SAT and ACT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines for 2026-27

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.

Last verified July 19, 2026.

SAT Test Dates 2026-27

The SAT is digital and offered on these dates. All registration deadlines end at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

College Board uses the late-registration date as the deadline for late registration, regular cancellation, and most registration changes. Additional fees apply after the regular registration deadline.

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.

The score dates are when ACT expects score release to begin. An individual student's results may arrive later. ACT says scores are generally released approximately two to four weeks after the test.

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 says national July testing will become available in New York beginning in 2027, with test centers added as they become available, so New York students should confirm options in MyACT before making plans.

Students who miss late registration may have a later standby-request option, but seats and accommodations are not guaranteed. Check the official ACT schedule rather than assuming standby will be available.

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. Do not rely on the October 17 ACT for a November 1 deadline unless the college explicitly confirms that it accepts that administration or allows the score to arrive after the application. 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.

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.
• Start accommodations early. An accommodation used through an IEP or 504 Plan at school does not automatically carry over to a national SAT or ACT administration. Students must follow the testing organization's approval process and may need help from a school official. For the ACT, accommodations requests and appeals are due by the regular registration deadline, so September ACT accommodations are due August 14. ACT may also change the student's test center or testing format based on where the approved accommodation can be provided.
• 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:

• College Board: SAT Dates and Deadlines
• ACT: National Test Dates

Both organizations can adjust dates and deadlines. Confirm at the official site before registering.

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