Scholastic Assessment Test or SAT is a standardized test required by all the students who wish to pursue their higher studies in the USA colleges and universities. SAT test score is proof that a student is ready to study at college. SAT score is an important aspect of the college application process, and their requirements are changed periodically by different educational institutes. So it is best to check the testing requirements and minimum required SAT score of the colleges they wish to apply to. Sending SAT scores depends upon two things – when you took the test and which score you want to send.
If you haven’t appeared for the SAT, then you will not be qualified for college admissions in the United States. In such a case, it doesn’t matter. No matter how great a student’s transcript and GPA are or how much they have scored on English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, if they haven’t appeared for the SAT, they are not qualified for college admissions in the United States.
Sending SAT Scores: Overview
While registering for the SAT, students can choose colleges or scholarship programs to which they wish to send the score. After announcing the results, they can send them to other educational institutes too. In this article, we will discuss all the aspects of sending SAT scores.
Ways of Sending SAT Score Report
After the announcement of the result, it is time to send SAT score reports to the colleges. There are two ways to send SAT scores:
- When registering for the SAT exam
- After students get the test score
Sending SAT Score to Colleges When Registering for the Exam
When registering for the SAT, students get the option to send the SAT report to the college or scholarship programs. With this option, they can send four SAT score reports for free. In this way, students send their scores without knowing how much they will score.
The biggest con of this method is that they won’t be able to choose whether they want to send the score or choose to send their best scores after getting the score. So, it is best to send score reports to those colleges that want to see all the SAT scores of the candidates.
Sending SAT Scores to Colleges After the Test
Once the student gets their SAT result, they can send their score report to the selected college. This method is advised to send their best section scores to the colleges. It is not free and has a fee of $12 for every selected college.
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Steps to Send SAT Score Report
To send the SAT score report, sign in to the college board account and follow these steps:
- Go to the ‘Send SAT Score’ page.
- Students eligible for the fee waiver can choose the option for the fee waiver. Otherwise, ignore it.
- Select colleges to send scores by name or code. Students can add one or more colleges to their score recipients list.
- Click on the ‘Continue.’
- Send SAT scores to each recipient on the list. While selecting scores to send, check out the policy requirements of the schools or colleges you wish to apply to. If any students have applied for the SAT exam more than once, they can send their best scores.
- Review everything.
- Agree to terms and conditions.
- Select a payment method.
Time Taken While Sending The SAT Score
The SAT test results are declared within two to six weeks after the test date. Students get their score reports through College Board websites. If they have requested a score report recipient when registering for the test, their SAT score report will be sent to the selected colleges within 10 days of the score being released. When the score recipient college receives the student scores, they may take a few weeks to review the application.
To ensure that the college has received the SAT score report, it is best to wait for three weeks. Usually, detailed information is available on the application site. Also, in some cases, the college may contact the student regarding the missing information in the college application form. If any students find that their scores are missing, they can call the admission office to check whether their SAT scores have arrived or not. They can also resend the scores through the College Board website.
SAT Score Choice
If any student has taken the SAT more than once, they can decide which score they want to send to their preferred colleges. It is advised first to check the score policy of the college as some colleges may require all of your scores, some may ask for the best overall score, or some may consider SAT superscore.
Superscore is a process where colleges consider students’ highest section scores across all the SAT exams taken by the student instead of considering test scores of a particular date. It means out of all the scores; the college will consider the highest maths score and the highest evidence-based reading and writing (EBRW). They combine them to get the overall score.
The ‘Score Choice’ service by the College Board is optional for the students and is required when the preferred college superscore the SAT. If any student doesn’t use Score Choice to send their best scores, the College Board will automatically send all the SAT results to the college on the recipient list.
The College Board recommends students send their SAT test scores early. Practically, it won’t give an extra edge to the students as they don’t know their scores. If they want to retake the SAT exam, they won’t be able to compare their scores and reap the benefits of the SAT score choice. So, the best time to apply to send the SAT score is after declaring the result.
Different Types of SAT Score Reportings
There are the following different types of SAT score reporting that a student may need to know before sending SAT scores:
- Additional Score Reporting
When students apply to send SAT scores during registration, they can send four free reports within nine days. Sending the scores beyond that is called additional score reporting. Students are charged $12 for each additional score report they send to the university.
- Rush Reporting
Rush reporting is when the student’s score report is sent to colleges within two to four days, excluding weekends and holidays. Students need to pay an additional fee of $31 to avail of rush reporting.
Students can choose rush reporting when the application deadlines are fast approaching for the score report recipient colleges. It is best to check the college format for accepting the SAT report, and also, not every college accepts rush reporting. It is best to check all the details on the college’s official website.
Archived Score Reporting
If the student has not appeared for the SAT for over a year, their previous SAT scores get archived. If any students want to retrieve the scores for applying to the college or university, they need to pay an additional fee of $31. Also, they are required to pay a $12 standard fee for an additional score report. So, archived score reporting will cost $43 to the student per the old SAT score report.
Students cannot order old SAT scores online through the College Board. It is done by email or using a customer support number. There are two ways to get old SAT score reports:
- Fill out the Archived Score Report Order Form and send it to the address, SAT Program, PO BOX 7503, London, KY 40742-7503
- Call the College Board (866) 756-7346. They will ask for additional fees of $15 for orders over the phone.
Conclusion
SAT scores are compulsory in most colleges and universities in the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and California. Students can choose to send their SAT scores when registering for the SAT or after getting the results. The official score report should be sent through the College Board as per the school’s policy of the recipient schools.
As the SAT score decides the future, it is best to prepare SAT test subjects well from the best tutors. Leap Scholar provides a platform where students can find the best mentors and counsellors for their study abroad dream. They can also learn the details regarding the SAT exam and prepare themselves well to get good SAT and ACT scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
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