SAT Test Dates 2026–27 for Richmond Families

Picking an SAT date sounds simple until you're counting backward from application deadlines, sports seasons, and AP exams. This guide lists every remaining SAT date for the 2026–27 school year and shows which ones make sense for your teen's grade.   

SAT Test Dates and Deadlines, 2026–27

The SAT is offered on Saturdays, and the same dates apply to students in the U.S. and abroad. Registration deadlines close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.   

SAT test date	Registration deadline	Late registration and changes	Scores expected
Nov 7, 2026	Oct 23, 2026	Oct 27, 2026	About Nov 20
Dec 5, 2026	Nov 20, 2026	Nov 24, 2026	About Dec 18
Mar 6, 2027	To be announced	To be announced	About 2 weeks after
May 1, 2027	To be announced	To be announced	About 2 weeks after
Jun 5, 2027	To be announced	To be announced	About 2 weeks after

Earlier fall dates (August 22, September 12, and October 3, 2026) have already passed. Most students see digital SAT scores about two weeks after test day, though the College Board's official window is two to four weeks. Spring deadlines will be posted on the College Board site; check before registering.   

School Day SAT: Some high schools also give the SAT on a school day, with registration handled by the school. Ask your teen's counselor whether their school offers it.   

Which SAT Date Is Right for Your Teen?

Seniors (Class of 2027). Time is short, so work backward from deadlines.   

• Regular Decision (deadlines around January): November 7 or December 5. December is the last date most Regular Decision deadlines will count.   

• Early Action or Early Decision (deadlines in November): Most fall dates have passed. Check whether each college accepts later scores; many do for early applicants if scores arrive within a few weeks.   

• Rule of thumb: If your senior's score sits below a target college's middle 50% range, one more attempt is usually worth it.   

Juniors (Class of 2028). This is the key planning year.   

• First official SAT: March 6, May 1, or June 5, 2027. Pick the date that avoids AP exams, spring sports peaks, and finals.   

• Leave room for a retake: Testing in spring keeps August, September, and October of senior year open for a second try before early deadlines.   

• Prep window: Plan on starting focused prep two to three months before the first test.   

Sophomores (Class of 2029). No official SAT needed yet. A PSAT or a practice SAT is a useful baseline, and it makes junior-year planning much easier.  

Work Backward from College Deadlines

Scores take about two weeks, and colleges need time to receive them. A simple method:   

1. Write down each college's deadline.   

2. Subtract at least three to four weeks for scores to arrive and be sent.   

3. The last SAT date before that point is your teen's latest option.   

4. Schedule the first attempt at least one test date earlier, so there's room for a retake.   

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Example: Virginia Tech's 2026–27 Early Action deadline is November 15. A November 7 SAT won't return scores in time, so an early applicant would have needed the October 3 date or earlier.   

Registration Tips for Richmond Families

• Register early. Sign up through your teen's College Board account at satsuite.collegeboard.org. Popular local test centers can fill before the deadline, especially for fall dates.   

• Borrowing a device? Students who need a College Board laptop must register and request it at least 30 days before test day, which is earlier than the regular deadline.   

• Check the laptop now. The SAT is taken in the Bluebook app. Install it, run a practice test at home, and make sure the battery lasts the full test.   

• Know the change rules. Late registration and date changes are allowed until the late deadline, usually for a fee. Check current fees on the College Board site before registering. 

Looking Ahead: 2027–28 SAT Dates

The College Board has published anticipated dates for next school year, useful for current sophomores and juniors planning a senior-year retake: August 28, September 18, October 2, November 6, and December 4, 2027, then March 4, May 6, and June 3, 2028. These are tentative until confirmed.   

A Practice SAT Before the Real One

The best time for a full rehearsal is three to six weeks before your teen's official test date. That's enough time to fix what the practice test reveals, and close enough that the experience is fresh.   

The Forte SAT Bootcamp gives your teen one Saturday in Richmond with a full proctored practice SAT in Bluebook, same-day scores, and coaches who scored 1500+ reviewing the hardest questions. Every student takes home a printed Score Report and the Forte SAT Guidebook.   

Sources: College Board, SAT Suite Dates and Deadlines; Prepmedians, SAT 2026–2027 Test Dates; OnePrep, SAT Test Dates; Magoosh, SAT Test Dates 2026–2027; Larry Learns, Virginia Tech Testing Policy and 2026–27 Deadlines.