<p>I am a Sophomore and I am taking Algebra 2 this semester. Should I try the SATs and/or ACTs for a trial score? My teacher says I will remember more If I take it now, which makes sense but.. can I be successful.</p>
<p>Don't take an official test now. Take a practice test to see how you'd do, but don't waste the money or risk a bad score just to see what it's like. That's bad advice.</p>
<p>Remember you can take the SAT Reasoning Test up to three times without colleges raising eyebrows... so as a sophomore... I personally think it's okay to take it once to see how you do... I mean I took the old SATs as a freshmen just to get some experience...</p>
<p>Why not just take the PSAT as a sophomore? Our school has the entire sophomore class taking the PSAT.</p>
<p>It would seem to make more sense to wait until you have finished Algebra 2. I don't see how you can really forget things if you continue to take math and do a little review before the test.</p>
<p>ACT makes more sense if you are going to do a trial run, since it has score choice.</p>
<p>There are plenty of real SAT tests out there that you can take for practice.</p>
<p>So it is easier for a Sophomore to take the PLAN and the PSAT and take their counterparts as a junior?</p>
<p>Bear in mind, only juniors are eligible to get National Merit Scholarship money from the PSAT. Unless you have something against a chance at free money, definitely take the PSAT junior year. </p>
<p>As for the SAT, I'd definitely wait until after you finish Algebra II to take it. I'm a junior taking precal; i'll take the real SAT first time in October. That's four days before the PSAT at my school. The second test will seem pretty easy :)</p>
<p>Oh, well I am taking Alg. II this year, ALONG with Precal.
So, I may take it later this year.</p>
<p>Is it weird to take both tests?</p>
<p>i took the ACT for practice as a sophomore, taking alg. II
i did much better waiting until pre-cal (like 4 points better overall)</p>
<p>No, it isn't weird to take both tests. Many do. I did long ago when I was in school (so it can't be weird LOL) My son took two and reported both. My daughter disliked the format of the SAT so only took the ACT. Today, she would probably take both, since the changes in the SAT since she took it dropped the things she particularly disliked and added something she is particularly good at.</p>
<p>Sarah,
If you want to do a "practice run" definitely do the ACT. You will never have to send it to colleges if you are unhappy with your score. If you are unhappy with your SAT score colleges will see your sophomore score as well as your senior score. My son took ACT at end of sophomore year as "practice" but did very well. If you can afford the exam fee you really don't have a lot to lose by taking the ACT. I think it makes more sense to wait on SAT until you are reasonably sure you will be happy with your score.</p>
<p>If you want to practice the SAT you could take the PSAT, at least colleges won't see your scores and except for the lack of essay it probably will be fairly similar to the SAT scores. I wouldn't take the SAT since colleges see ALL of your SAT scores. That's not true of the ACT so you can take it for practice if you like. It's not a bad idea to take both tests and see if you do better on one than the other.</p>