Hi all, I took an SAT practice test in the beginning of my sophomore year and got a 1790 without prep; a couple weeks earlier, I took the ACT Aspire and got a composite (predicted) score of 24-27.
Obviously, these scores are not ideal, but I am hoping that since I had taken them in October of my Sophomore year without preparation, that I could perhaps raise my scores.
My question is, how high do you think I could get my score by the time I actually take the exam (assuming I would be extremely well prepared)? And also, which exam do you think I should go for?
NOTE: Since I am part of the Class of 2017, the year I take the SAT will be the year it is updated, unless I opt to take it earlier in January, then I can take the old SAT.
Thanks! 
You can raise your score as much as you want if you’re willing to put in the work! Don’t be unrealistic though and shoot for a 2100 form a 1790 on your first practice test. No one can tell you how far you can jump rather what is realistic. What score or schools are you looking at.
I’m definitely willing to put in work! I’m just worried that the redesigned SAT will throw a curveball at my preparation efforts, and whether it’s worth it to take the old SAT earlier in January. I would really like to avoid taking the ACT if at all possible, as I did not feel nearly as comfortable when taking the practice test.
My hope is to raise it as much as I can obviously; however, yes, I do need to focus on staying realistic, so I’d say I will probably aim for 2100-2200–though that may still be quite a stretch! Right now I have a variety of schools on my radar… I like Kenyon, Colby, UVA, Emory, Swarthmore, Middlebury, and many others. In a perfect world, I would go to Brown, Dartmouth, or U Chicago.
My trouble is not so much with the reading and writing portions of the test as they are with the mathematics portion. I consistently do well on the reading and writing, but blow the math.
Though, I have not taken a practice test since last October, so I am unsure where I stand as of now.
Since you’re relatively young in the high school growth period, I think your scores will naturally increase (at least that’s what they did for me). I took a pre-ACT test and it said my predicted score would be between 26 and 30 – right now I have a 32 (no prep beforehand), and have scored as high as 35 composite on a practice and am hoping to score 34+ on the actual ACT tomorrow. I am a Junior right now and my scores have naturally increased; prep will help, but also your general cognitive efficiency will increase with time. As far as your score is concerned, I’d say anything is possible. One of my friends jumped from a 1900 to a 2300.