Flickr user Quinn Dombrowski
If you take the SAT multiple times, you get the option of choosing which scores to send as part of your college application and which scores remain undisclosed. This is known as SAT Score Choice.
Should I Submit These Scores?
Students who are not happy with their SAT scores often choose to retake the test in the hope that they will score better the next time around. College Board allows students to take the SAT as many times as they want to. Some students go on to take the test multiple times. The problem arises when it is time to send your scores to the colleges you are applying to.
Many colleges do not accept test scores that are uploaded as a file attachment. Instead, they ask applicants to submit their test scores through their College Board account. By default, College Board sends the scores of all the SAT tests you’ve taken to your college of choice. This includes the tests in which you’ve scored less than you expected. If you are worried that those low test scores could jeopardize your chances of getting accepted, you can take advantage of the SAT Score Choice. Choose which test reports to submit! This can be particularly useful if you are applying to highly competitive colleges,
Important Things To Know About The SAT Score Choice
In general, using the SAT Score Choice option to customize your test results is a good idea. You put in the extra work to prepare for the retest and aced it. It is only fair then that you should use those high scores to boost your application. However, if this is an option you plan to use, there are a few limitations you should be aware of.
Free Scores:
When you register for the SAT, you can get your test scores sent for free to up to four colleges. You have to choose these four recipients before the actual test day. That means that you are opting to send them your scores regardless of how well or how poorly you perform. Unfortunately, after taking the test you do not have the option of signing in and canceling those score reports if you are disappointed with your performance. Your test scores will be sent to your chosen recipients around the same time that they are sent to you. If you want to have some control your test results, you will have to consider forgoing these four free test score reports.
College Policies:
Here’s something you should do before you choose the SAT Score Choice option. You must go through your college application requirements and understand their policy. Colleges vary in the way they assess SAT scores. While some colleges consider your highest section scores across all test dates, others do not agree with the SAT Score Choice option and ask students to submit all their SAT scores with their application. Whether or not you can make use of the SAT Score Choice option may well depend on each college’s policy.
Check out how your SAT scores affect your acceptance odds with College Raptor’s free match tool!
