SAT Rescore Strategy for Better College Chances

Requesting an SAT rescore, also known as hand scoring, is relatively uncommon and rarely results in significant score changes. When students request a rescore from the College Board, trained professionals manually review your answer sheet to verify the original scoring was accurate. This process typically takes about five weeks to complete and costs $55 per test section.

Score changes from rescoring are extremely rare because modern SAT scoring systems are highly accurate. In fact, less than 1% of rescoring requests result in any score adjustment. Even when changes occur, they usually involve only a few points due to mechanical scoring errors like stray marks or improperly filled bubbles. These minor adjustments rarely impact college admission decisions at selective universities like Carnegie Mellon.

Your time and energy would be better spent on other aspects of your college application rather than pursuing a rescore. Instead of focusing on minimal potential point gains, consider retaking the SAT if you believe your score doesn't reflect your true abilities. Most universities, including Carnegie Mellon, accept your highest section scores across multiple test dates through score choice, giving you the best possible chance at admission.

If you're specifically targeting Carnegie Mellon or similar selective institutions, focus on strengthening your overall application profile. This means maintaining strong grades, developing meaningful extracurricular activities, crafting compelling essays, and securing strong letters of recommendation. These elements often carry more weight in admissions decisions than small variations in standardized test scores.