<p>I'm currently a high school junior and I'm looking to take both tests. I haven't taken either yet, but I took the PSAT in October, and I should get my scores back on that later this month. I was considering taking them both 3 times, once in early 2014, then again in May or June, and again in the fall of my senior year if I felt I needed to. Is taking them 3 times too many? I've heard the normal is twice but is a third time okay?</p>
<p>Three is perfectly fine, I’d say a tad on the overkill side, but not too much. You could do 2 SAT’s and 1 SAT Subject test date to make yourself stand out more to schools you are considering (which are?). I took the ACT once, will take subject tests a total of 4 times, and won’t take the SAT. Frees up time for essays next year</p>
<p>I would say my top colleges right now are NYU and Boston College. I know that NYU wants to see subject tests, but I read on their website that they accept the ACT in place of subject tests so I was considering just doing that, but if subject tests really do make a big difference then I’ll be sure to take a few.</p>
<p>Uh…are you open to the possibility of doing well enough the first time that you don’t have to take them again at all?</p>
<p>Honestly, doesn’t it make a lot more sense to target a score that’s in range for the colleges and universities that interest you than to target a particular number of sittings?</p>
<p>Well I definitely want to take them twice. I want to take them early next year to see how I do on my own, so I can sign up for classes or tutoring or what not and focus on the area(s) I need to improve in, and retake them again in late spring. If I do well enough I’ll stop at 2 times, but if I feel that I can bring up my scores I’d take them again in the fall.</p>
<p>Even that doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t understand the point of taking them that first time if you plan to go prepare for them afterward.</p>
<p>Take practice tests to find out where you might need to improve–God knows the bookstores have plenty of books of sample tests–but why on earth would you want to pay ACT or College Board more money than you have to? For a fraction of the cost of that practice run on SAT or ACT, you can get a book with multiple sample tests, so you can practice, then study, then take another practice test…</p>
<p>I guess I want to know what to expect. Most seniors that I’ve talked to said they felt shot and exhausted after taking the SAT the first time, but the second time was much better since they knew what to expect. There’s no way I’ll just be able to take it once because the first time I’ll be nervous, and even if I prepare and take practice tests, it’ll still be my first “real” time taking it.</p>
<p>I’m really wondering if I should take it 2 times vs 3 times.</p>