Demystifying the SAT Score Pending Status: What It Means and What to Do
The SAT remains a cornerstone of college admissions. Understanding the SAT score reporting process is crucial for students navigating the college application landscape. Many students experience anxiety when their SAT scores are delayed. Seeing that your scores are pending can be especially worrying when others who took the same exam as you have gotten their scores back, but don’t panic. This article aims to demystify the "SAT score pending" status, explaining what it means, potential causes, and steps students can take to address it.
Understanding the SAT Score Release Timeline
Usually, your SAT scores are released and available for review 2-4 weeks after your SAT test date. The turnover might change depending on the small details of your test date. Typically, you should be able to access your score on your SAT test date’s score release date between 8 am EST and 8 pm EST. You can find and view your SAT scores and score report from your College Board account. After they become available, students can typically access their SAT scores around 8 AM. You can either request a paper copy or check them online.
What Does "Pending" Mean?
If you’ve checked your scores and saw that they are still “pending,” you might wonder when you will be able to see the results. Pending just means your scores have not been released yet. While this isn’t the answer you probably want to see, it depends. Again, there is probably just a delay - this doesn’t mean that all is lost. Again, stressing out is not going to help you fix your “pending” result. Instead of thinking of the worst case scenario, try to move forward and set yourself up for success regardless of the result of your pending situation. You also shouldn’t waste any time thinking about what you might get once your score is released.
Possible Reasons for a Pending Status
Several reasons can cause a delay in SAT score release. These include:
- Routine Delays: Sometimes, a simple processing delay occurs.
- Administrative Issues: Issues with registration information or discrepancies in personal details can cause scores to be held.
- Security Concerns: The College Board may flag scores if they suspect irregularities.
- Under Review Status: If your score does not say pending and instead is under review, this means that your score has been flagged for further review: this means they are taking a closer look at your exam. The College Board runs a statistical analysis on all of the SAT answer sheets they receive after an exam. If they find there are large similarities between different exam sheets, they might flag them for review. Then, these exam sheets will be analyzed further through an anonymized process, meaning all personal information associated with the exam (like your student ID) will not be visible. Your score might also be under review if there is no scratchwork on a test booklet, which raises flags because you might have needed to write out math while solving. If you didn’t collaborate with other students during the exam or use any outside help, you should have nothing to worry about.
Steps to Take When Your Score is Pending
If a few days have passed since your score release date and your score is still pending, then you might want to consider contacting the College Board. You can call the College Board and ask about the status of your score or why it is still pending at 866-756-7346. In the meantime, if you’ve registered for the next SAT, then you should definitely begin studying as soon as you can.
Read also: Decoding Yale Admissions
Understanding Scores Under Review
If your score is under review, the College Board is taking a closer look at your exam. This might happen if statistical analysis reveals similarities between different exam sheets or if there's a lack of scratch work on a test booklet. If you didn't collaborate with others or use outside help, you likely have nothing to worry about.
Actions to Take if Your Score is Under Review
Unfortunately, the most important thing you can do is just be patient and wait. However, if the College Board continues to investigate your score and reaches out to you for further information, then there are a few steps you can take. For one, you can submit evidence that will support your score. If you’ve taken other standardized tests before like the SAT, ACT, or AP exams, then you can submit your scores to show your knowledge and your academic history to the College Board. Additionally, you might want to consider registering for the next SAT and retaining the exam. If your score is under review and you want to retake the test to justify your score, then the College Board will allow you to take the SAT for free to do so. You can take the SAT at your own convenience, and the College Board will most likely validate your score if you receive within 120-150 points of each section to the SAT under review. If you would rather cancel your score and retake the SAT at a different test date, then you can also do so. Once you cancel your score, the College Board will issue a refund for the past test placed under review and you can register for a different exam at your next convenience. However, this might not be necessary, as all scores placed under review will eventually be validated.
Preparing for Future Tests
If you received a pending score for the first SAT you’ve taken, you might want to consider registering for the next exam instead of waiting too long. There’s another benefit to registering for the next test, especially if you are applying to schools that accept superscores. Superscoring means that you will be able to combine your highest Reading/Writing score and highest Math score across different SATs and use the total as your superscored SAT score.
If your experience with the SAT wasn’t as smooth as you thought it would be and you have enough time, you can consider taking the ACT instead. Different students excel on different exams, so there is a chance you might prefer one over the other. However, this is only for students who have ample time to switch gears: you should probably not be changing from the SAT to the ACT if you haven’t been studying ACT specific content and only have a few months to prepare.
