What is Score Choice?

Given that most of the students take SAT and/or ACT more than once in order to get their optimal score, one of the most common  questions that many students and parents have is which scores to share with colleges and how to do so. Collegeboard and ACT give students the flexibility to choose which scores (by test date for the SAT and ACT and by individual tests for the SAT Subject Tests™) to send to colleges. However, the main caveat is that this must be done in accordance with an institution’s stated score-use practice. This practice is known as Score Choice.

SCORE CHOICE IS AN OPTION YOU SELECT AT THE TIME YOU REGISTER FOR SATS ON THE COLLEGEBOARD WEBSITE. IF A STUDENT DECIDES NOT TO USE SCORE CHOICE, THEN ALL OF THE SCORES FROM ALL TEST DATES ARE SENT.

The ACT offers similar flexibility. Students can decide which test date(s) scores they want to send to colleges.

Colleges cannot “opt out of” or “reject” Score Choice. Score Choice is a feature available to students. Neither ACT nor Collegeboard will release test scores from any test date without student’s explicit consent.

However, colleges set their own policies and practices regarding the use of test scores. There are many colleges across the country that prefer to see a student’s entire testing history in order to get a more holistic picture about the student applicant. In such situations, we highly recommend students submit ALL of their test scores.

Bottom Line:  Colleges are aware that most students take the SAT or ACT more than once. It does not go against an applicant if he or she has taken these tests many times or received a low score in either one section or on the entire test so long as one has come back and shown improvement (in line with what a particular college wants to see).

Remember, Score Choice does not allow you to send scores from a specific test section alone.