Exam PulseMarch 2027 guide to the SAT® exam: dates, deadlines and adaptive modules
Everything you need to plan for the March 6, 2027 test: when to register, what each section looks like, and how the two-stage adaptive format decides your second module.
Test dates and registration deadlines
| Test date | Registration deadline | Late registration and changes |
|---|---|---|
| December 5, 2026 | November 20, 2026 | November 24, 2026 |
| March 6, 2027 | February 19, 2027 | February 23, 2027 |
| May 1, 2027 | April 16, 2027 | April 20, 2027 |
| June 5, 2027 | May 21, 2027 | May 25, 2027 |
Deadlines are 11:59 p.m. ET. Weekend test dates apply in the US and at international test centers. The registration fee is US$68, plus a US$43 international fee for testing outside the US (https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/help-center/how-much-sat). Dates can change, so always confirm on the official dates page: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/dates-deadlines.
Test format at a glance
| Section | Modules | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 2 modules | 27 per module (54) | 32 minutes per module |
| Math | 2 modules | 22 per module (44) | 35 minutes per module |
| Total | 4 modules | 98 questions | 2 hours 14 minutes, plus a 10-minute break |
Section scores run 200–800 and the total runs 400–1600. There is no penalty for guessing. A Desmos graphing calculator and a reference sheet are available for all of Math.
How the adaptive modules work
Two stages per section
Each section starts with Module 1, a broad mix of easier, medium and harder questions. Your performance on Module 1 decides whether Module 2 is a higher- or lower-difficulty mix. You cannot go back to Module 1 once it ends.
Why the harder path matters
Roughly half of test takers are routed to the harder Module 2. The harder path is the one that leads to the top of the score range, so accuracy in Module 1 matters a lot.
Pretest questions
Every module includes 2 unscored pretest questions: 25 scored plus 2 in each Reading and Writing module, and 20 scored plus 2 in each Math module. You can't tell which ones they are, so treat every question as if it counts.
How scoring works
Scores use item response theory, so harder questions and the module you were routed to both affect your score. That's why two students with the same number correct can get different scores.
The Exam Pulse pack copies this structure. Practice Test A includes both Module 2 paths and a routing rule (an Exam Pulse estimate, since the official rules are not published), so you can practice the path your Module 1 score would send you to.
Free official practice
Take the free full-length adaptive practice tests in the Bluebook™ app: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice/practice-tests/bluebook. For lessons and skill practice, Khan Academy's free official course is here: https://www.khanacademy.org/digital-sat.
Want more full-length practice aimed at March 2027? See the Exam Pulse Predicted Practice Pack for the SAT® Exam – March 2027 (US$29).
Get the March 2027 pack · US$29