When College Board opened registration for the fall 2026 SAT Weekend dates on 22 May 2026, it also set out a group of changes aimed at finding seats for students and tightening device rules.
Key facts
- Announced 22 May 2026
- From Fall 2026, starting with the August SAT
- Who SAT Weekend test takers; waitlist US only
- Devices Verified mode on Chromebooks; Windows 11
Seats and booking
- Waitlist: US students whose nearby centres are full can join a waitlist and are placed automatically if a seat opens within the distance they set. Joining is free.
- Seat Reserve: participating schools can hold some seats for their own students.
- More capacity: College Board says it added seats in high-demand areas, including at colleges, hotels and event centres, and is opening afternoon sessions in some US regions. It did not name the regions.
Devices and test tools
- Bluebook works on Chromebooks only with verified mode switched on, and only on school-managed Chromebooks.
- Bluebook needs Windows 11, as Microsoft no longer supports Windows 10. College Board ties this to the August SAT Weekend.
- The Math calculator can be resized, reference sheets have a new layout, and students can zoom and pan on charts, graphs and images.
Accommodations
Students approved for embedded text-to-speech now take SAT Weekend at test centres unless approved for another school-based arrangement, and students using text-to-speech or a screen reader must bring wired, non-Bluetooth headphones.
What this means
If you are in the US and your local centre is full, join the waitlist rather than booking a distant centre. Wherever you test, check your device against the Bluebook requirements before registering, and if you rely on a school Chromebook ask the school to confirm verified mode is set. Practise with the resized calculator and zoom tools in a Bluebook practice test so they feel familiar on the day.