ACT and SAT Testing Dates

By November 26, 2025ACT, College Counseling, SAT

A yellow highlighter rests on the page of a planner - the days of the week of a September monthly calendar are highlighted.

A little advanced planning can go a long way when it comes to admission testing.

One of the first steps in designing the most effective test prep plan is to determine a target test date. The October SAT might seem like an ideal time until you realize it’s the day after Homecoming! Sitting down early to compare the test dates with your personal and school calendar can save you the headache of trying to switch test dates or registration down the line.

Below, we’ve compiled a chronological list of the ACT and SAT test dates, registration deadlines, and score release dates. Dates marked with an asterisk (*) are anticipated.

Need help signing up for one of these tests? Click here to learn everything you need to know about registering for the SAT and ACT.

Test DateTestRegistration DeadlineLate RegistrationMultiple Choice Scores Available
August 23, 2025SATAugust 8, 2025August 12, 2025September 5, 2025
September 6, 2025ACTAugust 1, 2025August 19, 2025September 23, 2025
September 13, 2025SATAugust 29, 2025September 2, 2025September 26, 2025
October 4, 2025SATSeptember 19, 2025September 23, 2025October 17, 2025
October 18, 2025ACTSeptember 12, 2025September 30, 2025October 28, 2025
November 8, 2025SATOctober 24, 2025October 28, 2025November 21, 2025
December 6, 2025SATNovember 21, 2025November 25, 2025December 19, 2025
December 13, 2025ACTNovember 7, 2025November 24, 2025December 30, 2025
February 14, 2026ACTJanuary 7, 2026January 21, 2026March 3, 2026
March 14, 2026SATFebruary 27, 2026March 3, 2026March 27, 2026*
April 11, 2026ACTMarch 6, 2026March 24, 2026April 21, 2026
May 2, 2026SATApril 17, 2026April 21, 2026May 15, 2026*
June 6, 2026SATMay 22, 2026May 26, 2026June 19, 2026*
June 13, 2026ACTMay 8, 2026May 27, 2026June 23, 2026
July 11, 2026ACT (Not Offered in NY)June 5, 2026June 24, 2026July 21, 2026
Test DateTestRegistration DeadlineLate RegistrationMultiple Choice Scores Available
August 15, 2026*SATJuly 31, 2026*August 4, 2026*August 28, 2026*
September 12, 2026*SATAugust 28, 2026*September 4, 2026*September 25, 2026*
September 19, 2026ACTAugust 14, 2026September 1, 2026September 29, 2026*
October 3, 2026*SATSeptember 18, 2026*September 22, 2026*October 16, 2026*
October 17, 2026ACTSeptember 11, 2026September 29, 2026October 27, 2026*
November 7, 2026*SATOctober 23, 2026*October 27, 2026*November 20, 2026*
December 5, 2026*SATNovember 20, 2026*November 24, 2026*December 18, 2026*
December 12, 2026ACTNovember 6, 2026November 29, 2026December 22, 2026*
February 27, 2027ACTJanuary 22, 2027February 9, 2027March 9, 2027*
March 13, 2027*SATFebruary 26, 2027*March 2, 2027*March 26, 2027*
April 10, 2027ACTMarch 5, 2027March 23, 2027April 20, 2027*
May 1, 2027*SATApril 16, 2027*April 20, 2027*May 14, 2027*
June 5, 2027*SATMay 21, 2027*May 25, 2027*June 18, 2027*
June 12, 2027ACTMay 7, 2027May 25, 2027June 22, 2027*
July 10, 2027ACT (Not Offered in NY)June 4, 2027June 22, 2027July 20, 2027*

Once you’ve selected a target test date, you can start thinking about how far in advance you should begin your preparation. Download our guide to popular prep timelines for more information.

Download Compass Testing Timelines

Popular testing locations fill up, so savvy families make sure to register for the ACT or SAT early!

To register for the ACT, click here.

To register for the SAT, click here.

In the table that follows, we compare fees and policies for the ACT and SAT.

Policy or FeeACTSAT
Sunday testing for religious reasonsAvailableAvailable
Standard Fee$65
+ $25 for optional Writing
+ $4 for optional Science		$68
Late registration fee$38$38
Change test date fee$44N/A: must cancel and re-register
Change test center fee$44$29
Cancel registration feen/a$34 if canceled by deadline;
$44 for canceling after the change deadline
Standby/Waitlist fee$69Currently unavailable
Included score reports44
Additional reports cost$19 each$15 each
Score choiceper test dateper test date
Cancel scoresUntil Thursday after testUntil Thursday after test
Calculator4-Function, Graphic, and Scientific OK but CAS not permittedDesmos, 4-Function, Graphic, and Scientific OK but CAS not permitted
Essay Verification$61 for multiple choice; $61 for writing test$55
Copy of Test$32 ($40 if the order is placed after the test)Currently unavailable
Ash Kramer

About Ash Kramer

With a career in test prep and higher education that began in the late 90s, Ash has held a variety of educational roles from tutor and writing instructor to administrator. She serves as the Chief Product Officer at Compass, where she is lucky to lead a brilliant team creating the very best digital learning materials.

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