I screwed up and sent my first ACT and SAT scores. How bad is it?

Test Preparation
1

I took the May SAT and June ACT without preparing at all or even knowing what was on each test. I got a 1330 (18 writing) on the SAT and a 31 (22 writing) on the ACT. These scores are respectable, but I hadn’t prepared at all so I can obviously do better. Anyway, I didn’t send any then my mom freaked out and told me I had to send the scores asap, so I did.

Anyway, I’ve been practicing the ACT and I’m predicting a 34 on my next one. I haven’t practiced the SAT yet, but I think a 1400 will be possible after practicing. Some of the colleges superscore, but some look at the “holistic application” so they look at all tests you send in.

Some saftey, normal, and reach schools got my scores. Will it look bad I sent in a score of 31 and 1330 then improved to a 34 and 1400? Will they know I didn’t prepare for the first one? When a college says “send in all scores,” do they say that just to see people like me who didn’t try on the first one?

Thanks to any replies.

2

When colleges refer to a holistic review approach (which most colleges claim they do these days) they do not mean they will use lower test scores against you. Colleges as a whole assert, when you submit multiple test scores, that they will use the highest scores to determine admission and not use lower scores against you. Where they differ is how they detemrine highest scores. Some superscore multiple tests and thus use highest section scores from multiple tests, while others use that test with the highest composite. Thus, unless you want to believe that the colleges to which you will be applying are just bold-faced liars (in which case why apply to them),you should not worry about submitting multiple tests with varying scores.