SAT Reporting Changes – A New Policy To Help Students Do Their Best
by Marc R. Hill, CCPS, RFC®, CCFC, CAFC
We all know that taking the SAT can be one of the most stressful experiences in the academic life of a high school student. Even the most difficult math test seems almost relaxing when compared to the stress most students feel when taking the SAT. That’s because the SAT scores received by students can have a significant impact on college admission decisions.
Major Source of Pressure
SAT stress comes in part from the fact that the SAT is one of the most important tests a student will ever take. It is sometimes the first information a college receives about a student, and colleges consider the score very carefully when considering whether to admit a student.
Beyond the inherent stress that goes with taking the SAT, there is another reason the test produces so much anxiety. In the past, if a student received a less than desirable score on the test, they could never escape that score. Even if they took the test again and scored exceptionally well, colleges would still see the first score too. And colleges were also privy to the number of times the test was taken.
How the College Board Hopes to Help
The College Board is hoping to relieve some of the stress felt by students on test day by giving students the option to choose which scores a college is sent. Starting in March 2009, students will be able to choose whether a college sees a particular set of scores.
This new program, called Score Choice, gives students a chance to choose scores by test date. In addition, students will be able to send colleges their individual test scores for the SAT Subject Test. The College Board hopes that when students have more control over their scores, they will feel less pressure on the day of the test.
Who Will Be Affected?
Students taking the March 2009 test will be the first to have the option to choose scores. The students in the class of 2010 will be among the first students to try out the new program, and it will apply to their previous test scores as well as the March 2009 or later tests.
Students who took the SAT prior to March 2009 will not have the option of choosing scores. However, if they decide to take the SAT again after March 2009, they can select which scores are sent to colleges, including the scores of test taken before that date.
More About Score Choice
As with all major academic decisions, it’s important that students learn everything they can about Score Choice. Here are some quick facts about the new program:
- Score Choice will not cost more money. The SAT pricing policy has not changed, and this option is included in the price students pay to take the SAT.
- Students can access the Score Choice program by calling SAT customer service or by using the web.
- When students elect to send scores from a test sitting, all scores from that sitting will be sent to colleges. Students will be unable to select specific sections from individual test sittings.
- Score Choice is an optional program. Students can elect not to participate.
- If a college has specific requirements for score reporting, students will need to follow those requirements.
How are Scores Sent?
The majority of colleges require that students’ SAT scores be sent directly from the College Board. Colleges and Universities usually do not accept copies of scores from the web or copies of student score transcripts. This means that students must follow College Board score reporting guidelines.
As part of the test registration and included in the testing fee, students can choose up to four institutions to receive their scores. Additional score reports can also be ordered by mail, phone, or online. Scores are generally received by colleges about five weeks after the score request is received by the College Board.
Lower Income Students May Have Test Fee Waived
Students from lower-income families may be eligible to have some test fees waived. In addition, these students may be able to send an additional four score reports to colleges at no extra charge. After the implementation of Score Choice, students will be able to select which scores the colleges receive.
About Retaking the Test
The College Board is hoping that implementing the Score Choice program will help ease testing anxiety and perhaps produce better test results for some students. According to the College Board, about 15 percent of students retake the test at least one time. The test is offered seven times each year.
Frequently, students take the test once during their junior year of high school and then take the test again during their senior year. According to the College Board, there are sometimes significant changes in a student’s scores when he or she retakes the exam:
- 35 percent of students retaking the SAT receive a lower score than their initial exam.
- 55 percent of students receive a higher score on their second try.
- Students with lower initial test scores had a higher chance of raising their scores if they tried again.
Previous Score Choice Option
The current Score Choice option was developed after a trial program that was available for subject tests in the SAT II. That previous option allowed students to pay a fee to select which scores were received by colleges.
Some students felt that this option was unfair to lower income students because of the fee involved, so that program was discontinued. The new Score Choice option does not require students to pay a fee, so it is considered fairer to lower income students.
More About Taking the SAT
The College Board offers seven testing sessions each year. Tests are usually the first Saturday of the month in November, December, May, and June. Tests are also offered in October, January, and March or April. The SAT was administered 1,465,744 times in 2006.
Taking the SAT usually requires three hours and 45 minutes. During this time, students answer a variety of questions in three formats: multiple choice, essay, and student-produced answers. Students get an average of 50 to 60 percent of the questions correct.
In order to take the SAT, students must register ahead of time. Registration is available online, by mail, and over the phone. Registering online is considered the most accurate method and provides immediate confirmation.
How Will Score Choice Change Perceptions of the SAT?
For students, the implementation of the Score Choice program is likely to reduce some of the anxiety they may experience on test day. The program may also make it more likely that more students will retake the test in an attempt to improve their scores.
In the past, if a student had a good score and retook the test for a better score, he or she ran the risk of lowering their score. Now, Score Choice will allow students to suppress the lower score and send only the best score to colleges and universities.
For the most part, colleges and universities appear to consider the new Score Choice program a fair alternative to the existing scoring system. Many college admissions officials already consider only a student’s best SAT score when making admissions decisions.
For more information regarding this exciting change in SAT score reporting visit the College Board.
The author, Marc R. Hill, a certified college planner and founder of Reduce My College Costs, LLC, Inc. specializes in assisting parents reduce college expenses through implementation of tax, income and cash flow strategies. For more information send an e-mail to mhill@reducemycollegecosts.com.
