How many times can a student take SAT? Or how many times is too many.
My son took SAT 3 times. His scores 1250, 1350, 1340. The last one he took after being sick. He took an SAT prep class but got sick 1 week before the test. I think he might increase his score slightly. Does it worth it?
He took ACT 2 times and got 30 second time.
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/guide-2018-act-sat-concordance.pdf suggests that his 30 ACT is like 1370 SAT.
Thank you!
Would UCs and CSUs consider the highest scores?
UC’s consider the highest score from a single sitting. The CSU’s superscore the ACT or SAT.
So should we try to take SAT one more time? It would be the forth one. Or third time ACT. My son’s scores are not very high but I am afraid he might be too nervous during the test knowing it’s his last attempt. He is just concerned his last SAT score went down a bit. His essay was much better though.
I would submit the ACT score of 30 and be done with the testing. If you he is applying to the CSU’s, his ACT score makes him competitive for most of the CSU’s. For the UC’s, getting a slightly higher ACT/SAT score will not make a huge difference since they tend to be more GPA focused. Spending time on his essays is a better use of his time.
Is he in 11th or 12th? If 12th it’s probably too late. If 11th, hmmm why would he have taken it so many times already? Usually most people would recommend 3 only, though if he is in 11th I might wait until March or April and do it one more time. Maybe sign him up for one of those Christmas SAT boot camps, though they are pretty expensive.
@verycrazymom ,
In my opinion, two is enough. He did three already. I would not have him do another if he were my son.
Thank you! I just checked my son’s ACT writing and it’s high enough (10). Should we even submit his SAT scores? Or just send ACT?
I would only send the ACT score only.
I’d just send the ACT.
2 is enough
My son is a senior. He went through an SAT prep boot camp and did slightly worth on his test than before. It could be because he got sick a week before the test and still had a runny nose. Or maybe just this particular test was more difficult.
His SAT nor ACT scores are not the issue based on your other post. It is his GPA (still competitive at 3.9) which as a Senior is something that cannot be changed due to how the CSU’s and UC’s calculate it with only 10-11th grades. He would need almost a perfect score on the SAT or ACT to meet the EI threshold for SJSU CS program based on last year’s numbers.
He is competitive for UCSC with an ACT within range and a capped weighted UC GPA is slightly below average so have him apply with the test results he has and hope for the best. Just make sure is he fine attending all schools on his list.
2018 UC capped weighted GPA averages:
UCB: 4.23
UCLA: 4.23
UCSD: 4.16
UCSB: 4.13
UCI: 4.13
UCD: 4.11
UCSC: 3.96
UCR: 3.81
UCM: 3.71
2018 Data:
25th - 75th percentiles for SAT:
UCB: 1360-1540
UCLA: 1340-1540
UCSD: 1300-1520
UCSB: 1270-1500
UCD: 1220-1480
UCI: 1230-1490
UCSC: 1210-1450
UCR: 1130-1380
UCM: 1020-1280
25th - 75th percentiles for ACT:
UCB: 30-35
UCLA: 31-35
UCSD: 28-34
UCSB: 28-34
UCD: 26-33
UCI: 26-33
UCSC: 26-32
UCR: 22-30
UCM: 19-26