If you recently took the SAT®, you’re probably navigating through a mix of anticipation and perhaps a bit of nervousness as you await your scores. In this blog, we’ll dive into everything you can expect on SAT score release day. From the exact timing of score releases to detailed steps on how to access your SAT score and insights into interpreting it, we’ve got you covered. Continue reading to demystify the SAT score release process and prepare for what comes next so you’re fully informed and ready to take the next step in your academic journey.
What Time Do SAT Scores Come Out?
Digital SAT® scores come out around two weeks after the test date. Because scores are released in batches, it’s common for many students to receive their scores throughout the day. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry! Most likely, you’ll get your score by 8 p.m. ET on the official score release day. But if a week passes after the announced score release dates and you still haven’t received your score, it’s time to reach out to the College Board® for assistance.
Here are a couple more tips to keep in mind:
- Digital SAT scores aren’t rolled out based on your location, unlike AP scores. This means trying to use a VPN to access your scores sooner won’t work.
- It’s normal for students who took the test at the same center or even in the same room to receive their scores at different times. If some of your friends get their results before you do, there’s no need to panic or think something went wrong.
How to Check SAT Scores?
Checking your SAT scores is easy! All you need to do is visit College Board’s official website and follow these steps:
- Sign in to your College Board account or by clicking below “See your scores option”
- From your account, either go to “My SAT” or just “SAT” from the drop-down menu
- You will be able to see your scores by just scrolling down your SAT page
If you are unable to access your scores, it might be due to one of the following reasons:
- You need to update your account information
- You need to verify your account
- You used another College Board account for your SAT registration
Now that you know how to see your scores, read our SAT scoring guide to understand how scores are calculated and how different section scores make up your final score.
What May Cause Delays in SAT Scores Coming Out?
Getting your digital SAT scores back takes a while due to the sheer number of students taking the test and the detailed process each score goes through. Here’s a simplified breakdown of what happens after you’ve completed the test:
-
Recording Your Answers:
The test system stores all your test responses safely in the College Board’s database. -
Calculating Your Raw Scores:
The scoring system tallies the number of questions you answered correctly to calculate your raw scores, providing the initial measure of your performance. -
Turning Raw Scores into Scaled Scores:
The scoring system transforms your raw score into a scaled score, adjusting for test difficulty differences to ensure fairness across all test dates. -
Your Final Score:
The system transforms your raw score into a scaled score, adjusting for test difficulty differences to ensure fairness across all test dates.
This entire process usually takes more than a week to complete. If your friends who took the Digital SAT on the same date as you received their scores but you haven’t, it could be due to the following reasons:
- The College Board was overwhelmed with the large number of test takers
- You rescheduled your test
- Occasionally, the College Board reviews scores for students who have shown significant improvement from their previous SAT.
- Technical issues may have affected the test reporting service.
Note: While the College Board doesn’t provide official details on score delivery delays, the mentioned list offers some likely explanations. Additional reasons may contribute to delays. For assistance with late score delivery concerns, please reach out to College Board customer support.
How late can SAT scores come out?
According to the College Board, Digital SAT scores will typically be available online around two weeks after your test date. If you took the SAT on a Saturday, expect to get your scores two weeks from the test date. If you took the test as part of the SAT School Day program, the scores are released approximately 3 to 4 weeks after the test date.
When Do Colleges Get Your SAT Score?
Colleges usually receive your SAT scores around 10 days following the official score release date. If you opt for rush delivery, keep in mind that colleges get these reports on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For standard delivery, colleges receive the scores weekly, typically on Wednesdays. However, the College Board might send scores on different days or less often if there are scheduling conflicts.
References
- SAT Score Release Dates – SAT Suite | College Board. (n.d.). https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/scores/sat-score-release-dates
- Quick Guide to Digital SAT Practice and Scores. (2023). collegeboard.org. Retrieved February 7, 2024, from https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/digital-sat-student-guide-practice-scores.pdf
- When Do SAT Scores Come Out? (2023, December 6). College Board Blog. https://blog.collegeboard.org/when-do-sat-scores-come-out#:~:text=What%20Time%20Are%20SAT%20Scores,to%20check%20throughout%20the%20day.
- Score Delivery Schedule – SAT Suite | College Board. (n.d.). https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/higher-ed-professionals/score-reports/score-delivery-schedule
