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Kentucky SAT Test Dates: 2026-27 and 2027-28

Published
October 9, 2026
· Updated
October 9, 2026

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. Kentucky also gives the SAT free at school, so a junior's first official score can come from a school day. Anticipated dates run through June 2028.

All 2026-27 SAT dates and deadlines

Test dateRegister byLate registrationScores released
August 22, 2026 (passed)August 7, 2026August 11, 2026September 4, 2026
September 12, 2026 (passed)August 28, 2026September 1, 2026September 25, 2026
October 3, 2026 (passed)September 18, 2026September 22, 2026October 16, 2026
November 7, 2026October 23, 2026October 27, 2026November 20, 2026
December 5, 2026November 20, 2026November 24, 2026December 18, 2026
March 6, 2027February 19, 2027February 23, 2027March 19, 2027
May 1, 2027April 16, 2027April 20, 2027May 14, 2027
June 5, 2027May 21, 2027May 25, 2027June 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 Kentucky

Starting with the 2025-26 school year, Kentucky dropped its state-funded ACT program and now gives every high school junior a free SAT during a six-week school-day testing window.

Nationally, SAT School Day runs from October 1 to 30, 2026 in the fall and from March 1 to April 30, 2027 in the spring. Your school picks its own day inside that window and registers students itself, so ask the counselor for the date.

Source: Kentucky testing information.

Which Kentucky colleges need an SAT score for fall 2027

CollegeFall 2027 testingMiddle 50% SAT
Centre CollegeTest optionalNot published
Bellarmine UniversityTest optional1060 to 1260
University of KentuckyTest optional1058 to 1270
Murray State UniversitySee the school's policy970 to 1170
University of LouisvilleRequires a score1010 to 1230
Northern Kentucky UniversityRequires a scoreNot published
Western Kentucky UniversitySee the school's policy930 to 1130
Transylvania UniversityTest optionalNot published

Plan the test dates around these schools first: UofL and NKU require a score, so the last date that reports in time for their deadlines is the one that matters.

Scholarship scores and their deadlines

KEES GPA award (max tier): $500 per year of college for a 4.0 yearly GPA in high school, sliding down to $125 at a 2.5 GPA; paid each year of college, half per term

KEES ACT/SAT bonus award: $36/year at the minimum qualifying score (15 ACT / 830 SAT) up to $500/year at a 27+ ACT (roughly 1260+ SAT); the highest ACT or SAT taken before graduation counts, no superscore across tests

The tiers, GPA rules and class years are on our Kentucky SAT prep page. Count back from the scholarship's testing deadline and from your earliest application deadline, and plan around whichever comes first.

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Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Kentucky colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.

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Anticipated 2027-28 SAT dates

Anticipated test dateCycle
August 28, 2027Fall 2027
September 18, 2027Fall 2027
October 9, 2027Fall 2027
November 6, 2027Fall 2027
December 4, 2027Fall 2027
March 4, 2028Spring 2028
May 6, 2028Spring 2028
June 3, 2028Spring 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 Kentucky?

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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky colleges, and build the six to twelve week plan to hit it. See the ranges at SAT Scores for Kentucky Colleges.

Want your teen's exact target score and the plan to hit it?

The free Strategy Session is 45 to 60 minutes on Zoom. You leave with the number, the gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.

Book your free Strategy Session