December 5 is the last SAT of 2026. Regular registration closes November 20 at 11:59 p.m. ET, with late registration until November 24. If you need a borrowed device, request it by November 5.
If you want to take the SAT on December 5, 2026, register by Friday, November 20. That is the regular registration deadline, and it expires at 11:59 p.m. ET. Late registration stays open until Tuesday, November 24, but it adds an extra fee, so November 20 is the date that matters.
December 5 is the last SAT of 2026. The next one after it is March 6, 2027. If you are a senior on a Regular Decision timeline, that makes December your final fall option on the current calendar.
If you are a senior applying this cycle: this is your last 2026 sitting. Registration for the November 7 SAT closes on October 23, and its late window closes October 27, so if you miss that window, December 5 is your last 2026 sitting. Before you register, check each college's testing deadline on its admissions page. Some schools accept December scores for January deadlines and some do not. A college that requires scores by January 1 will not wait for a late score report, so verify first.
If you are a junior: December is an option, but March 6 or May 1 gives you more prep time and a retake path before senior fall. Pick December only if you are already close to your target and want an early first score.
If you are retaking: the seven-week gap between November 7 and December 5 is short. A retake helps only if you spend those weeks fixing specific weaknesses, not just taking the test again and hoping. If your November score is not yet in, wait for it before deciding.
These dates come from College Board's official SAT dates and deadlines page, checked October 17, 2026.
Updated October 17, 2026. Our editorial approach
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