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The Past: In the past, you had to show
colleges all of your SAT scores. That means that when you selected to send your
SAT scores to a college, they would see the results of every SAT test you had
taken. Most colleges however, would judge you on your best section (Math, Reading and Writing) from
all tests combined.
The Present: Score Choice.
If you opt-into the new Score Choice program, you have to submit
only your best complete test from one sitting. You can't mix and match your best scores
(Math, Reading and Writing) from all across all SAT tests. This system can be a
good thing or a bad thing depending on the scenario.
For Example, When Score Choice is Good:
Score Report for Adam Roman
January 2009: 520 Math / 580 Reading /
590 Writing - Total: 1690
March 2009: 570 Math / 620 Reading / 630 Writing - Total: 1820
May 2009: 610 Math / 630 Reading / 660 Writing - Total:
1900
In this case, score choice is to your benefit. The best single test, May
2009 was the best test by section as well. So
it would be great to only show those scores!
May 2009: 610 Math / 630 Reading / 660
Writing - Total: 1900
For Example, When Score Choice is Bad:
Score Report for Adam Roman
January 2009: 520 Math / 670 Reading
/ 620 Writing - Total: 1800
March 2009: 570 Math / 620 Reading / 680 Writing - Total:
1840
May 2009: 610 Math / 630 Reading / 630 Writing - Total: 1920
If you select to use score choice, your best
score would be the May 2009 test:
610 Math / 630 Reading / 630 Writing - Total: 1920
If you submit all scores, most colleges will
combine your best performance in each section.
Here it is to your benefit to show all scores. So your score becomes:
610 Math / 670 Reading / 680 Writing - Total 1960
More Confusion: Not all colleges are accepting the new score
choice system. In fact, it looks like about half of them are on board. The other
half still want to see all of your scores. The College Board says that you will
have to see what each college requires individually by checking their applications this
year one by one.
What Score Choice means for you: Not much really. Most students
will take the SAT 2-3 times. If you happened to score better on one full
testing, and the colleges you are applying to accept score choice, then you will
submit the scores from only that one test. If not, then so be it. You'll show
all of your scores. It is generally understood that colleges will only judge you
on your best score in each section from across all tests that they see.
The Bottom Line: You can only control so many things in life. If
you are tutored by Adam and Jenny, we will make sure that you do your best and
we'll take it from there.
Check the situation out for yourself: The website is
www.collegeboard.com
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