Brief: SSAT November 14 Late Fee Begins October 25

The 2026-27 paper testing schedule published by the Enrollment Management Association (EMA), which administers the SSAT, shows that registration for the Saturday, November 14 Standard paper test carries a $59 late fee starting October 25 and a $100 rush fee starting November 1, with registration closing November 11. Families in Irvine and across Orange County preparing private school applications for the 2027-28 school year can avoid the extra fees by registering now.

Who is affected

Students in grades 3 through 11 who plan to apply to private schools with SSAT scores. The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is a private school entrance exam offered at three levels: Elementary (grades 3-4), Middle (grades 5-7), and Upper (grades 8-11).

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Wednesday before each test. Paper tests generally begin at 9 a.m. local time at the test center, and EMA advises arriving 30 to 45 minutes early.

What to do now

Confirm each target school’s deadline and accepted tests first. The test date should fall before the school’s application deadline and leave room for a retake. Whether a school accepts the SSAT or the ISEE is set by its admission page; the differences between the two exams are covered in ISEE vs. SSAT: Levels, Sections, and Retake Limits.

Students who need testing accommodations should apply for eligibility first. Accommodations must be approved before registration, EMA advises allowing at least two weeks for review, and accommodated registration for the November 14 test closes October 31.

Plan preparation backward from the test date. The EDUBUS SSAT preparation program schedules practice around the test date; for school selection and the application timeline, see K-12 Private School Planning.

Sources

• EMA: SSAT for Families Paper Testing (accessed October 3, 2026)