Guidance Counselor as a Resource
Your guidance counselor can also be a valuable resource if you’re worried about your pending score. Not only will they be able to tell you about their past experiences with students receiving pending scores, but they will also be able to evaluate your application timeline and help you come up with a plan moving forward.
Read also: SAT Requirements for LSU
Score Choice and Reporting Policies
Whether you’re taking the SAT or the ACT, both tests allow students to decide which scores they would like to report to certain schools. Generally speaking, colleges can’t see all of your past scores. However, there are a few schools that require students to report all of their SAT scores, like Georgetown University. For the most part, you can choose which score you report to the colleges you apply to. Regardless, you should check the testing policies for each of the universities you are interested in, because some might require that you send in all of your scores. If a few of the schools you are considering do require all of your scores, you might want to be more selective about when and how many times you take the exam.
Understanding SAT Scores in College Admissions
The Role of SAT Scores
A good SAT score can tip the scales and aid you in the college admission process. In addition to that, such colleges are going to be looking at other factors as well, including your extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation to get a broader picture of you as a candidate and the potential that you carry. You should also make sure that your GPA measures up.
SAT Optional Policies
When applying for college, you may have heard terms like ‘SAT optional’, which means you are not required to submit your SAT or ACT scores as part of the application process. However, this can vary and tends to be college-specific. Even if you choose not to submit your SAT score, your college of choice will still look at other factors such as your letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and your GPA.
SAT Score Validity
Technically, SAT scores never expire. However, colleges are free to make their own rules regarding how fresh your SAT score needs to be.
SAT Score vs. GPA
In case your GPA leaves something to be desired, SAT scores can indeed give you a better chance at getting accepted into your college of choice. Keep in mind that your GPA reflects your academic effort, growth, and progress over time; this is exactly the reason why colleges tend to give more weight to your GPA vs. However, in cases where your GPA is lagging behind, a high SAT score could be the saving grace you need to get through as it showcases your academic potential. No straightforward conversion from SAT to GPA or vice-versa is possible. However, variance and other factors also play a role. For instance, a student with high grades in general may perform poorly on their SAT exam due to illness or stress.
Read also: Decoding Princeton Admissions
Interpreting SAT Scores
As part of the SAT test, students are evaluated in two key study areas - Math and English.
Average, Good, and Excellent Scores
An average SAT score is usually around 1050, so objectively speaking, scoring 890 on your SAT exam makes you below average. Scoring 1100 on your SAT exam effectively puts you in the 58th percentile, meaning that you’ve scored better than 58% of the other test takers. The highest possible SAT score is 1600. Statistically speaking, this is a feat achieved by roughly 500 out of 2 million students who take the SAT exam.
SAT Score vs. Percentile
Comparing your SAT score vs percentile is simple. In essence, it’s taking your exact score, comparing it to that of other test takers, and determining the percentage of other test takers’ scores it surpasses. For instance, a percentile of 75% means that you scored better than 75% of other test takers. To give you another example, let’s say you scored 1100 on your SAT exam, a score that is slightly above average. Depending on other students’ performance for that particular year, this effectively puts you in the 61-68th percentile. They may also place you in a certain percentile (for instance, being in the 75th percentile means outperforming 75% of other test takers).
SAT Score vs. Income
When comparing SAT score vs income, in most cases, there is a positive correlation. In other words, students from wealthier backgrounds tend to achieve higher scores. For instance, students from wealthier families have easier access to high school tutoring services, allowing them to fast-track their academic performance.
Cancelling SAT Scores
According to the SAT score cancellation policy, the deadline is on the Thursday following your test date (until 11:59 Eastern Time). To cancel your SAT score, you need to fill out a special form that’s available either at the testing venue or online. You may, however, disclose them at will. In an effort to keep them private, schools are instructed not to include them on transcripts. Yes, in certain situations, you have the option to cancel SAT score sends. If the status is “sent” or “complete”, unfortunately, you won’t be able to cancel them through your online account. Also, you may cancel the SAT score sent by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the Thursday after your test date. Before leaving the testing venue, you have the option to request the SAT Request to Cancel Test Scores (also available online). However, there are a few caveats. For instance, some colleges are known to have stricter deadlines than others, so it’s always best to double-check with your college of choice.
The Cooper Union: A Case Study
To provide a concrete example, let's consider The Cooper Union, a small, highly specialized, and academically challenging school in New York City.
