Retaking SAT??

<p>My D has taken SAT twice. Her latest CR: 680, Math:800, Writing:780. We think that her CR is low and would like to see if she could improve to 750. However, I am not sure if she could improve since her 1st score is also 680. I think the new rule is that you can specify a test score to be sent, so if she takes it again and the scores are not better, we can send in the current one. So there is really no risk, but is it worth the effort? Please advise. TIA.</p>

<p>It depends if she is hitting that score on practice tests or not. If she is/was, and improvement in the CR score seems likely, then it might be worth it. However, colleges frown on taking the SAT more than twice, and her score is already excellent, so I would advise against it.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>^ I must disagree. If the colleges in which your D is interested accept Score Choice (the name of the policy the OP described), you don’t even have to submit the first test; such a college isn’t asking how many times she took the SAT and won’t even know about the first test. I recommend checking the websites of the colleges in which you daughter is interested to determine whether they accept Score Choice or request all scores be submitted.</p>

<p>Thanks to all who replied. I checked and unfortunately the schools she is interested in require “All scores”, so there is definitely a risk that she may not improve the CR and her other scores could go down from 780 and 800.</p>

<p>panda, not all colleges frown on taking it more than twice. Often there is a clear drop in one of them. I personally took the SAT 5 times (2 that didn’t count because they were on the OLD SAT system so the colleges didn’t even see these) and 3 that were on the new system.</p>

<p>to OP:</p>

<p>If none of her practice scores were that high, then you are hoping for too much. Has anything changed between the last two and now that you expect an increase (i.e. taking a test prep course in CR?). IF not, then there is no reason for the score to unexpectedly jump.</p>

<p>In any case, you might be splitting hairs here since at the most selective schools, a 50 point difference when you have 2 near perfect sections is relatively meaningless. They are now looking at other things that sets your daughter apart from the rest and it’s everything else that can help or hurt now.</p>

<p>Remember, everyone going for the most competitive schools has good SATs and at the end of the day a good SAT isn’t going to help. It’s almost a requirement now to be considered further, but only a bad SAT can hurt. I don’t classify her SAT as bad.</p>

<p>Colleges not acceting score choice want all scores for a reason. It’s not the same in their eyes to get higher scores on a third try. I would not retake unless practice tests are showing a clear, significant improvement.</p>