Send official test scores to the schools that need them

Sending official scores

Self-reported is not always sufficient

Many colleges let you self-report on the application and require an official report only if you enrol. Many others require an official report to review the file at all. A file waiting on scores is not read.

Check each school's requirement individually — this is one of the most common reasons an application sits incomplete through November.

How to send

• SAT — order through your College Board account. Four free reports are included within nine days of a test date; after that each costs a fee. Rush delivery exists and costs more.
• ACT — order through your ACT account, per school, per test date.

Allow one to two weeks for delivery, longer around deadlines when volume spikes. Order at least three weeks before any deadline that requires official scores.

Score choice

Both the SAT and ACT let you choose which sittings to send. A few colleges require all scores — check before assuming you can send only your best.

Most colleges superscore: they take the highest section scores across sittings. Where a school superscores, sending every sitting is usually to your advantage.

Fee waivers

If you tested with a fee waiver you have unlimited free score reports on the SAT, and additional free reports on the ACT. Use them — students entitled to this routinely pay unnecessarily.

Confirm arrival

Do not assume an order is a delivery. Check each applicant portal about ten days after ordering. If a score has not appeared two weeks out from a deadline, contact the testing agency and the college the same day.