Don't miss the deadline. Verify if your new mock or standardized test score will arrive in time for Early Action, Regular Decision, or other deadlines.
In college admissions, a great score that arrives late is worth zero. Many students panic after a bad September ACT or October SAT and immediately sign up for the next date, assuming colleges will see it. This is a dangerous assumption. Our Exam Retake Eligibility Tool calculates the "Safe Window" for testing based on your specific application deadlines (Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision). It accounts for the often-overlooked "Processing Time" and "Score Send Time."
It's not instantaneous. Here is the typical pipeline:
Not all deadlines are created equal.
If you take the December test, scores come out during Winter Break. Admissions offices are closed. By the time they return in January, they are already reading files. This is cutting it incredibly close. Only do this if you are NOT applying Early.
The College Board offers "Rush Reporting" for a fee ($31). Be warned: Many colleges do not accept rushed scores because they interfere with their electronic data import systems. Often, "Rush" is actually slower than standard delivery.
Do not list a score on your Common App that you haven't received yet. If you self-report a 1500 prediction and the official report comes in as a 1350, it looks dishonest. List "Future Test Date" instead.
Usually the October test date. Some schools accept November scores for Early Action, but you must self-report them immediately upon receipt. September/August are the safest bets.
Increasingly, no. Many colleges allow "Self-Reporting" (uploading a PDF of your score report) for the application review. You only pay to send official scores after you get accepted and enroll.
AP scores (taken in May) are rarely used for admissions in the Senior year because they arrive in July. They are used for Credit and Placement. Junior year AP scores, however, are very important.
No. When you send scores, the College Board/ACT sends the full packet instantly. The college's software automatically calculates the superscore. It does not add extra processing time.
Yes. Most colleges have an "Applicant Portal" where you can upload new updates. If you get a higher score in December, upload it immediately. Send an email to the regional admissions officer to flag it.
