When Do SAT Scores Come Out? 2026–27 Release Dates

Last updated: 23 September 2026; every date below was read that day on College Board’s own pages. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.

QUICK ANSWER

Several of the top results for this question still show the 2025–26 calendar. This one is built from College Board’s score release dates page and its 2026–27 SAT Suite calendar as they read on 23 September 2026, which is the source that already lists the spring 2027 release dates. If College Board moves a date, its pages win; if you are reading this months from now, check the row you need against them.

SAT score release dates 2026–27

These are the eight Saturday (“SAT Weekend”) tests for the 2026–27 school year. Sunday testing is offered only to students who cannot test on Saturday for religious reasons, on the day after each Saturday date. The last two columns are calculated from College Board’s rules (cancel by one week after the test; free score-report changes up to nine days after it), not copied from a table, so treat them as your latest safe day.

Fall dates come from College Board’s release-date page; the spring 2027 dates (19 March, 14 May and 21 June) come from its official 2026–27 calendar PDF, which lists them already. Past fall dates (August and September) are kept in the table because they show the pattern: every weekend test in the calendar returns scores on the second Friday after it, except June.

Next up, as of 23 September: the 3 October test, scores on Friday 16 October. If you have not registered yet, the full registration and late-registration deadlines for every date are in our SAT test-day guide, and on College Board’s dates and deadlines page. Missing the regular deadline costs a $38 late fee.

In-school SAT (SAT School Day) score release

If you take the SAT at school on a weekday, the clock starts when your school submits the answers, not on a fixed national date. The fall 2026 in-school window runs 1–30 October, and College Board publishes three release points for it:

Two things differ from the weekend test. Your school’s counselors see the results two days before you do, and some share them early. And if the SAT is part of your state’s testing program, the state can set its own timing, so your school is the authority on your date. College Board has not yet posted the spring 2027 in-school release dates; the spring window is 1 March to 30 April. In-school testers who gave a mobile number also get a text through the BigFuture School app when scores are ready.

The decisions you have to make before you see your score

This is the part most score-date guides leave out, and it is where students lose money or options. Two College Board deadlines fall inside the 13-day wait:

• Cancelling. Weekend scores can be cancelled only until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time one week after the test, per College Board’s cancellation rules. That is six days before the scores exist for you to look at. A cancelled score is gone for good: it cannot be reinstated or sent anywhere.
• Free score reports. Every weekend registration includes four free reports to colleges or scholarship programs. You can add, remove or change those four until nine days after the test, three or four days before release. After that, each report costs a fee (fee waivers cover unlimited sends).

The practical answer to both: do not cancel on a feeling. Cancel only if something objectively went wrong on test day (you were ill, the device failed, you left sections unanswered), because every other bad day can be fixed later with Score Choice, which lets you send only the test dates you choose. For the free reports, list colleges that accept Score Choice or superscore; it costs nothing, and a weak score can simply be followed by a stronger one. If a college requires all scores, skip it in the free four and send later, once you know what you are sending.

What time do SAT scores come out on release day?

There is no single minute. College Board staggers the weekend release because of how many students sign in at once: some scores post as early as 6 a.m. and nearly all are available by 8 p.m. on release day. SAT School Day scores generally appear from around 6 p.m. If a friend who tested with you has scores and you do not, that is the stagger, not a problem with your test; check again later in the day before assuming anything is wrong.

How to check your SAT scores

1. Sign in to your College Board account (the one you registered with) and open Student Score Reports. Weekend testers already have an account, because registration requires one.
2. Find the test date under your scores. Your report shows the total (400–1600), the two section scores and a breakdown by skill area.
3. In-school testers can also check through the BigFuture School app or ask a counselor, who sees scores two days earlier.

Once you have the number, the next question is what it means. Our guide to what counts as a good SAT score sets it against percentiles and college ranges, and if you also took the ACT, the ACT to SAT conversion chart shows which result is stronger.

