Test Prep
SAT and ACT Accommodations 2026-27
Extra time and other accommodations have to be requested from College Board or ACT and approved before test day. A school IEP or 504 plan helps, but it does not do it for you. Here is how each process works and the deadline for every test date this year.
College Board processing
7 weeks
allow up to
Next SAT deadline
Oct 16, 2026
for the Dec 5, 2026 test
Next ACT deadline
Nov 6, 2026
for the Dec 12, 2026 test
SAT, PSAT, and AP: how College Board handles it
- Requests go to College Board's Services for Students with Disabilities and must be approved before test day.
- Your school's coordinator submits the request online after you sign a consent form.
- Processing can take up to 7 weeks, and another 7 if College Board asks for more documentation.
- A doctor's note alone is not enough. The request has to show a disability and the need for the specific accommodation.
- Accommodations available at a test center include time and one-half, double time, extra or extended breaks, and text-to-speech.
- If approval comes less than 14 days before the test, the accommodations may not be in place for that date.
SAT accommodations deadlines, 2026-27
| Test date | Request accommodations by |
|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2026 | Jul 7, 2026passed |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Jul 24, 2026passed |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Aug 14, 2026passed |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026passed |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Mar 6, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 |
| May 1, 2027 | Mar 12, 2027 |
| Jun 5, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 |
For the 2027 AP exams (May 3 to 7 and May 10 to 14, 2027), requests are due Jan 22, 2027.
ACT: how it works
- ACT has to approve accommodations before testing, and the request comes through a school official.
- A current IEP or 504 plan is sufficient documentation for the same accommodations. Without one, ACT needs documentation from a licensed professional.
- Some accommodations, such as time and one-half in one session, are given at a national test center. Others, such as testing over several days, are arranged with your school.
- Homeschooled students can request directly.
ACT accommodations deadlines, 2026-27
| Test date | Request accommodations by |
|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Aug 14, 2026passed |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Sep 11, 2026passed |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Feb 27, 2027 | Jan 22, 2027 |
| Apr 10, 2027 | Mar 5, 2027 |
| Jun 12, 2027 | May 7, 2027 |
| Jul 10, 2027 | Jun 4, 2027 |
Plan the timeline backward
Pick the test date first, then count back. See every date on the SAT and ACT test dates page, and read how school plans differ in IEP vs. 504 plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does an IEP or 504 plan automatically give you accommodations on the SAT or ACT?
No. Both testing organizations require their own request and approval. College Board says a school plan does not automatically qualify a student, though most students are approved for the same accommodations they get at school. ACT treats a current IEP or 504 plan as sufficient documentation, but the request still has to be submitted and approved.
How do I request SAT accommodations?
Through your school. Contact the school's coordinator for students with disabilities, sign the parent consent form, and the coordinator submits the request online. Families cannot submit online themselves. Homeschooled students, or families who prefer not to go through the school, can mail or fax a paper eligibility form with documentation. Allow up to 7 weeks.
How do I request ACT accommodations?
Register for the test in MyACT and answer yes when asked whether you need accommodations. A school official then submits the request to ACT. Since June 2026 the accommodations deadline is the same as the regular registration deadline for that test date.
How long is the SAT with extended time?
The standard SAT is 2 hours 14 minutes. With time and one-half it is 3 hours 21 minutes, and with double time it is 4 hours 28 minutes, plus breaks.
Do colleges see that I tested with accommodations?
ACT says score reports sent to colleges do not flag accommodations.
Do I have to reapply for every test?
No. Once College Board approves accommodations, they carry through high school for the SAT, PSAT, and AP exams. ACT says previously approved accommodations do not need a new request.
Sources: College Board, Services for Students with Disabilities; ACT accommodations. Read October 6, 2026.
