Does taking standardized tests (ACT/SAT) more than 3x look bad to adcoms?

My D20 took the ACT twice and her last score was a decent 32 composite, but she thinks she wants to take it two (2) more times, in June (only 1 month of prep) and Sept. (with more time to prep) to see if she can get her M and S sections up (for a 33 or 34 C). She will be applying to many different types of colleges, ones that want all scores for all test dates, ones that superscore, and ones that don’t superscore. She is not necessarily chasing merit.

My concern is that colleges will see that it took her 4x to get the score she wants and/or she may actually do worse on her 3rd or 4th try?

Any word’s of wisdom would be appreciated.

You may get many answers. In general, though most colleges report composite, the tops can look to the subscores for most relevant strengths.

Will she be a stem major? What are those scores now? If she, instead, is looking at happy matches and safeties, is a 32 roughly around the 75th percentile? If so, why retake? You could focus on the rest of what holistic wants, fine tuning ECs, broadening experiences, etc. And digging into what makes match.

Four is about the upper limit, but investing the energy there depends. You know stats isn’t the whole of it. If the rest of her app pkg is borderline, better stats wont tip her.

In ways, you need to break this down to the components, not over focus on scores.

Dd took each 3 times, and just submitted the highest (her superscores and composites were the same. Her ACT was highest the second time, SAT the 3rd time. Some tests are easier than others.

Why doesn’t she just take it in Sept and spend the time prepping? There are test prep services where she could take proctored, timed tests as practice.

Yes, I think 4 times looks bad. She should spend her time focusing on other things.

I know people who have kids that took the tests over and over just to make some level of honors at their high school, they wanted that recognition. Thankfully our high school doesn’t do that, you get your honors based on GPA not your standardized test scores. I think taking it three times is fine, maybe more is overkill? My oldest took the ACT three times and scored the same the first two tries but then bumped up two points the third time. I don’t think my other three kids will take the tests more than twice, if they are not happy with the first score.

I would cancel the June test. One month of prep is not going to make significant difference in her score. Take it for the last time in September. She can always take practice tests at home to monitor her progress. Spend the time instead on strengthening the other areas of her application.

IMO, holistic admissions is holistic.

Depends on the school. Georgetown at their info session said they ask for all results and they don’t like to see more than … I don’t remember now, it was either 2 or 3. I think part of this (at least with ACT, not sure how it works with SAT) is stop people gaming the test by focusing on one section per test to get a really high superscore.

@lookingforward Not STEM, probably business.

FWIW - her 32C was 35(E), 34®, 31(S), 29(M). She was only .25 away from a 33C and if she improves her M+S a few points she will be at 34 superscore.

I know admissions is Holistic, all things equal, wouldn’t a 34 be better than 32? Her target schools will be UCs, OOS state flagships, a couple top 25 colleges (e.g. loves Duke), and several safeties.

With her 4,0 (4.44 UC capped) she is the proverbial “average excellent” unhooked applicant looking to present herself in the best possible light.

Just don’t send the scores automatically to any schools. Then you can only send if she improves.

My next kid won’t send any scores to any school until we are ready. I will pay the extra $13.

Btw, school work is also prep for the standardized tests. My D19 went like this. During her junior year in the late fall or dec she took the ACT and got a 30. Then in April she took the SAT like all juniors and got a 1460. Then she took the June ACT and got a 34. She did do some prep for the SAT at her school, but it wasn’t crazy. Then she spent May study for finals and 5 AP tests. I think she was in total test mode for the June test.

Not to scare you but I know for a fact she wouldn’t be going to the school she is going to if she got a 32 or less. The merit money wouldn’t have been enough.

“I know admissions is Holistic, all things equal, wouldn’t a 34 be better than 32?”

But all things aren’t equal.

When comparing trying 4 times to get a high score of 34 vs. trying 2 times to get a high score of 32, there are 2 variables.

All else besides the score would be equal if person A got a high score of 34 in 2 tries while person B got a high score of 32 in 2 tries.

@PurpleTitan “When comparing trying 4 times to get a high score of 34 vs. trying 2 times to get a high score of 32, there are 2 variables.”

I think that is my question, is taking ACT two more times to get a higher score better than sitting on the 32C?

@gpo613 Keep in mind, some colleges like Georgetown want ALL scores, from all sittings where some other colleges you can pick and choose which scores from certain test dates you want to send.

There doesn’t seem to be an easy answer but maybe I’m missing something.

Nope. There’s no easy answer. You’re not missing something.

IMO, the only reason to keep on taking tests is if she is aiming for some guaranteed scholarship(s) that require higher scores for more merit money.

“With her 4,0 (4.44 UC capped) she is the proverbial “average excellent” unhooked applicant looking to present herself in the best possible light”

Aside from posting her ACT and gpa you have not provided any information that makes her stand out as a unique student. The most competitive schools all have high stat kids applying but it is what else they bring to the table that makes them stand out. Students with perfect scores and gpa’s get rejected from top schools because they are not well-rounded. Her after school activities, quality of recommendation letters, and spending time on her application essays is also very important.

Wouldn’t it make sense to properly prepare for the exam before taking it and just take it one more time? I don’t understand the logic of taking it “2 more times.” Why go into an exam with just one month of prep? Do you want to risk her getting a lower score? That wouldn’t look good. Why sit for an exam when you know you have not prepared to the best of your ability?

Just repeating the test over and over again shows a school that the student focused solely on obtaining a certain score vs working making the other parts of her application stronger.

You should be able to find some anecdotal evidence here, as this has been asked in the past. I have seen some folks on here, and know a couple in real life, who have had very favorable results with taking it more than 3 times. I think people generally say 3 because, typically, results tend not to fluctuate that much after 3 attempts.

The only schools that I would be wary of are ones like Georgetown and a few others that want to see all scores. (Yale too maybe? I don’t remember off the top of my head.) If it were my daughter, I would be fine with her giving it 2 more tries. Like someone above said, some tests are easier than others. I would just not send any scores automatically to any schools just yet. Some schools just have you self-report when you apply, and then she can self-report her super scores. As with everything, each school is different, so you can always call and ask the general question to see what admissions says.

The E and R scores are super but business can look for math skills. The toughest thing is we don’t know if she has the rest of the picture. She could put in this effort and miss the rest of holistic. You know it’s not just some ECs, but a whole she presents and the traits she shows, that they want.

For schools that take you best sitting or a superscore, 34 in 4 tries is certainly better than 32 in 2 tries, IMHO.

For schools that take you best sitting or a superscore, 34 in 4 tries is certainly better than 32 in 2 tries, IMHO.

“IMO, holistic admissions is holistic.” - I’m curious what this tautology has to do with the question.

I don’t know which schools may or may not care about how many times a test is taken to get the desired score. I am pretty sure Alabama wouldn’t care as they often recommend taking the test again to applicants to get the ‘magic’ number necessary for merit awards. Some schools may well read a lot into multiple test taking.

As a family, we personally were happy that our child got a score above the 75th percentile for all the schools being applied to next year. We decided ‘one and done’ was the way to go for our child because this score wouldn’t be what tipped applications from acceptance or denial. It may result in not getting the highest merit offers available, but not stressing about standardized tests anymore was more important for our child. If this means some choices fall off due to affordability, well…you can only go to one college.

Probably not relevant to my original question but some posters asked D’s EC:

academic decathlon, varsity athlete, elected position on student government, civil rights advocacy in DC last 3 years, a couple of school clubs, volunteer at for-profit company in her field, part time job, community service. Might be co-valedictorian for what it’s worth.

No major spikes, just an average excellent well-rounded kid looking to see if it makes sense to keep taking the ACT : )