I took the current SAT(out of 2400) for the first time in early December and scored 1700 with very little studying. I haven’t really studied any SAT material since then because of finals. Many of you may already be aware of this, but January 23 will be the last time that the current SAT will be administered before the new SAT(out of 1600) is launched in March. Considering how I have less than a month left to study for it, should I take the current version one last time or just wait for the new SAT? What are your opinions on the current SAT vs new SAT? I am a junior in high school.
We’re aware of the change in the SAT. SAT prep courses, like the ones I teach, have been preparing Seniors for the old exam and Juniors for the new.
Here’s the advice I’ve given to every single Junior who is worried: deep breaths.
Scores may go up with the new exam. Terrific. They may go down. Ouch. They may stay the same.
It doesn’t matter.
If a college has 1,000 freshman seats to fill, they’re going to fill them with the kids with the top 1,000 scores. It doesn’t matter exactly what those scores are. What matters is your percentile.
So don’t sweat the change in the exam. Become familiar with the changes. Right now, Khan Academy seems to have the best access to sample questions, so we’ve been using them for test prep.
Take the test in May, and see how you do.
NO, horrible advice ^. Sighs, prep companies should know that if you take the new SAT in May, the scores don’t come out until JUNE 14TH, which is after the june test date for the new sat (which means you can’t take that and would have to wait till senior year). And if its like the PSAT, they’re probably going to end up pushing back the score release anyways.
Here’s what I’d recommend, get the Blue Book, the Teal Book (the new SAT Book by college board), and the Red Book (for ACTs). Take a test from each and see how you do.
Please, please, pleaseeee give the ACT a decent consideration! Each test measures different things, and you may do better on one of them over another. Here’s the thing, you don’t know what the new SAT is like. There’s barely any prep material out there and whatever it is, is just fantasizing. It would be extremely hard to study and reach a decent score. And in my opinion, I’d say if you got a 1700 a month isn’t nearly enough time to bring it up to a decent score. Try your hand at the ACT. If you get above a 28ish, switch to the ACT and never look back, imo.
I’m a junior as well, so this is an issue for me as well. This is all just my opinion, but it’s an opinion of someone in the same boat as you, not someone paid to say it.
How very gracious.
Well, there you have it, OP: two completely opposite points of view. Take the one you prefer.
Though I might add, in my own defense, that I’m not “paid to say” anything on this site. Yes, I am paid to teach high school math and SAT prep, but not here. I’m here because I think I can be of some help to kids going through this for the first time.
On the subject of SAT/ACT: Princeton Review does offer a free hybrid test. (And, no, I don’t get paid by them either 
) You can take it, and they’ll let you know which exam offers you the best chance for success. Of course, you can probably expect a bit of pressure to take one of their prep courses, but you’re under no obligation to do so.
And I stand by my advice: percentile is what matters.
That was rather rude and uncalled for @wanderlustgal , I can tell you are a “junior member”. I agree with @bjkmom. Percentiles matter. From what I’ve read, the new SAT is more text based, if that helps at all. I would wait, because scoring a 1700 without studying is not very notable, and since you are a junior, you still have lots of time to prepare for the new one. Feel free to disagree. I would consider looking at the ACT as well if you are turned off by the new SAT changes.
I wasn’t being rude, I was expressing my opinion. I agree, percentiles matter, especially for our year when scores are going to be all over the place between the old and new standardized test. So, yes percentiles definitely matter.
However, I do think it’s horrible advice to just say, “take the test in may and see how you do,” seeing that scores for the may test will not be released until AFTER the june test. This means that if you want to take the June test, you won’ t know your score, sections you need to improve on, etc. You’d have to wait until senior year to retake, which is a whole load of stress then because standardized testing along with college apps is annoying af. Also, who knows if next year college board will be releasing scores on time or not? You’d be a senior, racking your brain trying to study for the test and do college apps at the same time, along with the plausible chance that scores may not be delivered on time. Hence, I do think the advice given to take the test in may is horrible advice. That’s not being rude, that’s expressing my opinion, which differs from what bjkmom said.
So take a prac test for the new SAT and ACT, and see how you do. Although, I would try to make your first prac test/diagnostic prac test from the actual books by collegeboard and the ACT, not Princeton Review. Just so you can official material.
@bjkmom Where could I find this diagnostic test from PrincetonReview? Please post here, or PM me, it sounds super helpful!
Agree that there is not much time between now and January 23 to study for the old SAT. My suggestion would be to focus on the ACT. I agree with wanderlustgal that the timing of the new SAT score release and concordance charts will leave many students wondering how they stack up until summer. If you can achieve a satisfactory score on the ACT this spring then you can have the option to be done with testing or to try the new SAT if you so chose.
I agree with wanderlustgal.
I don’t think you have enough time to prepare for January SAT. So you will have to choose between New SAT or ACT.
Prepare using the official guides; there are 4 New SAT tests from College board/Khan academy, there are 5 tests on Red Book by ACT.
Take two tests from each book, grade/score them and see which one you do and like better.
Choose SAT or ACT and take it when you are ready after prep. Do not take the real test as a practice. Take it as if it is the last chance.
http://www.princetontutoring.com/blog/2014/02/how-many-times-should-i-take-the-sat/
hi. My son went to a test prep where they tested him on all the options. he is a junior and they felt he would do better on the old SAT. He took the prep over the summer. He got a 1790 in October and 1890 in December. I would use a test book over Christmas break and take the old one in January. See how you do and if you can afford a test prep have them test you to see if you should switch to the ACT or take the new SAT in October of your senior year. I would concentrate on the SAT subjects for the rest of your junior year. Most schools request 2 subjects. My son is taking literature in January and history in June. Good luck!
Hi @mainlinemom , is your son done with SAT I/ACT testing, or will he be taking any more of the ACTs and SATs? Also, I took the literature and world history subject tests (got a 790 and 770 each with some simple ways to tackle the questions and a couple of great books) so if you’d like help/advice for those then please PM me 
@AsianZeus I’m in a similar situation to you, in that I am in the class of 2017, I took the December SAT and got a 1960 with no studying whatsoever, and was wondering whether it is worth it to prep lots for the January one or just stick it out and wait for the new SAT/ACT.
Most people on here and in person have been telling me to give the January test my best shot (I am prepping 4 or 5 hours each day over winter break) and then if that doesn’t go well enough to focus on the ACT, since the new SAT will be rather rocky and hard to navigate as it is so new.
So, once I have taken the January SAT, I will be taking a diagnostic for ACT vs. new SAT to see which is better for me and then I will focus all my prep for that. There will not be enough time for me to take the Feb ACT, so I will either prep for the April and June ACTs or the March/June new SAT (not May, because I am taking a lot of APs and will be testing for those then) depending on which I am better suited for.
To conclude, I personally would suggest you take the same route as I am taking, because through the prep I have been doing, I’ve already increased 150 points in just 3 days. Practice practice practice, take the Jan SAT and see what happens! It’s your last chance anyway. If you’re not happy with that score, then take the new SAT/ACT diagnostic, and then prep for whichever you’re more suited for.
Hope that helped! (No one has told me this advice and it’s been getting quite frustrating, so this is what I’ve figured out for myself. Hope it works for both of us!)