SAT 2026–27: test dates, format, how to register and free practice tests
The SAT is College Board's college admission test, used mainly by universities in the United States. It is taken on a laptop or tablet in the Bluebook app, at a test centre or school. Unlike GRE or GMAT, the SAT has fixed weekend test dates: the next one is 7 November 2026, and the regular registration deadline for it is 23 October 2026 (College Board, checked 20 October 2026). This guide lists the dates, shows how to register, and explains the digital SAT pattern and how to prepare.
SAT at a glance
| Conducting body | College Board |
| What it is for | College admission, mainly in the United States |
| Mode | Digital, in the Bluebook app, at a test centre or school |
| Questions | 98: Reading and Writing 54, Math 44 |
| Time | 2 hours 14 minutes, plus a 10-minute break |
| Marking | Each section 200 to 800; total 400 to 1600; no penalty for a wrong answer |
| Language | English |
| How often | Several weekend dates a year |
| Official website | satsuite.collegeboard.org |
SAT exam dates 2026–27
These are the SAT weekend dates on College Board's dates and deadlines page, checked 20 October 2026:
| Test date | Registration deadline | Deadline for changes, cancellation and late registration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
College Board also lists anticipated dates for 2027–28 (28 August, 18 September, 9 October, 6 November and 4 December 2027, then 4 March, 6 May and 3 June 2028), without deadlines yet. Late registration is available worldwide for an extra fee. SAT School Day tests given by a school follow the school's own date.
How to register for the SAT
- Sign in or create a College Board account on the SAT site.
- Choose a test date and a test centre near you, before the registration deadline above.
- Upload a photo and pay the fee shown; College Board lists fees, late fees and fee waivers on its test fees page.
- Install Bluebook on the laptop or tablet you will use and complete the device check before test day.
- Print or save your admission ticket.
Keep ready: an acceptable photo ID, your device (charged) with Bluebook, and the list of colleges for score sends.
SAT exam pattern
| Section | Questions | Time | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 54 | 64 minutes (two 32-minute modules) | Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions, Expression of Ideas |
| Break | 10 minutes | ||
| Math | 44 | 70 minutes (two 35-minute modules) | Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, Geometry and Trigonometry |
Each section has two modules. The first has a mix of easy, medium and hard questions, and how you do on it decides whether the second module is harder or easier. Within a module you can move freely, but you cannot go back to an earlier module. In Reading and Writing each question has its own short passage. In Math, most questions are multiple choice and some ask you to type your own answer; a calculator may be used throughout.
Each section is scored 200 to 800 in steps of 10, and the total is the sum, 400 to 1600. Some questions in each module are being tried out and do not count. There is no pass mark: colleges decide whether they require, accept or ignore SAT scores.
SAT syllabus
- Reading and Writing: understanding words in context, the purpose and structure of a text, using evidence, grammar and punctuation, and improving how a text is expressed.
- Math: linear equations and inequalities, nonlinear functions, ratios, percentages and data, and geometry and trigonometry.
The full list is on our SAT syllabus page.
A plan for the weeks before your SAT
If you are aiming for the 5 December 2026 test, you have about six weeks.
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | One full SAT mock test, timed by module. List the question types you missed in each section. |
| 2 | Math: Algebra and Advanced Math, 30 questions a day. R&W: grammar and punctuation rules. |
| 3 | Second full mock. Practise with the calculator you will bring or the one in Bluebook. |
| 4 | Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, Geometry and Trigonometry. R&W: evidence and inference questions. |
| 5 | Third full mock at the same time of day as the real test. |
| 6 | Error log only, one short module a day, early nights. |
Since a wrong answer costs nothing, never leave a question blank. After each mock, read how to analyse a mock test. Our SAT score is an estimate, as College Board does not publish its scoring table.
Useful links
- SAT dates and deadlines (College Board)
- SAT registration and overview (College Board)
- SAT structure (College Board)
- Free SAT mock tests
- SAT syllabus
- SAT exam dates
- ACT 2026–27: test dates and how to register
Frequently asked questions
When is the next SAT exam date?
The next SAT weekend test is 7 November 2026, then 5 December 2026, and 6 March 2027 (College Board, checked 20 October 2026).
What is the last date to register for the December 2026 SAT?
The regular deadline is 20 November 2026, and the deadline for changes and late registration is 24 November 2026, according to College Board's dates page.
Is there negative marking in the SAT?
No. Wrong answers lose nothing, so answer every question.
Is the SAT still on paper?
No. The SAT is digital and taken in the Bluebook app on a laptop or tablet, at a test centre or school.
What is a good SAT score?
There is no pass mark. Colleges publish the scores of students they admitted, and some do not require the SAT at all; check each college's testing policy.