<p>I have taken the SAT twice now, the first time I got a 1970, and the second a 2170.
In order to get into Ivies I'd like to raise my SAT score above 2200, and I have one more chance to retake it.<br>
Would it be bad if I retook the test and got a worse score? Because I don't want to ruin my chances that I already have... Do they just look at your best score?</p>
<p>Well, there is the “Score choice” option though many of the ivies have requested all scores to be sent:
Here’s that list according to an older CC thread [ <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/643457-list-colleges-opting-out-sat-score-choice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/643457-list-colleges-opting-out-sat-score-choice.html</a> ]
Stanford
Cornell
Pomona
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
Yale<br>
So, if you’re not applying to any of those, then sure - retake it to your heart’s content [though 3 times should suffice imho] and use that score choice option. However, past a score of 2200+ there isn’t too much discrepancy in terms of scores.
Also, the score choice does not affect superscoring policies. So that’s something to consider too.</p>
<p>I disagree with the statement that there isn’t much discrepancy past 2200+. There’s quite a bit of difference 2200 and 2390, for example.</p>
<p>But I agree that 3 times suffice- that’s usually the maximum number of retakes that people prefer before it starts to look bad (whether this is a purely psychological assumption or a fact- well, who knows for sure? there are certainly people who’ve taken if four times and were fine). And yes, schools prefer an upward trend, so if you plan to retake prepare well for it.</p>
<p>Then I don’t think I’ll take it again, because a 200 point improvement between the first and second times should be good enough, and I would hope being 30 points under 2200 won’t knock me out of Ivies…</p>