Should I take the SAT one more time?

<p>Hey there guys, I'm new here, so I'm sorry if this question isn't in the right place or something.</p>

<p>I am currently a high school junior, and I heard recently that SAT and ACT scores help with merit aid, so I began wondering if I should take the SAT one more time.</p>

<p>I took it last May and scored a 1920. I took it again this past January and scored a 2060. I wasn't planning to take it again (my original goal was to break 2000 lol) but then I heard about the merit aid and my guidance counselor said that, compared to my ACT scores, I could definitely improve a bit more.</p>

<p>For comparison:
I took the ACT this past February and got a 32, then the school announced that they were instituting a state-wide ACT in March and I got a 33 on that one.</p>

<p>But anyway, should I take the SAT again?</p>

<p>It seems you are doing better with ACT. Why do you want to retake SAT? If you get 100-150 points better in SAT, you are still in the same range as ACT at 33.</p>

<p>Hey thank you, I was wondering if a little boost in my SAt score might make me eligible for merit aid (or more merit aid than I would’ve gotten). I feel like I could improve with one more try, but I would rather not… unless, of course, there are pecuniary benefits.</p>

<p>I’m relatively new to all this so please forgive me.</p>

<p>No problem at all. Most school would evaluate either SAT or ACT scores that you submitted for merit aid. If anything, you may want to retake ACT, since you did better with that, to see whether you can give it a boost.</p>

<p>I looked at your scores on another one of your posts, and since math is one of your relatively lower scores. I would suggest you practice math and take both again in the fall one time each. Overtesting beyond this is discouraged. Math is the section that most people find they can improve on, and since many schools superscore the SAT, and some superscore the ACT, improving your math score can make a difference in both your total SAT score and composite ACT. If you can practice SAT/ACT math problems regularly over the summer, a retake early in the fall could help. Schools will accept the higher of either your SAT or ACT, and rarely, some schools can superscore both together ( I think Elon does this). </p>

<p>You might also consider taking the SAT subject tests later in the fall in some subjects you are best at.</p>

<p>If you want to take subject test, don’t wait till fall. Take it when you still have that subject fresh in mind. In other words, if you are taking certain AP class right now, take the subject test in June. For Math, you can probably take it at any time you feel more comfortable as it involves your math knowledge accumulated from the past anyway. But it would be cheaper to take 2 or 3 subject tests together.</p>

<p>^ I agree with this. June would be a good time to take subject tests for this semester.</p>

<p>You have a great ACT score that will make you eligible for merit aid at a whole load of schools. It’s only a relatively small number of schools that care if you submit ACT vs SAT…so unless you’re one of those nutters that gets a charge out of trying for that perfect score, I’d run with that 33 and start redirecting your energies to putting together a great and comprehensive list of colleges to apply to, and studying for any SATIIs and APs you plan to take.</p>

<p>I’d definitely take it again. Those aren’t bad scores by any means, but I regretted only taking it twice. I went up about 100 points the second time I took it and I should’ve taken it again.</p>

<p>Thank you so much, everyone! All of the advice really helps.</p>

<p>I don’t think taking them another time would hurt!</p>