Why haven’t I got my SAT scores yet?

On release day itself, the stagger explains almost every “missing” score; wait until the evening. After that, the common reasons are:

• You tested in school. Your date depends on when your school submitted the answers, and on your state if the SAT is a state test. Ask your counselor which release point applies.
• You took the June test. It is the slowest of the year: 16 days rather than 13.
• You are signed in to the wrong account. Scores attach to the account used to register. A second account made later will show nothing.
• Release day has passed. If the evening of release day has come and gone and your score still is not showing, contact College Board’s customer service rather than waiting it out; a missing score after release day is a support question, not something that fixes itself.

When colleges get your SAT scores

Colleges and high schools get weekend scores the next business day after students, and the same day for June (see the third column of the table). After that, delivery depends on when you order:

Colleges generally will not accept a screenshot or a transcript copy; scores have to come from College Board. With Score Choice you pick which test dates to send, but you cannot mix a Math score from one date with a Reading and Writing score from another in a single report. Some colleges do that combining themselves: that is superscoring, and it is one more reason to check each college’s policy before you order. For early-decision deadlines in November, a score from the 3 October test (released 16 October, to colleges 19 October) is the last one that arrives with comfortable margin.

Planning a retake around the release dates

Because scores take two weeks and registration closes two weeks before each test, you usually see a score with very little time to decide on the next date. For fall 2026 the timing is tight:

• 3 October test → scores 16 October → November registration closes 23 October (late registration to 27 October). One week to decide.
• 7 November test → scores 20 November → December registration closes the same day, 20 November (late to 24 November). Register for December before you see November, or pay the late fee.
• 5 December test → scores 18 December → the next test is 6 March 2027, with registration open until 19 February.

The pattern that works: decide on your retake date before the first score arrives, and treat the score as a reason to cancel the retake rather than a reason to book one. Retakes help most when there is real preparation between them. College Board’s own free route is the full-length adaptive practice tests in the Bluebook app plus Official Digital SAT Prep on Khan Academy; start there. Our SAT study plan shows how to use a gap of four to eight weeks. If you want structured paid prep, these are the courses we cover in that guide:

Magoosh SAT: self-paced prep → Kaplan SAT: live and on-demand → Prep Expert SAT: live classes →

Frequently asked questions

When do SAT scores come out?

For the Saturday SAT, 13 days after the test in almost every case: the 3 October 2026 test releases on 16 October, 7 November on 20 November and 5 December on 18 December. The 5 June 2027 test is the exception at 16 days (21 June). College Board’s official window is two to four weeks.

What time do SAT scores come out?

College Board staggers weekend releases through the day: some scores post as early as 6 a.m. and it says nearly all are available by 8 p.m. on release day. SAT School Day scores generally appear from around 6 p.m.

How long does it take to get SAT scores?

About two weeks for a weekend test: 13 days on seven of the eight 2026-27 dates and 16 days for June. In-school (SAT School Day) scores reach students roughly 13 days after the school submits its answers.

Can I cancel my SAT scores after I see them?

No. Weekend scores must be cancelled by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time one week after the test, which is about six days before they are released. Once cancelled, they cannot be reinstated.

When do colleges get my SAT scores?

College Board releases weekend scores to colleges and schools the next business day after students (16 October scores reach them on Monday 19 October; for June both land on 21 June). Scores you order after release are sent within 5 to 10 business days, or 1 to 4 with a paid rush report.

How many free SAT score reports do I get?

Four per weekend registration. You can choose or change those four recipients until nine days after the test; after that each report carries a fee, unless you have a fee waiver.

Related SAT and ACT guides

• What is a good SAT score?
• How long is the SAT? (with 2026–27 dates and deadlines)
• How to study for the SAT
• What to bring to the SAT
• SAT vs ACT: which test should you take?
• ACT to SAT conversion chart
• ACT test dates 2026–2027