<p>Is there any downfall for taking SAT more than 2 times in the term of college applicant, and profile? Will the college check how many times I take SAT?</p>
<p>I was told that 3’s generally the maximum before anything negative happens, so no there shouldn’t be any downfall. Unless they ask for it, no; although, common app requires it as do many colleges, but the individual scores can be withheld.</p>
<p>I agree with meerkit: we were told that 3 is perfectly acceptable. Go for 4 or 5 if you got sick or something. Also, when you can you should super-score so that you choose which sitting you want colleges to see. I think it says that you cannot choose individual scores (Math, CR, or essay) across dates. If you don’t super-score and just indicate that you want scores sent, then college board sends all of them. It’s confusing, so read up on it on their website and maybe even check with an expert (counselor, admissions). Also, some colleges (I think UC Berkeley) says you have to send everything, no exceptions, no exclusions.</p>
<p>The answer is to take the SAT as many times as you want as , long as you can improve. The reality is that nobody should use official admins to “get better” but nobody should hesitate to take it again if the previous performances were not on par with the practice tests. </p>
<p>The schools, just as the applicants, are interested in seeing the highest (and often superscored) results. </p>
<p>Several College admissions have told me anything over 3 will cause admin to wonder and raise a flag.
Bottom line, if you prepare for them, you probably only need to take 2.
Taking the “real test” should not be a substitute for “practice test”.</p>
<p>I just realized that in my response above from June 9 I used the term “super-score” when I meant to say “score choice”. Sorry! I have no idea how to edit a published reply??</p>
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<p>The last two suggestions are absolutely correct. Regarding the first one, more than a decade ago I issued a challenge to anyone who could share a story about Adcom X at College XYZ who was actively discarding a higher score obtained in a sitting that exceeded 3 trials. In the same vein, I challenged anyone who had a VERIFIABLE story of a school averaging scores or applying a negative stamp on an application. A decade later … not one has surfaced. </p>
<p>On the other hand, there are available (and verifiable) sources such as Fischgrund seminal research on Harvard’s position versus 1600 SAT (the old standard) and how they admitted students who scored the perfect 1600 at their FIFTH trial. </p>
<p>Is there a bottom line? Yes, it is better to score high in 1-3 trials and it is true that most students do NOT need repeated admins to get there as long as they practice correctly. However, if one has a string of bad luck, or bad timing, there are few reasons (if any) to avoid taking the test again until satisfied. </p>
<p>Think this way. If an adcom might potentially raise a flag on a superb 4th try, do you think he will enter a higher score because it was earned in the first trial? Prettty obvious that the latter NEVER happens! Nobody gets a brownie for a “one sitting” score. </p>