The college placement director at my school gave me some advice and I don’t think it’s the best but she was on the admissions board at a college very low in rank (by that I mean not even ranked) but she must know SOMETHING right??? She told me that the average student takes the SAT 4 times AND she said it would raise a red flag on my application if I have only SAT scores from the winter of my junior year because I want to take the old SAT. She told me to register for 1 old SAT and 3 redesigned SATs. I think this is absolutely crazy. My tutor agreed with me and said once or twice in december and january would be enough. Who do I listen to?
That is, indeed, crazy. No need to take it more times than you need to.
The average student absolutely does NOT take the SAT 4 times! Regarding old vs new SAT and when you take it… I’ll let more qualified posters to answer that. From what I’ve heard, students will NOT be penalized for taking the old vs the new. And, I don’t think it matters that the SAT score will be earlier in your Junior year.
@bodangles thank you! and all she knows about my testing skills is my sophomore PSAT. My tutor works with me every week which is why I was more inclined to trust him.
Yes, four times is excessive. And I know a number of people who got their target score on their first try and stopped there.
Nutty advice.
@intparent thank you! but to her credit she is not really used to working with 2000+ scorers who get prepped months in advance. Most people in my school walk in on test day never seeing an SAT in their lives.
Yup. If she gives you other questionable advice, come see us. 
I think it depends on your score. If you have a low score as a junior, it would not be smart to keep using that score because it is the old SAT and you don’t want to take the new one. If your score is as good as you think it needs to be, you’re fine.
The plan to take it twice is a good plan. It just may need to be altered.
What are your scores and what are you aiming at? If you’re sitting on a 2300, ignore her.
Right now I’m at 2100 but only 4 weeks into prep and kinda struggling with the writing section. Once I get that straightened out, I’m aiming for 2250. @AboutTheSame I really want to get that or very close in a single sitting but I’m giving myself the january test option just in case things don’t go as planned.
@AboutTheSame : True. My daughter told me she ran across some figures at the College Board site which stated that a huge number of kids who retake after having earned a 2300 averaged new scores about 7% lower.
@GirlChild That’s exactly what I was going by. Once you break 2200 you’re only getting a very small number of questions wrong (about 3 a section). I can only see a person doing worse. If they end up doing better, it would probably be by such a small number that it wouldn’t even make a difference.