Why Colleges Require You to Send SAT Test Scores
SAT scores are official score reports that the College Board sends directly to colleges or scholarship programs on your behalf. When you send SAT test scores this way, colleges know the results are accurate, verified, and untampered.
Most colleges mandate the submission of SAT scores for the following reasons:
- They confirm your scores came straight from College Board.
- They help admissions teams compare applicants fairly.
- They meet official application and accreditation requirements.
Even if a school allows self-reported scores early in the application process, you will usually need to submit official SAT scores after acceptance. Understanding the score-sending process is essential to completing your college application. All official SAT scores must be sent through your College Board account using the official SAT score sending process.
How Do I Send SAT Scores To Colleges: Step-by-Step Guide
| Step | What to Do | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sign in to your College Board account | Use the same account you used to register for the SAT. |
| 2 | Go to the “Send SAT Scores” page | From your dashboard, select Send Scores, then choose SAT. |
| 3 | Check fee waiver eligibility | You may see a prompt about fee waivers. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive unlimited free score reports. If not, you can continue without selecting it. |
| 4 | Select colleges or programs | Search by institution name or school code. Add one or more colleges to your recipient list, then click Continue. |
| 5 | Choose which scores to send | Send all scores or only some scores, depending on each college’s policy. If you’ve taken the SAT more than once, you may be able to send only your best test date. Always review each school’s score requirements before submitting. |
| 6 | Review and check out | Review your order carefully, then complete checkout to submit your SAT score send request. |
Ways to Send SAT Scores
There are three main ways to send SAT scores to colleges, depending on when you send them and which scores you choose to share. All official SAT score sends are handled through your College Board account.
Sending Scores During Registration
When you register for the SAT, College Board allows you to send your scores to up to four colleges or scholarship programs for free.
- For weekend SAT tests: You can choose or change your four free scores up to nine days after the test date, even though you will not see your scores yet.
- For SAT School Day tests: You must select your free score sends during exam setup or within 3 days after testing, using the Bluebook™ app and your College Board sign-in ticket.
Free score sends are sent automatically once scores are released and include your entire score report from that test date. Score Choice® is NOT available for free score sends. When you use free sends, all scores from that test date are sent automatically, even if you plan to use Score Choice later.
Sending Scores After Test Day
If you wait until after your SAT scores are released, you can send SAT scores to colleges for a fee per score report and per college. This option gives you more control because you can review your scores before deciding where to send them.
Key points:
- Fees apply each time you send SAT test scores to a college or scholarship program
- You can send scores at any point during the admissions cycle
- Rush reporting is available for faster delivery
- You can use Score Choice® if the college allows it
Students who qualify for SAT fee waivers receive unlimited free score sends, even after scores are released. This is a major benefit and should always be checked in your College Board account before paying.
Using Score Choice® to Select Which SAT Attempts to Send
Score Choice lets you choose which SAT test dates to send to colleges instead of automatically sending all scores. This feature is helpful if your scores have improved over time.
What Shave core Choice does and does not do:
- You can select entire test dates only, not individual section scores
- Score Choice cannot be used for free score sends
- Some colleges require all scores, even if Score Choice is available
- Other colleges allow Score Choice or superscore internally
Because policies vary by school, always review each college’s SAT testing policy before deciding which SAT scores to send.
When to Send SAT Scores
The right time to send SAT scores depends on your application timeline and each college’s deadline. Most students wait until they have a score they are confident in before sending official reports. If you are applying for regular decision or early action, ensure that your score reports arrive before the college's application deadline. Some colleges allow self-reported scores during the initial application review but still require official SAT scores after admission. Always check each school’s policy so you do not send scores too early or too late.
How Long Does It Take to Send SAT Scores
After you place a score send order, the College Board typically takes one to two weeks to deliver SAT scores to colleges. This timeline applies to standard score sends. If you choose rush reporting, scores are usually sent within one to four business days after the order is processed. Rush reporting is only available for scores that have already been released and cannot be canceled once submitted. Because processing times can vary, it is best to send the scores at least two to three weeks before a college’s deadline.
Cost of Sending SAT Scores
The College Board allows students to send SAT scores to up to four colleges for free during registration or within the free-send window after test day. For scores sent after that period, there’s a fee per score report sent to each college. Additional costs apply if you choose rush reporting or need to send archived SAT scores from older test dates. Students who qualify for SAT fee waivers may also receive free score sends, even after scores are released. Always check your eligibility in your College Board account to avoid unnecessary charges.
Test Policies: Which Scores Should You Send
The SAT scores you send should match each college’s testing policy. Schools review SAT results in different ways, so sending the right scores can make a real difference in how your application is evaluated. Before submitting any SAT score sends, always check the admissions page of each college on your list.
Below are the most common SAT score review policies colleges use.
- Single Highest Test Date: Some colleges ask for SAT scores from multiple test dates, but focus on the single highest total score you earned. Even if your section scores varied across tests, they consider your best overall test date.
- All Scores Required: A smaller group of colleges requires students to send all the scores from every test date. These schools may review score trends over time and, in some cases, still superscore internally. If a college follows this policy, you should not use Score Choice.
- Superscoring Policies: Many colleges superscore the SAT, meaning they combine your highest section scores across different test dates to create your best possible composite score. You still send the full test dates, but the school selects the highest reading, writing, and math scores when reviewing your application.
- Test-Optional Colleges: Test-optional colleges allow students to decide whether to submit SAT scores at all. If you choose not to send scores, your application will be reviewed using other factors like GPA, coursework, essays, and activities. If you submit SAT scores to a test-optional school, they are typically considered part of the review.
- Using Score Choice Carefully: Score Choice lets you select which test dates to send, but it only works if the college allows it. If a school requires all scores, using Score Choice could delay or negatively affect your application.
Send SAT Scores: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send SAT scores after submitting my application?
Do I need to send all my SAT scores?
Can I send SAT scores through the Common App?
Do colleges prefer official or self-reported scores?
How to find and send old SAT scores?
References
- College Board. (n.d.). What you need to know about sending your SAT scores. BigFuture.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/stand-out-in-high-school/what-you-need-know-about-sending-your-sat-scores - College Board. (n.d.). Sending SAT scores (weekend SAT). SAT Suite of Assessments. https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/scores/sending-sat-scores/weekend
