The next SAT is on 5 December 2026, and registration closes on 20 November. After that, there’s no weekend SAT until 6 March 2027. Miss the December date and you lose three months.
The dates are the same for students in the US, India, the UAE and everywhere else. Below you’ll find every 2026–27 test date with its deadlines, how to pick the right one for your grade, and how many weeks of preparation each date gives you.
SAT dates and deadlines for 2026–27
| Test date | Registration deadline | Late registration and changes deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 3 October 2026 | 18 September 2026 | 22 September 2026 |
| 7 November 2026 | 23 October 2026 | 27 October 2026 |
| 5 December 2026 | 20 November 2026 | 24 November 2026 |
| 6 March 2027 | 19 February 2027 | 23 February 2027 |
| 1 May 2027 | 16 April 2027 | 20 April 2027 |
| 5 June 2027 | 21 May 2027 | 25 May 2027 |
Three things to know about these deadlines:
- They close at 11:59 pm US Eastern time. In India and the UAE, that is the next morning. Don’t leave it to the last evening.
- Late registration costs extra. It is open until the second deadline, but College Board charges an additional fee.
- Need a device? If you plan to borrow a laptop from College Board, you must register and request it at least 30 days before test day.
If your school offers the SAT on a school day, it is held in a spring window (1 March to 30 April 2027), and the school handles registration.
How to pick your SAT date
The right date depends on your grade, your application deadlines, and your school exams. Many students take the SAT more than once, so plan for a first attempt and a retake.
| Your situation | Best date(s) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 12, applying this year | 5 December 2026 | Usually the last date whose scores can reach colleges in time for regular-decision deadlines in January. Check each college’s own deadline first. |
| Grade 11, first attempt | 6 March or 1 May 2027 | Gives you 4 to 6 months to prepare, plus scores in hand before the summer. |
| Retake, start of Grade 12 | August to October 2027 | College Board’s anticipated dates are 28 August, 18 September and 9 October 2027, still in time for early applications in November. |
| Grade 9 or 10 | No SAT yet | Take the PSAT if your school offers it, and build maths and reading skills now. |
Two checks before you register:
- Clashes with school exams. CBSE board exams usually run from February to April, and AP exams are held in May. Avoid an SAT date in the same weeks as your heaviest school exams.
- Score timing. Weekend SAT scores usually come out about 10 business days after the test. Sending them to colleges takes another 10 to 12 days (College Board). Count back from each college deadline.
How much preparation time each date gives you
The Digital SAT has two sections: Reading and Writing (54 questions, 64 minutes) and Maths (44 questions, 70 minutes), with a 10-minute break between them. Each section is split into two modules, and how you do on the first module sets the difficulty of the second (College Board). That’s why timed, full-length practice matters more than ever.
| Test date | Time from early November | What to focus on |
|---|---|---|
| 5 December 2026 | About 4 weeks | Sharpen, don’t start from scratch |
| 6 March 2027 | About 4 months | A full prep cycle |
| 1 May 2027 | About 6 months | A full prep cycle at a steady pace |
If you have 4 weeks (December SAT)
- Week 1: take a full-length practice test in College Board’s free Bluebook app. List the question types you missed most.
- Weeks 2–3: practise only those question types, in timed sets. Learn the built-in Desmos calculator if you haven’t used it.
- Week 4: take a second full-length test, review every mistake, then rest the day before.
If you have 4 to 6 months (March or May SAT)
- Month 1: diagnostic test, then rebuild basics (algebra, grammar rules, reading for main idea and evidence).
- Months 2–3: work through every question type in both sections, 5 to 6 hours a week.
- Final 4–6 weeks: one full-length practice test a week, with a careful review of each one.
Whichever date you choose, use official practice material first. Bluebook’s practice tests are built the same way as the real adaptive test.
How to register, step by step
- Create a College Board account on the SAT dates and deadlines page and choose “Register”.
- Pick a test centre early. Seats at popular centres can fill before the deadline.
- Upload a clear photo that matches your ID, and check which photo ID College Board accepts in your country. Outside the US, this is often a passport.
- Pay the fee shown at checkout. Students testing outside the US pay an extra international fee, and late registration costs more.
- Install Bluebook on the laptop or tablet you’ll use, and complete exam setup before test day. That step creates your admission ticket.
On test day, bring your charged device, your admission ticket and your photo ID. The test takes 2 hours 14 minutes plus the break, so plan for most of the morning.
Prepare with a live SAT instructor
Self-study works for some students. Others improve faster with a teacher who spots their weak areas and keeps them on schedule. Infyni’s live online SAT classes cover both sections of the Digital SAT:
- SAT English (Reading and Writing)
- SAT Maths
- Complete SAT course, both sections together
Not sure which one fits? Talk to our SAT team, and we’ll help you pick a course, a test date, and a study plan.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next SAT?
The next SAT is on 5 December 2026. Registration closes on 20 November, and late registration closes on 24 November.
Are SAT dates different in India and the UAE?
No. College Board uses the same weekend test dates and deadlines for students in the US and abroad.
Is there an SAT in January or February 2027?
No. After 5 December 2026, the next weekend SAT is on 6 March 2027.
How many times can I take the SAT?
You can take it more than once, and many students do. Plan your first attempt early enough to leave room for a retake before your application deadlines.
How long does the SAT take?
Testing time is 2 hours 14 minutes, plus a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing section and the Maths section.
When will I get my scores?
Scores from weekend tests usually come out about 10 business days after the test date.