Understanding SAT Score Cancellation: Reasons, Procedures, and Considerations

The SAT is a crucial step in the college application process for many students. Administered by the College Board, the SAT is designed to assess a student's readiness for college-level work. However, circumstances may arise where a student considers canceling their SAT scores. This article delves into the reasons for score cancellation, the procedures involved, and important considerations to help students make informed decisions.

Reasons for SAT Score Cancellation

Several reasons might lead a student to consider canceling their SAT scores. These reasons can be broadly categorized into voluntary and involuntary cancellations.

Voluntary Cancellation

Voluntary cancellation occurs when a student chooses to cancel their scores. Common reasons for voluntary cancellation include:

Perceived Poor Performance: The main reason why students decide to cancel their ACT or SAT scores is that they feel they didn’t do well and don’t want a low score to hurt their chances of getting accepted into their dream schools. Maybe you just have a gut feeling the test didn’t go your way. It could be because you felt sick, didn’t get enough sleep, were super nervous, or just weren’t as prepared.
Illness During the Exam: Students may fall ill during the exam itself or arrive at the test center very much under the weather. While it is possible to take the SAT when sick, illness can profoundly impact student performance.
Applying to Colleges Requiring All Scores: Another reason students cancel their scores is if they’re applying to a college that requires every test result. Even though many colleges are now test-optional, some still require you to submit all of your standardized test scores, good or bad. In these exceptional cases, cancellation can actually be a strategy to protect your chances of acceptance to a college.
Equipment Malfunction: It is possible to cancel your SAT scores, but we urge students to use this option only if they’ve experienced sudden illness or equipment malfunction.

Involuntary Cancellation

Involuntary cancellation occurs when the College Board cancels a student's scores due to violations of test rules or other irregularities. Reasons for involuntary cancellation include:

Invalid Scores: We may cancel your scores and/or take any of the other Measures described above if after following the procedures set forth in this section, we determine, in our sole discretion, that there is substantial evidence that your scores are invalid ("Invalid Scores"). Examples of evidence of Invalid Scores include, without limitation, unusual answer patterns or other evidence that indicates these rules have been violated.
Misconduct: If we determine, in our sole discretion, that there is overwhelming evidence that you did not follow these rules ("Misconduct"), the Score Validity Process will not be offered to you. Instead, we may cancel your scores and/or take any of the Measures described above. Examples of Misconduct are doing or attempting to do the following: using an answer key, mobile phone, the internet, or an application other than Bluebook; removing the test or answers; disrupting the College Board server or Bluebook through a cyberattack or other activity; duplicating the test or Bluebook; or altering the test, answer keys, or any data after testing was complete.
Testing Irregularities: We may cancel your scores if we determine that any testing irregularity occurred (collectively "Testing Irregularities"). Examples of Testing Irregularities include problems with the test, irregular circumstances, or events associated with a test that may affect 1 or more test takers. Examples of this are errors like improper seating, improperly admitting someone to the test, giving an accommodation that is not approved by College Board, defective materials, defective equipment, technical issues like a Bluebook malfunction, testing device malfunction, hardware issues, or an internet outage. These also include evidence of possible preknowledge of the test, and disruptions of the test caused by internet disruptions, natural disasters, weather events, epidemics or pandemics, wars, riots, civil disturbances, or other emergencies.
Academic Dishonesty: Scores will be cancelled involuntarily for instances of academic dishonesty, such as sharing information with another student, removing testing materials from the test room, or using prohibited materials such as cell phones, textbooks, or notes of any type.
Fraud: Involuntary cancellation of scores can also occur as a result of fraud, such as taking the test on behalf of someone else.

Procedures for Canceling SAT Scores

The procedure for canceling SAT scores depends on whether the cancellation is voluntary or involuntary.

Read also: Strategies for Canceled LSAT

Voluntary Cancellation Procedure

To officially cancel your SAT scores so that they will not appear on any score reports, you must do so quickly - before you know how you scored on the exam. SAT scores can only be canceled before 11:59 pm EST on the Thursday following your test date.

Here are the steps to follow for voluntary cancellation:

Request a Cancellation Form: If a student is canceling his or her scores at the testing center, he or she will need to ask the test proctor for the "SAT Request to Cancel Test Scores" form.
Complete the Form: The student will need to provide the date they took the SAT and the testing center number, as well as their name, address, gender, birth date, and registration number. Fill out this form completely and return it to the test coordinator.
Submit the Form: SAT Score CancellationP.O.

