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How to Send SAT Scores? A Definitive Guide
Table of Contents
What are your SAT Score Sending Options?
The SAT score sending process is more flexible than you might think. Whether you want to send your scores right after the test or wait to see how you performed, College Board gives you options. You can choose to share your SAT scores with colleges and scholarship programs either on test day or any time after receiving your scores.
But here’s the thing – navigating these basic options can feel like solving another test question if you don’t understand how they work. Should you send scores right away to save money? Wait to see your performance first? What information do colleges receive, and how long does the process take?
Think of SAT score sending as your first strategic move in the college application process. Understanding when to send scores, how much it costs, and what information colleges receive can save you both money and stress. Each decision you make about score sending can impact your application timeline and budget.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential mechanics of SAT score sending. You’ll learn about free score reports, additional score sending options, costs involved, and important timelines to keep in mind for your college admissions process.
Let’s start with the basic process of sending your SAT scores to colleges.
How to Send SAT Scores to Colleges?
Free Score Reports: Choosing Recipients Before You Know Your Score
The timing of your SAT – whether you take it on a weekend or during a school day – plays a crucial role in how and when you can send your free score reports. Here’s a detailed breakdown that many students wish they’d known earlier.
Weekend SAT Test-Takers: More Flexibility in Timeline Taking the SAT on a weekend gives you a longer window to decide. You can select your free score recipients at the time of registration, and – here’s the good part – you’re not locked in right away. You have until nine days after the test to make your final choices or change your selections.
School Day SAT Test-Takers: Shorter Decision Window If you’re taking the school day SAT, pay close attention – your timeline is different. You’ll need to make your free score send decisions either during the exam setup or within just three days after testing. To make or change your selections during this three-day window, you’ll need to sign in to Bluebook™ using your test sign-in ticket.
The Catch: Deciding Before Seeing Your Scores Here’s something crucial to consider – and it’s a detail that often catches students off guard: Whether you’re taking the weekend or school day SAT, you’ll have to finalize your free score recipients before knowing how well you performed. That’s right – you’re making these decisions before seeing your actual scores.
Let’s put this in perspective. It’s like choosing whether to share a photo before seeing how it turned out. While this might feel risky, it’s also an opportunity to save on score sending fees if you’re confident about your preparation and target schools.
This early decision requirement is why many students either:
- Choose to wait and pay for score sending later (after seeing their scores), or
- Select list of colleges they’re confident they want to apply to, regardless of their exact score
Note that these free score sends are valuable – they can save you money in the long run. However, you’ll need to weigh this financial benefit against the uncertainty of not knowing your performance when you send your SAT scores to colleges.
When Do You Need Additional Score Reports?
Life rarely fits into a neat “four free score reports” box. There are several situations where you might need to send additional SAT score reports to colleges and scholarship programs. Let’s explore when and why this might happen.
Applying to More Schools Than Your Free Score Limit
The college application landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. While some students stick to their original college list, many cast a wider net. Maybe you’ve discovered some exciting programs during your college search, or perhaps you’re hedging your bets with a mix of reach, target, and safety schools. When your college list grows beyond your free score sends, additional score reports become necessary.
Strategic Waiting: Seeing Scores Before Sending
Here’s a common scenario: You decided to wait and see your SAT performance before sending scores anywhere. Smart move – this gives you more control over your application strategy. While you missed out on the free score sends, you gained valuable information to make informed decisions about which scores to share with which schools.
Different Programs, Different Requirements
Sometimes, your academic journey takes unexpected turns. You might need to:
- Send scores to newly discovered scholarship opportunities
- Submit scores for specific programs within universities
- Share results with summer programs or dual enrollment opportunities
- Provide scores for athletic recruiting purposes
Making Up for Technical Issues
Although rare, sometimes technical glitches happen. Maybe your initial score sends didn’t go through, or you entered incorrect college codes. In these cases, you’ll need to send additional score reports to ensure your target schools receive your scores.
Remember, while additional score reports come with a fee, they offer flexibility and control over your college application strategy.
What is the fee for sending SAT scores? How many free score reports are available?
