I took the SAT over 27 years ago. The year was 1995. Smashing Pumpkins just released “1979,” the O.J. Simpson trial was plastered on every television set, we were dancing the “Macarena,” and I had my sights set on college.
I was a country kid in a modest farming community—not many of us were college-bound. As an adult, I’ve helped many students prepare for the SAT, but I had no one showing me how to study. I didn’t even know I was supposed to study. I just knew the SAT was a hurdle before college.
So one very early Saturday morning, my mom drove me 60 miles to the nearest testing site. There, I spent the following hours at a wooden school desk figuring out math problems, puzzling through analogies, and bubbling my heart out.
To this day, I don’t know how I scored on the SAT.
I must have done okay because I was accepted to several colleges and received a hand-full of academic scholarships. But when my city-boy husband rattles off his excellent SAT scores so many years later, I’m a bit baffled. I never knew the SAT was a number I was supposed to remember.
So I’ve decided it’s about time I find out my own SAT score.
Maybe you’re like me and took the SAT years and years ago. Or maybe it’s been just a year or two since you sat through that grueling test. But if you need to know how to find old SAT scores, I’ll walk you through it in this article.
How To Find Old SAT Scores
The first step in how to find old SAT test scores is to visit the College Board website. If it has been more than a year, you will no longer be able to sign in to your College Board account. After a year, your score reports are archived, but you can still find them. After 23 years, my score reports are probably quite dusty, but thanks to good record keeping, I can still request access to them.
There are two ways to request old score reports from College Board: by mail and by phone.
1. Request Old SAT Scores By Mail
I know—who orders anything by mail anymore? Well, maybe you do. Because if you want to request old SAT scores, there is no online option available.
To order by mail:
- Download and print the archived score report order form.
- Fill out all fields in the order form legibly and completely.
- Enclose the fee of $31 for ordering old score reports. And $12 for each score report you would like to add on to the order.
- Send your order form and fee to:
SAT Program
P.O. Box 7503
London, KY 40742-7503
2. Request Old SAT Scores By Phone
I’m a little bit older—not old, just older—than most of my readers. So I kind of prefer taking care of business the old-school way—by talking to a human being. So requesting my old SAT scores by phone is more appealing for my taste. However, there is an additional processing fee of $15 per call for ordering by phone, so that’s something to consider.
To order by phone:
- Call the customer service line at 866-756-7346. If you are outside of the United States call 212-713-7789.
- Have your credit card number and expiration date ready to cover the fees.
- You will be asked to provide the following information:
- Your test date and registration number—if available. If you’re like me, I can’t remember my exact test date. And I definitely don’t have my 23-year-old registration number. That just means the phone call may be a bit longer, so give yourself some time.
- Your full name and the address where you lived on your last test date—For me, that would be my maiden name and my parents’ address.
- The college or scholarship program codes where you want your scores sent—This, of course, would not apply to me since I want scores sent to my residence, not a college. If you are sending official score reports, you can look up the college or program codes here.
How To Rush Old SAT Scores
Maybe you are in a hurry to get those old SAT scores out to a particular college. Especially if you are one of those so-called “non-traditional students”—those who waited to go to college and are already in the job-force. You don’t have a lot of time to wait around when you are in the middle of living life.
The College Board does offer you the option of rushing your test scores. But it will cost you an additional $31. This option is available to you whether you request by phone or by mail. After the request has been processed to rush your scores, they will be sent out within one or two business days.
My Super-Secret Way To Find Old SAT Scores
Okay—confession time. After discovering how to find my old SAT scores, I decided I really didn’t want to spend $31 just to satisfy my curiosity. So I decided to try a method not published on the College Board website…I asked my mom. She keeps everything. Sure enough—Mom to the rescue! She still has my SAT scores.
So, before you spend your dollars on finding old test scores, see if your family has any on-hand records.
As a caution, know that this method is not guaranteed to work for everyone. In fact, before you use the “Mom” method, make sure you understand the exact requirements of your recipient. A faded, 23-year-old slip of paper may not be official enough for the institution you wish to attend.
If you have a goal, do whatever it takes to go after it. There is always a way, and $31 is definitely worth the investment in your future.
