2026-27 SAT Dates: A Parent’s Guide to Registration, Deadlines, Scores & What to Bring

The SAT is offered on eight dates across the 2026-27 school year, and each one carries its own registration deadline, its own change-and-cancellation window, and its own timeline for scores to arrive. For most families the test date itself is the easy part. What actually determines whether the year goes smoothly is whether the registration deadline, the college application deadlines, and the possibility of a retake are all lined up before your student ever sits down at a laptop.

This guide walks through the confirmed 2026-27 SAT calendar directly from College Board, how registration works, what changed with the move to a fully digital test, and exactly what your student should (and should not) bring on test day. Every date below comes from College Board’s own SAT Suite pages, linked in the Sources section at the end.

2026-27 SAT Dates and Registration Deadlines

College Board has confirmed all eight SAT Weekend dates for the 2026-27 school year, five in fall 2026 and three in spring 2027. The Aug. 22, 2026 administration has already taken place. Registration is open for the remaining fall 2026 dates. All deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, and international registration carries an added fee.

A few things worth knowing about that table. The “Best For” column is our editorial read on timing, not language from College Board, and it will not fit every student’s situation, particularly if a target school has an unusual deadline or your student is applying under a non-standard admissions plan. Always confirm the specific deadline against each college’s own site.

The middle deadline column covers three different actions under one date: changing your test center or test date, canceling a registration, and registering late (for an additional fee). College Board does not publish a separate, later late-registration date, all three share the same cutoff shown above.

Score release dates are confirmed by College Board only through the December 2026 test. As of this writing, College Board has not yet published score release dates for the March, May, or June 2027 administrations. In general, College Board says most digital SAT scores are released two to four weeks after test day. Registration fees ($68 for U.S. test takers, plus a late fee and other add-ons noted below) are published by College Board as current through December 2026 and are subject to change for the spring 2027 dates, so confirm the exact fee at the time your student registers.

Which SAT Date Should My Student Choose?

There is no single right answer here, the best date depends on your student’s grade, their application plans, and how much room they want for a second attempt. A few common situations:

How SAT Registration Works

Registration happens entirely through a College Board account on the My SAT dashboard. A few things to have ready:

• A College Board account. Your student creates one if they do not already have one from the PSAT or an earlier SAT registration.
• A photo. College Board requires a photo as part of registration, with specific requirements for what is acceptable (recent, clear, and matching how your student will look on test day).
• A form of payment for the registration fee.
• A test center choice, found and selected through College Board’s Test Center Search tool. Popular centers fill up, so registering close to the deadline narrows the options.

Registrations can be changed or canceled after the fact, and a makeup test is available if something goes wrong on the original date. Any change to test center, test date, or cancellation uses the same deadline shown in the calendar table above.

Students who need to borrow a device from College Board must register and request it at least 30 days before test day, which is earlier than the standard registration deadline.

Students with documented disabilities need College Board approval for accommodations before they can register to use them, and approval can take up to seven weeks, so this is worth starting early rather than close to a registration deadline. Once approved, your student confirms the accommodation during registration itself. Changes to an approved accommodation must be requested no later than five days before test day, and accommodations cannot be added or waived on test day itself. College Board’s accommodations site (linked in Sources) is the right starting point for this process.

What Is Different About the Digital SAT?

The SAT has been fully digital since 2024, taken through College Board’s own testing application, Bluebook, rather than on paper. A few things that changed with the shift:

Format and length. The digital SAT runs 2 hours and 14 minutes of actual testing time (64 minutes for Reading and Writing, 70 minutes for Math), plus a 10-minute break between the two sections, for about 2 hours and 24 minutes total. Once check-in, instructions, and device setup are factored in, most students are at the test center closer to three hours.

Each of the two sections (Reading and Writing, and Math) is split into two modules. The test is adaptive at the section level: how a student performs on the first module of a section determines whether the second module is somewhat harder or somewhat easier, which is part of how the digital format keeps the test shorter than the old paper version while still measuring across a wide range of ability.

Bluebook and devices. Students install Bluebook on their own device ahead of time and complete a practice setup before test day. Approved devices include Windows and Mac laptops, iPads, and school-managed Chromebooks with verified mode enabled, but not phones. Laptop screens must be at least 10 inches and tablet screens at least 8 inches, with 1 GB of free storage (250 MB on iPad) and at least 3 hours of battery. External keyboards are not permitted with laptops.

