ACT and SAT Testing Dates

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 22, 2026SATAugust 7, 2026August 11, 2026September 4, 2026
September 12, 2026SATAugust 28, 2026September 1, 2026September 25, 2026
September 19, 2026ACTAugust 14, 2026September 1, 2026October 6, 2026
October 3, 2026SATSeptember 18, 2026September 22, 2026October 16, 2026
October 17, 2026ACTSeptember 11, 2026September 29, 2026October 27, 2026
November 7, 2026SATOctober 23, 2026October 27, 2026November 20, 2026
December 5, 2026SATNovember 20, 2026November 24, 2026December 18, 2026
December 12, 2026ACTNovember 6, 2026November 29, 2026December 22, 2026
February 27, 2027ACTJanuary 22, 2027February 9, 2027March 16, 2027
March 6, 2027SATFebruary 19, 2027February 23, 2027March 19, 2027*
April 10, 2027ACTMarch 5, 2027March 23, 2027April 20, 2027
May 1, 2027SATApril 16, 2027April 20, 2027May 14, 2027*
June 5, 2027SATMay 21, 2027May 25, 2027June 18, 2027*
June 12, 2027ACTMay 7, 2027May 25, 2027June 22, 2027
July 10, 2027ACTJune 4, 2027June 22, 2027July 20, 2027
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

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 FeeSATACT
Standard Fee$68$70
+ $25 for optional Writing
+ $5 for optional Science
Late registration fee$38$42
Change test date feeN/A: must cancel and re-register$49
Change test center fee$34$49
Cancel registration fee$34 if canceled by deadline;
$44 for canceling after the change deadline		n/a
Standby/Waitlist fee$0$75
Included score reports44
Additional reports cost$15 each$20 each
Score choiceper test dateper test date
Cancel scoresUntil one week after testUntil Thursday after test
CalculatorDesmos, 4-Function, Graphic, and Scientific OK but CAS not permitted4-Function, Graphic, and Scientific OK but CAS not permitted
Essay Verification$55$67 for multiple choice; $67 for writing test
Copy of TestCurrently unavailable$36 ($44 if the order is placed after the test)
Alternative day testing for religious reasonsAvailableAvailable
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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