I understand you can write to ACT to delete a particular test record. When registering for an ACT test, however, my son specified 4 colleges for free test score submission. Having already “asked” ACT to send scores to these colleges, what happens when and if my son writes to ACT to cancel/delete those records? Wouldn’t ACT have already submitted the scores to those colleges, and therefore, too late? Or, does ACT wait a certain period of time before submitting the scores to colleges?
If you are talking about the September test, then if your son has received scores including the essay score if he took the essay, then yes the scores have already been sent to the colleges. Moreover, it would not matter even if ACT still has not sent the scores because it is now impossible to withdraw the send order that was made when he identified the college as one to receive scores in the test registration. That withdrawal of the send order had to be done quickly after taking the test and before any scores were released. Once scores were released, it became impossible to stop the scores from being sent.
In the event of cancellation, which actually takes some time once you start the process, ACT will send a notice to all colleges to which the scores have already been sent informing them that there has been a cancellation of the test and should be deleted.
If the issue is that he has a better test to submit, SAT or ACT, or is retaking with the hope of a better score, be aware that colleges, when you submit multiple tests, either use that test with the highest composite, or superscore by using the highest section scores from the multiple tests, and do not hold lower scores against you.
@drusba - thank you for your explanation.