tokenadult

This is a serious question. I wonder why anyone who registers for a test, pays for a test, and shows up for a test cancels the scores from that test. What good does that do? Inasmuch as colleges generally give applicants the benefit of their best scores if an applicant submits more than one set of scores

A Retake on How Many Times to Take the SAT or ACT

and all colleges are aware that many students take the SAT (to give one example) more than once

http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_dow...nior_years.pdf

what is the rationale for canceling scores from a test you took?

oregonianmom

I suppose if a student really feels that they bombed the test, they would cancel it. Otherwise, when the scores are later sent out to colleges, ALL the scores are sent out, including the terrible one that the student doesn't want the schools to see.

tokenadult

If the colleges say they only consider a student's best scores (as most colleges do), does it matter at all?

iAppler

Regardless of what admission officers say, they still see an applicant's full score record. A 800 -> 680 for example will raise question. After all, none of us is an admission officer.

tokenadult

"After all, none of us is an admission officer."

Well, I've talked to a lot of admission officers, and they all tell students in public meetings not to worry about it. That's why I'm wondering why anyone cancels scores. I have heard a few students say on CC that they are perfectionists, and THEY (the students) can't deal with submitting less-than-very-high scores, but I've never seen a statement by an admission officer that there is any problem with one set of scores being lower than the sufficiently high set of scores included with an application.

iAppler

To me there is nothing wrong with being a perfectionist. Submitting scores that I am satisfied with is the ultimate goal. It has nothing wrong with that. It's just our (those who are perfectionists) beliefs.

huskem55

i think the option to cancel scores was set up just in case a student gets ill during a test, or if there are external factors in the testing room (i.e. other student starts vomiting, too much noise causing distractions, etc)

tokenadult

The funny thing about perfectionism is that perfectionism is one thing admission officers use as a basis for not admitting applicants. In high school it's possible to be "perfect" in a manner of speaking, because many high school students can get straight-A grade averages. But at a really good college, getting "perfect" grades is hard, and getting "perfect" scores on each class quiz and test and homework assignment is essentially impossible. So if a student has a hang-up about reporting a score on a test that, after all, most students don't perfect,

http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_dow...tile_ranks.pdf

that raises concerns about the student's readiness for the transition to college. Students who can't bear to get a grade less than A or a test score less than the highest score on the scoring scale tend to crack under the pressure of keeping up with a challenging college curriculum at the best colleges.

From that point of view, I advise the young people I care about (that would include you who are reading this thread) to be up-front about test scores, and not to worry about one or two occasional test scores that reflect being a young test-taker, or sick on a day when a cold was going around town, or interrupted by someone else freaking out in the testing room, or whatever. College life is all about being resilient in challenging situations. I am sure College Board offers the opportunity to cancel scores because there is take-taker demand for that, but I am still wondering why anyone goes to the trouble of taking the test and doesn't just keep the scores.

iAppler

You mentioned that perfectionists cannot bear getting a single B on their transcripts. Nonetheless, the definition of perfectionists changes from person to person. To me, those who cannot bear getting a B on their transcripts are not perfectionists; they are mark hungry.

"Each person must decide for themselves what perfection is. Perfectionism should be thought of in existential means, although there may be a perfection which yields the most successful results over a large period of time each person can decide for themselves what perfection they will strive for. There are no set parameters of perfection, the idea of perfection changes from person to person, culture to culture."

To me, my perfectionist goal is to strive for a score that truly reflects my critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills. I understand that a 500 is NOT a reflection of my reading level, and I do not wish a college admission officer to see that kind of score. In addition, I even consider a 500 an insult to my diligence and my intellectual curiosity, and I do not wish to see that insult to follow me for the next five years.

When a student feels that a test does not accurately portray his or her academic ability, he or she can feel free to cancel that test. "Why" does not matter; people cancel scores for different reasons. My reason for canceling my score in June was simply one of them.

Also, there is another important reason. College admission officers do not like to see too many scores on the same kind of test. For example, it is unlikely for a student who has taken 100 SAT I to glow in the admission office. LOL of course this is a hyperbole, but my point is apparent. There is no purpose for keeping a score if a student knows he or she is doing poorly on that test.

tokenadult

Why take the test at such a young age if the score is not necessarily a keeper?

Missy Jo

Well, yeah, one of my friends vomited during the test and absolutely could not finish it, so she had to cancel her scores. The test admin. was kind of rude/unprofessional with the whole situation, so my friend just left and cancelled her scores. She didn't want to waste the money she spent on the test, so she showed up, but unfortunately, she ended up wasting it anyway.

iAppler

Will people take the test if not for the sake of university admission?

Duper

No.........?

tokenadult

Some people take the tests for purposes other than college admission.

SAT gain from 7th to 11th grade

7th grade SAT and ACT scores

iAppler

That is funny. They take the test to get into their desired colleges. That additional purpose will not take place if not for admission's sake. My point is, people will not take the test if the admission does not want nor require SAT.

Again, people cancel score for many, many different reasons. I set a limit on how many times I am going to take the SAT. I set the limit as 3 times maximum. If I were sure that I was going to bomb the June test, why wouldn't I choose to cancel my score.