You can delete your College Board account through your account settings, but the process depends on whether you have an active test registration

College Board lets you delete your account yourself if you have no upcoming test dates. If you do have a registered test coming up, you'll need to cancel that registration first, wait for the cancellation to process, and then delete the account. The deletion is permanent — you won't be able to recover your scores, registration history, or any saved information once it's gone.

The steps are straightforward, but the timing matters. If you try to delete while a test is registered, the system will stop you. This guide walks you through both situations: accounts with no active tests, and accounts where you need to cancel first.

Key Takeaways

  • You can only delete your College Board account if you have no active test registrations — if you do, you must cancel the test first.
  • Account deletion is permanent and removes all your scores, registration history, and saved information with no recovery option.
  • The deletion process happens in your College Board account settings under "Account" or "Profile," depending on which version of the site you're using.
  • If you cancel a test to delete your account, the cancellation must fully process before you can proceed with deletion.
  • If you only want to stop receiving emails or hide your account temporarily, deactivation is a separate option that doesn't erase your data.

Deleting an account with no active test registrations

If you don't have a test scheduled, the deletion process takes about five minutes. Log into your College Board account at collegeboard.org, then go to your account settings. The exact location varies slightly depending on whether you're on the newer or older version of the College Board website, but it's always under a section labeled "Account," "Profile," or "Settings."

Once you're in account settings, look for a link or button that says "Delete Account" or "Close Account." Click it. College Board will ask you to confirm that you understand the deletion is permanent and that all your information will be erased. You'll need to type your password again to verify it's really you. After you confirm, the account is deleted when ready.

If you have an active test registration, cancel first

If you have a test date coming up, you cannot delete your account until that registration is removed. Go to your College Board dashboard and find your registered test under "My Tests" or "Registered Tests." Click on that test and select "Cancel Registration." You'll see options for whether you want a refund or to reschedule instead — choose what works for you.

After you cancel, the system needs time to process the cancellation. This usually takes a few hours to a day. Once the cancellation shows as complete in your account (the test will no longer appear under your registered tests), you can then follow the deletion steps above. Don't try to delete your account while the cancellation is still pending — the system won't let you.

What happens to your scores and information after deletion

When you delete your College Board account, everything connected to it is removed. This includes all SAT or AP scores you've earned, your registration history, any essays or responses you've submitted, and any saved colleges on your list. Colleges that already have your scores on file will keep those records — deletion only removes them from your College Board account, not from schools that received them.

If you think you might need your scores later, consider taking a screenshot or downloading a score report before you delete. College Board doesn't offer a way to recover deleted accounts or scores, so this is your only chance to save that information yourself.

Deactivation as an alternative to deletion

If you're not sure you want to permanently erase everything, College Board also offers account deactivation. Deactivation hides your account and stops most communications from College Board, but it keeps all your data intact. You can reactivate a deactivated account anytime by logging back in.

Deactivation is useful if you want to pause your College Board activity without losing your score history, or if you just want to stop receiving emails. To deactivate, go to account settings and look for "Deactivate Account" or "Pause Account" — it's usually near the delete option. The process is the same: confirm your choice and enter your password.

Troubleshooting if you can't find the delete option

If you're looking for the delete button and can't find it, the most common reason is that you still have an active test registration. Check your dashboard under "My Tests" to see if any tests are listed. If you see a test there, you need to cancel it before the delete option will appear.

Another possibility is that you're looking in the wrong part of account settings. Try navigating to your account settings from the main menu (usually a gear icon or your name in the top right), then look for tabs or sections labeled "Account," "Profile," "Privacy," or "Settings." If you're still stuck, College Board's help center has screenshots showing exactly where the delete option is on both the old and new versions of their website.

What to do if you forgot your password

You'll need your password to confirm the deletion, so if you've forgotten it, reset it first. On the College Board login page, click "Forgot Password?" and follow the steps to reset it using your email address. College Board will send you a link to create a new password. Once you've reset it, log back in and proceed with the deletion steps above.

If you no longer have access to the email address connected to your account, contact College Board's customer service. They can help you regain access or delete the account on your behalf, though this takes longer than doing it yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my College Board account if I have SAT or AP scores?

Yes, you can delete your account even if you have scores. However, deletion removes all your scores from your College Board account permanently. Colleges that already received your scores will still have them, but you won't be able to access or send them again from College Board. Save a copy of your scores before deleting if you think you'll need them later.

Will deleting my College Board account affect my scores at colleges?

No. Colleges that already have your scores on file keep them regardless of what happens to your College Board account. Deletion only removes your scores from College Board's system, not from the schools that received them.

How long does it take to delete a College Board account?

The deletion happens when ready after you confirm it. However, if you need to cancel a test first, that cancellation can take a few hours to a day to process before you can delete the account.

Can I reactivate my account after I delete it?

No. Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. If you think you might want to use College Board again, consider deactivation instead, which lets you reactivate anytime.

What if I want to delete my account but keep my scores?

College Board doesn't have an option to delete your account while keeping your scores. If you want to preserve your scores, read or screenshot them before deleting. Alternatively, you can deactivate your account instead, which keeps all your information but hides your account from view.