Reporting SAT Scores to Colleges

Hello! So, I've been racking my brains about this whole SAT score reporting process. How does it exactly work? After I take the test, how do I ensure that the colleges I'm applying to receive my scores?

After you've taken the SAT, College Board, the organization that administers the test, allows you to send your scores to a certain number of colleges for free. You have the option to use four free score reports. These will need to be used within nine days of your test, which is before you actually see your scores. If you are confident about your performance on the test, you may want to send these free score reports.

After the nine-day window, you can still send reports, but there's a fee attached. The exception is if you're eligible for an SAT fee waiver—in that case, you get additional free score reports.

To send these reports, you'd log in to your College Board account and select which colleges you'd like your scores sent to. Just ensure you have the correct codes for your colleges, as each one has a specific code designated by College Board.

Notice that self-reporting your scores on your applications does not replace sending your official scores. Many colleges require official score reports sent directly from College Board. Each college has slightly different requirements, so it's always a good idea to check on their individual admissions websites for complete information. Some colleges may not need the scores when you first apply; they might ask for them only if you're admitted.

The reporting process takes a few weeks, so try to send your scores at least a few weeks in advance of your application deadlines to ensure they arrive on time.

Also, just to note that as of the recent changes, the digital SAT score reports from College Board include the scores from all modules on the date the test was taken.