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 Washington
Washington's state graduation assessment is the WCAS/Smarter Balanced exam run by OSPI, separate from the SAT; the SAT/ACT is only one of several optional 'graduation pathway' routes, not a universal free school-day test.
Some districts offer an SAT School Day on their own, inside College Board's windows (October 1 to 30, 2026 and March 1 to April 30, 2027). Ask your school counselor whether yours does. Either way, the weekend dates above are open to everyone.
Source: Washington testing information.
Which Washington colleges need an SAT score for fall 2027
| College | Fall 2027 testing | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| University of Washington (Seattle) | Test optional | 1333 to 1500 |
| Whitman College | Test optional | 1190 to 1415 |
| University of Puget Sound | Test optional | 1160 to 1388 |
| Gonzaga University | Test optional | 1230 to 1383 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Test optional | Not published |
| Seattle University | Test optional | 1160 to 1360 |
| Western Washington University | Test optional | 1130 to 1320 |
| Washington State University | Test optional | 1010 to 1280 |
| Eastern Washington University | Test optional | 920 to 1100 |
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
College Bound Scholarship (Washington Student Achievement Council): Tuition and most required fees at a WA public institution (average-rate equivalent toward private tuition) for income-eligible students who sign up in 7th or 8th grade, graduate from a WA high school with a 2.0 GPA, and complete the FAFSA/WASFA
Central Washington University Non-Resident Merit Scholarship: $15,000-$18,600 per year for up to 4 years for out-of-state admits with at least a 3.0 GPA; renews with a 2.75 CWU GPA
The tiers, GPA rules and class years are on our Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington?
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 Washington 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 Washington colleges, and build the six to twelve week plan to hit it. See the ranges at SAT Scores for Washington Colleges.
