It’s application submission season, and in a test-optional admissions world questions abound about whether to submit test scores. But if you do choose to submit your test scores, what will colleges actually see and what does it mean? Today, we’re answering some frequently asked questions about test score submission:
Q: Is it bad to take the SAT or ACT a lot of times? Will colleges see that?
A: In most cases, no. Most colleges participate in Score Choice, which allows you to choose which scores you want to send to them. You can choose your best test (or tests, if your highest section scores are spread across multiple exams), and colleges will see only those when they evaluate your application.
It’s also common for colleges to accept self-reported test scores. This allows you to simply list your scores on your application without paying to send official scores from the ACT or College Board. You can choose which scores to report on your application.
Q: Which colleges don’t use Score Choice?
A: It’s important to note that some colleges do not participate in Score Choice, and thus require you to send all SAT or ACT scores from all tests taken. The most notable colleges that do this are Barnard College, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Georgetown University, Rice University, and Texas A&M University (see a full list here).
If you plan to apply to colleges that do not use Score Choice, try not to take the SAT or ACT more than three times. While these colleges tend to give most consideration to your highest scores, they will be aware of how many times you tested in order to achieve them, which could negatively impact their overall impression of your application.
Q: Which schools require official score reports, and when?
A: Most colleges allow applicants to self-report test scores on their applications. Colleges that allow self-reporting do still require official score reports—which you’ll submit only if you are admitted and choose to enroll at that college—in order to prevent false reporting. (See here for an extensive list of colleges that currently allow self-reported scores.)
Some colleges still require official score reports during the application process, including Boston College, Florida International University, George Washington University, Texas A&M University, University of Maryland College Park, University of Richmond, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Vermont.
For students applying with AP or IB test scores, official score reports are never required during the application process but are required upon enrollment if you want them to count for college credit.
Q: Can I hide any “bad” scores from colleges that don’t use Score Choice?
A: Yes, you can! The ACT actually allows you to cancel one score anytime, eliminating it completely from your testing record. The SAT also allows you to cancel one score, but only before you receive the results (so you might choose to do this if you feel your test did not go well and your results will not be reflective of your abilities).
Aside from these one-score cancellation options, there is no other way to hide lower scores from colleges that don’t use Score Choice.
Q: Do colleges see if I cancel a real test date or just not show up?
A: No. Any canceled or no-showed exams do not yield scores, and your ACT or SAT score report only shows scores from completed exams.
Q: Can I superscore?
A: It depends. Many universities accept superscores for both the SAT and ACT (such as Babson, Cornell, Dartmouth, Emory, and Pomona). This means they will take the highest sections of each reported test and put them together to give you your strongest possible total score. (See an extensive list of college superscoring policies here.)
Q: If I send my superscore, will the college see all the individual tests? Will they hold my lower subsection scores against me?
A: Again, this depends. If you self-report your superscore on your application, colleges will see only the scores you report. They will not see the full tests or any of your weaker section scores.
If you send official test scores to your colleges for the purpose of superscoring, colleges will see the entirety of each test, including your weaker section scores. The vast majority of college admissions offices only pay attention to your highest subscores, ignoring your lowest ones entirely.
Q: When is the last ACT/SAT I can take?
A: For Early Decision and Early Action deadlines (which range from October 15-November 15 but mostly fall on November 1), the September ACT and October SAT are the last tests you can comfortably take in time to submit your scores (note: the October SAT won’t return scores early enough for October 15 deadlines).
In some cases, US-based students can also submit scores from the October ACT, however because the test is administered at the end of the month, scores are usually not released until after the ED/EA deadline and may not be accepted as “on time” by the college. It is very risky to count on sending October ACT scores to ED/EA colleges so we highly recommend completing your testing at an earlier date.
International students, however, can usually take the October ACT in time for November 1 deadlines because the digital form of the test (which is only administered internationally) returns scores within about 3 days. This is still a bit risky, and we still don’t recommend it, but it is technically possible.
For Regular Decision and Early Decision II deadlines (which range from January 1-February 1), the December SAT or ACT are the last tests you can take in time to send your scores to colleges.