SAT Release Dates 2024: When Do SAT Scores Come Out?

When the test day is finally over, there is another milestone to survive: learning your SAT scores. The waiting period is very anxious and, let’s be honest, exciting! Students start thinking less about college and more about “When do SAT scores come out?” To make these days less stressful, learn the exact dates. 

Here’s the good news: SAT scores are typically released about two weeks after your test date. This means you can expect to see your scores online by the second Friday following your Saturday test. But we don’t have to guess. The College Board now has fixed SAT score release dates, so you can easily check information. Keep reading to learn which day to mark in your calendar! 

When Are SAT Scores Released?

With a new digital SAT, starting March 9, 2024, you can learn the results very soon. Let’s see the SAT scores release dates:

Source: College Board

You don’t have to wait for long and can expect the SAT scores soon after your test day. However, there is another option. 

SAT School Day Score Release 

Many schools now hold SAT School Day, allowing you to take the SAT at your school on a weekday. It might be your option as well, right? Of course, testing weeks and release dates are different here. Starting from spring 2024, SAT School Day will also be available digitally, with testing scheduled from March 4, 2024, to April 26, 2024.

Source: College Board

Sending Your SAT Scores

The SAT score report indicates your total score out of a possible 1600. It also shows the percentile in which your score falls. But that’s not it. You will see your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math section scores, as well as your individual test scores in Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. 

As you understand, your cross-test scores will also be there. When you took the SAT, you probably picked some colleges or scholarships to send your scores to. Now, you can do it. And here’s how: 

1. Log in to your College Board account.
2. Go to the “Send SAT Scores” page. You might see a message about fee waivers. If it doesn’t apply to you, just skip it.
3. Choose the institutions you want to send your scores to. You can search for schools by name or code.
4. Click on the schools you want to add to your list, then click “Continue.”
5. Decide if you want to send all your scores or just some of them. If you’ve taken the SAT multiple times, you can choose to send only your best score. But some schools might want to see all your ??????s, so check their policies.
6. Review your choices, then complete your order.

If you don’t have your college list nailed down yet, no worries – you can send official SAT Score Reports directly from your College Board account later.

Why Sending Scores Through the College Board? 

All higher education institutions need to receive your scores straight from the College Board. They won’t accept printouts or copies from you or your school transcripts with your scores included. Besides, when you ask the College Board to send your scores, they include your demographic info. Institutions can use the information to support your applications. 

What else? Institutions can use this data to send you info about admissions, education, financial aid, or scholarships. But just because they contact you doesn’t mean you’re admitted or eligible for aid. You still need to follow the required steps to apply for scholarships. After you receive your SAT scores, the College Board usually sends them to colleges around 10 days later. This means your colleges will get your scores not long after you do.

Is It Allowed to Send Only Selected Scores? 

You can’t pick the best scores from different test days. Instead, you select scores by test date. This means all scores from one SAT are sent together. However, some institutions practice super scoring, where they consider your highest section scores across multiple test dates.

Source: College Board

Understanding Your SAT Score

When you log into the student score portal, you’ll see your most recent digital SAT Suite of Assessments test. You can check a summary of your score and click “See Score Details” for more insights, including:

• Your performance compared to college and career readiness benchmarks.
• Comparison of your total and section scores with percentile ranks among testing populations at your school, district, state, country, and/or worldwide.
• Your strengths and weaknesses in four content domains for Reading and Writing, as well as four content domains for Math.

At the top of your score information, you’ll find a large number in black, which is your SAT score. It ranges from 400 to 1600. Next to your score is the percentile, indicating where you stand among other test-takers. Below your score is your score range, showing the possible range of scores if you took the SAT multiple times. Some colleges may focus on your score range rather than just your total score when reviewing your application.

What Do You Do Next With Your Online Score Report?

So, congrats! You already received your complete score report. What can you do once your SAT scores are released? Here are some suggestions: 

• Review your answer choices. Once the scores are released, you’ll have access to a score report that details your performance in each section. You can also see which questions you answered correctly and incorrectly. Utilize this information to identify areas for improvement if you plan to retake the SAT.
• Start researching colleges. While your test scores are a crucial factor, they’re just one piece of the college application puzzle. Use this waiting period to delve deeper into your college choices. Consider factors like academic programs, campus life, and financial aid options. 
• Start crafting your applications (early!). Many colleges offer early application deadlines. While you may not have your final test scores yet, you can still get a head start on your applications. Learn more about colleges that don’t require a fee. Focus on essays, recommendations, and activities sections that don’t require your SAT score. This will get you ahead of the curve and potentially give you an edge in the admissions process.

How to Cancel Your Scores

If you’re not happy with your SAT Weekend test performance, you can choose to cancel your scores. However, you need to do it quickly – until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, one week after your test date. Keep in mind that once you submit a request to cancel your scores, you can’t get them back, and they won’t be shared with you or any schools. Also, you can cancel your score right after you finish the test.

Here are the steps to take:

1. Go to mysat.collegeboard.org and log in to your account.
2. Find your SAT test date under My Scores.
3. Click on “Unsure about scores?”
4. Agree to the Cancellation of SAT Scores Agreement and follow the instructions to cancel your scores.

That’s it! Now, you can try again and aim for the target score of your dream university. 

Conclusion 

By staying informed and planning ahead, you can transform that anxious wait into a productive period that propels you forward on your college application journey. Remember, your SAT score is just one chapter in your college story. Maybe you need extra tutoring for your future academic success. In any case, mark your calendar, and don’t overthink anything while you are waiting for the results. Get ready to send your SAT scores to prospective colleges, and keep calm. Good luck!