Sat

<p>Hi everyone,
I was just wondering, for those of you who got accepted, how many times did you take your SAT, and what were your scores? I am currently a Junior in High School and I just took my first SAT (excluding PSAT) yesterday. I think that I did pretty well...I hope so anyway. I know that it says to take it as many times as possible, but I was wondering if you could take too many times. Thanks for all of your help! I have learned so much from all of you!</p>

<p>You absolutely cannot take it too many times.
The academy looks at the best CR score and best Math score even if they are from 2 different tests. At some point they will also look at writing - it is required now but not counted as far as I know.
Some people even think that taking it over and over helps your chances if your scores are marginal - it shows that you are dedicated to improving your score.</p>

<p>I got into usna. I took the PSAT twice. The SAT in December of my Junior Yr, June (Junior Yr), October (Senior Yr), November (Senior Yr), and the ACT twice (October & November- Senior Yr). My verbal score improved each time and my math was steady. I received my highest reading score (590) on the SAT and my highest math on the ACT (29= 660). Hope this helps.</p>

<p>I got into USAFA and USNA. It doesn't matter how many times you take them. I did the SAT 4 times and the ACT 3 times. Big thing is to not get discouraged and take both tests. Initially, my PSAT scores and first SAT scores were too low to even receive an application. My best scores were 34-m, 29-e, 28-sr, 27-r.</p>

<p>"I received my highest reading score (590) on the SAT and my highest math on the ACT (29= 660)"</p>

<p>USMA candidates need to know that admissions will take the highest individual test scores from either the SAT or the ACT. They will not take a Verbal SAT score and pair it with a Math ACT score or visa versa.
The best advice is to prep for the tests and to take both tests at least twice (and more if necessary).</p>

<p>I would take the next one that is available, b/c you want the May scores so it will be on your transcript by end of school yr, and give you a leg up in completing your application earlier vs. waiting until the Sept. SAT. (Turn around time is @ 4-6 weeks) Also, take the ACT, I know quite a few kids, my s included that did much better. He had a 670M and 720CR on SAT. He got a 33 comp =1470. Thus, in his case they will take his ACT. Ironically, he took the ACT in Nov of SR yr for his application to Notre Dame, but it worked for him in the SA situation.</p>

<p>BTW how did you do on the PSAT, it is a good predictor for your SAT I scores.</p>

<p>As you can see from the posts here, you can not take the SAT enough. Equally important, if your scores are not where they need to be, take an SAT class and buy the books on taking the SAT. If you really want to get into a service academy, your test scores are going to be important. The more you take the test, practice tests and listen to the experts on how to take the test, the better you will do. My son, who is at West Point, had a 740 math and a 760 English. He also took an SAT class for four summers (four weeks long each year) at the local high school. He complained every year. His sisters are following in his foot steps and complaining just like he did. Hard to argue with results...</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>I bet he is thanking you now though :)</p>

<p>S has taken ACT 6 times (yes, 6!) in prep for USMA application. He took it first time in June after his soph. year, and took it last time this past Sept. as a Sr. Best I can remember w/o looking back at his scores, from worst to best subscores, he gained about 5 pts on his Eng. score, abt. 9 pts on Rdg, abt 4 pts on math and 3 in sci. First writing score was a 7 (out of 12, second was an 8/12. (warning here: when ACT writing is combined with Eng, it can bring your Eng. score down - his hi Eng. w/o taking the writing was 31, but when he took the writing/Eng. the first time, score was I think a 28 Eng/writing a 07, for a combined Eng. score of a 26 that time). If schools you are looking at besides WP "superscore" with indiv. test subscores, it may be best to take English alone a time or two as I don't know which score (indiv. Eng or Eng/Wr combined) would be considered for their reporting purposes. Really glad WP isn't using these writing scores for admissions consideration this yr :).</p>

<p>I think his gains would have been greater in math and sci. if we didn't operate on a 4x4 semester block, but the way this sets up the schedule, kids can go for a year, or year and a half taking no math or no science. My s is a sr. just now taking Hon. Chem because it wouldn't fit into his academic sched. until this year and allow him to still take band and ROTC as electives in their 90 min. class/day class slots. That probably hurt him on Sci. score. </p>

