Every 2026 SAT test date with its regular and late registration deadlines, plus the cost difference between registering on time and registering late. The deadlines fall about 17 days before each test.
All dates from the College Board. Set your reminder for the regular deadline column.
| Test date | Regular deadline | Late deadline (+$38) |
|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2026 | May 22, 2026 | May 26, 2026 |
| August 22, 2026 | August 7, 2026 | August 12, 2026 |
| September 12, 2026 | August 28, 2026 | September 2, 2026 |
| October 3, 2026 | September 18, 2026 | September 23, 2026 |
| November 7, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | October 28, 2026 |
| December 5, 2026 | November 20, 2026 | November 25, 2026 |
| March 13, 2027 | February 26, 2027 | March 3, 2027 |
| May 1, 2027 | April 16, 2027 | April 21, 2027 |
| June 5, 2027 | May 21, 2027 | May 26, 2027 |
Source: College Board, SAT dates and deadlines. The late deadline runs roughly four days after the regular deadline. Adding $38 to the standard $68 registration brings late registration to $106.
Pick the test date you are targeting, find its regular deadline in the table above, and set the reminder for that date. Pre-reminders fire 7, 3, and 1 days before, so the deadline does not arrive without warning.
Reminder pre-set for the next regular deadline (August 7, 2026 — for the August 22 SAT). Change the date to whichever cycle you are targeting:
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
The $38 late fee is fixed — it does not get smaller because you are only a day late. For a student registering for two SATs (a junior-year practice attempt and a senior-year final score), missing both regular deadlines costs $76 in late fees alone.
The SAT does not have ACT-style standby testing. After the late deadline closes, that test date is off the table. You wait for the next national SAT — typically four to six weeks later — and register on time.
For a senior applying to colleges with early-action deadlines in November, missing the October test date and pushing to December can mean missing those EA deadlines entirely. Set the reminder when you decide on the date, not when you start studying. See missed exam registration deadline for the full recovery playbook.
For juniors, the spring SAT (March, May, June) is the standard first attempt. You take it once, see your score, and decide whether to retake in fall. The June test is popular because it sits right after AP exams, when test prep momentum is high.
For seniors, the August or October SAT is the practical last chance for scores to arrive before early action and early decision deadlines, which usually fall November 1 or November 15. The November and December SATs work for regular decision but not for EA.
Once you have picked a date, find its regular deadline in the table above and set the exam registration reminder. That is the date that determines whether you pay $68 or $106.
Registration for the 2026–27 testing year opens in early summer 2026, typically by mid-July. You can register for any test date from August 2026 through June 2027 once registration opens. Registering as soon as possible secures your preferred test center.
The standard SAT registration fee is $68 for the 2026–27 testing year. Late registration adds $38, bringing the total to $106. Test center change fees and score report fees are separate. Fee waivers are available for eligible students through their school counselor.
Register at least four weeks before the test, ideally six. Test centers fill up first in major metro areas, so early registration gets you a closer location and your preferred time. Last-minute registration often means a longer drive on test day.
The late deadline runs about ten days after the regular deadline, with a $38 late fee added to the standard $68 registration. After the late deadline closes, you cannot register for that test date — you have to wait for the next national SAT.
No. After the SAT late registration deadline, your options are limited. You can wait for the next test date or, in rare cases, contact your test center directly to ask about a waitlist — which almost never works. Plan to register before the late deadline closes.
For juniors, the spring SAT (March, May, June) is the most common first attempt. For seniors applying to college, take the fall SAT (August, October, November) so scores arrive in time for early action and regular decision deadlines. Pick the date, then back into the registration deadline.
A reminder is free. The SAT late fee is $38. Set the reminder for your regular deadline and save the difference.
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