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While you’re conducting your college search, you might hear the term “Score Choice” come up quite a number of times, but what exactly is “Score Choice”? Recently implemented in 2009, SAT Score Choice allows you to decide which specific SAT scores you want to send to universities. Prior to the introduction of this option, all your scores were sent to your prospective school. However, nowadays, many schools have accepted the usage of Score Choice.

Despite the fact that you can pick which scores to send (and which ones not to), there are some restraints. For example, on the SAT I, you can’t mix and match individual section scores that you have taken on different test dates. That means that if you choose to use Score Choice, you must release all of your section scores (math, critical reading and writing) from that date or none of them.

The rules for SAT II’s are a bit different and in this case, you’re allowed to send in specific test scores—even if they were taken on the same date. For example, if you took Physics and Math II on the same test date, you could choose to send in your Physics score and hold back your Math II score.

Although many colleges allow students to use Score Choice, some schools recommend that you release all your scores from the SAT Reasoning Test. This is because most schools only consider your highest scores when reading your application.

Also, some colleges “super score” your SAT I by mixing and matching your highest individual section scores. Therefore, for those schools, it is to your advantage to send scores from multiple test dates if your highest individual section scores are scattered. For example, let’s say that on the first time you take the SAT, you receive a score of 640 on Math, 670 on Critical Reading and 590 on Writing. You decide to take the test again and you receive 700 on math, 630 on Critical Reading and 640 on Writing. In this case, it would probably be to your advantage to send in both scores as your super score would be 2010 (700 + 670 + 640 = 2010), which is higher than each of your individual scores.

Collegeboard’s new system may tempt you to take the SAT multiple times. However, bear in mind that not all schools accept Score Choice and excessive test taking may have a detrimental effect on your application. Also, even if your school accepts Score Choice, your score is unlikely to rise significantly after your third try – according to the Princeton Review. It would be a wiser idea to make sure that you’re well prepared for the test before you take it in order to avoid having to take the test multiple times.