<p>We did not send anything until S1 had final list. He is not a great test taker and we wanted to compare his SAT and ACTs and send the strongest scores.</p>
<p>This is what is college couselor recommended</p>
<p>I think I've seen this suggested, but it seemed like way too much trouble to me:</p>
<p>First: Take SAT2 send them to schools that need them</p>
<p>Second: Take ACT - if you like the score you're done</p>
<p>Third: If you don't like the ACT score - take SAT1 as many times as you like or repeat ACT. Don't send SAT1 score unless you like it. </p>
<p>This makes sure colleges never see a less than optimal SAT1 score. It presumes you have a complete list of colleges to send SAT2 scores before you take SAT1.</p>
<p>Not sending them until she saw them made my d feel better, and in the grand scheme of costs, I didn't think that $38 extra (the $9.50 x 4 we gave up by not using the "freebies") was worth fighting over.</p>
<p>mathmom and Chedva have suggested strategies for making sure that colleges that do not require SAT Subject Test scores never see the student's SAT Subject Test scores -- a useful strategy if the student is worried about possibly not scoring well on the Subject Tests.</p>
<p>However, the use of either of these strategies precludes the use of a third strategy which may yield higher SAT Subject Test scores, namely, taking each Subject Test at the time that the student is best prepared for it.</p>
<p>With today's accelerated curricula, some students will be best prepared for a particular SAT Subject Test rather early in their high school years. For example, the optimum time to take the Math II test is at the end of precalculus. Some students reach this point at the end of 10th grade. It would make sense for such a student to take the Math II test at that point, but it wrecks Chedva's strategy. Similarly, a student who takes AP U.S. History in 10th grade (which my daughter did) would be well advised to take the SAT Subject Test in U.S. History in May or June of 10th grade.</p>
<p>In other instances, students may benefit from waiting as long as possible to take an SAT Subject Test, particularly if they are continuing to study the subject throughout high school. This would apply, for example, to foreign languages if the student is continuing to take them through 12th grade, and to Literature. In these instances, it makes sense to take the SAT Subject Test at the end of 11th grade or even in the fall of 12th grade -- but this wrecks mathmom's strategy.</p>
<p>And of course, for some students, BOTH options apply. The same kid who takes the Math II test at the end of 10th grade might take the French test in the fall of 12th grade -- and be taking both of them at the optimal times.</p>
<p>I'm not saying that either Chedva or mathmom is wrong. Their ideas may be good ones for some students. I just wanted to point out that there is a third way of thinking about SAT Subject Tests.</p>
<p>Marian is correct, in my opinion. The timing of the subject tests is best determined by when the "matching" course is taken. My S took Math II and Bio at the end of 10th grade, just after pre-calc and AP Bio; no extra prep required, two tests out of the way before the really busy time started. He didn't even have a list of colleges at that time, so he didn't have any scores sent, but he assumed at least some of his colleges would require a math and a science subject test.</p>
<p>I also agree - I wasn't advocating the particular strategy, just explaining it. And in the OP's case, it looks like the girls are taking the SAT I before any SAT II tests, so at least this one SAT I score (and possibly a March or April test, with SAT IIs in May or June) could be sent to schools that don't require SAT IIs before the SAT IIs are taken.</p>
<p>Mathmom, doesn't think she's right, BTW. My preferred strategy is this: Take the subject tests when your score is likely to be the highest, when you are best prepared for them, whenever that is. If it's very early in the game don't bother to send scores, you'll have more chances. Take the PSAT. If your scores indicate you'll do well on the SAT, you probably will. My son's scores were very similar except in the writing (800 PSAT, 690 SAT). If the PSAT score looks worrisome, take the ACT. You have score choice and some kids do better with it's format. My son has a history of testing well, so we just sent scores off with each test starting spring junior year. Didn't do it so much to save money as to save bother.</p>
<p>just a couple of thoughts -- on the common app, do the students list the test scores? if so, and if you are sending different scores to different schools (ie not updating some schools after additional tests), you might want to keep track of who you sent what scores to so that your application doesn't conflict with the reports they receive. also -- many high schools include scores on transcripts so the schools see them any way - does that raise an issue if you haven't sent all scores? i think you just need to be careful not to outsmart yourself in making this more complicated than necessary.</p>
<p>
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many high schools include scores on transcripts so the schools see them any way - does that raise an issue if you haven't sent all scores?