Built-in calculator. Every student gets a Desmos calculator built directly into Bluebook for the Math section, with both graphing and scientific modes. This means a student does not need to own a handheld calculator to take the test. More on calculator rules in the checklist below.

What Should My Student Bring to the SAT?

Based on College Board’s current test-day guidance, here is what actually matters to have ready.

Required:

• A fully charged testing device with Bluebook installed and the exam setup already completed
• The up-to-date admission ticket from the Bluebook app (College Board says a printed copy is preferred, and it becomes available five days before test day)
• Acceptable photo ID. This must be a physical document, not a photo of one on a phone. College Board accepts a government-issued driver’s license or non-driver ID, an official school-issued student ID from the school your student currently attends, a government-issued passport or U.S. Global Entry card, or a government-issued military or national ID. A student under 21 testing at a U.S. center who has none of the above can use an SAT Student ID Form prepared by the school they currently attend, or by a notary if homeschooled. Students 21 and older need a government-issued photo ID, a school ID is not accepted at that age.
• The College Board username and password used to register
• Pencils or pens for scratch work (this is not a paper answer sheet, it is just for working problems out by hand)

Recommended:

• A charging cable or portable charger, since the device needs to hold its charge through setup, testing, and the break
• A backup testing device, if one is available, in case the primary device fails
• A drink or snack for the 10-minute break between sections
• A bag or backpack to hold everything, since bags typically are not allowed at the testing desk itself

Optional:

• An analog or simple digital watch with no audible alarm. Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart glasses are prohibited and must be stored away with phones
• An approved handheld calculator, if your student prefers a physical calculator to the built-in Desmos tool (see the calculator rules below)

Calculator rules

Students can use the Desmos calculator built into Bluebook for the entire Math section, and many students use nothing else. Students who prefer a handheld calculator can bring one, but the rules are specific. Allowed: four-function, scientific, and graphing calculators that do not include a computer algebra system (CAS). College Board no longer publishes a list of specifically approved graphing calculator models, it publishes only a prohibited list and permits anything not on it. Not allowed, by name: the TI-Nspire CAS and TI-Nspire CX II CAS, any Texas Instruments model with CAS in the name or starting with TI-89 or TI-92, the HP Prime and HP 48GII, any Hewlett Packard model starting with 40G, 49G, or 50G, and several named Casio ClassPad and Algebra fx models. A widely used non-CAS graphing calculator like the TI-84 Plus CE is not on that prohibited list and so is permitted, but it is not individually named as approved, so confirm your student’s specific model against the current prohibited list rather than assuming any TI-84 is automatically fine. Also prohibited: phone calculator apps, calculators with a QWERTY keyboard, any device with wireless, Bluetooth, or cellular capability, and any calculator with a camera or audio or video recording function. If your student already owns a calculator from a math class, verify the exact model against College Board’s current calculator policy before test day, rules on specific models can change.

What Should Students Not Bring to the SAT?

College Board’s device and conduct rules rule out a short but important list of items. Do not bring or use during testing:

• A phone as the testing device, phones are not an approved Bluebook device under any circumstance
• Any calculator with CAS functionality, a QWERTY keyboard, wireless or Bluetooth capability, or a camera or recording function (see the calculator rules above)
• Electronic writing pads, pen-input devices, or any tablet or laptop other than the approved testing device itself
• An external keyboard, if testing on a laptop
• Notes, books, or reference materials of any kind
• Smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, and any wired or wireless earbuds or headphones, unless approved as an accommodation
• Scratch paper brought from home, testing centers provide what is needed for scratch work

The rule here is national, not per center. College Board requires test staff to do one of three things: collect and hold phones and other prohibited devices including during breaks, require students to place them in backpacks away from their desks including during breaks, or deny admission to anyone in possession of a prohibited device. Which of the three a center uses is up to that center. The consequence is serious: if a prohibited device makes noise, or your student is seen with it at any point including during the break, they may be dismissed immediately, their scores may be canceled, and the device may be confiscated and its contents inspected.

When Do SAT Scores Come Out?

For the fall 2026 test dates, College Board has published these exact score release dates:

College Board has not yet published exact score release dates for the March, May, or June 2027 test dates. Its general guidance is that most digital SAT scores are released two to four weeks after test day, so plan around that range until specific dates are confirmed closer to spring.

Scores appear in your student’s College Board account. Whether a specific college has actually received a score by its deadline is a separate question from when College Board releases it, since sending scores to schools is its own step (the first four score reports are free if ordered within 9 days after test day, additional reports cost extra). If a deadline is close, it is worth confirming directly with the admissions office that a report has arrived rather than assuming the release date is enough.