Admissions at The Cooper Union
The Cooper Union's acceptance rate for the academic year 2024-2025 was 13%. The percentage of students admitted through Early Decision varies each year. Applicants whose first choice is The Cooper Union might consider applying Early Decision. Early Decision applications are reviewed and applicants are notified earlier than Regular Decision applicants. If offered Early Decision admission, you must agree to enroll at The Cooper Union and withdraw your applications to all other colleges.
Undergraduate applicants whose first language is not English and who have not graduated from a secondary school in a country with English as the official medium of instruction, are required to take an English language proficiency exam. If you attended high school outside the United States, there may be additional admission requirements.
Academic Expectations
Applicants should take a well-rounded high school program, preferably in advanced coursework (e.g. School of Engineering applicants should complete one year of calculus, chemistry, and physics by the time they graduate from high school. The Albert Nerken School of Engineering views AP, IB and college courses as significant evidence of your academic ambition, accomplishment and preparation. However, we do not accept such courses for credit or advanced standing. The School of Engineering offers a math placement exam for Calculus I. Requirements to sit for this exam, include a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam.
Holistic Review
Beyond these traits, what specific aspects of our community and resources excite you? In what ways are you inspired to contribute to and benefit from our learning community? What drives your interest in pursuing your chosen major (e.g., Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science)? How do you envision engaging with Cooper's labs, research opportunities, and faculty? If you were to give a 30-minute lecture on a specific topic to an audience, what would your topic be and why? Why does this topic interest you, and what do you want others to understand or appreciate about it?
Additional Information for Applicants
The Hometest consists of a number of visual projects to be completed in approximately 4 weeks and returned to The Cooper Union for review. Visit the School of Art apply webpage for details. The Studio Test consists of a number of visual projects to be completed in approximately 4 weeks and returned to The Cooper Union for review. Visit the School of Architecture apply webpage for details. Master of Science in Architecture applicants are required to submit a portfolio along with a resume and other items.
Does The Cooper Union accept transfer students? Yes. For application steps, click on the following links to the program/school of interest: Irwin S. Transfer credits are reviewed on an individual basis only upon admission to The Cooper Union. Courses taken at the college level are evaluated by the department for which you seek transfer credit. For example, if you seek transfer credit for a math course, the math department will evaluate your transcript and decide if credit will be granted. Yes. While applicants may only be admitted to one school, you may apply to more than one. You will first receive an admission decision for your top-choice school. All applicants (domestic, international, and homeschooled applicants) can find their high school graduation requirements here. Yes. In accordance with the regulations of individual states, a student may or may not be eligible to receive an equivalency diploma after completion of a specific number of credits in appropriate subject areas at The Cooper Union. On the Common App, please select the fee waiver option. Common App will send your fee waiver request to your high school counselor for confirmation. The Cooper Union will not require any additional documentation after your counselor has approved your request. At the time of application all applicants are required to indicate the engineering program to which they would like to apply. We will assist you in identifying the major most aligned with your interests and put you in touch with current Cooper students in that major. Yes. You may submit additional letters of recommendation on the Common Application. Yes. You can submit your application if your recommenders have not submitted their letters of recommendation. Yes. Any activities, including work (full-time, part-time, and volunteer) can be included in the Common App. We want to hear more about how you spend your time. Please check your application portal for updates. The request must come directly from the applicant.
Financial Aid at The Cooper Union
Tuition per academic year is $44,550 ($22,275 per semester). All enrolled undergraduate students are awarded a half-tuition scholarship currently valued at $22,275 per school year. Additional financial aid may be available for eligible students to help cover tuition, housing, food, books, supplies, etc. The amount of additional aid will be based on a student’s demonstrated financial need. Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered. The Cooper Union FAFSA school code is 002710. In addition, The Cooper Union offers merit scholarships to a select number of students. Download our financial aid one-sheeter. Cooper students are responsible for living and miscellaneous expenses. It is not possible to determine an exact figure without your Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA).
Campus Life
The Cooper Union offers more than 80 clubs and organizations to its students and always welcoming the creation of more. The Cooper Union also offers varsity, co-ed soccer. The Cooper Union Residence Hall offers apartment-style housing. Each apartment is composed of a kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms.
Other Considerations
While we recognize the rigor of dual enrollment programs and encourage students to challenge themselves academically, The Cooper Union does not grant credit for college courses completed while a student is still enrolled in high school. Undergraduate admitted students may request to defer their offer of admission for one year. Each deferral request will be reviewed by the Office of Admissions and considered on a case-by-case basis.
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