Hi so I took the sat once in my freshman year just to get a experience of it. I recently just took the december sat and I’m a sophmore. Since they’re changing the old SAT soon, if I don’t score well on this one I think I might take it another time in January. I do also plan on taking the new SAT my junior year. Is this taking too much??
I think it’s pretty normal to take the SAT twice (at least on CC) and since the test is changing, I think colleges will understand why you chose to take it 4 times.
It is not a big deal at all. I would probably hold of on taking the new one for a while though!
You might also want to look at taking the ACT instead.
This is exactly why I think it’s a bad idea for kids to take the test “just to try” or “for a baseline”.
^ 100% agreed. There is some assumption with the SAT or ACT that “you can always retake it”. In reality, only some schools do score choice, and everything counts.
@gormar099: Can you tell me where you learned that “everything counts”? I have not seen anyone say this before, and while it makes sense that all things get considered to some degree, the colleges tell you they will give you the option of the composite, and they throw out the rest.
@Waiting2exhale this philosophy of mine is in no way whatsoever fact, it’s just a personal belief. For example. even if colleges say they superscore, unless you are allowed to literally only send your highest subscore from each section, they can always see your previous scores. For example, what if you took the ACT to see what you could get and got a 21, then studied and got a 29, and applied to a school where 29 is the median, when they see that 21, I would imagine it raises a red flag. Again, based on no fact, or opinion than mine (just some high school kid) whatsoever, but it seems like there is no harm done by waiting to take your first standardized tests until you are ready.
If you want to go to a top school I wouldn’t recommend just taking it. Schools believe or at least the top ones that taking it more than two times won’t improve your score. I would say twice is the goal. The first time was your first, the second you most likely believe you are ready and you know the how it is.
Also you shouldn’t say if I don’t do well, you can’ t have that mindset when going to a test you choose to take at that time. If you aren’t ready or don’t think you will do well wait and take a latter one.
So it depends on the school you want to go to. You should have in mind some school want to see all your SAT scores too.
@gormar099 : Yes, I see what you and Mathyone mean about just taking it to take it, and then 'hoping" it does not show up as an outlier when the scores are being requested and assessed.
So often I see people here suggesting that 4 and 5 test sittings signify an excess, but not necessarily also suggesting incurring a subsequent penalty in the application deliberation stage, and I just wanted to know if you’d heard something definitive.
Most people just take it 2-3 times. I do know a couple of people who have taken it >3 times, but they haven’t improved their scores.