<p>Afraid of colleges seeing less-than-stellar SAT scores? The College Board is offering high school students a new way around that.</p>
<p>Starting with the class of 2010, high school students will be able to choose which of their SAT scores to share with universities, test officials confirmed Friday. Now, colleges receive scores of all the times a student attempted the exam, whether the results were spectacular, mediocre or worse.</p>
<p>"Students were telling us the ability to have more control over their scores would make the test experience more comfortable and less stressful," said Laurence Bunin, senior vice president of the SAT. "We can do that without in any way diminishing the value and integrity of the SAT."</p>
<p>The College Board, which owns the test, made the change at a time when some universities are placing less emphasis on standardized testing in choosing prospective freshmen, and as the rival ACT exam is gaining popularity. The new SAT scoring option, approved Thursday by the College Board's trustees, mimics the ACT's long-standing policy.</p>
<p>Buying better scores?</p>
<p>But some high school counselors and college admissions officials said Friday they worried that the new rules will most help affluent students whose parents can pay for multiple SAT attempts, at $45 a sitting, as well as pricey coaching. Previously, admissions officials would know if a student took the test four, five, even six times, and might be suspicious about the role of tutoring in any improved scores.</p>
<p>"In every policy change, there are some winners and losers," said Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. "This creates a penalty-free way for applicants who can afford the price of the test numerous times to shop for their best scores. For those students for whom cost is not a barrier, this is a tremendously good thing."</p>
<p>Most students take the exam twice, and the non-profit College Board waives the fee for lower-income students to take it that many times. Only 15 percent take the exam three or more times, and research shows that repeated test taking is unlikely to further increase scores, officials said.</p>
<p>Under the new policy, students who take the SAT or the supplemental SAT subject exams multiple times will be able to decide whether to let colleges see one, some or all of their scores. There is no extra charge, and students must opt into the program online or by phone; otherwise all scores will be shared.</p>
<p>To ensure fairness, and to stop students from "gaming the system," the College Board ruled out allowing students to mix-and-match their math, reading and writing scores from the different times they take the test.</p>
<p>Guidance counselors said the new policy will help reduce stress.</p>
<p>"It's going to make students relax about the test a bit," said Stephen Williams, a counselor at Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles. "It may give them more confidence to take some risks and try it some more times."</p>
<p>But for fairness, he said, the College Board should extend fee waivers so low-income students can take the test for free more times.</p>
<p>Universities react</p>
<p>University reactions were mixed. University of California officials said it would have no impact on their nine undergraduate campuses—they already use only the best score of a single sitting.</p>
<p>Some admissions officials thought the plan might backfire for some students. Many private colleges consider only the best subscores of the three SAT sections from an applicant's various attempts—for example, possibly a math from May and a writing score from October—and that can't be done if just one day's test is sent in.</p>
<p>But Bruce Poch, the dean of admissions at Pomona College, slammed the decision. "It's a mistake. It's going to give kids more room to play games," he said. "It's going to privilege kids who are already in an advantaged position financially."</p>
<p>Students, however, lauded the move. Jaleel Reed, soon to be a senior at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, said he wished his graduating class of '09 could take advantage of the new SAT policy. Younger students will be delighted, he said.</p>
<p>"You want colleges to see your best work. So this only helps your chances," said the 17-year-old, who took the SAT this spring and plans to repeat it in the fall. Reed said he planned to apply to UC campuses and top East Coast universities. </p>
<p>IS THIS TRUE?</p>