I’m planning on taking both, as many people where I am from do, but I’m concerned that if I take the SAT twice and the ACT twice- is four times too many? Should I keep SAT for twice and the ACT once? I’ve heard that in general, you shouldn’t take the SAT or ACT too many times but I don’t know if it has the same effect when combining SAT and ACT?
Are you a junior? Decide on how many you should take after you get your first sitting scores back. That will give you an idea of which test you are stronger on and whether you even need to take them again. That being said, I think four times is too many and you could use that prep time to do strengthen other parts of your app.
Is there a reason you are planning on taking both multiple times? Practice tests should be able to tell which is better suited for you. At worst, after taking each once you should have a feel for which will represent you better.
Scores rarely increase after 3 attempts, but the 3rd one sometimes does. I’d prefer, at worst, to take both once then one of them a 2nd and 3rd time if four is the goal.
The tests are similar enough that after the third overall test you may be topped out.
Why not prepare thoroughly and be one and done? Planning on multiple times seems counter intuitive to me.
Don’t use an actual test as a “practice”. You could potentially open yourself up to being flagged if your score jumps too much.
Take full, timed practice tests for both the SAT & ACT. Whichever one you do better on, prep like crazy for that one test only and plan on taking it twice unless you get a great score the first time. The goal is to be done with testing by the end of Junior year so you don’t have to worry about it Fall of Senior year which can get very busy (and stressful) with all of the college applications and essays.