Upcoming SAT Score Release Dates (2025-2026)
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the College Board typically releases scores about two weeks after the test. Below is the complete schedule for SAT dates and score release.
| SAT Test Date | Estimated Score Release Date* |
|---|---|
| November 8, 2025 | November 21, 2025 |
| December 6, 2025 | December 19, 2025 |
| March 14, 2026 | March 27, 2026 |
| May 2, 2026 | May 15, 2026 |
| June 6, 2026 | June 22, 2026 |
*Dates are based on the typical SAT score release schedule and College Board projections.
If you are looking for the November SAT score release date, mark your calendar for November 21. For those taking the SAT later in the year, the December score release is scheduled for December 19, just before the winter break.
SAT School Day Score Release
The SAT school day score release timeline differs slightly from weekend administrations. If you take the test during the school week in October, scores are typically available to students about 3-4 weeks later. For the 2025 cycle, the school day SAT score release generally begins in late October or early November, depending on your specific testing window. Check out our detailed guide on SAT School Day for more information.
What Time Are SAT Scores Released?
Knowing the specific date is only half the battle. While the College Board does not officially publish a specific minute-by-minute schedule, historical trends give us a very accurate picture. Generally, what time does the College Board release SAT scores? The first major batch of scores typically drops at approximately 8:00 AM Eastern Time (ET).
However, it is crucial to understand that SAT results are not released to every single student simultaneously. To prevent the website from crashing due to heavy traffic, the College Board utilizes a "batch" system.
- Morning Batch: The majority of students will see their scores between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM ET.
- Afternoon Batch: If your dashboard is empty in the morning, do not panic. A second large wave of SAT scores is released later in the day, typically between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM ET.
If you are wondering what time SAT scores will be released for you personally, it is effectively a lottery between these two windows. There is no way to predict which batch you will be in based on your location or last name.
Why Score Release Times May Vary by Time Zone
Since the SAT score release time is anchored to Eastern Time, students across the United States and the globe need to adjust for their local time zones. What time of day are SAT scores released in your specific region? Use this breakdown to plan your morning:
| Time Zone | Morning Batch Begins (Approx) |
Afternoon Batch Begins (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time (ET) | 8:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Central Time (CT) | 7:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Mountain Time (MT) | 6:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
| Pacific Time (PT) | 5:00 AM | 5:00 PM |
For international students, this often means scores appear in the evening or late afternoon. If you are asking what time SAT scores are released in Europe or Asia, you will likely see them later in your local day compared to U.S. students.
Digital SAT Reporting Timeline Explained
With the full adoption of the Digital SAT, the digital SAT score release date has become highly reliable. Unlike the old paper exams, which required shipping materials and physical scanning, digital exams are uploaded instantly. This efficiency is why the SAT exam score release consistently hits that 13-day target. While the official guidance says 2-4 weeks, virtually all standard SAT score release events now happen strictly on the two-week mark.
Score Processing Time for US vs International Testers
In the past, international students often faced delays. Today, the SAT score release dates are synchronized globally. Whether you test in California or Seoul, the SAT scores release date remains the same. If you are worried about when the SAT scores will be released for an overseas exam, you can rest assured that the timeline matches the U.S. schedule perfectly.
How to Check Your SAT Scores
Once the notification email hits your inbox, accessing your report is simple.
- Log in: Visit studentscores.collegeboard.org and sign in.
- Navigate: Go to your "My SAT" dashboard.
- Review: Click on "View Details" to see your full report.
Once you have your scores, you need to know what they mean for your college applications.
- Analyze Performance: Use our guide on how to interpret your SAT score report to understand your section breakdowns.
- Percentiles: Curious how you rank against other test-takers? Read what does SAT percentile means.
- Next Steps: If you need to send these results out immediately, follow the steps on how to send SAT scores to colleges.
What Causes SAT Score Delays
Sometimes the SAT score release day arrives, but your score is "Pending." This can be stressful, but it is usually resolved quickly. Common reasons include:
- Administrative Review: If a proctor reported a distraction or technical issue at your test center, the College Board may hold the SAT exam score release dates for that location to investigate.
- Score Verification: If your score jumped hundreds of points from a previous attempt, the system may flag it for a validity check. This confirms your improvement is genuine.
- Account Issues: Mismatched names or email addresses can stall the SAT test score release.
If you feel your performance suffered due to external factors and want to scrap the test entirely, you can check our guide on how to cancel SAT scores.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What time do SAT scores usually come out?
The College Board typically begins the rollout at 8:00 AM Eastern Time (ET). This means if you are on the West Coast, you might wake up to your scores already waiting for you, while students in Europe will see them in the afternoon. It is important to remember that this is just the start time, not the moment every single score appears for every student.
However, if you check your account at 8:05 AM and see nothing, do not panic. The SAT score release schedule is designed to handle millions of users, so results are released in two main batches. If you miss the morning window, your score will likely appear in the second large batch, which typically drops between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM ET. Because of this batch system, you might spend the whole day asking what time of day SAT scores are released for your specific account, but rest assured, they almost always arrive by the end of the day.
Are SAT scores released all at once?
No, SAT scores released on a specific date do not all drop at the same second. To prevent the website from crashing under the weight of heavy traffic, the College Board staggers the release throughout the day. This explains why you might see your friends posting their scores on social media in the morning while your dashboard still shows “Pending.”
This staggered approach is a standard part of the SAT scores release dates 2025 protocol. It does not mean there is a problem with your test or that your score is being withheld. It simply means your file is in a different processing queue. Whether you are in the morning batch or the evening batch is random, so patience is key on release day.
Can SAT scores come out early or late?
Scores virtually never come out earlier than the scheduled date, but they can occasionally be late. While the standard SAT score release dates are reliable, administrative reviews can cause delays. For example, if there was a disturbance at your test center or if your score increased by an unusually large amount, your result might be held for a validity check. In these cases, the “late” score usually arrives about a week after the official date.
If your score is significantly delayed, do not assume the worst. Often, it is a simple administrative matter. However, if the official SAT score release date passes by more than a week without an update, you should contact Customer Service. Note that specific administrations, like School Day testing, naturally have a longer window (3-4 weeks) compared to the standard 13-day weekend turnaround.
How do I know if my SAT scores were withheld?
If the SAT scores release dates 2025 arrive and your dashboard is empty, you need to distinguish between a simple batch delay and a withheld score. If your status says “Pending” or “Coming Soon,” it simply means you are likely in the afternoon batch. However, if your score is actually withheld, the College Board will typically send you an email notification stating that your file is under “Administrative Review.”
Withheld scores are often due to testing irregularities, such as a technical glitch at the center or invalid personal information on your answer sheet. This is different from the normal waiting period for the SAT scores release date. If you receive a notification that your scores are being reviewed, follow the instructions in the email immediately. If a week passes after the SAT score release date 2025 with no update and no email, you should contact Customer Service directly.
How long does it take for colleges to receive my SAT scores?
Once the SAT score release occurs for you, the clock starts for colleges. The College Board sends electronic score reports to universities roughly once a week, usually on Wednesdays. This means that after you see your scores, it generally takes about 10 days for the admissions office to actually receive and process them.
If you are racing against a deadline, you need to factor in this processing time. Even if you use “Rush Reporting,” it can take a few days. To make sure you don’t miss a cutoff, it is highly recommended to review our guide on how to send SAT scores to colleges. This will help you understand exactly how to time your score sends with the SAT score release dates to ensure your application is complete on time.
