SAT 2025–26 Testing Dates

 
 

If you’re in high school and planning to take the SAT during the 2025–26 school year, now’s the time to mark your calendar and plan ahead. The SAT is now fully digital, with a shorter format, adaptive sections, and a new testing interface through College Board’s Bluebook app. Knowing your test date early helps you build a prep plan that feels manageable—and keeps you from scrambling as deadlines get closer.

For most students, serious SAT prep begins 6–10 months before the first test date. Where you are in the process depends on your grade. Here are the key testing dates to plan around for 2025–26:

 
 

The Digital Format

The SAT now runs entirely through the Bluebook app. The exam is about 2 hours and 14 minutes long, adaptive in structure (your performance in the first section shapes the second), and includes built‑in tools like:

  • A Desmos calculator,

  • Answer elimination and highlighting,

  • And a line reader mode to help you focus on text.

Getting comfortable with this format is just as important as reviewing the content itself. Practicing in Bluebook ahead of time helps you build confidence, improve pacing, and avoid surprises on test day.

Where to Begin

To perform at your best, students aiming for top scores typically:

  • Start prep 6–10 months before their first test date,

  • Take multiple full-length, proctored practice tests in Bluebook,

  • And begin with a diagnostic test to understand their baseline and guide their study plan.

A diagnostic does more than provide a score—it shows how you handle the digital format, where your pacing breaks down, and which sections need the most work. With that insight, prep can stay focused and efficient rather than overwhelming.

If you haven’t started yet—or aren’t hitting the scores you want—it’s worth beginning now. Ivy Link’s one‑on‑one tutors can help you build a personalized plan that combines content mastery with digital test fluency, so you’ll feel confident and ready by test day.

Schedule a consultation to secure your plan and stay on track for your SAT goals.

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