Plan ahead
SAT test dates and registration deadlines, 2026–27
Every remaining international sitting of the Digital SAT, the date registration closes for each, and (the part most date tables leave out) the date you would need to start preparing to walk in properly ready.
| Test date | Registration closes | Start preparing by |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 7 November 2026 | 23 October 2026 | 18 July – 15 August 2026 |
| Saturday 5 December 2026 | 20 November 2026 | 15 August – 12 September 2026 |
| Saturday 6 March 2027 | 19 February 2027 | 14 November – 12 December 2026 |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 16 April 2027 | 9 January – 6 February 2027 |
| Saturday 5 June 2027 | 21 May 2027 | 13 February – 13 March 2027 |
Test dates and registration deadlines are from the College Board. Registration is through mysat.collegeboard.org. The “start preparing by” column is the sixteen- and twelve-week runway described below, counted back from the test date. It is our guidance, not a College Board deadline. Late registration is available worldwide for an extra fee.
What the “start preparing by” column means
Twelve to sixteen weeks of weekly lessons is a comfortable runway for most students. The earlier date in each row is the sixteen-week mark, the later one the twelve-week mark. Start somewhere between the two and there is room to cover every content domain, sit several full-length timed mocks under real conditions, and still have weeks left to work on whatever those mocks expose, which is the part that actually moves a score.
If a date has already passed for the sitting you want, that is not a reason to abandon it. A shorter plan works when the starting score is already strong, or when the gap is concentrated in one section rather than spread across both. It just means the diagnostic matters more, because there is no spare time to spend on topics that were never the problem.
The other reason to start early is the retake. Sittings sit close enough together that a first attempt in the autumn leaves room for a second before most university deadlines. Students who plan the retake in from the beginning almost always do better than students who treat it as a rescue.
Registering: the parts that catch people out
- Seats, not deadlines, are the real constraint. International test centres have limited capacity and the popular ones in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, Doha and Singapore can fill weeks before registration formally closes. Book the seat first and plan around it.
- The deadline is roughly two to three weeks before the test, not the day before. Check the exact date for your sitting in the table above.
- Late registration exists worldwide for an additional fee, but it does not create new seats. If the centre is full, late registration will not help.
- Photo ID requirements are strict and are checked at the door. Confirm what your test centre accepts well before the day rather than the night before.
- The test is the same everywhere. The Digital SAT runs on identical dates and content worldwide, so there is no advantage to be had from choosing one country's centre over another's.
Common questions
When is the next SAT?
The next international sitting is Saturday 7 November 2026, and registration for it closes on 23 October 2026. The Digital SAT then runs on 5 December 2026 (registration closes 20 November), 6 March 2027, 1 May 2027 and 5 June 2027.
Which SAT is the last one for regular decision?
For most applicants it is the 5 December 2026 sitting. Its scores are released on 18 December, ahead of the 1 January and 15 January regular decision deadlines most US universities use, and there is no further sitting until 6 March 2027. A few universities set earlier deadlines, so check each one's date, and whether it accepts December scores, before relying on that sitting.
How far in advance should I register for the SAT?
As soon as the date is chosen. The formal deadline falls roughly two to three weeks before each sitting, but seats at international test centres are limited and popular centres in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia often fill well before that deadline. Late registration is available worldwide for an additional fee, but it does not create new seats.
How long before the SAT should I start preparing?
Twelve to sixteen weeks of weekly lessons is a comfortable runway for most students. That allows every content domain to be covered, several full-length timed mocks to be sat under real conditions, and time afterwards to work on whatever those mocks expose, which is the part that actually moves a score. A shorter plan can work when the starting score is already strong.
Are SAT test dates the same in every country?
Yes. The Digital SAT runs on identical dates worldwide and the test itself is the same wherever it is taken. What differs by country is which test centres open on a given date and how quickly their seats fill, so check availability locally before committing to a sitting.
How many times can you take the SAT?
There is no lifetime limit. A student may sit the test at every date offered. In practice most students take it two or three times, because scores tend to plateau after that and universities generally look at the best result. Planning a retake from the outset works better than treating it as a rescue.
Can I retake the SAT if I am not happy with my score?
Yes, and most students plan for one. The sittings fall close enough together that a first attempt in the autumn leaves room for a second before the main university application deadlines. Students who build the retake into the plan from the start almost always end up with a better final score than those who add it in a hurry.
Planning backwards from one of these dates?
Tell Lewis which sitting you are aiming at and he will say plainly whether the runway is realistic and what a plan to that date looks like. The intro call and the trial lesson are both free.
Prefer email? Write to lewis@altairprep.com.
More from Altair Prep
- The Digital SAT explainedFormat, adaptive modules, scoring
- From 1400 to 1600Where the last 200 points actually are
- The SAT topic checklistEvery official skill, split into three levels
- SAT tutoring for international studentsWhy the score counts for more from abroad
- SAT tutoring in Saudi ArabiaRiyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province
- FeesWhat one-to-one lessons cost