I am planning on taking the SAT and ACT as a senior in December outside of the U.S. I will be applying regular decision I just don’t know if December is too late. Will my scores reach colleges in time (let us say the deadline is January 1st)? Will I have to rush scores? I will also take the exams before then but I don’t know if I have enough time to study. Can someone actually explain how the process works from scores being released to how they are sent and how long it takes? Because I’m confused thanks!
My son has taken the SAT a couple of times in the past year. His results were available 12 days after one test and 19 days after the second.
@EconPop So in other words I should probably be fine considering no delays? Let us say I take the ACT December 14th and I get the scores on the 25th, and then I rushed the scores which takes about 2 days, the colleges would get them around the 28th?
Why not look at what your target colleges say about the latest test dates they accept? Go to the source, not web strangers. Why risk making a mistake?
It seems some colleges are also allowing self reporting, which means you only send your scores once you are admitted and planning on attending. Not sure how widespread that is but I love it!
^But OP needs those scores in order to report them, self or officially.
@lookingforward
I did and they all require the test to be taken before application deadline.
If they say, eg, by 12/31, then there’s your answer. You can call to confirm, if worried.
@lookingforward I am not worried about those colleges that actually give the dates but some colleges say that the exam should be taken before the application deadline and nothing else, no dates so idk.
So call and ask. Some schools are flexible and some not.
You said that “…they all require the test to be taken before application deadline”; call the schools to ascertain if the official scores need to reach their offices before the deadline.
ACT has shifted to computer-based testing for (some?) international sites, which might enable expeditious scoring and official reporting. Will you be using such computer-based testing? Talk directly with representatives of ACT or SAT for clarification.
@tgl2023
For example 1 of the schools that doesnt have a direct answer or date but says the test should be taken before the application deadline is nyu.
Us news says :
When applying to New York University, it’s important to note the application deadline is Jan. 1, and the early decision deadline is Nov. 1. The application fee at New York University is $80. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due Jan. 31. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 28 percent.
So I guess that confirms my answer however since it doesn’t come straight from NYU I will be contacting them.
“USNews says” ??? Not the right source for this vital info. Why aren’t you quoting what NYU says? It’s there on their web site. You’re wanting to cut this mighty close and not going straight to the right sources. DO read what NYU says. Now.
What’s your alternative? CAN you take it earlier? If so, do so. If not, you’ll just have to take your chances.
It may also matter for scholarships I think my daughter’s school would accept the ACT taken (TAKEN) before Feb 1 to be used for the scholarships. If taken after that date, then you didn’t get to use it for the scholarship. You could use that score to apply to the school but not the scholarships
NYU says
“SAT tests should be taken in advance of NYU’s application deadline. While we will consider scores received after our application deadline, we cannot guarantee that we will wait for those scores to arrive before making an admission decision. We will not offer admission to a student unless we have official testing on file and NYU does not consider results submitted by the applicant as official.”
College Board says the December 7 test date scores will be sent to schools on December 20, and they will be sent to schools within 10 days. Applications are due January 1 with decisions out April 1.
I’d say it’s very likely that your scores will factor into the decision, but if you can take it earlier, you should.
If you can, take the tests in October, but I think that there might be just enough time for the official scores from the December tests to reach the schools by January 1; barring any mishaps that might delay the administration of tests or scoring. In December of 2017, some of the ACT test centers in the mid-Atlantic area were closed due to an anticipated snow storm (that did not materialize); those registered at the closed test centers did not get to take their December ACT tests until January and finally received their scores on January 26, 2018. Such delays do happen.
Also ascertain the test registration deadlines for both October and December tests. Do the December test registration deadlines occur before the October scores come out? Will there be enough time to register for the December tests after receiving the October scores (and if you want to re-test)? Of course, I wish that you would do very well, once through and no re-takes.
Some colleges may be willing to accept scores submitted after the app deadline, others may not. There’s a reason they give an application deadline, and they don’t need to state explicitly on their website that they will or won’t accept material submitted past that deadline. They all tell you very clearly what they require you to submit, and when it must be submitted. It’s a deadline for a reason. The exception might be high schools that submit materials after a deadline.
Typically, scores are released about two weeks after the test. ACT is usually faster than College Board at releasing. Your scores aren’t going to be sent anywhere until you pay to have them sent. Even with rush delivery, it might take up to three or four days depending on if it’s a weekend, etc…And then someone has to put that info into your file.
I’m not sure why you’re confused about what date you must take the test by. If the application is due on Jan 1, it’s up to you to take it before then. It’s not up to the college to say on their website “hey, be sure to take that test and get the scores before the app is due.” It’s not their problem if you don’t take the test on any one of the 14 or so test dates offered during the course of the year.
Colleges typically tell you last test date accepted for regular admission, and thus check the colleges to which you might apply for whether the December tests are accepted. Vast majority of colleges with early January, regular admission application deadlines accept December test scores (SAT and ACT) and accept them even though the tests are delivered to the colleges after that application deadline; a number even accept the February ACT.
However, there is a minority that require scores to be in their hands by the January application deadline (and those tell you that on their sites). If you want to guarantee your SAT score will arrive on time for those colleges that require the scores to be in their hands by early January, you should designate the college in your test application as one to receive scores upon release. That means you will not know the score before ordering it sent but results in the fastest form of delivery, Absent a specific test problem that causes investigation like suspicion of cheating, those scores are typically officially delivered by CB to the applicable colleges one to two business days before you even get the scores online by CB’s downloading them into an online file that the college maintains with CB,