Entrance Exam Test Dates 2026-2027: Complete Calendar

Timing is everything in entrance exam preparation. Register too late and your preferred test date is full. Start prep too early and the material fades before test day. Miss a score deadline and an application becomes impossible to submit.

This calendar consolidates the key testing windows, registration deadlines, and score release timelines for every major entrance exam your child might take in the 2026-2027 academic year. Bookmark this page and check back — we update it as official dates are released by each testing organization.

Important: Testing dates listed below reflect typical annual patterns. Always verify current dates directly with the testing organization, as specific dates shift year to year.

CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test)

Unlike most entrance exams, the CogAT is administered year-round through school districts rather than through individual registration. Your child's school or district sets the testing date.

Typical testing windows:

• Fall cohort: September–November (most common for gifted identification)
• Winter cohort: January–February
• Spring cohort: April–May (less common; some districts use for grade-level ability grouping)

How testing is scheduled: Districts schedule CogAT testing as a group event. Parents are typically notified 2-4 weeks in advance by the school. Individual families cannot register independently for the CogAT — it must go through the school.

Score delivery: School districts receive score reports within 2-4 weeks of testing. The district then communicates results to families according to their own timeline.

What to do now: Contact your child's school or district gifted program coordinator to find out when CogAT testing is scheduled and what the nomination or eligibility process is. Learn more about CogAT verbal prep.

OLSAT (Otis-Lennon School Ability Test)

Like the CogAT, the OLSAT is district-administered and cannot be individually registered for. NYC's Gifted & Talented program uses the OLSAT and NNAT in combination.

NYC G&T testing window: Typically November–January for kindergarten gifted placement, with results in spring. Check the NYC DOE website for current application and testing dates.

Other districts: Contact your district's gifted education office for OLSAT testing dates.

SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)

The SSAT is one of the most widely used independent school admissions tests for grades 4-11. Unlike the CogAT and OLSAT, families register independently through the SSAT website.

Testing levels: Elementary (grades 3-4), Middle (grades 5-7), Upper (grades 8-11)

2026-2027 SSAT Testing Windows

Standard testing (proctored test center):

Note: July and August are not standard SSAT testing months, though flex testing is available.

SSAT Flex Testing: The SSAT also offers flexible testing administered by schools and testing centers outside of standard testing dates. Flex testing requires school coordination and is available throughout the year.

Score delivery: SSAT scores are typically available online within 2 weeks of the test date.

How many times can your child take the SSAT? Up to 8 times per testing year (September through August). Most admissions consultants recommend testing no more than 3 times, with the strongest performance submitted.

Registration: Visit ssat.org to register. Registration typically opens 6-8 weeks before each test date.

Planning guidance: If your child is applying to independent schools for fall 2027 entry, most application deadlines fall in January 2027. Aim to have completed testing by December 2026 or early January 2027 at the latest. Beginning test preparation in September 2026 allows 3-4 months of solid preparation.

See our SSAT verbal study strategies guide for a 3-month preparation plan.

ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam)

The ISEE, published by ERB, is accepted at most independent schools that also accept the SSAT. Critical structural difference: you can only take the ISEE 3 times per year (once per season: fall, winter, spring).

Testing levels: Primary (grades 2-4), Lower (grades 5-6), Middle (grades 7-8), Upper (grades 9-11)

2026-2027 ISEE Testing Seasons

Fall testing window: September–November 2026

• Registration typically opens: August 2026
• Score delivery: Within 2 weeks of testing

Winter testing window: December 2026–February 2027

• Registration typically opens: November 2026
• Score delivery: Within 2 weeks of testing

Spring testing window: March–May 2027

• Registration typically opens: February 2027
• Score delivery: Within 2 weeks of testing

ISEE at-school testing: Many independent schools administer the ISEE directly; check with your target schools about on-campus testing options and dates.

Planning guidance: For fall 2027 applicants, the fall 2026 or winter 2026/2027 testing windows are optimal. Taking the ISEE in fall 2026 gives you flexibility for a second attempt if needed while meeting January 2027 application deadlines.

For ISEE verbal prep by level, see our ISEE verbal strategies by level guide.

HSPT (High School Placement Test)

The HSPT is the primary admissions test for Catholic high schools. Unlike the SSAT and ISEE, the HSPT is administered only at individual Catholic high schools, not at independent test centers.

Testing windows: Most Catholic high schools administer the HSPT in November and December for students applying to enter in September of the following year.

Typical HSPT Schedule

Important: Each Catholic high school sets its own HSPT testing date. There is no unified national HSPT testing calendar. You must contact each school you are applying to for their specific dates.

Can you take the HSPT at multiple schools? Yes — many families apply to multiple Catholic high schools, each of which may have a different HSPT testing date. You can take the HSPT at multiple schools (each administration is separate). Most schools share scores upon request or accept score transfers.

