If a kid gets high scores on practice ACT/SAT then very high score on SAT but not perfect then should they take SAT again or try ACT instead?
I’m also wondering if SAT score is something like 1550 then they should be fine without a second attempt on SAT or first one on ACT? One attempt should give colleges an idea of their calibure.
I asked this question, too. The consensus seemed to be: if you get 1550 you look foolish taking either test again. You look like a grade-grubber if you get 1600, and you can guess how you’d feel if you got <1550.
^^This. There are so many things to do at this point in one’s HS career – spending time trying to optimize an enviable score probably demonstrates lack of imagination.
I agree with the consensus above. With a 1500+, the kid is in excellent shape for the SAT. But don’t forget there are more tests, including Subject Tests and probably AP exams. Focus on those.
I think it’s always okay to take the test twice. With superscoring it still may make a small difference. My older son got 800’s on different sections, but never all at once. I don’t think a student who got a great score first time round, needs to study much for the second time. I think it’s really up to you if you want to also try the ACT. My kids were happy to only get familiar with one format.
a few years ago, there was an insufferable CC user who had a 2390 or 2380 and was insistent on retaking to get the 2400 (which he achieved). Although my alma mater accepted him, I’m glad he chose another school.
This is the type of person whom I would avoid at a cocktail party…
^I don’t think I’d retake a 2390. I did have a kid who retook a 790 subject test. He was taking two others so he took it again on a lark to see if he could get an 800. (He didn’t.)
Taking the SAT again to try for a perfect score is no different than running a race to beat a record by a fraction of a second. I can see the pull to try to accomplish it when one is so close. Meaningful? No. Being “insufferable” is a completely separate matter.
To answer OP’s Q’s, it really depends. If a student is applying to highly selective schools they may want to maximize their chances with a retake &/or ACT. Score percentiles for a college can be viewed on their CDS or College Navigator. For the vast majority of colleges, a 1550 would be a great score with no need to strive for improvement.
For a 1550 I would leave it alone. I do know people on the old test who got a 2250 (evenly done) who had a test with a bad curve (only got a few wrong). After looking at their mistakes they were advised to retake because on another test their score would have been a 2350. They did and got a 2400 and were admitted SCEA to a HYP. They did not attend and chose another more fun school instead!
@SaphireK of course they might have gotten in with the original score too. But the point is that no college is going to ding you for taking the SAT twice. (Well they might if you decided to retake a perfect score.)
An AO from Vassar said they might start to wonder why you didn’t have better things to do with your time if you got up to four or five, but even then, it would be more a case of looking for signs of over-anxiety in the rest of your application, than rejecting you outright for taking the test too many times.
My son took each of his SAT I and II tests once in junior or senior year. Enough. Admission to college wasn’t going to depend on improving his score on any of the tests. He never considered redoing them. He had better things to do, and he did them.
What does the kid want to do? A 1550 seems good enough for any college, but if he/she wants to try for perfect, then take it a second time. I am guessing that most college counselors would say don’t bother retaking, but some kids might just want to.
Did you get a detailed test report? Do you know how many questions were wrong?
My son got a high score on his first SAT (2400 version) but his test report showed that he completely skipped one page of questions. Although he did not care I made him retake the test (without additional prep) and he added 60 points (improved every section a little). Nothing wrong with taking SAT two times. I would not do ACT as the test is different and will require some additional prep. Your son is clearly comfortable with SAT.
This is more of a hypothetical question as my son is focused on SAT but was wondering if he should take ACT as well or just retake SAT if his scores are not in range he wants them to be.
Oh, I see. You are selling the skin of the bear that you did not catch yet.
After he gets the real score and reports then you will decide. Just leave the dates open for additional testing just in case.
I believe that students who did very well on the first real test still improve their scores on the second try because test anxiety is now gone, there is really nothing to lose.
If you think his SAT scores don’t really give a true picture of his ability, then by all means, have him try the ACT.
“Oh, I see. You are selling the skin of the bear that you did not catch yet.”
This made me laugh. 
<a few years ago, there was an insufferable CC user who had a 2390 or 2380 and was insistent on retaking to get the 2400 (which he achieved). Although my alma mater accepted him, I’m glad he chose another school.
This is the type of person whom I would avoid at a cocktail party… >
Wow! My D got 1540 (out of 1600, new SAT) the first time and I asked her to retake the exam. I mean … SAT is fairly easy, why settle for a so-so score if it is obvious that you could do better?
@californiaaa Commenting that your child’s 1540 SAT score was “so-so” might make you “the type of person” that others try to "avoid at a cocktail party. "