Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers. Dates checked against College Board on October 9, 2026.
The short answer: College Board runs eight SAT Weekend dates in 2026-27, and 5 are still ahead: November 7, December 5, March 6, May 1, June 5. The free test at school in Illinois is the ACT, so an SAT score means a weekend date from this list. Anticipated dates run through June 2028.
All 2026-27 SAT dates and deadlines
| Test date | Register by | Late registration | Scores released |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2026 (passed) | August 7, 2026 | August 11, 2026 | September 4, 2026 |
| September 12, 2026 (passed) | August 28, 2026 | September 1, 2026 | September 25, 2026 |
| October 3, 2026 (passed) | September 18, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | October 16, 2026 |
| November 7, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | October 27, 2026 | November 20, 2026 |
| December 5, 2026 | November 20, 2026 | November 24, 2026 | December 18, 2026 |
| March 6, 2027 | February 19, 2027 | February 23, 2027 | March 19, 2027 |
| May 1, 2027 | April 16, 2027 | April 20, 2027 | May 14, 2027 |
| June 5, 2027 | May 21, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | June 21, 2027 |
Deadlines close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Source: College Board test dates and deadlines and score release dates. Scores arrive about two weeks after each test (June takes a little longer), and that release date is when you learn whether a retake is needed, often just days before the next registration deadline.
The SAT at school in Illinois
Illinois pays for every public high school junior to take a state-mandated entrance exam during the school day as a graduation requirement; this was the SAT through 2023-24 and switched to the ACT with writing starting 2024-25.
The school-day ACT still counts for colleges that take either test. A student who wants an SAT score, because they test better on it or because a scholarship or program asks for it, registers for a weekend date above.
Source: Illinois testing information.
Which Illinois colleges need an SAT score for fall 2027
| College | Fall 2027 testing | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | Test optional | 1500 to 1560 |
| Northwestern University | Test optional | 1520 to 1560 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Test optional | 1390 to 1520 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Test optional | 1220 to 1390 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Test optional | 1190 to 1400 |
| DePaul University | Test optional | 1150 to 1330 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Test optional | 1030 to 1300 |
| Illinois State University | Test optional | 1010 to 1210 |
| Bradley University | Test optional | 1030 to 1240 |
| Northern Illinois University | Test optional | Not published |
Every college on this list is test optional for fall 2027, so a score is a choice, not a requirement. A score inside or above a school's range can still help, and some scholarships still use scores.
Scholarship scores and their deadlines
Stamps Scholarship (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Covers tuition, fees, room and board in full, selected during the general admissions review
Illinois State Scholar designation: Honorary distinction only; no monetary award is attached
The tiers, GPA rules and class years are on our Illinois SAT prep page. Count back from the scholarship's testing deadline and from your earliest application deadline, and plan around whichever comes first.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Illinois colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreAnticipated 2027-28 SAT dates
| Anticipated test date | Cycle |
|---|---|
| August 28, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| September 18, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| October 9, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| November 6, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| December 4, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| March 4, 2028 | Spring 2028 |
| May 6, 2028 | Spring 2028 |
| June 3, 2028 | Spring 2028 |
These are College Board's own published planning dates, with no registration deadlines yet, and College Board can still move them. It already moved one: the October 2027 date is now October 9. Nothing past June 2028 has been published.
Quick answers
When is the next SAT in Illinois?
November 7, 2026. Register by October 23, 2026, or by October 27, 2026 with the late fee. Weekend SAT dates are the same in every state. Register early to get a test center close to home.
When should a junior take the SAT?
A first official score in the fall or winter of junior year, then a retake in March or May. That leaves June and the anticipated August 2027 date as insurance, with scores back before senior-year applications open.
How many times should my teen take the SAT?
Two or three sittings is typical. Many colleges superscore, combining the best section scores across dates, so a planned second attempt usually costs little and can add points. Check each college's own policy.
Are the PSAT dates the same as the SAT dates?
No. The PSAT/NMSQT is given at school between October 1 and 30, 2026. Schools register students themselves, and only the junior-year PSAT counts toward National Merit.
More for Illinois families
Every date without a plan is a wasted shot
Between school, sports and deadlines, most students get two or three test dates that really count. In a free Strategy Session we count your teen's remaining dates, set the target score for their Illinois colleges, and build the six to twelve week plan to hit it. See the ranges at SAT Scores for Illinois Colleges.