Score Choice

What is Score Choice?

Score Choice gives you the option to choose which scores (by test date for the SAT and by individual test for SAT Subject Tests) you send to colleges — in accordance with an institution’s stated score-use practice.

If you decide not to use Score Choice, all of your scores will be sent to your recipients. Students should still feel comfortable sending all scores, since most colleges consider a student’s best score. Score Choice applies only to the score reports that you send to colleges. You and your high school still receive scores from all of your test dates.

What is a Super Score?

If you take the SAT more than once, and you choose to submit all administrations of the test, almost every college will use your best math, your best critical reading, and your best writing scores to create a combined Super Score that represents your best SAT score from parts of different seatings. You cannot choose to send just your math or just your writing, for example – you submit full sets of scores from more than one administration of the test and the college creates the Super Score.

For SAT Subject Tests, if you have opted in for Score Choice you can select the test administration you want to (i.e. send just the May Bio SAT Subject Test but not the June one). Know that colleges will almost always look only at your best score, even if you take the exam more than once. For example, taking the Bio SAT Subject Test in May and then again in June is not going to hurt you if you submit both scores. If you get a 650 in May and a 710 in June, you can consider yourself (as will colleges) to have gotten a 710.

Note that most selective schools do ask for ALL SAT and SAT Subject Test scores from their applicants, even if you have signed up for Score Choice. For students applying to selective schools, you should assume that the colleges will ask to see ALL scores.

Why do colleges do this?

Most likely, creating Super Scores and using the best SAT Subject Test score helps make applicants look stronger – thereby helping colleges’ US News rankings, something that is very important to them.

Is Score Choice optional and how do I sign up?

It is optional. You can choose to use it by asking the CB to send only certain scores when you request a report from them that goes to colleges you are applying to.

QUESTIONS? Consider calling the College Board directly: (866) 756-7346.