Let’s talk about the dollars and cents of SAT score sending – it’s simpler than you might think, but there are a few key details to keep in mind.
First, the good news: Every time you take the SAT, you get four free score reports. That’s right – each SAT attempt comes with four free score sends, not just your first test. These free reports are yours to use within the timeline we discussed earlier (either nine days after the weekend test or three days after the school day test).
But what happens when you need to send more scores? Each additional score report costs $14. This fee applies whether you’re:
- Sending your standardized test scores to a fifth college
- Sharing results with scholarship programs
- Submitting scores after your free report window has closed
“What about getting scores by phone? I’ve heard that’s an option.”
Yes, College Board offers a Get Scores by Phone service for $15 per call. But here’s what you need to know – this service is mainly for students who don’t have internet access or need their scores urgently and can’t access them online. For most students, the free online score access through their College Board account is the way to go.
Pro tip: Before spending money on additional score reports or phone services, map out all the schools and programs you’re applying to. This planning can help you maximize those free score reports and minimize extra costs. These fees can add up quickly, especially if you’re applying to multiple schools or programs.
What is a SAT Rush Order? Is it Worth the Extra Cost?
Sometimes in your college application journey, you might find yourself racing against deadlines. That’s where SAT rush ordering comes in – but it comes with both a higher price tag and some important limitations.
A rush order costs $31 on top of the regular $14 score report fee, bringing your total to $45 per report. That’s quite a jump from the standard fee, so let’s see when it might make sense to use this express service.
How Fast is “Rush” Really? Rush reports are delivered within 1-4 business days to the colleges. But here’s the catch – this timeline doesn’t include weekends or holidays. So if you order on a Friday, the clock doesn’t start ticking until Monday.
Important Limitations to Consider:
- You can only rush reports for scores that have already been released
- Once you place a rush order, there’s no turning back – these orders can’t be changed or canceled
- The rush fee applies to each report you want expedited
When Does SAT Rush Ordering Make Sense? Most commonly, students use rush ordering when:
- They’ve discovered a rapidly approaching application deadline
- They need to meet athletic recruitment timelines
- A scholarship program has an unexpected quick turnaround
- There was a delay in their regular score sending process
Here’s the bottom line: While rush ordering can save the day in a pinch, it’s an expensive solution to what’s often a planning problem. The best strategy? Mark those application deadlines on your calendar and work backward to determine regular score sending dates. Your wallet will thank you later.
Do colleges require official SAT scores from the College Board?
The short answer is yes – but there’s a budget-friendly twist in the process that many students don’t know about.
Traditionally, colleges have required official SAT scores sent directly from College Board. They won’t accept that printout of your score report, no matter how official it looks. And that transcript from your high school with your SAT scores? Most colleges won’t consider that either. The reason is simple: they need to verify that these scores are authentic and unaltered.
But here’s the good news that could save you money: Many colleges have adopted a more student-friendly approach to score submission. It works like this:
During Application You can self-report your SAT scores right on your application. This means typing in your scores yourself – no need to pay for official score reports at this stage. Some colleges even accept screenshots or uploads of your score report from your College Board account during the initial application review.
After Acceptance If you’re offered admission, that’s when you’ll need to send your official scores through College Board. This approach helps students save money by only sending official reports to schools they’re actually planning to attend.
This student-friendly policy (usually stated in college websites and also on the Common App portal) has become increasingly common as colleges recognize that application costs can be a barrier for many families. It’s part of a broader trend toward making the college application process more accessible and affordable.
A few quick tips for self-reporting:
- Double-check the numbers you enter – even a small typo could cause problems later
- Keep track of which schools allow self-reporting and which require official scores upfront
- Budget for official score reports you’ll need after acceptance
- Check each school’s policy on their admissions website as requirements can change
What information is shared with colleges in my SAT score report?
When College Board sends your SAT scores to institutions, they’re sharing more than just numbers. Let’s pull back the curtain on exactly what information travels with your test scores.
