对于美国本科申请来说，学业能力测试（SAT）无疑是其中重要的一环。SAT成绩是由三部分组成：阅读、数学和写作（包括语法）。为了能够进入自己的理想学校，每年都有数以千计的申请学生努力备考，以便能够取得自己最优异的成绩。子走访了斯坦福大学，麻省理工学院等一流学校，一方面了解学校的设施，师资，学生和周边社区环境，另一方面在选校方面也获得了更直接，更客观的知识、经验和指导，为以后申请学校做好准备。

SAT考试无疑是非常具有挑战性的，然而在某种程度上，它也不乏一些灵活性，比方送分环节。提交分数的选择，对于申请学生来说是非常关键的。所有要求提交SAT成绩的大学，都会采取一种特定的送分政策。这些策略可以归为以下三类：

1、历次考试中最高的单项成绩（即所谓的“拼分”）：采取该策略的学校，会挑出学生所提交的成绩中的最高单项成绩来考虑。学生每交一次成绩，学校都会对成绩记录作出相应的调整和更新。举例来说，如果一个学生分别在10月6日和12月1日参加了SAT考试，且分数分别是：10月6日：阅读580，数学800，写作600；12月1日：阅读550，数学730，写作630。那么该学生在申请学校中的实际成绩为：阅读580，数学800（为10月6日成绩），写作630（为12月1日成绩）。
这种策略被绝大多数学校所采纳，其中包括哈佛大学，普林斯顿大学，布朗大学，弗吉尼亚大学，伊利诺伊大学香槟分校等。

2、单次考试最高总成绩（即单次阅读、数学和写作的总和，不可“拼分”）：采取该策略的学校，仅仅会考虑学生每一次考试的最高总成绩(即该次考试的阅读、数学和写作成绩的总和)，不会采用最高单项成绩。
使用这项策略的大学较少，包括威斯康辛大学麦迪逊分校，奥格斯堡学院，以及一些奖学金项目。

3、提交所有成绩综合考虑：采取该策略的学校要求申请学生提交所有考试的所有成绩，然而对于是否“拼分”，我们不得而知。可能各校有自己的评估体系。
采取这种策略的学校包括：宾夕法尼亚大学，康奈尔大学，加州大学的所有分校，等等。

申请学生必须要了解自己目标学校的SAT送分政策，以便合理、恰当地提交分数。

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score is a crucial part of college application. Each SAT score consists of three sections: Critical Reasoning (CR), Mathematics (M), and Writing (W, including Grammar). In order to get in the dream school, thousands of applicants strive for SAT preparation each year before the application period, and shoot for the best score.

The test is tough though, yet it still provides some flexibilities. SAT Score-Use Policies are important information for applicants to know when reporting score to applied schools. All the U.S colleges that require SAT scores as part of application requirements take one certain score-use policy. The policies fall into three categories.

1、Highest Section Scores Across Dates: The schools adopting this policy usually indicate that the admissions office consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates that you submit. Only your highest section scores will be considered when assessing your SAT performances. Each time you submit scores, the admissions office will update your record with any new high scores.
For instance, let’s assume that you have taken two SAT test on Oct. 6th and Dec. 1st. Your score of Oct. 6th is CR 580, M 800, W 600; your score of Dec. 1st is CR 550 M 730, W 630. The admissions office will regard your CR as 580, M as 800 (from Oct. 6th), and W as 630 (from Dec. 1st).
This policy is widely applied. Schools use this policy are Harvard University, Princeton University, Brown University, Notre Dame University, University of Virginia, University of Illinois Urbana (UIUC), etc.

2、Single Highest Test Date (a.k.a. Highest Sitting, Sum of CR+M+W): The schools using this policy indicate that the admissions office consider the SAT scores from your single highest test date (Sum of CR+M+W). Only your highest scores will be considered.
Schools use this policy are University of Wisconsin at Madison, Augsburg College, and some scholarship programs.

3、All SAT Scores Required for Review: The admissions office will simply require you to submit all scores from all test dates. You will never know if they regard single hest test date or the highest section score across dates. Each school may have their own method of evaluating your SAT performances based on your past test scores. Schools like University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, University of California (All Campus), etc. are practicing this policy.

All the applicants are supposed to be familiar with the score-use policies, and submit their scores accordingly.