SAT: How much is too much?

Test Preparation
1

<p>When does the number of times you take the SAT become excessive. In other words, will taking the SAT 3-4 times look bad to an admissions officer? I've seen a vast improvement between my first and second time taking the SAT, and i'm sure it will improve again going into my 3rd time, but will it look obsessive and excessive?</p>

2

<p>Don’t forget you always have ACT as an alternative.</p>

3

<p>I’ve heard that 3 times is usually a good upper limit (on both SAT and ACT)</p>

4

<p>Like, the SAT 3 times and the ACT 3 times? That seems excessive. Also,if I take the ACT, can I just not send that score? I’ve heard that for the SAT, for many schools, you are required to send every score, but is it all of one or the other, or all period.</p>

5

<p>haha yeah pretty excessive. i agree. i would never do that.
depends on the school. im not sure about sending both act and sat, because i only took the sat.</p>

6

<p>If one needs to take both ACT and SAT 3 times, he/she must have a mentality problem and did not prepare for the test. But it makes sense if one tried one test a couple times after thorough preparation and did not get satisfy score then switch to another one.
For most schools when they request for submitting “all scores”, that would refer to all SAT attempts or all ACT attempts. ACT score is easier to be hidden.</p>

7

<p>i think 4 should be your upper limit. though you can still do score choice even if colleges want to see all of your scores.</p>

8

<p>Ideally, you want to take it once and be done with it. If not, I’d say don’t take it more than 3 times. Once you get above 3 times, taking it again will make it seem like you’re obsessed with it.</p>

9

<p>From a few articles I read, there is a consensus of not more than 3 times although there is no absolute limit (except for some schools). First, it may raise a red flag in the admission office. Second, collegeboard’s statistics showed there is hardly any improvement after the third test.</p>

<p>Sent from my NookColor using CC</p>

10

<p>Ok thanks guys. I asked because I improved almost 200 points from the first to second SAT, and improved a further 100 points from that on a recent practice test. I just wanted to make sure that I could comfortably take three SATs without penalties.</p>