Sending scores to college : Would colleges know how many times I took the SAT test?

Applying to College
1

I’ve taken the SATs 3 times up to this point. My highest score is 2290.
I want to take the test one more time, because I really want to get a 2400. I’ve always slipped on the math section, and this time I think I have a chance.
My question is this : Would colleges know how many times I took the SATs?

I’ve googled the topic and read many articles, but opinions vary.

Most of what I read said that colleges would only have access to the scores I’ve sent them, and even colleges who require ALL SCORES cannot check if you have truly sent all scores. Your scores are truly all yours, and noone else can read. If I wanted to take the test 4 times and send only one, then they would never know.

However, one ‘article’ that I read on a college-related site said otherwise. It said that each college’s policy is integrated into the collegeboard system, and that even if I chose to send only one score, the colleges would have access to all 4 scores.

http://www.golocalworcester.com/lifestyle/college-admissions-3-myths-about-the-sats

Which is true? I would really like to know. I already know that I can choose my scores for colleges that allow score choice, but would they know how many times I took it? And other colleges that require ALL SCORES, could someone be sneaky and send only the scores they want and be okay?

2

Your username says to just call you Ruby. I was thinking of another name. You’re asking us to help you skirt the rules. That’s not why I’m on CC.

Btw, elite schools are looking for people who don’t hunt for trophies like perfect SAT scores. My son got ONE question wrong on his first and only sitting, and as he said, it was a simple count-on-your-fingers question. Some of his classmates said he should take the test again and go for a 2400 – he looked at them like they were nuts, which they were.

3

If it doesn’t matter to you that it’s just wrong, maybe it will matter that if colleges catch you lying on your app they can rescind your acceptance or revoke your diploma. Some high schools include all test scores on their transcripts, you know, so lying isn’t as easy to get away with as you seem to think.

4

Woah! I’m not trying to skirt the rules.
I’m sorry if I came across that way, I read my post again and I realized I must’ve looked it. I am highly against cheating. If you see my other posts (written previously) I criticize other students for trying to cheat in SAT tests, and I know that cheating& deceiving is wrong.

I was trying to find out if taking 4 tests for the SATs would effect my admission in SCORE CHOICE schools. Even if they say that they will only consider two test scores, I was wondering whether or not they would look at my previous record, find out that I took 4 tests, and perhaps check me off for it.

As for the reporting for ALL SCORES schools, I know a school senior who applied for schools this year who boasted about that. I wanted to know if it was true.

I know that college confidential is not a place for those who want to cheat - and I would certainly not be stupid enough to profess me trying to cheat in open space, with my name out.

5

Woah! I’m not trying to skirt the rules.
I’m sorry if I came across that way, I read my post again and I realized I must’ve looked it. I am highly against cheating. If you see my other posts (written previously) I criticize other students for trying to cheat in SAT tests, and I know that cheating& deceiving is wrong.

I was trying to find out if taking 4 tests for the SATs would effect my admission in SCORE CHOICE schools. Even if they say that they will only consider two test scores, I was wondering whether or not they would look at my previous record, find out that I took 4 tests, and perhaps check me off for it.

As for the reporting for ALL SCORES schools, I know a school senior who applied for schools this year who boasted about that. I wanted to know if it was true.

I know that college confidential is not a place for those who want to cheat - and I would certainly not be stupid enough to profess me trying to cheat in open space, with my name out.

Now that I’ve elaborated more, could you perhaps let me know if college admissions would know how many times I took the test, when they are SCORE CHOICE schools?

6

Why does it/should it matter? The score choice schools, by being score choice schools, assume that the applicants take the test several times. They may see your worst scores, but they will also see your best scores. Since they are score choice schools, even if they don’t see all the scores they can safely assume that there ARE lower scores and other attempts.

7

User LyricalLacuna reported on what her father’s take on this was. He specifically referred to Yale and SAT I scores, but I think it says it very well regardless of which school or test you’re referring to:

8

Every undergraduate school appropriately has its own standardized test policies:

  • Some super-score and others do not.
  • Some allow ScoreChoice and others do not.
  • Some permit an applicant to submit a single test’s results and others require ALL scores to be provided.

There absolutely is NO universal policy; you really need to answer these questions for your “target schools,” and not worry about colleges in general.