Should I retake the SAT?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

I took the SAT for the first time in March and I just got my scores back:

800 Math, 740 CR, 720 Writing (79/80 MC, 6/12 essay)

To say I’m thrilled is an understatement since I prepared pretty much not at all. I took the PSAT last year and got a 199 (80 M, 55 CR, 64 W), and then I took it again this year and got a 209 (77 M, 61 CR, 71 W). When I got my last PSAT score back I was a bit discouraged because of the low CR score and the fact that getting two writing multiple choice questions wrong took off 9 points. Well, time management has never been my thing so the only studying I did was three hours the night before the SAT. I did a practice test, skipping the math sections since I’m pretty confident with math, but it was more just to familiarize myself with the actual test than actually trying to improve.

Anyways, when I took the test the next day, I started off thinking I actually did well on the essay, which gave me some confidence for the rest of the test. But then I thought I bombed the critical reading because of a bunch of tough questions and I ended up skipping two questions because I ran out of time. I actually thought I had a shot at an 800 for writing though, because I felt pretty confident on both the multiple choice and the essay. I ended up thinking I’d have to retake the test anyways just to fix my critical reading score, which I expected to be in the 600s.

Two weeks after the SAT, I read this article about how if I study hard enough I could consistently get really high scores and possibly have a shot at a 2400, so I started using PrepScholar to try to get a head start on studying for the June SAT. I was actually motivated. I had actually just started my free trial and I just spent a couple hours playing around with practice SAT questions while waiting for scores to come out at 5 AM. Then I got my scores.

I was ecstatic. I was expecting no more than 2100; I was hoping for a score closer to a 2200, but I didn’t get my hopes up. Before all of this I was saying to myself that if I got a 2250 superscore after taking 3 SATs, I’d be satisfied. But the conditions under which I got my scores gave me mixed feelings. I skipped two CR multiple choice questions. I got a 6 on the essay. I knew I could do better, especially since it looks like I can bring my writing score up just by writing a better essay, and I think I can train myself to perfect the writing multiple choice. I was even starting to hardcore study for the June SAT. But then I talked to my guidance counselor, and she advised me not to retake the SAT because she said it’d be a waste of time and my score is already great. I honestly wouldn’t consider myself a perfectionist but I still want to improve my writing score and possibly my critical reading score too; I really think I can do it.

Should I retake the SAT?

2

What schools are you aiming for? Also, what grade are you in?

3

I’m not exactly sure which schools I’m aiming for but my dream school is MIT, and I’m probably pursuing something in the STEM fields. I’m in the 11th grade.

4

If this is your third time taking the SAT, you should stop and focus on SAT2’s and EC. The colleges that you apply to won’t know (or care) about the conditions in which you took the test. They will only see the scores and the essay. Your scores are in the middle 50 percentile at MIT. Be proud of your scores, and move on.

EDIT: Apologies for thinking that this was your third time taking it. The deadline for May SAT is coming up soon. If you haven’t done your SAT2s, then May is a good time. Otherwise, it wouldn’t hurt to take the SAT 1 once more. But IMO, your score is good enough, and if it really troubles you, take it again in October.

5

Your scores ae fine. Congrats