<p>So my twin daughters got back their SAT and the math scors were below where they hoped they would be. When do you advise to retake? </p>
<p>They were thinking May but that will be in the middle of AP season and they are already scheduled to take subject tests in June. </p>
<p>October seems like a gamble because what if they don't come up enough by then and then they only have Nov left. </p>
<p>They are planning to apply ea to the schools the scores are too low for. What do you advise?</p>
<p>My kids have taken the SAT subject tests in May, because that's when the AP material was freshest in their minds. If your daughters can move the subject tests to May, they can take the SAT again in June, if they'll have time to prepare and practice for it.</p>
<p>nceph thanks. That makes sense. Spring is the testing season isn't it :-)</p>
<p>It is, so part of our feeling was, "What's one more test?" It is kind of a push for any student to take the regular SAT in June after all of the subject testing (both SAT and AP) in May, but with the incentive being that they may never have to take the stinkin' SAT ever again, some are glad to be pushed. Personally I liked having a better idea during the summer before senior year of what colleges were roughly suitable.</p>
<p>Would they consider an idea of taking the ACT in April? Many students score better on the ACT.</p>
<p>Yes, they are considering the ACT but the April test date won't do. We'll be on an Oregon college tour...sigh.</p>
<p>Oh well...
Seniors can take the SAT as far as January.</p>
<p>There's also a December test date. Some colleges will consider SAT dates as late as January, but of course neither December nor January would help for EA or ED. Best to check the specific schools' websites to make sure the ones you're looking at will consider scores from January.</p>
<p>The main downside I see to testing in the fall or later is if the student is hoping to bring her scores up enough to be in range for a different level of school. If the student is already in the ballpark for the schools she likes and just wants to increase the chances of getting in, then I think the fall or winter is fine. But if the student doesn't feel really competitive for those schools of interest yet with the current scores, then it can make it hard to come up with a sensible or realistic list of schools. And that's helpful at both ends of the list. The scores will help you figure out which schools are really safeties.</p>
<p>Also, somewhat along these lines, my son had a friend who needed to bring up his scores to a certain minimum in order to be able to play football at a school that really wanted him and that he loved, and it came down to the January SAT. He found out Thursday that he didn't hit the magic score, so he's going elsewhere. He'll be fine where he's going, but it seems to me kind of stressful to have it all come down to a score that isn't revealed until February of senior year.</p>
<p>^^^so true. I talked it over with my DDs last night. They both want to do subject tests in May and do-over the other in June...that just seems to give them more options and it will clarify for them where they realisticly can get in and get the money. </p>
<p>Both of my girls have the scores to get into two of their current favorite (match) schools but they aren't high enough to secure the merit money that will make those schools possible. The other issue is bringing their scores up more than 150 points to be in range for a specific, more selective school. I agree...waiting till feb of sr year could really set someone up for heartbreak. Thansk so much for your advice all of you!</p>