<p>I hope the fact he has taken it 6 times shows dedication to wanting to improve the scores!! And LOL for anyone who thinks college admissions is a free process, we've spent a lot of money just on testing - I won't tell you how many times we registered late because we weren't sure if conflicts would allow our family to be here for the testing. </p>

<p>SAT is not offered regularly in our area, or he would probably have taken them also. </p>

<p>Best advice: take them multiple times until you are satisfied the scores represent your abilities.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

<p>S has taken ACT 6 times (yes, 6!) in prep for USMA application. He took it first time in June after his soph. year, and took it last time this past Sept. as a Sr. Best I can remember w/o looking back at his scores, from worst to best subscores, he gained about 5 pts on his Eng. score, abt. 9 pts on Rdg, abt 4 pts on math and 3 in sci. First writing score was a 7 (out of 12, second was an 8/12. (warning here: when ACT writing is combined with Eng, it can bring your Eng. score down - his hi Eng. w/o taking the writing was 31, but when he took the writing/Eng. the first time, score was I think a 28 Eng/writing a 07, for a combined Eng. score of a 26 that time). If schools you are looking at besides WP "superscore" with indiv. test subscores, it may be best to take English alone a time or two as I don't know which score (indiv. Eng or Eng/Wr combined) would be considered for their reporting purposes. Really glad WP isn't using these writing scores for admissions consideration this yr :).</p>

<p>I think his gains would have been greater in math and sci. if we didn't operate on a 4x4 semester block, but the way this sets up the schedule, kids can go for a year, or year and a half taking no math or no science. My s is a sr. just now taking Hon. Chem because it wouldn't fit into his academic sched. until this year and allow him to still take band and ROTC as electives in their 90 min. class/day class slots. That probably hurt him on Sci. score. </p>

<p>I hope the fact he has taken it 6 times shows dedication to wanting to improve the scores!! And LOL for anyone who thinks college admissions is a free process, we've spent a lot of money just on testing - I won't tell you how many times we registered late because we weren't sure if conflicts would allow our family to be here for the testing. </p>

<p>SAT is not offered regularly in our area, or he would probably have taken them also. </p>

<p>Best advice: take them multiple times until you are satisfied the scores represent your abilities.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

<p>I took it once....don't recommend this option though, take it as many times as you can so as to get your score raised as much as possible. =D Dont be a dummy like me</p>

<p>I didn't do very well on the PSAT. I have just taken the SAT I last Saturday. I think that I did well; significantly better than on the PSAT. All I can do now is pray. I am planning to take it at least 2 more times this year. Also, I am planning on taking the ACT 2x (this year) and the SAT II in American History. Does anyone know if West Point requires SAT II? Do they look at the scores for these tests? I have studied with books ect. for the SAT. Besides courses, does anyone know of any helpful methods that I could use to study? Thanks for all of the input!</p>

<p>Ooops! Sorry for the double post above. Don't know how I managed that. From what I was just reading, praying eagle, low scores on the PSAT don't necessarily translate into low SAT I scores, so don't be discouraged. My s actually did better on the PSAT than many of his friends, yet they had much higher scores on "the real thing" than their PSAT would have indicated. </p>

<p>And think of the first attempt at either ACT or SAT as a "practice" round. Familiarity with the test format, ways questions are worded, and the general feel of the testing facility and expectations (sitting for long periods, full focus on the test, etc.) will give you more confidence for the second or subsequent testing. You may want to wait until after you see your own scores, at least the first time, for reporting to WP. The first time my s took the ACT, he requested scores be sent to the nominating sources (2 senators and our congressman) and to our local community college since he was anticipating dual enrollment classes. This worked well for him as his scores were far beyond what was needed for the comm. college and were not his most competitive scores for reporting to a service academy. You can always request these scores be sent later for a small fee if they turn out to be the higher set of test scores.</p>