Best time to take the SAT?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>So, I'm planning to take the SAT I for the first time this year and have no idea when I should take them. According to my math tutor who tutors a lot of kids, all of the seniors take the October SAT so the curve is lower during this time than any other time in the year. So he recommended me to take it during December.</p>

<p>My problem is that I have marching band which will take up a huge amount of my time starting from September to halfway of November. It especially gets intense during the last month. So, my mom reasoned that since I have marching band, I wouldn't be able to have any time to study and so should take it in October.</p>

<p>So, if it's true that the October SAT has a lower curve than any other time? And, if that is so, should I take the December SAT or October SAT?</p>

<p>And are there any differences in difficulty among all of the test dates?</p>

<p>Thanks:D</p>

2

<p>Fire your tutor now. .He or she knows absolutely nothing at all. The curve is predetermined. Seriously, he is totally misinformed, and in my opionion should not be giving you advice and teaching when he does not know the simplest info. I hope I am right on this lol</p>

3

<p>Seriously from my experience, there is no best time to take it. I really think curve doesn't make a difference. Just take it whenever you are ready</p>

4

<p>I'm taking it in October just because I don't like waiting around for life to happen. I'm not saying that's the best idea, but I'd rather take it right away so I have more time to prepare for a retake in early 2008. I'd rather not take it my senior year, even though my counselor recommends taking it only once for whatever hair-brained reason.</p>

<p>Since it sounds like you're a rising junior, you'll also have the PSAT in October, so you'll be in the habit of taking tests. If I'm wrong on your status, just disregard that comment.</p>

5

<p>"Fire your tutor now. .He or she knows absolutely nothing at all. The curve is predetermined. Seriously, he is totally misinformed, and in my opionion should not be giving you advice and teaching when he does not know the simplest info. I hope I am right on this lol"</p>

<p>Your right. The curve is already predetemined, so it wouldn't how anyone else does. Plus the curve doesn't differ much from test to test, its pretty much always the same.</p>

6

<p>Another reason to take it in October:</p>

<p>By December, everyone has the sniffles. If people snotting around the test center annoys you, that's not a good test date.</p>

7

<p>MAY
Critical Reading:
67-800
66-800
65-800
64-780
63-760
62
61-730
60
59
58
57-680
56-670
55-660
54-650
53-640
52-630
51
50
49-610
48
47
46-590
Math:
54-800
53-800
52-770
51-750
50-730
49-720
48
47
46-680
45-670</p>

<p>JUNE
Critical Reading:
67: 800
66: 800
65: 800
64:
63: 770
62:
61: 740
60: 730
59:
58: 710
57: 700
56: 690
55: 680
54:
53:
52:
51:
50: 640
Math:
54: 800
53: 780
52: 760
51:
50: 720
49: 710
48:
47:
46:
45:
44: 660</p>

<p>Just to show the slight differences.</p>

8

<p>Take it three times at most. Fall junior year, spring junior year, fall senior year. You pick the month. October is also PSAT month, so keep that in mind if you are a junior. If you need to take subject tests, june is best because the course will be finished. If you ace it the first time, screw the rest of my advice.</p>

9

<p>Wait, how is the curve pre-determined?</p>

10

<p>I guess October is a good month for me then since what my tutor said isn't true. Thanks for clarifying that piece of information up:D</p>

<p>But, how exactly is the curve pre-determined? Do they only set it based on what they think people should get?</p>

11

<p>The experimental sections, which CB calls "equating sections," determine the curve ... somehow. I don't get it either.</p>

12

<p>^^ I dont think its the experimental sections that determine the curve at all, in fact the experimental sections are just sections that might be used in future tests.
Not sure though, somebody please clarify</p>

13

<p>Best time is whenever you are READY.</p>

14

<p>I agree with ivynut 100%. Three times ensures that you couldn't have done any better. Also, almost every college superscores so definitely plays to your advantage to take it 3 times (4 is too much tho).</p>

15

<p>
[quote]
According to my math tutor who tutors a lot of kids, all of the seniors take the October SAT so the curve is lower during this time than any other time in the year.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You need to get a new math tutor. Here is the correct explanation of how scores are equated between different test dates: </p>

<p><a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/research/pdf/rn14_11427.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeboard.com/research/pdf/rn14_11427.pdf&lt;/a> </p>

<p>Don't worry about it.</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
Take it three times at most.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>A Harvard admission representative said at a public meeting in Minnesota in May 2007 you could take it ten times if you want. </p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4198038&postcount=1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4198038&postcount=1&lt;/a> </p>

<p>But, yeah, quit taking it when you get a good score and then go on to doing something more worthwhile with your time.</p>

17

<p>if you're not in a hurry, you can wait until after PSAT, which will give you a quick indication of your weakness, then study more and take it later.</p>