<p>The average student in the average school is advised to take the SAT for the first time in the spring of his or her junior year. The SAT is a junior level test, so it makes sense to take it after completing junior level courses. Plus, these end-of-year juniors are much more likely to take the test seriously since college is right around the corner (although most of them do not sober up until the October administration of their senior year). </p>
<p>Some students do, however, benefit from taking the test earlier. If your daughter is taking advanced courses, she probably has already completed the regular junior level curriculum, so it would not be unusual for her to test now. If your daughter is a highly-motivated student who plans to attend a top university, it is never too early to start preparing for and taking the SATs, either. There are tests offered in October, November, December, January, March, May, and June, so she has a wide range of choices. Note that the Question-and-Answer Service, where you can order a copy of the test and the correct answers, is only available in October, January, and May. This is important if she wants to study her wrong answers (as she should if she wants to improve). The only drawback I can see in taking the test “early” is that typical junior year curriculum is notoriously time-consuming and it may not provide her with enough time to properly prepare for the SAT. But, like I said, if she is advanced, she may be done with junior level courses. </p>
<p>This will certainly help you apply at the start of rolling admissions (if the schools to which she is applying support rolling admissions). But even if she takes the test in October for a second or third time, she can still apply in September and have the newest score sent upon receipt. Most rolling admission deadlines are around December 1, and you should have your score by the end of October.</p>
<p>I highly recommend calling the admissions departments at her prospective schools and asking their opinion on when to take the SAT in regards to the rolling admission process. If you call for her, do not give your name or her name. Admissions officers keep files on prospective students and will note the phone call. They like to see initiative from the student, not from the parent. If she is up to calling, by all means have her do so. </p>
<p>Score increases can happen quickly if the student studies. I teach prep courses and 95% of my students do not do any of the homework. Their scores still go up because there is value in hearing the information presented, but my largest score increases have come from the students who practice what I preached by doing the homework after each lesson. I do believe a significant score increase can be attained between the March and June tests. I personally went up 250 points in 2 months when I first took the test in 2005 (ironically, my test dates were March and June) and I was already scoring in the 93th percentile so I didn’t have much room to improve.</p>
<p>Even though I teach SAT courses, I am not against prepping on your own. I used my companies materials to achieve my score increase in 2005, but I studied them on my own with occasional questions for my boss (and this message board is a great “boss” if she needs help with questions). It just depends on the student. Some need the structure of a classroom. Others need the constant supervision of a tutor. And some are self-motivated enough to study on their own. Do not feel like you are not providing her with enough resources if she chooses to study this way. Just stay on top of her and make sure she is doing the work!</p>
<p>Feel free to email me if you have other questions I can help with!</p>