<p>so i'm a junior and in freshman year my parents made me take the old version of the sat (1600 version) and i got a 720 math 800 verbal. i just took the march 10 sat; i think i did well on the CR and writing but i think i missed 2 on the math. i was hoping to get a higher math score because i am looking at very competitive colleges. my question is this: even though colleges say "don't take the sat too many times," would they count the old version taken in 9th grade in that number? would you recommend taking the new version of the test a second time to improve my math, or would colleges think that i had taken the test too many times?</p>
<p>i think it would be fine for you to take the SAT again. your situation is like mine, except that I took the old SAT in middle school but kept my score. colleges wouldn't frown on two scores for the (new) SAT and one old score</p>
<p>Why is it bad if you take the SAT too many times? I'm a freshman and my Mom has made me take it every year since 7th grade. So that would be...once on the old one and twice on the new one.</p>
<p>aw, Sam I Am. I'm a mom who reads this area of CC to help with the essay-writing skills. Anyway, I bumped into your post above. I'm trying to imagine how your Mom is thinking, especially since we all go to the same "Mom" school, where we all learn to say the same old stuff -- OOPS, that was a secret:)</p>
<p>On retaking the SAT so often, there are some confusing truths out there. I'm guessing your Mom probably hears all of these bits of advice, which contradict each other:</p>
<ol>
<li>"You can't study for an SAT."<br></li>
</ol>
<p>This idea has been discredited, as we all know, but that's what everybody said to people from PUBLIC schools. Then, around 15 years ago, some guy named Kaplan blasted it all apart by realiziing that the prep school students WERE being taught at school. He thought that wasn't fair, and he was right.
So he analyzed a zillion tests and wrote his first book, to level the playing field for public school students. If they attacked those books, they'd at least have a chance to compete with the preppies! Then came all the after-school courses, followed by a few who said it's still better to self-study if you have the discipline and focus...</p>
<p>ANYWAY, we all now know you can and should study for the SAT, which INCLUDES years of reading during high school so your vocab and writing fall into place most naturally. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>"Often, scores improve with practice."</p>
<p>That's true, very often...but just signing up to retake them, like checking in for an annual physical exam, might not help you as much as seriously studying for them, perhaps around junior year. The thought of 7th graders spending their days studying for SAT exams rather than reading some great books, or riding their bikes, is enough to make me puke. Your mom's probably reading about how competitive it is to get into college, which is true until you find your "right fit" college and then you'll belong there.</p></li>
<li><p>"The college only counts your best score, so it doesn't matter how many times you take them."</p></li>
</ol>
<p>That IS true, but the policy only changed around 5 years ago. WHen my eldest S (h.s. class of 2001) did all this, the schools only received the best score from the CB, and never saw the "junk." Now my youngest S (h.s. class of 2007) knows that the colleges will see the "junk" on the page, too. We all hope that the colleges will ignore the lower scores, or perhaps even be impressed how much they rose!, but really they only give their "points" to the highest/best score. To me, it sounds like when the lawyer says, "The jury will disregard [the foolish thing my client just said], but I trust the AdCom's have enough papers to read that they don't want to pay attention to scores that don't count!!</p>
<ol>
<li>"It looks bad to send in too many score sittings, like you're neurotic or grub for grades or something..."</li>
</ol>
<p>Most recently (within the past 3 years), in reaction to #3 above, I've heard students say this #4. It's logical, too, but I haven't read any college AdComs confirm this (have any of you?? if so, please share)</p>
<p>So, I wouldn't regret that you took it every year since 7th grade. Done is done; you probably benefit from the actual practice, maybe you've even seen your scores rise a bit.</p>
<p>On the Other Hand, said from a Mom, the ONLY score that will matter will be your ONE BEST SCORE. So why should you keep doing this every year until senior year? Perhaps your mom might consider giving it a "rest" in 9th and
l0th grade so you can read some books, get some fresh air, focus on all your classwork which really WILL bring up the score more than the annual retake. (Unless you love to retake it!! Some kids actually enjoy the process. That's different).</p>
<p>Maybe it'd be better to stay in shape by just taking a PRACTICE test at HOME during 9th and l0th grade? (If I was a friend of your Mom, I might also suggest there's a "burnout" and we wouldn't you to go through that...but you shouldn't hear that, so cover your ears.) Or, if your Mom loves the theater, and only wants to do things that are educational to help you, why not take the SAT registration money and go see a Shakespeare play this summer, so you'll do better on your SAT-II Literature exam senior year? etc.</p>
<p>Lets say you have been accepted to a college but you want to raise the SAT score for personal reasons or for a external scholarship etc. It wouldnt matter if you take it like 5 times right?</p>