US-citizen-only)

US citizens and eligible non-citizens who meet income criteria can request SAT fee waivers through their high school counselor. Waivers cover the base $68 fee and provide additional benefits including free score sends. Fee waivers are not available to international test-takers — eligibility is tied to US enrollment and household income criteria, and the waiver request is handled at the school level, not directly through College Board.

Score release timing relative to admissions deadlines

The 13–15 day score release window matters most when matching test dates to application deadlines.

• Early-decision / early-action (typically Nov 1): The October 3 administration is the last date with reliable score arrival before November 1. The November 7 sitting will not deliver scores before ED deadlines.
• Regular decision (typically Jan 1–15): The November 7 and December 5 administrations both fit, though December 5 scores arrive close to the deadline (around December 18–20).
• UC and CSU (varies): University of California and California State University deadlines are typically November 30; the October 3 administration is the safe last date.

How the test itself works

If you have not taken the Digital SAT before, two structural facts shape how to prep:

• The test is module-adaptive — your Module 1 performance routes you into an easier or harder Module 2. See Digital SAT adaptive routing.
• Scoring uses Item Response Theory, not raw-correct counting. See IRT scoring explained.

Total testing time is 2 hours 14 minutes plus one 10-minute break — see Digital SAT timing breakdown.

FAQ

Are 2026 SAT dates the same internationally?

Yes. Since the global digital transition, the SAT is administered on the same dates worldwide. International testing centers run the same Digital SAT on the same Saturday calendar, though local availability and seat capacity vary by country.

What's the fee for the SAT internationally?

The US domestic SAT fee is $68. International testing carries an additional regional fee on top of the base registration. The exact international total varies by country and is published on satsuite.collegeboard.org — check it before registering rather than relying on a third-party figure.

Can I cancel my SAT after registering?

Yes, up to a published deadline before the test date, with a partial refund of the registration fee. Cancellation after the deadline forfeits the fee. Score cancellation (after taking the test) is a separate process with its own short window.

When are the 2026 PSAT dates?

The PSAT/NMSQT is administered by individual schools, not centrally by College Board. Schools select a date within the official PSAT testing window, which typically falls in mid-October. Ask your school counselor for your specific PSAT date — it is not nationally fixed.

When should a junior take their first SAT?

Most US juniors take their first SAT in March, May, or June of junior year. This leaves the August, September, October, and November administrations of senior fall for a retake before regular-decision college deadlines.

Last updated: May 27, 2026.