You can cancel SAT scores on test day before leaving the testing center or up to five days after the test date.
For those who want further information
According to the official College Board website, test-takers have the option to cancel their SAT scores on test day before leaving the testing center or up to five days after the test date. Cancelling scores means that they will not be reported to colleges or universities, and test-takers will not receive a score report.
It is important to note that once a test-taker cancels their scores, they cannot retrieve them or have them reinstated at a later time. Additionally, the fee for cancelling scores varies depending on the test date and location.
In a quote from U.S. News & World Report, higher education expert Lynn O’Shaughnessy explains the reasons for cancelling scores: “If you bombed the SAT or ACT and know you can do better or were sick during the test, canceling the scores is certainly a smart move.”
Interesting facts about the SAT include:
- The SAT was first administered in 1926 and has gone through several changes over the years, including a recent overhaul in 2016 that made the test more focused on skills relevant to college and career readiness.
- The total score on the SAT ranges from 400 to 1600, with separate scores for the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and the Math section.
- The SAT is accepted by all U.S. colleges and many international institutions, and is often used as a factor in college admissions decisions.
- Test-takers can also choose to take the SAT Subject Tests, which measure knowledge in specific subject areas such as Literature, Mathematics, and Biology. However, many colleges do not require or recommend these additional tests.
Here is a table to summarize the key information about cancelling SAT scores:
When can I cancel SAT scores? | On test day before leaving the testing center or up to five days after the test date |
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What happens if I cancel scores? | Scores will not be reported and test-takers will not receive a score report |
Can I retrieve cancelled scores later? | No, cancelled scores cannot be reinstated |
Is there a fee for cancelling scores? | Yes, the fee varies depending on test date and location |
Associated video
Dr. Robert Cohen talks about when to cancel SAT scores in a YouTube video. He says scores can be canceled right after the test, and they won’t be processed or known to anyone. However, he advises against doing so since colleges usually only consider the highest scores and have software that automatically selects them. If there’s a medical emergency or calculator malfunction that impacts performance significantly, then he suggests canceling scores.
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There are two crucial pieces of info to know about canceling your SAT scores after you leave the test center:
- It is not possible to cancel your SAT scores online or by phone. You must go about this the old-fashioned way: by submitting a physical form or written request to the College Board (again, one that you’ve signed ).
- The non-negotiable deadline to submit that written request is 11:59PM EST on the Thursday after the test.
Furthermore, people ask
Take the test more than 3 times and admissions officers will start to think twice about your abilities. Even if you do well, some will view you as a score-obsessed student with nothing better to do.