SAT & ACT Test Dates 2026–27 (with Registration Deadlines)

By the Dormbound team · Updated

All 2026–27 U.S. SAT and ACT test dates with their registration and late registration deadlines, plus when to test and whether to send your scores.

2026–27 SAT dates

SAT test dateRegistration deadlineLate registration
Sat, August 22, 2026Aug 7Aug 11
Sat, September 12, 2026Aug 28Sep 1
Sat, October 3, 2026Sep 18Sep 22
Sat, November 7, 2026Oct 23Oct 27
Sat, December 5, 2026Nov 20Nov 24
Sat, March 6, 2027Feb 19Feb 23
Sat, May 1, 2027Apr 16Apr 20
Sat, June 5, 2027May 21May 25

Register at College Board. Late registration costs extra, and test centers fill up — register early.

2026–27 ACT dates

ACT test dateRegistration deadlineLate registration
Sat, September 19, 2026Aug 14Sep 1
Sat, October 17, 2026Sep 11Sep 29
Sat, December 12, 2026Nov 6Nov 29
Sat, February 27, 2027Jan 22Feb 9
Sat, April 10, 2027Mar 5Mar 23
Sat, June 12, 2027May 7May 25
Sat, July 10, 2027Jun 4Jun 22

Register at ACT.org.

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Most students take their first official test in the spring of junior year, after a practice PSAT, and a second in the summer or early fall of senior year. That leaves time to retake before Early Action and Early Decision deadlines (usually November 1). For Regular Decision, the last test that reliably reaches colleges is usually December.

SAT or ACT?

Colleges accept either and don't prefer one. The SAT is fully digital, about two hours, and adapts to your answers; the ACT has a faster pace and an optional science section. Take a timed practice test of each and pick the one where you score higher.

Superscoring and test-optional colleges

Many colleges superscore: they combine your best section scores from different test dates, which is why a retake rarely hurts. At test-optional colleges, send scores if they're at or above the middle of that college's range — you can check each college's range on its page in our college directory. Several selective colleges have brought back testing requirements, so check the current policy on each college's website.

Dates are the U.S. national schedule published by College Board and ACT. Always confirm on their sites before registering.