If I take the the SAT subject test more than once, can I only send the best of the two scores or must I send both scores.
Also, if I want to send my ACT score (it’s better than my SAT score) and my SAT subject test scores, do I have to send my regular SAT score too? or can I just send the subject scores without the SAT score?
Always check the standardized test requirements directly on your colleges’ websites. Do not skip this step. (As far as I’ve heard, Georgetown is the only college that requires sending all subject test scores and also the only college I can think of that requires all test sittings of both SAT and ACT.)
A quick Google turns up a list of over 100 schools that require all SAT scores. As well as about every possible combination of what must be sent. Check individual schools - there’s no general guidance.
College Board/ACT gives you the flexibility, but if you don’t follow the school’s requirements, you are subject to having your application rejected without review.
In the case of Subject Tests, there.is general guidance - Georgetown is the only US college that requires all Subject Test scores to be submitted. For every other college that requests/requires/allows Subject Tests, an applicant can send whichever ones s/he likes while following the college’s requirements for specific subjects, if applicable.
In terms of SAT/ACT, there are very few colleges, and fewer every cycle, which require all scores of SAT or ACT or both. You can look through the following thread:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/1912440-must-you-submit-all-sat-act-or-sat-subject-test-scores.html#latest
but verify current requirements with your target colleges.
“In the case of Subject Tests, there.is general guidance”
I specified what I was referring to, and it wasn’t Subject Tests. Do you disagree with the statement that there is no general guidance on SAT, ACT, and Subject Test combined requirements? Which is what OP asked:
“if I want to send my ACT score (it’s better than my SAT score) and my SAT subject test scores, do I have to send my regular SAT score too? ”
I also wouldn’t call over 100 schools “very few”.
^Random google lists are almost always out of date. Only about 6 colleges still require all SAT scores. (I think we all agree that OP should check each school’s website.)
The title specified Subject Tests, and my answer specifically stated Subject Tests
No, I would not, but then number is not 100. I believe the current number, which I **would/b call "very few, is 6 (Georgetown, Yale, Cornell, Syracuse, Carnegie Mellon, and Barnard), but don’t want an applicant to just take my word on it. And even amongst those 6, they have different requirements of what they want all of. As this number gets lower every cycle, I would not be surprised to see it even lower when the Common App goes live on 8/1. As I have said many times on this site, including earlier on this thread, the user should verify with his/her target schools because secondary sources as not always accurate.
Sorry to get everyone worked up. My question was actually more aimed at whether College Board will let me pick and choose what scores to send. I understand that if the particular college requires all scores then I better send all scores. But if it just asks for subject tests, I want to know if I can pick the sitting that is the best score and only send it, and not send my overall SAT regular score with it.
Retorical question: why does this application process have to be so difficult!! I really wish it could be standard everywhere because it isn’t easy searching for these kinds of answers on every single website, or calling admissions departments for each school. Rant over.
Yes, you can send only a subject test score and not your SAT test score. You can pick and choose…once you pick a school to send to, it defaults to send all scores, you have to click on ‘choose scores’ and then unclick the tests you do not want to send, until you are left with only the score(s) you want to send.
@Mwfan1921 Thank you!