What Should Parents Do After Scores Arrive?

This is the part that actually separates a useful testing plan from a stressful one.

Do not treat one score as the final word. A single sitting is one data point, not a verdict on your student. Look at it next to the context that matters: how it compares to the range typically admitted at the schools on your student’s list, and how it compares to your student’s own PSAT or practice-test trend.

Decide deliberately whether a retake is worth it. A retake makes sense when there is a specific, plausible reason to expect improvement (more preparation time, a bad testing day, an unusually difficult section) and when there is still a date on the calendar that fits the application timeline. It makes less sense as a reflex, especially once a score is already solidly inside a target school’s typical range.

Understand what “test optional” and “test blind” each actually mean before deciding whether to submit a score. Test optional means a school will consider a score if submitted but will not penalize an application without one. Test blind means a school will not look at a score at all, even if it is submitted. These are different policies with different implications, and they vary school by school and can change year to year, so check each specific college’s current policy directly rather than relying on a label from last year’s admissions cycle.

Focus on application strategy, not chasing a perfect number. Once a score is within a school’s typical range, additional points rarely move the needle as much as the rest of the application. Time is often better spent on the essay, the list of schools, and the financial aid forms than on a fourth attempt at the SAT.

Does the SAT Still Matter Everywhere?

Testing policy is one of the fastest-moving parts of admissions right now, and it is genuinely different school by school. Some highly selective colleges have reinstated SAT or ACT requirements in the past two years, while the large majority of four-year colleges remain test-optional or test-blind. Because this changes from one admissions cycle to the next and even one college to the next, we cover it in full, with the current list of which schools require scores again and why, in a dedicated guide: Is Test-Optional Going Away? What Parents Need to Know for 2026-2027. The short version for planning purposes: prepare for and take the test regardless of a school’s current policy, then decide where to send scores once you know each specific school’s requirement.

Test-Day Essentials and Prep Resources

Before spending money on anything, know that College Board’s own practice tools are free. Bluebook itself includes full-length practice tests that match the real digital format, and College Board partners directly with Khan Academy for free, personalized SAT practice built around a student’s actual PSAT or practice-test results. For most students, that combination is a genuinely strong starting point, not a consolation prize.

A structured paid course is not a requirement, but it can help a student who wants more accountability or a live class format than free tools provide.

For test day itself, most students need nothing beyond what is already listed in the checklist above. Two items from College Board’s own recommended list are worth having on hand if your student does not already own them:

Parent FAQ

When are the 2026-27 SAT dates?

Aug. 22, Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, and Dec. 5, 2026, then March 6, May 1, and June 5, 2027. Full registration deadlines and score release dates for each are in the calendar table above.

Is the SAT digital now?

Yes. The SAT has been fully digital since 2024, taken through College Board’s Bluebook app on a laptop, Chromebook, or iPad rather than on paper. It runs 2 hours and 14 minutes of testing time, shorter than the old paper SAT.

Can my student bring a calculator to the SAT?

Yes, as an option, not a requirement. A Desmos calculator is already built into Bluebook for the Math section. Students who prefer a handheld calculator can bring an approved model, most graphing, scientific, and four-function calculators are allowed, but calculators with a computer algebra system, a QWERTY keyboard, or wireless capability are not.

What should students not bring to the SAT?

Phones as a testing device, unapproved calculators (CAS models, anything with a QWERTY keyboard or wireless capability), external keyboards for laptops, notes or reference materials, and outside scratch paper. Test centers set their own rules for storing phones during testing, so check the specific center’s policy in advance.

When do SAT scores come out?

For fall 2026 test dates, College Board has published exact release dates, generally about two weeks after test day. For spring 2027 dates, College Board has not yet published exact dates, its general guidance is two to four weeks after testing.

Sources

College Board SAT Suite, 2026-27 SAT dates and deadlines ·
College Board SAT Suite, score release dates ·
College Board SAT Suite, registration overview ·
College Board SAT Suite, test fees ·
College Board SAT Suite, what to bring on test day ·
College Board SAT Suite, ID requirements ·
College Board SAT Suite, calculator policy ·
College Board Bluebook, device requirements ·
College Board Accommodations, SAT accommodations

Reviewed for accuracy against College Board’s official pages and updated August 2026 by the UniversityParent Team. Registration deadlines, fees, and policies can change, always confirm current details directly with College Board before your student registers or tests.

UniversityParent Team