From March 2009, it will no longer be necessary for students sitting the SAT exams to allow selected colleges to see test results. What is more, students can actually select which, if any, test results to forward to the college. This replaces the system that had been in place from 2002 to 2009, which had required all SAT results to get forward to the student’s chosen colleges.

Some colleges have objected to the changes, saying that it is unfair for students to choose only their best scores to send to admissions offices. As a result, many colleges are adamant they will not be accepting scores that are diluted to only show the highest test scores. They want to see all the scores; applications that have SAT results filtered through Score.

Score Choice works by allowing students to take the SAT test, and then block lower scores from being release to colleges. The college will only see the highest scores achieved and selected by the student, and will have no idea of the lower marks awarded in other subjects. This way, students can actually use the first round of SAT’s as a trial test for their weaker subjects, then re-sit the SAT exam in those subjects and submit the second score.

Students counter the colleges’ arguments by declaring that they are under enough stress when taking SAT or ACT college entrance exams, without the added pressure of having to submit scores in their weaker subjects. Therefore, a poor result caused by stressful conditions may give a false or misleading reflection of the student’s ability.

Colleges counter by saying they have incredible volumes of paperwork to get through as application deadlines draw near. Having all test results to hand, first time around, makes their selection process much easier. If a student takes the SAT test three times, for example, the admissions office will select the top scores from all three tests.