There are two main ACT score reporting policies used by colleges: Score Choice and Report All Scores.

Most colleges follow the Score Choice policy. Under this method, students can choose which official ACT scores to send, allowing them to submit only their strongest test results. Schools that use Score Choice include Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University.

Some colleges follow a Report All Scores policy, which requires students to submit all official test scores. For these schools, we recommend limiting the number of official test administrations to no more than three. If you are registered for an exam but do not feel prepared, it can still be beneficial to take the test for experience and cancel the score immediately afterward, rather than canceling the test date entirely. This allows you to gain familiarity with the testing environment without adding a score to your record. Georgetown University is an example of a school that requires all scores to be reported.

Because score reporting policies vary by school and can change over time, it is essential to verify requirements directly on each college’s official admissions website. Avoid relying on third-party websites, as this information may be inaccurate or outdated.