Every fall, some family discovers on a Tuesday that the registration deadline for the test their senior needed was Monday.
This page exists so that family is not yours. Both tables below were verified against College Board and ACT in July 2026. Dates, deadlines, and test-center availability can change, so confirm at the official site before you register.
SAT Test Dates 2026-27
The SAT is digital and offered on these dates. All registration deadlines end at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
| Test date | Registration deadline | Late registration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2026 | August 7 | August 11 |
| September 12, 2026 | August 28 | September 1 |
| October 3, 2026 | September 18 | September 22 |
| November 7, 2026 | October 23 | October 27 |
| December 5, 2026 | November 20 | November 24 |
| March 6, 2027 | February 19 | February 23 |
| May 1, 2027 | April 16 | April 20 |
| June 5, 2027 | May 21 | May 25 |
Two details worth knowing: students who need to borrow a device from College Board must both register and submit the device request at least 30 days before test day, and Sunday testing exists only through religious accommodation requests.
ACT Test Dates 2026-27
The ACT's national test dates cover the United States, US territories, and Puerto Rico. ACT deadlines end at 11:59 p.m. Central, a detail that has surprised more than one East Coast family.
| Test date | Registration deadline | Late registration |
|---|---|---|
| September 19, 2026 | August 14 | September 1 |
| October 17, 2026 | September 11 | September 29 |
| December 12, 2026 | November 6 | November 29 |
| February 27, 2027 | January 22 | February 9 |
| April 10, 2027 | March 5 | March 23 |
| June 12, 2027 | May 7 | May 25 |
| July 10, 2027 | June 4 | June 22 |
Notice the pattern difference: ACT regular deadlines land about five weeks before test day, much earlier than the SAT's two weeks. The September 19 ACT deadline is August 14, which arrives while most families are still in summer mode. ACT also notes that July testing becomes available for New York students starting in 2027; if you are registering in New York, check date availability in your MyACT account.
How to Choose Dates That Fit Your Deadlines
The right question is not "which date is convenient?" It is "when does my student need scores in hand?"
Work backward from the earliest application deadline:
- Applying Early Action or Early Decision, often around November 1? August and September are the safest testing windows. The October 3 SAT is scheduled to release scores on October 16, which may work for many early deadlines. The October 17 ACT is much tighter: its initial score-release date is October 27, and not every score is guaranteed to arrive on the first release date. Before choosing an October test, check whether each college accepts self-reported scores and the latest testing date it allows for that application round. November and December are generally too late for a November 1 deadline. Our guide to when test scores should be ready walks through the timing school by school.
- Applying Regular Decision, often in January? Earlier fall dates provide the most breathing room, but December testing can still work for many colleges. The December SAT is scheduled to release scores on December 18, and the December ACT has an initial release date of December 22. Check whether each college accepts self-reported scores and whether it sets a separate deadline for testing materials.
- A junior planning ahead? The spring dates exist for you. A first sitting in March or April of junior year leaves the whole fall for a stronger retake, which is exactly the pattern that makes senior year calmer. If your student is still choosing between tests, start with how to decide between the SAT and ACT.
And before booking a retake reflexively, read how many times students should actually take these tests. More sittings is not automatically better.
Deadlines like these are exactly what CollegeHound tracks. CollegeHound is free, and families keep test dates, registration deadlines, and notes about each college's testing policy in one shared place, so nobody discovers a deadline on the wrong Tuesday. Start free with CollegeHound.
Registration Tips That Save Money and Stress
- Register the week you pick the date. Both tests charge an additional late-registration fee, and nearby or preferred test centers may fill. Once your student has chosen a reasonable date, there is usually no advantage to waiting.
- Mind the timezone. SAT deadlines are Eastern; ACT deadlines are Central. Set a calendar reminder two days before the actual deadline and this never matters.
- Check the college's policy, not just the calendar. Some colleges state the latest test date they accept for each application round. That policy, not the score-release estimate, is the real deadline.
- Test-optional does not mean test-irrelevant. If your student's schools are test-optional, the decision about whether to test at all deserves its own thought. Start with whether to submit scores to test-optional colleges.
Sources
Dates and deadlines verified July 2026 against:
Both organizations can adjust dates and deadlines. Confirm at the official site before registering.
Track test dates, deadlines, and each college's testing notes in one shared place. Scout, our AI guide, is the paid upgrade.