SAT
Deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. ET. Students who miss the regular deadline can still register by the late deadline for a $38 late fee. College Board has not yet published score release dates for the 2026-27 administrations.
| Date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2026 | Aug 7, 2026 | Aug 11, 2026 | First fall date; common for rising seniors testing after summer prep |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Aug 28, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 | September date, one of the last comfortable dates for early applicants |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | October date; scores typically arrive before the November 1 early deadline |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | Oct 27, 2026 | November date, mainly for regular decision |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | December date, the last regular-decision opportunity for seniors |
| Mar 6, 2027 | Feb 19, 2027 | Feb 23, 2027 | First spring date, a common first sitting for juniors |
| May 1, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 | Apr 20, 2027 | May date, close to AP exam week one; watch for study conflicts |
| Jun 5, 2027 | May 21, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | June date, the last chance for juniors before summer |
PSAT/NMSQT
Schools pick their own day inside the window; families do not register directly, so confirm the date with the school. Junior-year scores feed the National Merit Scholarship Program.
| Date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1–30, 2026 | — | — | Fall 2026 testing window, scheduled by schools and districts |
ACT
Deadlines occur at 11:59 p.m. CT. ACT offers seven national test dates a year, and scores are released about two to four weeks after the test. July testing opens to New York learners starting in 2027.
| Date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Aug 14, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 | First fall date |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Sep 11, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | October date, a common choice for early applicants |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | December date, the last regular-decision chance for seniors |
| Feb 27, 2027 | Jan 22, 2027 | Feb 9, 2027 | February date, a common first sitting for juniors |
| Apr 10, 2027 | Mar 5, 2027 | Mar 23, 2027 | April date |
| Jun 12, 2027 | May 7, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | June date, the first sitting after AP exams |
| Jul 10, 2027 | Jun 4, 2027 | Jun 22, 2027 | July date, a summer retake opportunity |
AP Exams
The 2027 AP Exams run in schools across two weeks, with late testing on May 17-21, 2027. The ordering deadline is November 13, 2026 for full-year and fall courses and March 12, 2027 for spring courses, both at 11:59 p.m. ET.
| Date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 2027 | — | — | Morning: Human Geography, Physics C: Mechanics. Afternoon: Biology, Italian Language and Culture |
| May 4, 2027 | — | — | Morning: Business with Personal Finance, U.S. Government and Politics. Afternoon: European History, Microeconomics |
| May 5, 2027 | — | — | Morning: Cybersecurity, English Literature and Composition. Afternoon: Physics 1: Algebra-Based, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism |
| May 6, 2027 | — | — | Morning: French Language and Culture, Physics 2: Algebra-Based, World History: Modern. Afternoon: African American Studies, Chemistry |
| May 7, 2027 | — | — | Morning: German Language and Culture, U.S. History. Afternoon: Macroeconomics, Networking (pilot schools only) |
| May 10, 2027 | — | — | Morning: Calculus AB, Calculus BC. Afternoon: Music Theory, Seminar |
| May 11, 2027 | — | — | Morning: Japanese Language and Culture, Precalculus. Afternoon: Statistics |
| May 12, 2027 | — | — | Morning: English Language and Composition. Afternoon: Art History, Computer Science A |
| May 13, 2027 | — | — | Morning: Spanish Language and Culture. Afternoon: Chinese Language and Culture, Environmental Science |
| May 14, 2027 | — | — | Morning: Comparative Government and Politics, Computer Science Principles, Spanish Literature and Culture. Afternoon: Latin, Psychology |
| May 17–21, 2027 | — | — | Late-testing window for conflicts and absences, arranged by the school |
ISEE
A student may test once per season, up to three times a year. Options include member school sites, ISEE testing offices, Prometric test centers (Grades 5-12, online format only) and at-home online testing. Registration is first come, first served with no fixed deadline.
| Date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug–Nov 2026 | — | — | Fall season, the main window before January private school deadlines |
| Dec 2026 – Mar 2027 | — | — | Winter season, useful for a retake if the school still accepts scores |
| Apr–Jul 2027 | — | — | Spring/summer season, mostly for the next cycle or rolling transfer admission |
SSAT
These are paper Standard sittings, starting at 9 a.m. local time, with registration closing at 11:59 p.m. ET the Wednesday before. A $59 late fee applies from the third Sunday before the test and a $100 rush fee from the second Sunday. Flex tests, run by member schools and approved consultants, are limited to one per student per testing year (August 3, 2026 to July 20, 2027).