Planning guidance: Begin HSPT preparation in August or September for November-December testing. This allows 10-12 weeks of preparation. See our HSPT verbal section parent guide for comprehensive prep guidance.

Scholarship scores: If your child is aiming for merit aid, the HSPT scholarship score threshold varies by school. Read our guide on HSPT scholarship scores and Catholic high school merit aid for specifics.

TACHS (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools)

The TACHS is the Catholic high school admissions test used primarily in the New York City archdiocese. It is a single-day, region-wide testing event.

Typical TACHS testing date: First Friday of November Registration opens: September Score reporting: December–January Schools using TACHS: NYC Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens

Registration: Students register once for the TACHS; scores are shared with all NYC Catholic high schools. Registration is through catholicschoolsny.com.

COOP Program (Now Administered as the HSPT®)

The Cooperative Admissions Examination Program (COOP) is used by Catholic high schools in New Jersey and serves a function similar to the TACHS in New York. The program is active, but as of 2026 it administers the HSPT® as its test instrument — so the test your child sits is the HSPT (the legacy COOP exam format was replaced).

2026 test date: Friday, November 6, 2026 (make-up: Saturday, November 14, 2026) Registration: Opens September 1, 2026 at njcoopexam.org; confirm requirements with each target NJ Catholic high school Schools using the COOP program: NJ Catholic high schools, primarily the Archdiocese of Newark and Diocese of Paterson

For a complete guide to both exams, see our TACHS and COOP parent guide.

Key Dates Summary: 2026-2027 Planning Timeline

Here is a month-by-month planning view for families navigating the entrance exam season:

Summer 2026 (June–August)

• Research target schools and their admissions test requirements
• Determine which tests your child will take (SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, TACHS/COOP, CogAT/OLSAT)
• Begin verbal test preparation if taking fall tests
• Request CogAT testing information from school district if applicable

September 2026

• SSAT registration opens for fall testing dates
• ISEE fall registration typically opens
• HSPT/TACHS/COOP application and registration periods begin at individual schools
• NYC TACHS registration opens (first Friday of November testing date)
• Intensify preparation for fall testing window

October 2026

• First SSAT testing dates of the fall window
• TACHS registration closes (NYC)
• COOP testing (NJ)
• Applications open for most Catholic high schools
• Confirm all registration deadlines for your specific target schools

November 2026

• TACHS testing (NYC — first Friday)
• HSPT testing at most Catholic high schools
• ISEE fall testing window active
• SSAT fall testing continues
• CogAT fall cohort testing in many districts

December 2026

• HSPT testing continues at many Catholic high schools
• SSAT December testing date
• ISEE winter window opens
• Last chance for fall testing before January application deadlines

January 2027

• Most independent school application deadlines
• SSAT January testing (check if your target schools accept January scores)
• HSPT score reports released by most schools
• Catholic high school acceptance letters begin arriving
• ISEE winter window active

February–April 2027

• Secondary SSAT testing for students who want to improve scores
• ISEE winter and spring windows
• Decision month for most independent and Catholic schools

Avoiding Common Timing Mistakes

Registering too late: Popular SSAT test center dates fill up weeks in advance. Register as soon as you know you want a specific date.

Scheduling the test before preparation is complete: Taking the SSAT or ISEE without adequate preparation produces scores that are not representative of your child's potential and may set a discouraging baseline. Aim for 8-12 weeks of systematic verbal prep before the first test date.

Missing score deadlines: Each school's application deadline is the latest a score can arrive. If your child tests in mid-January and scores take 2 weeks, a January 15 application deadline is a problem. Test in October or November to give adequate buffer.

Forgetting about the HSPT schedule: Many families focus on SSAT/ISEE planning and realize too late that their target Catholic high school uses the HSPT — a completely different test with earlier, school-specific registration deadlines.

Key Takeaways

• The CogAT and OLSAT are district-administered — your child's school sets the date; contact the gifted program coordinator early to find out when testing is scheduled.
• For SSAT, registration opens 6–8 weeks before each test date and closes about three weeks out; popular test center seats fill quickly.
• The ISEE limits your child to three attempts per year (one per season), making the testing window choice more consequential than with the SSAT.
• For fall 2027 independent school applicants, testing by December 2026 or early January 2027 is the safe target; October or November is better to allow a second attempt if needed.
• Catholic high school tests (HSPT, TACHS, COOP) are school-administered with earlier, school-specific deadlines that run on a different calendar from SSAT/ISEE.
• Aim for 8–12 weeks of systematic verbal preparation before the first test date; scheduling a test before that preparation is complete produces scores below your child's actual potential.

For exam-specific preparation guides, visit our exam prep pages. For the question of when to start prep, see our month-by-month test prep timeline.

SSAT® is a registered trademark of The Enrollment Management Association. ISEE® is a registered trademark of the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). LexiMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.