My DS scored 1590 on his first attempt at SAT. Is there any advantage in trying to chase a perfect score or taking ACT? He doesn’t wish to retake unless perfect score helps with merit scholarships, honors programs or selective colleges. He took a PSAT as sophomore and another as a junior and both times scored 1500, didn’t get a perfect score there either.
He didn’t attend any preparation classes, just used books and Khan Academy for study. His friends are suggesting he can take some preparation classes and try to get a perfect score. He is a junior.
No, no need, but I get it. Kids really want to get that perfect score just to say they did. My youngest retook the US History subject test (he had to go in to take another subject test and figured he’d stay for another hour). He got a 790 twice!
It would be a waste of time and energy to chance that extra 10 points or take the ACT. That time and energy would be better spend on things such as regular schoolwork, preparing for SATII’s (if they are required by schools he is looking at), EC activities etc.
Seems like no point in retrying the SAT or taking the ACT. If his PSAT got him to NMSF, his SAT should be enough to “confirm” it as one of the steps to NMF.
SAT subject tests may be recommended or required for some colleges, so if he is considering those colleges, he may want to take those SAT subject tests (best done as he is completing the associated course).
Agree with others: your DS should be done with SAT I’s. No need to take ACT. Congrats to him. But don’t forget SAT II’s and AP exams. Those can matter for admission and merit aid at selective colleges.
My DS got similar scores without any prep for any exams. He had enough to focus on with his EC’s. And everything worked out fine.
Thank you for your helpful replies. Is there any selective school or scholarship where perfect scores improve your chances? Any preference for ACT over SAT? Does it matter for US Presidential Scholars?
For Presidential Scholars, it might matter, depending on the state. Although remember that it is a single sitting only, so super-scoring wouldn’t help. How much the Presidential Scholar thing matters depends on your S. It is unlikely to matter for admissions, because IIRC only the preliminary list of candidates comes out in time. Schools will already know your kid has a high score. Some kids don’t bother to go through with filling out the forms, doing yet another essay, etc. My S did it because of the possibility of honoring his favorite teacher. Alas, he was ultimately the runner up.
I’d say that repeating is a total waste of time. His score is just as likely to go down, especially if he already prepped for the first sitting.
He should instead spend that time doing things that interest him and making sure he has good scores on a couple of SATIIs and his AP exams.
Agree with all who say no need to retake. I remember when my D was contemplating a retake. She did some research and turned up study showing that 40% of students who already had a high score recieved lower scores on the second try. Getting a perfect score doesn’t have a benefit and if he does worse, which is entirely possible, he will just be super annoyed at the time and effort wasted.
Again, no. Every highly selective school will routinely reject applicants with 4.0/1600/36 and accept applicants with lower stats.
You son is done, IMO. FWIW, I was a one-and-done with a less-than-perfect score. In addition to really doubting that I could get a perfect score, I felt that my time was better utilized elsewhere, even if it was for sleep. Best of luck to him.
If anything, check out if any SAT2 your son may take. It may help admission at some schools and may also help get merit aids when they are comparing strong candidates.
Absolutely no reason to retake. Harvard et al would not care, as examples. You meet a benchmark and after that they look at other things “holistically.” Much better to spend that time on something else that he enjoys (whether helpful in admissions or not!).
He’s done with the SAT, but should definitely take at least two subject tests, as some upper tier colleges require them. A perfect score won’t give any advantage over a 1590, or even a 1500.
And he could drop his score if he tries again. My daughter had a near perfect score on the PSAT her sophomore year, so she kind of assumed she’d get that or better when she took it for real her junior year. But her score actually dropped. She still qualified for NMF, but it made her realize that she wanted to be one and done with the SAT.
@403e11q The essay score is fine. It is well known that the essay grading is subjective and is a measure of how well one writes to a rubric, not quality writing per se. Congrats on that 1590!
Best of luck to him.