SAT Results 2024: Score Validity & Report, How to Download SAT Result

Candidates who plan to appear for their SAT exam are required to keep the dates and registration deadlines in mind. Candidates are advised to complete their SAT Registration before the deadline to avoid any last-minute confusion. The expected SAT Score dates have also been published for the convenience of our readers. Once the SAT scores and results are announced, students can check out for any discrepancies and report if they find any with their scores. The lowest SAT score an applicant can score is 400 and the highest SAT score that can be scored is 1600. 

How SAT Scores are Calculated?

• SAT scores are usually determined by Item Response Theory (IRT) which is a consideration of the question's difficulty and patterns in answers.
• Pretest questions on SAT are included to gather data and they usually do not affect the SAT scores.
• Benchmarks for college readiness based on SAT scores remain consistent with the new testing pattern.

Next is to wait for College Board to send your SAT scores to the colleges and universities that were opted for during SAT registration. Once the applicant gets his/her total score on SAT, the SAT scores will be sent to the respective universities. Lastly, check if you fit in the SAT cutoff criteria as per the university (if applicable) and then finally apply or think of sitting for another SAT exam to improve your scores and aim for a higher score if at all necessary. Check: How to Calculate Average SAT Score?

SAT Scores are sent to colleges around ten days after the score release date. The following are the upcoming SAT dates along with result dates for the year 2024, for those who are appearing for SAT exam in India:

• On October 5, 2024, the SAT exam was conducted next and the results will be announced in October 2024 itself.
• Since the upcoming SAT exam date is in August and October 2024, results will be announced after 14 days from the exam date. 

The students can ensure that their SAT scores have been sent to their universities of choice, which they must have chosen while registering for the SAT. Once the College Board sends the SAT scores across, the chosen university will be sent adjacent to their names.

SAT score reports consist of the following information for its test takers:

• The Total Score: As the title suggests, the Total Score is the sum of the two Section Scores and this score ranges from 400 to 1600.
• Sectional Score: The sectional score ranges from 200-800 and is based on the performance of the candidate in the Math Section and Reading & Writing Sections.
• Subscore (marks scored in each type of question): Subscores are multiple points for Reading, Writing and Math Sections, all ranging from 1 to 15. The main purpose of Sub scores is to provide additional insight into the student’s performance.
• Student’s percentile: The student’s percentile score tells you how well the student has performed on his SAT exam as compared to other test-takers. 

Understanding SAT Score Report

At a Glance – Components of an SAT Score Report and what they mean:

Note: The SAT Optional Essay is no longer a part of the test now.

Sample SAT Score Report

Here is a sample SAT score report for applicants:

This is how a SAT Score Report will look like based on the applicant's performance on the SAT exam. 

Here is a table to show students how the SAT Score percentile is calculated. Following is the overall percentile calculation based on SAT score;

Also, check out the section-wise SAT percentiles based on scores received by students, this is another way to understand the results of SAT exam:

This way students will have more clarity as to what SAT percentile category they fall into based on their overall SAT scores or based on SAT sectional scores. 

So usually, applicants struggle with figuring out that in how many days SAT results are declared. The new SAT digital exam results are released within a couple of days from the date of exam conduction and are out before the end of the second week.

Candidates can access the SAT score report on their College Board profile. The following steps can be followed by applicants to check their SAT scores:

• Step 1- Visit the College Board's site
• Step 2- Sign in using your ID and password
• Step 3- Click on My Organiser and go to SAT scores
• Step 4- Click on Access My Scores and enter your username and password
• Step 5- Go to My Test Scores
• Step 6- Your SAT scores will appear on the screen

Candidates can send their score reports to the colleges using Score Choice.

Once you are finished with the SAT exam, it is time to send exam scores to the colleges. This is one of the most crucial parts of the whole application process. Most colleges prefer to get the score reports directly from the College Board and not the copies of the report or score report labels on the transcripts.

When to expect SAT Results and Scores?

Your Digital SAT score result will be available online within a couple of days after your test date. Once the score result is available, the College Board begins sending SAT score reports to the colleges the candidate has selected, if any, at the time of registration.

Other Ways to Get SAT Scores

Students who don’t have easy access to the Internet can check out alternative methods of receiving their SAT Score, these include

• SAT Paper Score Reports: Candidates who register by mail and don't have active College Board online accounts will receive paper score reports.
• SAT Scores by phone: Candidates can also receive their scores over the phone. However, they would be required to pay an extra fee for the same.
• Candidates can also access their scores by logging into their online score report and taking a printout of the same. 

What is SAT Score Choice?

With Score Choice, one gets the freedom to report the score he/she chooses to send to colleges. The candidate can choose the score report by test date or by individual test for SAT Subject Tests. However, before sending the scores always make sure to check with the college or the scholarship program to which you are applying, as many colleges and scholarship programs require students to send all their scores. If the candidate doesn’t select Score Choice then College Board will send all the available scores of the candidate to the colleges which he/she has selected as score recipients.

How to send SAT Scores during Registration?

Applicants receive four free score reports while registering for the SAT exam.  Applicants get the option of sending these reports to their choice of colleges or scholarship programs for free. Aspirants can send the scores up to nine days after taking the test. After nine days they will be charged for sending the score reports. With this, the aspirant can send four reports for free. However, there is a catch, the aspirants are sending the scores without knowing their actual scores. This means the candidates won’t be able to choose the score they want to send or they won’t be able to send their best scores. In this case, it is advisable to send the score reports to the colleges that want to see all the SAT scores of the candidates.

Note: The SAT exam has undergone a big change in 2016. Changes include a new structure, scores, sections, and a new approach to testing. Check out about New SAT Format 2024: Difference Between Old and New SAT Format.