| Date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 7, 2026 | — | Upper and Middle levels; a common first sitting for boarding school applicants |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 11, 2026 | — | Upper, Middle and Elementary levels |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | — | Upper, Middle and Elementary levels |
| Jan 9, 2027 | Jan 6, 2027 | — | Upper and Middle levels; most schools close in mid-January, so confirm score deadlines |
| Jan 30, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | — | Upper and Middle levels |
| Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | — | Upper and Middle levels; mostly for rolling admission or the next cycle |
AMC 8 and AMC 10/12
Registration is done by a school or site competition manager, not by students, so families need to line up a host in advance. The AMC 8 early bird deadline is October 28, 2026, at a lower fee.
| Date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 28, 2026 | AMC 10 A and AMC 12 A; late registration is for returning managers only |
| Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 28, 2026 | AMC 10 B and AMC 12 B; the same registration covers both A and B |
| Jan 21–27, 2027 | Jan 5, 2027 | Jan 14, 2027 | AMC 8; the host picks one day inside the window, for students in Grade 8 and below |
AIME
Students scoring 100 or above on AMC 10, or 85 or above on AMC 12, and meeting the other requirements receive an invitation by email. For 2027 AIME is no longer split into AIME I and II; it is computer-based at Pearson centers, with students booking their own slot.
| Date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 5–6, 2027 | — | — | Computer-based at Pearson centers in the US and Canada; pick one slot across the two days |
TOEFL iBT
TOEFL iBT has no annual date table. Test centers run it more than 60 times a year, and the Home Edition is available 24 hours a day, four days a week, with appointments as soon as 24 hours after registration. ETS suggests booking about four months ahead.
HSPT
Each Catholic high school or diocese sets its own HSPT date, and Scholastic Testing Service does not run national test days, so there is no published date table. Testing usually falls in January; confirm the date with the school. In some regions a diocesan cooperative tests together and students can send scores to several schools.
How to use this calendar
Four timelines cover most Irvine families, and they explain how these dates fit together.
Applying to private school: start with the ISEE fall season
Most Southern California private schools close applications in January. The ISEE fall season runs August to November 2026 and a student may test only once per season, so finish the first sitting before October and keep the winter season as a retake.
On the math competition track: November and January
AMC 10/12 A falls on November 5, 2026 and the B form on November 13, with AMC 8 between January 21 and 27, 2027. A school or site competition manager must register by October 15, so families need to secure a host in advance.
The standard junior-year SAT rhythm
Take the school-administered PSAT/NMSQT in October, sit the SAT for the first time in March or May, retake it in June or August, and reach the target score before October of senior year. A diagnostic on each test shows whether SAT or ACT is the better fit.
Taking AP courses: the order goes in by November
The 2027 AP Exams run May 3-7 and May 10-14. Exam orders for full-year and fall courses are due November 13, 2026, which means the subject list has to be settled when courses are chosen in September.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can an Irvine student take the SAT?
College Board scheduled eight weekend SAT dates in the United States for 2026-27: August 22, September 12, October 3, November 7 and December 5, 2026, then March 6, May 1 and June 5, 2027. Irvine public high school students usually sit the first attempt before spring of grade 11 and pick a date that avoids school assessments and AP exam week. There is no limit on how many a student may take; the usual plan is a first sitting in spring of junior year and a retake over the summer or in the fall.
How often can an Irvine family schedule the ISEE?
A student may take the ISEE once per testing season and no more than three times in a school year. The seasons are fall (August to November), winter (December to March) and spring/summer (April to July). For schools with January deadlines, the fall season is the main sitting and the winter season serves as a retake.
When is the AP registration deadline?
The 2026-27 ordering deadline is November 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET for full-year and fall-semester courses, and March 12, 2027 for courses that begin in the spring. The AP coordinator submits the order for the school, and late orders carry a $40 per exam fee.
How do Irvine students register for AMC 10/12?
Students cannot register themselves. A school or community site competition manager registers with the Mathematical Association of America. Regular registration for the November 2026 contests closes October 15, 2026, and the October 28 late deadline is open only to returning competition managers, so families should confirm a seat with a host before October.
Why are there no dates for TOEFL and the HSPT?
TOEFL iBT runs year-round, more than 60 times a year at test centers and 24 hours a day, four days a week at home, so ETS publishes no annual schedule. The HSPT is scheduled by each Catholic high school or diocese; Scholastic Testing Service runs no national test day, testing usually falls in January, and families confirm the date with the school.
