<p>I did a search and did not find a ton of recent discussion on this issue: how well do you think a student should do on one test (either ACT or SAT) to say, "I'm done" and not take it again or take the other one?</p>
<p>As a second question, is it ok to do what feels risky to me (based on my own application in the 1980s) to just stick with one ACT score and not take the SAT at all, even if one plans to apply to selective colleges?</p>
<p>As background - DS16 got 35 composite on the June ACT, haven't gotten essay score yet. I think he (and I) would be happy to just not do any more tests (apart from PSAT, APs, and SAT IIs), but that feels scary, because it seems like "everyone" takes the SAT and/or takes tests more than once.</p>
<p>That would be it for my child. Only other testing I would consider would be SAT Subject Tests, depending on if he was considering schools that required them. </p>
<p>Caveat: since he’s a rising junior, he will be sitting for the PSAT in the Fall. If his scores bring him in range for National Merit Semifinalist/Finalist, then he should take the SAT to get a confirming score.</p>
<p>@suzy100 - Thanks!! That is a good point re PSAT/NMSF. OTOH, I doubt that he has a shot at that, because we’re in Massachusetts which has some ridiculously high selection index. Does National Merit require an SAT score to confirm the PSAT?</p>
<p>I can’t imagine he would do better on the SAT (though I suppose it’s possible) - he got a 35 on “English” and 33 on “Reading” and I doubt he would get out of the low 700s on either CR or W on the SAT though I could be wrong. He got 36 on Math, so there’s no where to go but down on SAT M.</p>
<p>Yes, DS will take the SAT2 in Physics this coming May after taking the AP course (or I suppose technically “during” the course, but eight days ahead of the AP exam or something). He took the SAT2 in Math last fall and did well enough not to repeat. I don’t think he needs more than those for any of his list of schools.</p>
<p>I bet that if he studies a little for the PSAT he could be in NMSF contention. If so, then yes, National Merit will require a confirming SAT score. In any event, it’s great that he has such a fantastic score under his belt so early! Should make Junior year much less stressful.</p>
<p>OP, I would stand pat on a 35 on the ACT. Do the SAT IIs. Let him get a life. No need for the SAT unless except for National Merit. </p>
<p>If he’s taking AP Physics B, taking the SAT II in Physics in May is a no brainier. If he’s taking AP Physics C, then he would need to study some material so I would take it in June. </p>
<p>My son also got a 35 on the ACT first time with very little prep. He decided not to take the SAT and he just took required SAT subject tests. It does feel strange to have him not take the SAT, but we’ve been advised by multiple people that there really is no point in him taking that exam. Time will tell after applications this fall.</p>
<p>He’s taking whichever physics involves doing two tests, I believe. We have a family conflict with the June date, so I hope May will be ok. </p>
<p>It will be his 2nd year of physics, though the first was admittedly a freshman year course (honors, but still…). I got a book of practice tests for him so he should be able to determine well in advance if there’s something missing. (I am a physics/chem teacher, but I am very hesitant to get too involved in my actual kid’s physics IYKWIM.)</p>
<p>@mnm111 - Thank you! Your DS is applying this fall? Where is he looking? Yes, that’s exactly it - it feels weird not to do the exam that was the standard when we were going through the process, particularly as in every other way, the process is at least as complex/intense as it was for us.</p>
<p>That would be Physics C. Unfortunately, he will not completely cover the material on the test in Physics C, so he’s going to have to learn the rest of it on his own. His whole class will be in the same situation, so maybe you can organize a private study course to teach the missing material. If I recall, Barron’s is the best preparation - harder than the actual test, but that was several years ago so I 'd double check on the appropriate CC thread. </p>
<p>Both of my kids took Physics B and then smoked the SAT II. </p>
<p>Thanks, @ClassicRockerDad! I can just see all his friends, but not DS, showing up to my hypothetical study course. :)</p>
<p>I was just looking at the syllabi this morning, and was irritated to see that my personal favorite topics (fluids and thermo) get short shrift in the C class…</p>
<p>Do you think it might work instead to have him take a diagnostic, then go over topics he didn’t know? I did that with him for the Math II, with success, but it was only conics and matrices in that case.</p>
<p>@fretfulmother I know exactly how you feel. I had my older son take both. But I think things have changed. My daughter is a rising senior and was in your sons situation last year. I think I even started a thread about it last year.
She got a 34 on her 1st try and I wanted her to take the SAT. But her advisor told her not to and just try ACT 1 more time. Which she did a few months later and got a 35. But It does feel weird not to have her take SAT. I don’t think colleges care which test you take but there are still a lot of people out there that think getting a 2340 in SAT is a lot better then 35 on ACT. Sometimes even I feel that way even though I know it’s wrong. She also has 3 subject test behind her with great scores. So happy to say going into senior year with all the testing behind her.
Your son is in great shape. The top schools say that subject tests are not required if you submit ACT but I would still advise your son to take it because of the competition. Keep in mind that some schools, like georgetown, want 3 subject tests. So have him look at schools he’s interested in to make sure he doesn’t miss anything. That’s one reason my daughter took 3 subject tests. </p>
<p>@momworried (nice handle btw ) - thank you so much for your reply!</p>
<p>Yes, I think the same way, i.e. 2340 on SAT sounds better to me than 35 on ACT though in theory that is not the case nowadays. I know that for engineering colleges they generally require Math and a Science for SAT II; do others you know of, aside from Georgetown, ask for three subject tests?</p>
<p>Here is the SAT II testing requirement data that my son and I have collected so far:</p>
<p>Princeton (engineering), CMU, RPI - Math and either Physics or Chem
Harvard - any 2
Duke, Rice, Yale - any 2, but seemingly not if you took ACT (?)
MIT, Cornell (engineering) - Math and any science
Caltech, JHU (“recommended”?) - Math 2 and any science (possibly changed from disallowing bio?)
Wash U, Vanderbilt, Emory - none (?) - but “encouraged” and will be looked at
U Penn (engineering) - Math and Physics
U Mich Ann Arbor, UNC Chapel Hill, U Maryland CP, U MA Amherst, BU, Brandeis - apparently none, but not clear if honors engineering then might require sci/math
Washington & Lee, Tulane - 2 “recommended”
GWU - depends on major, unclear [to me]</p>
<p>So with the strictest requirement, it would seem that Math II and Physics would cover all of those schools for my DS.</p>
) - thank you so much for your reply!</p>