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. Weekend dates are open to every student, whatever your school offers during the day. 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 Tennessee
State law requires every public-school junior to take the ACT or the SAT, with each district choosing which (or offering both); most districts give the ACT, and the state also pays for a free ACT Senior Retake during the school day.
Ask your school counselor whether your district runs one, and when. Either way, the weekend dates above are open to everyone.
Source: Tennessee testing information.
Which Tennessee colleges need an SAT score for fall 2027
| College | Fall 2027 testing | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | Requires a score | 1510 to 1560 |
| University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Requires a score | 1280 to 1380 |
| University of the South (Sewanee) | Test optional | 1230 to 1358 |
| Belmont University | Test optional | 1160 to 1360 |
| Tennessee Technological University | Requires a score | 1040 to 1270 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Requires a score | 1020 to 1220 |
| University of Memphis | Requires a score | Not published |
Plan the test dates around these schools first: Vanderbilt, UT Knoxville, Tennessee Tech, MTSU and Univ. of Memphis require a score, so the last date that reports in time for their deadlines is the one that matters.
Scholarship scores and their deadlines
HOPE Scholarship: SAT 1060. Up to $4,500/year (freshman/sophomore) and $5,700/year (junior/senior), qualifying on either a 1060 SAT / 21 ACT or a 3.0 weighted GPA
General Assembly Merit Scholarship (on top of HOPE): SAT 1330. An extra $1,000/year on top of HOPE, requiring both a 1330 SAT / 29 ACT AND a 3.75 weighted GPA
The tiers, GPA rules and class years are on our Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
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 Tennessee families
- SAT prep in Tennessee
- SAT scores for Tennessee colleges
- Tennessee scholarship score requirements
- Find your teen's target score
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 Tennessee colleges, and build the six to twelve week plan to hit it. See the ranges at SAT Scores for Tennessee Colleges.