Learn how to send SAT scores to colleges through your College Board account, use your 4 free reports, understand fees, Score Choice, and timing.
Larry Learns
Sending your SAT scores is simple once you know where to click. Here is the step-by-step process, what is free, what costs money, and how to time it right.
You send your SAT scores to colleges online through your College Board account, and the best part is that your first four score reports are completely free if you order them within nine days of your test date. After that, each report costs a small fee, but there are also some smart choices you can make about which scores to send and when to send them. This guide walks you through the whole process step by step.
How to Send Your SAT Scores Step by Step
Sending scores happens entirely inside your College Board account. Here is exactly what to do:
Sign in to your College Board account. Use the same login you created when you handled your SAT registration.
Go to the Send SAT Scores page. This is where you order and manage all of your score reports.
Search for your colleges. You can look up each institution by name or by its score-report code.
Select your recipients. Add each college you want to receive your scores.
Choose which scores to send and review your order to confirm the recipients and test dates are correct.
Submit and check out. If you are using free reports within the window, there is no charge; otherwise you will pay any applicable fees at checkout.
Online ordering is the standard method. Phone ordering is also available for $15 per call once your scores have been released.
Your 4 Free Score Reports
Every weekend SAT registration includes up to four free score sends. The catch is timing: you must use these free reports by nine days after your test date. After that nine-day window closes, any additional reports cost money.
You have two ways to use your four free reports:
Designate recipients when you register. You can list colleges during registration so your scores go out automatically once they are released.
Add recipients after the test. You can also wait and log in to add colleges later, as long as you do it before the nine-day deadline passes.
Many students wait until they see how they did before deciding where to send scores. That is a reasonable strategy, but keep the nine-day clock in mind so you do not accidentally give up free reports.
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How Much It Costs to Send Additional Scores
Once you have used your four free reports or the nine-day window has closed, each additional score report costs $15. There is no limit on how many additional reports you can order.
If you need scores delivered quickly, you can pay for rush reporting, which adds an extra $31 charge. Important: that $31 is a rush surcharge on top of the standard $15-per-report fee, not an all-in price. Rush reports are typically delivered within one to four business days.
Score-sending option
Cost
First 4 reports (within 9 days of test)
Free
Each additional report
$15
Rush reporting (surcharge)
$31 + $15 per report
With a fee waiver
Unlimited free reports
If you qualify for a fee waiver, you can send as many score reports as you want for free, even if you obtain the waiver after registering. For a fuller breakdown of every SAT charge, see our guide to how much the SAT costs.
Score Choice and Superscoring: Which Scores to Send
Score Choice lets you decide which SAT test dates to send to each college. If you took the SAT three times, you can choose to send only your strongest sittings. One important rule: you choose by whole test date, not by individual section. You cannot, for example, combine the Math from one date with the Reading and Writing from another when you send.
That is where superscoring comes in. Many colleges superscore on their end, meaning they take your best section scores across all the dates you send and combine them into the highest possible total. If you took the test more than once and improved, sending multiple dates can actually help you at a superscoring school. Our superscoring explainer breaks down exactly how this works.
The wrinkle is that some colleges require you to send all of your scores rather than letting you pick and choose. Always check each school's testing policy before you decide. If you are unsure what counts as competitive, our overview of SAT scores for colleges can help you set a target.
When to Send Your Scores
Order early. Score reports are not instant, so building in a buffer protects you against missing a deadline.
Standard electronic delivery typically takes 5-10 business days after you place the order, or about two weeks after test day if you designated recipients during registration.
Rush reporting shortens delivery to roughly one to four business days.
Keep in mind that colleges generally process non-rush scores about once a week, so the school's own review can take additional time beyond delivery.
Work backward from your application deadlines. If a college's deadline is in early January, do not wait until late December to hit send. It also helps to know when SAT scores come out so you can line up your sending plan with your test date and your SAT test date calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sending SAT Scores
How do I actually send my SAT scores?
Sign in to your College Board account, go to the Send SAT Scores page, search for each college by name or code, select your recipients, review your order, and submit. The whole process is done online.
Are SAT score reports really free?
Your first four reports are free as long as you order them within nine days of your test date. After that, each additional report costs $15. Students with a fee waiver can send unlimited reports for free.
How long does it take for colleges to receive my scores?
Standard electronic delivery typically takes 5-10 business days after you place the order. Rush reporting can deliver in about one to four business days for an added fee. Colleges then process scores on their own schedule, often about once a week.
Can I choose which SAT scores colleges see?
Yes. Score Choice lets you select which test dates to send, chosen by whole sitting rather than by individual section. However, some colleges require all of your scores, so check each school's policy.
What is the difference between Score Choice and superscoring?
Score Choice is something you control: you pick which test dates to send. Superscoring is something the college does: it combines your best section scores across the dates you send into your highest possible total.
