Two things catch UK families out every year: registration closes earlier than you expect, and the test centres near London fill up months in advance. Both are avoidable, and both are easier to plan around once you know which SAT you're actually dealing with.
Quick clarification, because this confuses a lot of British parents. The SAT on this page is the American university admissions test, taken at 16 to 18. It is not related to the Key Stage SATs your child sat in Year 2 or Year 6. Same three letters, completely different exams. If you're looking for primary school SATs, this isn't the page you want.
SAT test dates for UK students
Since the test went fully digital, international dates match the US calendar. The SAT runs roughly seven times a year.
| Test date | Notes |
|---|---|
| Saturday 22 August 2026 | Useful for a Year 13 retake before early deadlines |
| Saturday 12 September 2026 | |
| Saturday 3 October 2026 | Last comfortable date before 1 November early deadlines |
| Saturday 7 November 2026 | Too late for most early applications |
| Saturday 5 December 2026 | Suitable for regular decision deadlines in January |
| Saturday 6 March 2027 | Ideal first sitting for Year 12 students |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | Good second sitting |
| Saturday 5 June 2027 | Last usable date before a July recruiting pre-read |
Dates are as published at the time of writing. College Board adds autumn dates closer to the time and occasionally adjusts them. Always confirm on the College Board website before making plans.
Registration deadlines
- Regular registration closes roughly two to four weeks before each test date. This is when you have the widest choice of centres.
- Late registration stays open until about eleven days before, for an additional fee, and with much less centre availability.
- Borrowing a device from College Board, rather than using your own laptop or tablet, requires a request about 30 days ahead. Miss that window and you'll need your own device.
- All deadlines expire at 11:59pm US Eastern time, which is early morning UK time. Don't leave it to the last evening.
Scores
Results arrive roughly two weeks after test day. Build that into any deadline you're counting back from — a June test date does not give you a June score.
Where to sit the SAT in the UK
There are around 25 SAT test centres across the UK. They're concentrated in London and the South East, with others spread across major cities and a number of international and independent schools that host administrations.
Coverage in broad terms:
| Region | Availability |
|---|---|
| London and the South East | The densest cluster by some margin, and also the fastest to fill |
| South West, Midlands, and the North | Centres exist in and around the major cities, but fewer of them, so a longer journey is common |
| Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | Limited. Plan early and be prepared to travel |
I'm deliberately not publishing a list of named centres, because the schools that host administrations change from sitting to sitting and a stale list would send you to the wrong place. The reliable method is to sign in to College Board, choose your test date, and use the test centre search — availability is shown live, per date.
The single most common planning failure. Families choose a test date, prepare properly, then try to register six weeks out and find every centre within two hours is full. Register as soon as you've picked a date. You can prepare afterwards; you can't conjure a seat.
What it costs
The base SAT fee is around $68, and international test centres add a surcharge that brings the total to roughly $111. Late registration and changing your test centre or date cost extra. College Board charges in US dollars, so your card will apply its own exchange rate.
ACT dates and centres in the UK
If you're weighing the two tests, the practical picture is very different. The ACT runs about seven weekend pairs a year internationally — typically September, October, December, February, April, June, and July, with Friday and Saturday sessions — but it operates at only about **four UK test centres**, almost all in London.
Registration closes roughly four weeks before, with late registration to about two weeks before. Internationally the ACT is taken on the test centre's computer rather than your own device.
For a family outside London, that difference in access is usually decisive on its own. Our full comparison is on SAT or ACT for UK students.
Which date should your child choose?
Working backwards from what the score is for:
| Situation | Target sitting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Year 12, applying next year | March, with May or June as a retake | Leaves room for a second attempt and puts the score in hand before the summer |
| Recruited athlete | March, absolutely no later than June | Ivy League and NESCAC coaches cannot request an academic pre-read before 1 July, and the score must be in the file by then |
| Year 13, applying this autumn | August, September, or early October | Early Decision and Restrictive Early Action deadlines are 1 November |
| Year 13, regular decision | Up to December | Regular deadlines are usually 1–15 January |
| Year 11 | None yet | Take a practice test instead. Book the spring Year 12 date now, though |
Most students sit the SAT twice and improve on the second attempt. Plan both sittings inside Year 12 rather than relying on an autumn retake in Year 13, when the calendar is unforgiving. Our full SAT timeline for UK students maps this across all three years.
Before test day
- Photo ID is required. A passport is the safest option for UK students.
- Your device needs College Board's Bluebook app installed and the exam pre-downloaded. Do this a few days ahead, not the night before.
- Charge it fully and bring a charger.
- An approved calculator is allowed, though Desmos is built into the test and is usually the better tool. If your child has never used it, that's worth fixing before test day — see SAT vs GCSE maths.
- Print the admission ticket or have it accessible.
Planning backwards from a test date?
Tell me your child's school year and target universities and I'll tell you which sitting to aim for and how much preparation it realistically needs. Book a free 15-minute call. Sessions run 4pm–7pm UK and 5pm–8pm Central European time, so they fit after the school day.
How tutoring works for UK and European students · SAT tutoring in London · SAT tutoring · Digital SAT tutoring · ACT tutoring
Frequently asked questions
What is the SAT exam in the UK?
Two different things share the name. The Key Stage SATs are national curriculum assessments taken in primary school. The SAT discussed here is an American university admissions test taken at 16 to 18 by students applying to US universities. If someone mentions "SATs" for a Year 6 pupil, that's the primary school test, not this one.
When are the SAT test dates in the UK for 2026 and 2027?
Currently published dates include 22 August, 12 September, 3 October, 7 November and 5 December 2026, then 6 March, 1 May and 5 June 2027. International dates match the US calendar. Confirm on College Board before registering.
How many SAT test centres are there in the UK?
Around 25, concentrated in London and the South East. Availability varies by test date, so check the live centre search when you register rather than relying on any published list.
How far in advance should I register?
As soon as you've chosen a date. Regular registration closes two to four weeks before, but popular centres fill months earlier than that, which is the more binding constraint.
How much does the SAT cost from the UK?
Roughly $111 including the international surcharge, against a $68 base fee. Late registration and date or centre changes cost extra.
Can my child take the SAT on their own laptop?
Generally yes, using College Board's Bluebook app on a personal laptop or tablet. If you need to borrow a device from College Board, request it about 30 days before the test.
How long do SAT results take?
About two weeks. Count backwards from whatever deadline the score is for, including a coach's pre-read if your child is being recruited.
Where can I take the ACT in the UK?
At roughly four centres, almost all in London, across about seven international administrations a year. That limited access is the main practical argument for choosing the SAT instead.