What is SAT Score Choice?

Score Choice is College Board's policy allowing you to choose which SAT test date scores to send to which colleges. You are not required to send all scores to all schools. Some schools override Score Choice by requiring all scores — check each school's policy. You send scores by test date, not by individual section.

Do colleges superscore the SAT?

Most selective colleges superscore — they take your highest Math score from one date and highest Reading/Writing from another and combine them. Check each school's Common Data Set or admissions FAQ. At superscoring schools, sending multiple test dates is almost always beneficial since the superscore can only improve.

How much does it cost to send SAT scores?

You receive four free score sends at registration, which must be designated at registration time (before you see your score). Additional sends cost $15 each and can be ordered after you receive your score. Schools requiring official scores at application time should receive one of your four free sends.

Which schools require all SAT scores?

Stanford, Yale, and some other highly selective schools require all scores from every SAT sitting. By applying to these schools you agree to their all-scores requirement regardless of Score Choice. Check each school's admissions FAQ for their specific policy on score reporting requirements.

SAT Score Sending Strategy 2026: Score Choice, Superscoring, When to

Q: Can I self-report my SAT score on Common App?

Yes. Most schools accept self-reported SAT scores on Common App for admissions decisions, with official score sends required only after admission and before enrollment. Always report your actual score — misrepresentation is grounds for rescinded admission.

Sending SAT scores to colleges involves decisions most students have not thought through: which scores to send, when to send them, how superscoring changes the math, and whether to self-report or send official scores. This guide covers College Board's Score Choice policy, how superscoring works across schools, the difference between self-reported and official scores, and the step-by-step decisions for each school on your list.

The Decisions That Actually Matter

Every student who takes the SAT faces a set of score-sending decisions that sound simple but have real consequences. Sending the wrong scores, or not sending scores when you should, or self-reporting incorrectly can affect admissions outcomes in ways that a few minutes of understanding the system would prevent.

This guide works through each decision in order.

Score Choice: The Basic Framework

College Board's Score Choice policy allows students to choose which SAT test date scores to send to which colleges. You are not required to send all your scores to every school. You select by test date — you cannot send individual section scores from a single date separately; the entire score from one test date is one unit.

The default: if you do nothing after taking the SAT, no scores are sent anywhere. Scores are sent only when you actively send them, either using the four free score sends included with registration (which you designate at registration time) or by paying $15 per additional score send after registration.

Score Choice applies to all schools on your list — with one category of exception.

Schools That Require All Scores

A subset of colleges — typically those with the most detailed review processes — require all scores from every SAT sitting. They ask you to send every score from every date you have tested. This applies regardless of Score Choice; by applying to these schools you are agreeing to send all scores. Examples of schools that have historically required all scores: Stanford, Yale, several other highly selective universities. Check each school's specific policy in their admissions FAQ.

The practical consequence: if you are applying to a school that requires all scores, your decision to retake the SAT needs to account for the fact that the new score — whether better or worse on individual sections — will be seen. This changes the risk calculation for retaking (though most schools that require all scores also superscore, so a worse composite does not necessarily hurt you).

Superscoring and What It Changes

Superscoring takes the highest Math score from one test date and the highest Reading/Writing score from another (or the same) date and combines them into a single composite. Most selective schools superscore the SAT.

If a school superscores, sending multiple test dates is almost always beneficial — the superscore can only be equal to or better than any individual sitting's composite. The downside (a worse section score on a later sitting) is absorbed into the history but does not pull down the superscore.

If a school does not superscore, they typically report using your highest single-sitting composite. In this case, sending a test date where your composite was lower than a previous sitting adds information without adding to the highest composite they will use.

To know whether each school superscores: check their Common Data Set (Section C) or their admissions FAQ. "Superscores the SAT" is usually explicitly stated.

Self-Reporting vs Official Score Sends

Many colleges — particularly for test-optional and test-considered schools — allow self-reported scores during the application process, with official score sends required only after admission and before enrollment. This is standard at most Common App schools.

What self-reporting means: you enter your SAT score in the Common App testing section. The school uses this for admissions decisions. They will request official verification from College Board only if they admit you and you choose to enroll.

What official score sends mean: you order a score report from College Board ($15 per send beyond the free four) and it arrives at the school's institutional code electronically. This is what schools that require official scores before a decision receive.

The key point: submitting a false score in the self-reported field on Common App is a misrepresentation on your application and grounds for rescinded admission. Always report your actual score.

The Four Free Score Sends

When you register for the SAT, you receive four free score sends that must be designated at registration time (not after you receive your scores). These sends are processed before your score is available — you are sending blind.

Deciding where to use the free sends: designate the four schools you are most certain will be on your final list and where you will actually want to submit. Schools that require official scores before making admissions decisions are the priority — at schools that accept self-reported scores until enrollment, you do not need to send official scores until after admission.

After registration, you can send additional scores for $15 each, with scores available. This lets you see your score first and then send — more expensive but more strategic.

Step-by-Step Score Sending Decision

For each school on your list, work through this sequence:

Step 1: Does the school require official scores at application time or only after admission? If only after admission, self-report in Common App and send officially only after being admitted. Priority sends go to schools that require them upfront.

Step 2: Does the school require all SAT sittings? If yes, send all dates from your College Board account. If no, proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Does the school superscore? If yes, send all dates where you have at least one section that contributes to your best superscore. If no, send only the date where your single-sitting composite is highest.

Step 4: Is your score above the school's 25th percentile for enrolled students? If yes, submit. If no, consider whether this school is test-optional and whether withholding is appropriate.

When Score Sends Are Processed

Score sends initiated after your score is available are typically processed within two to three business days and arrive at the college electronically. For deadline-sensitive situations — submitting scores close to a Regular Decision deadline — initiate sends at least a week before the deadline to allow for processing time.

SAT Score Sending Strategy 2026: Score Choice, Superscoring, and When to Send