<p>will it look bad if you take the SAT 3 times, especially if you say you are from a rural, underperforming school with low standards?</p>
<p>If your scores didn't change much[ i.e. improve] from the first sitting to the second, then taking it a third time might look a wee bit excessive.</p>
<p>Yeah. I agree. It's a wee bit excessive, but not over the top. </p>
<p>I had one kid who took it four times, but that was the year they changed the format, so he took the old one twice and the new one twice. I think that was acceptable in that year, but would look a bit odd in most other years.</p>
<p>I would say to go for three if you're disappointed in the first two and really think you can do better.</p>
<p>is an overall improvement of 70 points good enough to take it a third time?</p>
<p>meaning, going from a high-600 in math to a low 700 in math?</p>
<p>Maybe. Math scores typically do climb as you get more math under your belt.</p>
<p>I would say 70 points is a noticeable difference. my advice: cram and take it again knowing that you've decided to make it your last chance</p>
<p>At this point, if you are going to take it again, cramming won't do you any good. Relax, don't obsess, and go in confidently. What you already know will carry you and being relaxed will make a big difference. Cramming will only accentuate what you don't know and make you second guess yourself.</p>
<p>I think you are getting the message that 3 times is fine.
Competitive schools are very used to seeing applicants take the test 2-3 times. I think that is the norm for these places.</p>