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<p>In this instance, a student who did much better on the ACT than the SAT (or vice versa) might want to inquire about the possibility of NOT having the scores included on the transcript. Students may have the right to not have their scores reported.</p>
<p>We sent the SAT 1 scores to the "less important" schools, and the SAT II scores to schools that require them (since they'd see all of the scores anyway). Waited with ACTs, since there's a score choice options there. At the end there was no need to retake, so we ended up paying to sending the same scores to the rest of the schools, but this strategy save us some money.</p>
<p>Our hs doesn't offer APs for sophomores or freshmen. My girls will take the SAT IIs in May or June after their AP Bio, Comp and US History courses are over/almost over. </p>
<p>What makes sense to me after reading all of your advice is to not send those first scores till we see them, and then...depending on what they are send them to state safeties or everyone if they are high enough. If necessary retake SAT I in the fall</p>
<p>You have a couple of days after the test to add those 4 free scores. If the kids feel that they did really well, no reason not to send those at least to the safeties. You can always send new scores later.</p>
<p>nngmm..could you remind me of the steps taken to send your test scores later, after you got an idea of how you might have fared test day? I don't recall that you have that option....do you sign in online at collegeboarddotcom or something?</p>
<p>I think the strategy you use depends on your kid. I knew my d would take the tests more than once so I figured we would need to resend scores anyway. I believe she waited to send scores - but that plan backfired when her scores basically stayed the same. It might have been better for schools to just see the one set. But it turns out that slight changes (20 pts here & there) did improve the total just enough to qualify for some merit awards. She had a classmate who took the SATs 3 times but never jumped that last 10 pts, which would have gotten her a full ride.</p>
<p>My son knew he'd be dealing with SATs, SATIIs and APs and thanks to CC, I knew to have him plan out when to take the tests. Our HS really doesn't prepare this type of kid so most are left scrambling to take the SATIIs during fall of senior yr when they're in their first AP classes and find out about SATIIs. He took AP Bio in 10th grade, so he took both the AP Bio exam and the SATII Bio that May. He didn't mind taking the SATII test since he didn't actually do any extra studying. He didn't send those scores anywhere since he was in 10th grade. </p>
<p>In Mar/Apr of 11th grade, he took the SAT and listed 4 schools, mostly schools that didn't require SATIIs. He didn't have a real list at that point but he selected a couple safeties/matches (state schools). In May of 11th grade, he took SATIIs (Chem, USHist, MathII) along with his AP exams. He sent those scores to 4 top reach/match schools that did require SATIIs. </p>
<p>He was ok with his SAT scores and decided to stop testing - so basically he was all set at those 8 schools, since they had all the info they needed. Unfortunately, during fall of 12th grade, he revised his list - adding a few more schools - so he did have to pay to send scores to those new schools. But the original schools were all done and reports were free so they weren't wasted. He did battle a bit with his HS who told him he had to take SATs at least twice, once in spring of 11th and once in 12th grade but he refused. I think the HS GC just misunderstood and thought some colleges required 12th gr scores.</p>
<p>one thing that strikes me as interesting is the contrast between this thread (test "strategy") and the thread started by tokenadult on cancelling scores, or lack thereof.</p>
<p>Faline2,</p>
<p>You just log on into your profile on the website, and look update your info for that test date, if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>I am sure that you can call them as well.</p>
<p>thanks, nngmm...good to know!</p>
<p>After you apply to a state school in Florida, all your SAT and ACT scores are accessed automatically. Other states/schools may be doing this as well. Check the fine print on college applications to see what you have agreed to. U of Florida and Florida State, for instance, require applicants to release access to all SAT, ACT and SAT II scores.</p>