Your Score Report Package Along with your SAT scores, College Board forwards:
- Basic demographic information
- Educational background details
- Other information you’ve provided during registration or through your College Board account
Think of it as your academic snapshot – colleges use this comprehensive picture not just for admissions decisions, but to identify opportunities that might be a good fit for you.
How Colleges Use This Information Your score report often opens doors to various opportunities. Colleges and organizations might reach out to you about:
- Admission opportunities at their institution
- Educational programs that match your profile
- Financial aid possibilities
- Scholarship programs you might qualify for
A Word of Caution Here’s something crucial to understand: If an institution contacts you based on your score report information, it doesn’t automatically mean you’re in! Some students mistakenly interpret these communications as acceptance letters or scholarship offers.
Getting an email, brochure, or letter from a college means they’re interested in telling you more about their opportunities. It’s an invitation to explore, not a guarantee of admission or financial support. Think of it as opening a dialogue, not closing a deal.
Your SAT score report works like a networking tool, connecting you with institutions that might be a good fit. Understanding what information is shared helps you make informed decisions about your college application strategy and respond appropriately to any communications you receive.
When will colleges receive my SAT scores?
Understanding score delivery timelines is crucial for planning your college applications effectively. Let’s break down exactly when colleges can expect to receive your scores based on when you send them.
Score Delivery for Free Score Reports If you choose to use your free score sends on test day, College Board will deliver your scores electronically to your selected schools on the official score release date. Each SAT test date has its own designated score release date – typically about two weeks after your test date, though this can vary.
For the most up-to-date schedule, you can check the official SAT score release calendar on the College Board’s website. This timeline ensures that schools receive your scores as soon as they become available – no extra steps needed from you.
Timeline for Additional Score Reports Decided to wait and send scores after seeing them? Here’s what to expect: When you order additional score reports after scores are released, colleges will receive them within 1-2 weeks (specifically, within 8 business days) from the date you place your order.
Planning Your Score Sending Strategy Consider these timelines when planning your college applications:
- Check application deadlines for each school
- Factor in the score release date for your test
- Add processing time if you’re sending additional reports
- Include extra time for possible delays during peak application seasons
The key to a stress-free score sending process? Work backward from your application deadlines. This approach helps ensure your scores arrive well before any crucial deadlines, giving you one less thing to worry about during application season.
Now that you understand the mechanics of SAT score sending, you might be wondering about more advanced strategies like Score Choice feature and Superscoring. These options add another layer of flexibility to how you present your SAT performance to colleges. Check out our companion guide, “SAT Score Choice and Superscoring: Strategic Guide for College Applications,” where we dive deep into these strategic options and help you make the most of your SAT scores.
Quick Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Sending SAT Scores
Before you head off to tackle your college applications, let’s wrap up the key points about SAT score sending. Here’s your essential checklist:
Free Score Reports: Your First Move
✓ 4 free reports per SAT test
✓ Weekend SAT: Choose recipients up to 9 days after test date
✓ School Day SAT: Choose within 3 days after test date
✓ Must decide before seeing your scores
Additional Score Reports: When You Need More
✓ $14 per additional score report
✓ Use when applying to more than 4 schools
✓ Ideal when waiting to see scores before sending
✓ Perfect for last-minute additions to your college list
Rush Reporting: For Those Time-Crunch Moments
✓ Costs $31 + regular $14 fee
✓ Delivery within 1-4 business days
✓ Available only for already-released scores
✓ No cancellations or changes allowed
Official Scores vs. Self-Reporting
✓ Most colleges require official College Board scores
✓ Many allow self-reporting during application
✓ Official scores needed after acceptance
✓ Check each school’s specific requirements
Timeline Essentials
✓ Free score reports: Sent on score release date
✓ Additional reports: Delivered within 8 days
✓ Rush orders: 1-4 business days
✓ Plan ahead for application deadlines
What Colleges Receive
✓ Your SAT scores
✓ Demographic information
✓ Educational background
✓ May lead to communications about opportunities
✓ Contact doesn’t guarantee admission or aid
Pro Tip: Keep this guide handy as you plan your college applications. A solid score-sending strategy can save you both money and stress during the application process!