Cost of sending SAT Additional Score Report to Colleges

Once the candidates get their scores, anytime they can send the score reports to their preferred colleges. However, they have to pay $12 to send an SAT score report to each university they select. In this case, it is always advisable to send your overall SAT score to the colleges that do not require SAT scores for all the exams you have taken. Also, send your best section scores to colleges that super score the SAT. 

Rush Reporting SAT Scores

Rush reporting is a process where the score report of the aspirant is sent to the colleges within two to four business days excluding holidays and weekends. However, this can only be availed for the scores which are already released. The aspirant needs to pay an additional SAT score report fee of $31 to avail of this facility. Apart from this, additional score report fees can also be levied on rush reporting. 

Always make sure to check with your colleges in which format they accept the report. Also, check their schedule for processing the application as they will only review your scores as per their schedule. Moreover, not all colleges accept Rush Reporting, so always make sure to check with your college before sending the score through Rush Reporting.

SAT Exam Fee Waivers and Extra Free Reports

For the economically weaker sections and low-income students, the College Board offers SAT fee waivers/scholarships. It allows a student to send his/her SAT score to the colleges of their choice free of cost. However, the eligibility differs as per the latest changes. You can contact the representative of the College Board or read about the criteria on their website and apply accordingly.

Sending Old SAT Scores to Colleges

Sending score reports to colleges up to five years after giving the test needs to be retrieved from the archives. The candidates need to pay $31 if they want to send SAT scores they took more than a year ago. Candidates also need to pay an additional score report fee every time they wish to send their old reports to the colleges. Further, the candidates cannot order old SAT scores online through the College Board, this can be done only through their customer support number or mail.

What is SAT Superscore?

It is a process where colleges do not take into consideration the scores of one particular date rather they consider the candidate’s highest section scores across all the SAT exams which the candidate has appeared for. It means colleges consider the highest Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score and the highest Mathematics score of the candidate and combine them to get the overall score.

What is SAT Archived Score Reporting?

If someone has not appeared for the SAT for more than a year then those scores get archived. If someone wants to report the archived scores to the colleges or universities then they need to retrieve the scores. They can be ordered by phone or mail. Candidates need to pay a $31 fee for retrieving the old SAT scores, also the standard fee for additional score reports i.e. $12 needs to be paid for each order along with the Archived fee. So, the total amount comes out to be $43 per old SAT score report. 

Understanding SAT Test Scores

The SAT score range is between 400 and 1600 for your total score and 200-800 for each of your two subscores. One sub-score is for combined Reading and Writing and the other one is for Math.

Verifying Your SAT Scores

SAT Score verification is nothing but a revaluation of your test scores, to check that you have received scores in all sections and nothing has been skipped. So, if you feel that the SAT score that you received is different than what you expected, you may have missed or made a mistake in marking your answers. Another reason for different SAT scores than expected can be that your Essay is illegible or blank when one views it online. Under SAT score verification you have three options:

• Multiple-choice hand score verification
• Essay score verification
• Or both, Multiple-choice and Essay score 

How to Cancel SAT Scores?

For any reason, you need to cancel your SAT Score, here are two methods through which one can cancel their SAT score:

• At the test centre: If you are unsure about how the test went, or if you feel like you have skipped a number of questions, you can cancel your test right then and there. Right at that moment, at the test centre, you can ask the supervisor for a ‘Request to Cancel Test Scores’ form. Fill in all details along with your signature. Submit the form to the supervisor. Make sure you submit this before leaving the test centre.
• At home: If your poor performance hits you after you leave the test centre, you can cancel your test at home as well. However, there is a time limit to it. You need to submit your cancellation request by writing to College Board as quickly as you can because the deadline for receiving such requests will be 11:59 PM (IST) on a Wednesday after the test date. You need to download ‘Request to Cancel Test Scores’ online from the College Board website, fill in your details, sign it, and fax it or speed-post/courier it overnight. 

Usually, the SAT scores are released within two weeks of SAT exam conduction. Since the new SAT Digital exam is set to be conducted in 2024 for international students from outside of the US, the students can expect their SAT results to be out within 13 days of the test being taken. 

SAT Score Release Schedule for 2024

The full schedule for SAT Digital exam conduction and the expected dates of results have been tabulated below for reference:

The SAT is considered one of the most critical aspects of the college application process. Students who wish to pursue their higher studies in the USA must be familiar with this standardized test. It is conducted to secure admissions in various colleges offering degrees across the USA. These days’ policies are changing periodically, so, it is always advisable to check the testing requirements of the college you are applying to. The SAT cut-offs for the top universities in the US and Canada range between 1400 and 1600.

Please note, the above-mentioned SAT cutoffs are based on previous year's, thus, students applying for admissions for 2024, must check the university page for updated cutoff. 

There is no hard and fast rule for a good SAT score, rather, applicants need to set a goal based on what SAT score the applicant is aiming for. In order to get a good SAT score applicants must:

• Applicants should aim for SAT section-wise scores and then an overall SAT score. This way applicants will understand how far they are from reaching a good SAT score.
• A good SAT score can be achieved through thorough preparation.
• SAT mock test solving is also key to getting a good SAT score. 
• Finally, aim for a higher SAT score based on the actual requirement as per the university.

An average SAT score is around 1050 it may vary annually, thus, one must check and then prepare. Anything above 1200 is considered a good SAT score. The maximum anyone can score on the SAT is the perfect score of 1600. Since you receive scaled scores, you should understand SAT scaled scores and percentiles. For a detailed understanding check out - What a Good SAT Score is?

Have more questions about SAT? Read SAT frequently asked questions and understand more about the SAT exam.

Check out some of the most popularly asked questions in the following section.