Involuntary Cancellation Procedure

If the College Board suspects that your scores are invalid, they will initiate the Score Validity Process. This process involves the following steps:

Notification: The College Board will notify you that they suspect your scores are invalid.
Options: We will then offer you 3 choices: voluntary score cancellation, a free retest under closely monitored conditions (during the next 2 available administrations after such review), or an opportunity to give us additional information and request a further review by a College Board panel.
Further Review (Optional): If you choose a further review by a College Board panel, and it confirms, in its sole discretion, that your scores are invalid, we will offer you 3 choices: voluntary score cancellation, a free retest under closely monitored conditions (during the next 2 available administrations after such review), or binding arbitration (or small claims court) as described below.
Retest (Optional): If you choose the retest option, you may not review scores from the test under review-such scores will be canceled.

If the College Board determines that you engaged in Misconduct, the Score Validity Process will not be offered to you. Instead, your scores may be canceled, and other disciplinary measures may be taken.

Consequences of SAT Score Cancellation

Canceling your SAT scores can have several consequences, both immediate and long-term.

Read also: Decoding Yale Admissions

Immediate Consequences

No Score Report: If you decide to cancel your ACT or SAT score, this means that your test will not be graded, and no score report will be generated.
Loss of Test Fee: You can cancel your scores as many times as you need. However, you won’t get your money or the time back that it took to take the test.
Permanent Deletion: Note that this is a permanent deletion, and you won’t have access to your scores ever again. Scores cannot be reinstated after a cancellation request has been submitted. Thus, this is not a decision to be taken lightly. This means that the College Board will effectively erase your scores. This is a permanent move!

Long-Term Consequences

Impact on College Applications: Canceling your scores may affect your college application strategy, especially if you were planning to use those scores for applications.
Need for Retesting: If you cancel your scores, you may need to retest to obtain scores for your college applications.
Potential Suspicion: While it is unlikely, repeated score cancellations might raise questions from colleges about your testing history.

Important Considerations Before Canceling

Before making the decision to cancel your SAT scores, consider the following:

Think it Through: Canceling your ACT or SAT scores should not be taken lightly. Once you cancel, it can’t be undone, so it’s worth taking some time to think it through. While it might be tempting to cancel after a tough test day, just know that you always have at least a few days after you take the exam to think it over and discuss it with others.
Consider Superscoring: Another reason not to cancel scores is that both the College Board and the ACT now superscore, allowing students to submit only their best scores for each test section if they tested two or more times.
Wait for Your Scores: If there is any chance you are overreacting about how poorly you did on the SAT or ACT, it is better not to cancel your scores right away. Think carefully before you make this irreversible decision.
Consider Score Choice: Remember, most colleges don’t require you to submit every test score. If you are worried that you did poorly, you have the option to simply remove any college recipients before your scores are sent. This is a great option if you’re not feeling confident about how the test went but still want to see your scores. It allows you to still receive your test scores without them being sent to your potential schools.

Alternatives to Score Cancellation

Before opting to cancel your scores, consider these alternatives:

Score Choice: If you are worried that you did poorly, you have the option to simply remove any college recipients before your scores are sent.
Retaking the SAT: Time permitting, you can always consider testing again.
Focus on Other Application Components: If retesting is not possible, remember that standardized test scores comprise just one of a dozen or more factors in your college applications.
Send Scores and Superscore: However, many colleges encourage applicants to submit all of their official SAT scores.

College Board Policies and Your Rights

The College Board has specific policies regarding test security and score validity. It's important to be aware of these policies to ensure a fair testing experience:

Test Security: The test security and fairness policies are designed to give you a fair opportunity to demonstrate your college readiness and to prevent anyone from gaining an unfair advantage.
Photo Identification: You must present acceptable photo identification for admission to the test center.
Sharing Information: Sharing of test questions or answers is prohibited at any time. While you're taking the test, you shouldn't allow anyone to see test questions or answers.
Consequences of Violations: If you fail to comply with these policies, you may be dismissed from the test center, and your scores may be withheld or canceled.

Read also: SAT Requirements for LSU

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