# How long are SAT scores valid? | 1600.now

Source: https://1600.now/sat-faq/how-long-are-sat-scores-valid

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Scores and interpretation

SAT scores do not have one universal college-admission expiration date. Colleges decide whether to accept older scores. College Board archives scores after you leave high school and go a year without testing; archiving does not automatically make them unusable.

Written by [Luke Finigan](https://1600.now/about)

2 min read Updated Oct 2, 2026

### Validity and archiving are different

College Board says reports sent five or more years after testing may be less valid predictors of college performance. That is a caution about interpretation, not a blanket rule that every college rejects them after five years.

Before paying to send an old result, ask the receiving institution whether it accepts that test year for your applicant category and whether it requires more recent testing.

### Retrieve an archived result

Use your College Board account’s score-send process and accept the notice about older reports, or contact customer service. Current charges are $35 for retrieval plus $15 for each score report. Review the payment screen for your order.

Scores earlier than 2005 are no longer accessible, and College Board notes that some older data sources have also been retired. Do not assume an old score can be retrieved simply because you remember the test date.

### Consider whether a fresh test is useful

A recent official practice test can show whether the old result represents your current skills. If a college requires a recent official result, practice does not replace that requirement. SAT results from before 2016 also require care because the scale and test content changed.

### Sources and current rules

- [College Board: sending archived scores](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/scores/sending-sat-scores/additional/sending-archived-scores)
- [College Board: test fees through June 2027](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/fees-refunds/test-fees)

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- **[How is the SAT scored?](https://1600.now/sat-faq/how-is-the-sat-scored)**

  SAT Reading and Writing and Math each receive a 200–800 score; adding them gives a 400–1600 total. Digital scoring uses responses across both modules and question characteristics, so a correct-answer count alone cannot determine the score.
- **[Is the SAT required for college in 2026?](https://1600.now/sat-faq/is-sat-required-for-college-2026)**

  There is no single US college testing rule. Some colleges require SAT or ACT scores, some make them optional, and others do not consider them for admission. Check the institution’s policy for your entry year and applicant category.

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