After taking the ACT or SAT, you may be wondering just when the ACT or SAT score release dates are? Thankfully, in most cases, you don’t have to wait for long. However, there aren’t actually any specified ACT or SAT score release dates! Here’s a short guide to how the results are released.
When are SAT Test Scores Released?
SAT scores generally start to be released about 13 days after you sat for the exam. However, this is a guideline rather than a hard rule. It’s important to note that it may take as little as 10 days or up to 19 days to learn your results. The timeline actually depends on when you actually took your test as well as your locale. SAT Subject Tests also tend to be released around 13 days after your exam.
You will first see your results from the multiple-choice part of the exam and your overall result. If you chose to sit for the essay, this score will take longer to appear. You can usually expect to see this number about 5 days after your cumulative score was released.
When are ACT Test Scores Released?
The ACT follows a similar timeline to the SAT. Students can expect to see their multiple-choice score within 2 weeks after they take their test. Exam scores are only released weekly at 1 AM Eastern. If your score isn’t available yet, you will have to wait for the following week. Test results are usually released on Wednesdays and Fridays, so these are the best days to check.
If you took the ACT with Writing though, you do have to wait a bit to see your results on this portion of the test. You can expect to see how well you did about 2 weeks after you receive your multiple-choice score, so about a month after you sat for the exam.
It’s important to note though, in some cases, your ACT score may be slightly delayed. This doesn’t always indicate a problem however as some students have to wait up to eight weeks to receive their results.
Receiving your ACT and SAT Scores May Take Longer If You’re Outside the US
If you’re taking your ACT or SAT exam outside of the United States, you may have to wait longer to see your results. When it comes to the ACT, for example, you may have to wait about three weeks instead of two.
You’re no doubt anxious to receive your SAT or ACT score after taking the test. Sitting for the exam is nerve-wracking enough, but thankfully you usually don’t have to wait too long for your results! Following these guidelines can help you find your score as soon as its posted. If you haven’t received your SAT results after a few weeks or you haven’t seen anything about your ACT score after eight weeks, you may want to reach out to CollegeBoard, the hosts of the SAT, or ACT to make sure there isn’t a problem with your exam.
What To Do While You Wait for the ACT / SAT Score Release Dates
Waiting for your ACT or SAT scores can be a bit stressful, so during this time, distractions can be helpful. We have a few suggestions to get you started!
Study More for the ACT or SAT
If you’re planning to, or on the fence about, retaking the ACT or SAT, there’s no better time than now to study. You don’t need to wait to see how you did to dive back in! And if you’re absolutely sure you’re taking the test again, you’ll need to study anyway, so you can absolutely practice again now.
Take this time to focus on the problems you had during the actual exam. Was there any section you weren’t able to finish? Or skipped a lot of questions on? Or just were generally unsure about? Think back to the test and focus on those areas when you start to study and take practice exams again.
Complete College Applications
If you haven’t started on your college applications yet, this is also a good time to begin. You’ll need to complete the forms, submit financial aid documents, write essays, attend interviews, visit the schools, and more, so starting now will take a lot of stress off as the deadlines for your applications approach.
You don’t have to wait for your ACT or SAT scores to arrive either to apply – those will be sent directly to the colleges or universities you choose to send them to when you signed up for the tests.
Apply for Scholarships
Just like college applications, another task you’ll need to get done during this time are scholarship applications! From researching to applying, there’s no better time to start than now. And just like you created a study schedule for your ACT and SAT prep, you should create a schedule for scholarships.
You’ll want to set aside time for researching scholarships that you qualify for first. You can do this by talking to your guidance counselor, signing up for scholarship databases, or searching online. Once you have a list, you can work on the applications, essays, and other necessities to turn it in. Once you complete a batch of scholarship applications, you can start again on the process!
Join a New Club, Organization, or Volunteering Opportunity
If you’d rather get out of the house, you always have the option to take part in a new organization! This could be at your school, the local food pantry, an animal shelter, or anything else you’d like. If you haven’t completed all your college applications yet, you can also absolutely put this work or involvement down on your extracurricular information when you go to apply!
Check out how your ACT / SAT scores affect your acceptance odds with College Raptor!
