<p>I am currently a junior (never took the SAT) and want to know if the SAT school Day is actually required. I know some colleges do not want a person taking SAT too many times, I think some CC members said no more than 2, and I attempt to save the 2 times for October and December... SO yeah.. Anyone can answer this question? Can you also give out official websites saying that it is not a requirement? Thanks a lot. Please answer this question as soon as possible because my counselor wants me register tomorrow!</p>
<p>Not sure what SAT school Day is, but it’s a bad idea to wait until October of your senior year to take the SAT. Take it sometime this spring. Your score will help guide your college search. If you do well enough, you can skip taking it as a senior which will help when you are busy with college applications. And I think it’s ok to take it 3 times if you really feel after your second try that you are going to improve. I just wouldn’t plan to do so.</p>
<p>Also, if you apply to any colleges which use early action or rolling decisions, December is too late. October should be your last test date, and I’d regard even that as a backup plan.</p>
<p>^ I agree. Ideally, you should have finish taking SAT or ACT by Spring of Junior year. There is not a fixed limit for the times of attempt, but there is really no point to keep retaking it. You just need to be well prepared and take it once for your expected score. If you did not get your expected score, then retake it. There is little improvement after the second attempt according to statistics.</p>
<p>Thanks mathyone and billcsho! I do not want to participate in the April 16 SAT School Day SAT because my current score is in the low 2000s, and I don’t want to take the exam more than twice… here is the link to sat school day testing. <a href=“Tasks for SAT School Day Administration – SAT Suite”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/higher-ed/recruitment/sat-test/school-day</a> </p>
<p>As far as I know, those school day SAT are usually for State or District mandated test. You probably don’t have the option to choose the date if your school is not signing up everybody for it. Only those Saturday tests are really open to public.</p>
<p>I strongly recommend that you take the SAT this spring. If you don’t think you’ll be ready by April 16, then sign up for June. (If you are applying to certain selective colleges or programs, you may also need to take SAT2 exams, check requirements and plan carefully so you don’t run out of test dates). You really shouldn’t leave this important testing to the last possible opportunity. What will you do if you get sick in October? You shouldn’t count on testing in October, then re-testing in December (and it’s about Dec 1), and doing so much better. You will be busy with senior classes and EC’s and college planning and essays and applications. You aren’t likely to get a better SAT score with those extra 7 weeks or so. You probably won’t have time for much prep beyond a few more practice tests and that won’t make a big difference, assuming you already have studied. Most likely you have more time now than you will in November of your senior year to prepare for SAT. I don’t know who gave you the advice to start SAT testing in Oct of senior year, but it’s just bad advice. That should be regarded as a last chance or make-up date, not a beginning. </p>
<p>If you don’t believe us, start a thread in the Parents forum about your plan to take the SAT for the first time in Oct of senior year and see what the parents say. Many of them have helped several of their kids through this process and know it quite well. </p>
<p>My daughter took the Dec SAT as a Junior and was very glad to be done with the whole thing at that time. It would have added more stress to everything if she had that hanging over her for another year. She simply would not have been able to study at all as a senior.</p>
<p>Also, SAT is not like a video game that you get certain number of “lives”. You are not just going right back in and try again. You should thoroughly prepare for the test and treat it as your only or last attempt. If you do need to retake it, you should have a study plan to improve the score first. Otherwise, there is no point to retaking the test if you are not expecting any improvement.</p>
<p>Thanks again! The suggestions are very HELPFUL! I am certain that I will take the exam by June. God bless you all! 
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<p>As for the School Day SAT requirement, you should check if it is mandated in your state or school district. If it is, you have no choice but to take it.</p>