What’s Covered:
Even the most put-together high schooler (or their parents) can make a mistake, like missing the deadline to register for the SATs. After all, there’s a lot going on between school, extracurricular activities, and social commitments.
If you missed the deadline to sign up for the SAT, don’t worry, the College Board (the organization that administers the SAT) provides SAT late registration dates, which allow you to register after regular registration has closed. Of course, there is a penalty for your tardiness, namely an SAT late registration fee.
Note: The College Board announced major changes to the SAT in January 2021. Subject Tests are discontinued for domestic students, effective immediately (international students still have the May and June administrations). The SAT Essay will be discontinued after June 2021. Learn more about the changes and how they impact admissions.
SAT Late Registration Dates
Below is a list of 2021 SAT dates—including SAT registration deadlines and SAT late registration deadlines—for both domestic and international students.
Domestic Students
SAT Date
|
Registration Deadline
|
Late Registration Deadline
|
Deadline for Changes
|
March 13, 2021
|
February 12, 2021
|
February 23, 2021 (mailed)
March 2, 2021 (online or by phone)
|
March 2, 2021
|
May 8, 2021
|
April 8, 2021
|
April 20, 2021 (mailed)
April 27, 2021 (online or by phone)
|
April 27, 2021
|
June 5, 2021
|
May 6, 2021
|
May 18, 2021 (mailed)
May 26, 2021 (online or by phone)
|
May 26, 2021
|
International Students
SAT Date
|
Early Registration via Representation
|
Registration Deadline
|
Deadline for Changes
|
Subject Test Offered
|
March 13, 2021
|
January 27, 2021
|
February 12, 2021
|
March 2, 2021
|
No Subject Tests Available
|
May 8, 2021
|
March 24, 2021
|
April 8, 2021
|
April 27, 2021
|
Subject Tests Available
|
June 5, 2021
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Subject Tests Available
|
Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.
SAT Late Registration Fees
The SAT late registration period allows students to sign up for the SAT after the initial registration period has closed. Late registration follows the same process as regular registration, but costs an extra $30 (in addition to the standard registration fees) and is typically available for two weeks after the regular registration deadline. SAT late registration isn’t available to international students.
Student Type
|
Registration Fee
|
Late Fee
|
Domestic
|
SAT $52 (with essay $68)
|
$30
|
International
|
SAT $52 (with essay $68) plus a non-U.S. regional fee between $43-$53
|
N/A
|
Can You Get an SAT Late Fee Waiver?
SAT fee waivers—which eliminate late fees—are available to students enrolled in, or eligible to participate in, the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program (FRPL). Another way to qualify for a fee waiver is if your family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. For the 48 contiguous states, D.C., Guam, and other territories, the 2020-2021 Income Eligibility Guidelines are:
Household Size
|
Annual Income
|
1
|
$23,606
|
2
|
$31,894
|
3
|
$40,182
|
4
|
$48,470
|
5
|
$56,758
|
6
|
$65,046
|
7
|
$73,344
|
8
|
$81,622
|
The annual income required to fall within the Income Eligibility Guidelines is slightly higher for residents of Alaska and Hawaii. A few other ways to qualify for a SAT fee waiver include:
- Enrollment in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families.
- Receiving public assistance.
- Living in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home, or homelessness.
- Being a ward of the state or an orphan.
U.S. citizens residing outside of the U.S. can qualify for a fee waiver—U.S. students testing abroad who qualify for a fee waiver are not charged a non-U.S. regional fee.
How Does the SAT Impact Your College Chances?
Standardized test scores are a factor that colleges consider when making admissions decisions; in general, they accept students within a certain range of scores. CollegeVine’s college search tool allows you to explore colleges using a multitude of variables such as location, graduation rate, and admissions difficulty. You can even see the SAT score range of accepted students.
The SAT is just one piece of the admissions puzzle. Our free chancing engine uses a host of data—including standardized test scores, GPA, and extracurricular activities—to tell you your real odds of admission at over 600 colleges. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to take advantage of this powerful tool.

Last-Minute Study Tips for the SAT
Since you don’t have a lot of time left before the test, you’ll want to focus on your weak spots. If you didn’t do as well in one section last time, drill questions on the concepts you didn’t quite grasp. If you struggled with timing, take a practice section or test.
If you have time, you should certainly review the whole test as well, but your focus should be the more difficult concepts for you.
If you’re getting ready to take the SAT, CollegeVine is a great resource. We have a broad variety of articles that are perfect for those preparing for the SAT, including:
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