A student at a window overlooking a hospital campus

STEM & testing

Let your curiosity lead

Science opportunities and official test preparation for your stage, not a race to collect credentials.

Your next three steps

01
Choose one activity that genuinely interests you.
02
Check organizer age, location and registration rules for the current cycle.
03
Use official practice resources and fee assistance before buying preparation.

Your 2026 testing and competition roadmap

Key fees, timing and registration lead times for the tests and competitions on your path. Fees change, so confirm on each official page before registering.

Test / competition	2026 fee	Target window	When to register
SAT	$68 +$30 late registration fee	Spring of high school junior year	4–6 weeks before your target test date to secure local seats and avoid late penalties.
ACT	$65 without Writing $93 with Writing	Spring of high school junior year	4–6 weeks before your target test date.
USABO (USA Biology Olympiad)	$125 per school	Exams begin in early spring	Your high school registers its chapter and submits payment by mid-November.
Brain Bee	Regionals: free Nationals: $400	Regionals: January–February Nationals: April	Contact your local university chapter in late fall to secure a regional entry slot.
MCAT	$360 (2027 test dates) $145 with Fee Assistance	Spring of undergraduate junior year	Registration opens in fall. Book early — local test centers fill quickly.

Don't let fees hold you back

Fee assistance is available for the SAT, ACT and MCAT. Eligible students can get discounts, free prep materials or full fee waivers. Check eligibility well before registration deadlines.

Upcoming testing dates

Your 2026–27 SAT dates

College Board

Official weekend test dates and registration windows. Confirm test-center availability, accommodations and any device-loan deadline directly before registering.

U.S. & international

December 5, 2026: register by November 20. March 6, 2027: February 19. May 1, 2027: April 16. June 5, 2027: May 21. Registration deadlines: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Source checked 2026-11-02 · Confirm current dates and availability

Open SAT registration Official dates & eligibility source

2027 competition cycle

Your 2027 Biology Olympiad calendar

Center for Excellence in Education · USABO

An optional school-based biology competition. Confirm your school is eligible and registered; the school payment cutoff has already passed, so a later registration date does not guarantee access.

United States

School payment cutoff: October 23, 2026 (passed). School registration closes November 15; student registration closes November 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Practice: January 8–22, 2027. Open Exam: February 3, 2027 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

Source checked 2026-11-02 · Confirm current dates and availability

View competition calendar

High school

SAT preparation & fee waivers

College Board

Find official practice and registration guidance. Check the testing policy of each target college and review fee-waiver eligibility before registering.

Explore the SAT

High school

ACT preparation & registration

ACT

Review current testing options, official preparation and fee-waiver guidance. Choose SAT or ACT based on your needs; taking both is not universally required.

Explore the ACT

Biology enrichment

USA Biology Olympiad

Center for Excellence in Education

Explore an optional, school-based biology competition and its current eligibility, registration and study resources. Participation is not a medical admissions requirement.

Explore USABO

Neuroscience

International Brain Bee

Explore neuroscience through local and national competitions. Check the organizer for your region’s age rules, dates and pathway to participation.

Find your Brain Bee

School-age exploration

Science Olympiad

Team-based science events for school-age students. Find your local program, division and event rules rather than treating competition as a required credential.

Find science events

Undergraduate & beyond

MCAT planning & preparation

AAMC

Review exam content, official practice and testing dates. Choose your study and testing timeline around readiness, responsibilities and each school’s application cycle.

Plan your MCAT

Explore your stage Ask about your next step