Taking them a third time

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>So, I took the SATs for the first time in March and didn't do so well. I didn't think it was too big of a deal because I knew I could take it again, just like most people do, and do a lot better.</p>

<p>Well, last Saturday didn't go as well as I thought I would. I mistakenly took it in an awful place where conditions were terrible ( it was about 100 degrees in the room by section 6, and the windows were all open so all of the noises outside were brought in). That's not even it. It was just terrible, I can go on and on. With so many distractions, I have a feeling I didnt do as well as I could have. I even prepared a lot this time, but I was disappointed from my experience. </p>

<p>My question is, does it look bad to colleges if the SATs are taken three times? How many of you did that? Does it still look respectable?</p>

2

<p>3 is ok. Take it as many times until you are satisfied.</p>

3

<p>taking the SAT 3 times is fine...and quite typical.</p>

4

<p>I remember one admissions counselor (I don't remember at which college) told me that if you take the SAT more than three times, please list it as an extracurricular activity. I think three is the "recommended limit" for SAT taking at many schools.</p>

<p>If the SAT is not your thing make sure you give the ACT a shot.</p>

5

<p>The admissions officer at UNC said take the test as many time as you want because they will take the highest scores in each of the areas. Out guidance department at school said that is typical. I have taken the SAT twice and hope that October will be my final time.</p>

6

<p>Yeah, from what I've heard the rule of thumb tends to be up to and including three.
Go for it if you want. But you might've done fine last Saturday. :)</p>

7

<p>Hmm, yeah totally screwed up on this test. I got a 1940...with a 540 in CR. I really want over a 2000, so I guess I will have to retake. How many of you on here took it three times?</p>

8

<p>Bring ear plugs!!
i did it and it helped SOOO much. like i could actually focus on all the sections with no distractions whatsoever. Not even the annoying nose sniffer behind me or the cougher on my right!
bring em...itll help. i guarantee it</p>

9

<p>Or perhaps do a little "research" on the high schols near you that offer the SAT. For example, the school I took it at in March had AC but the windows were always open and there were other activities going on so it was quite distracting, but the air was cool. When I took it in June, it was the wkend before the heat wave, and I took it at a school where there was no AC whatsoever, but since it was relatively calm outside, there weren't too many distractions. You could probalby just ask around to your friends and they could probably give some good advice.</p>

10

<p>RocketReview has the following:</p>

<ol>
<li>How many times can I take the SAT?
You can take the SAT as many times as you’d like, but ideally you’ll do so well the first time that you won’t need to take it a second time. If you aren’t satisfied with your first score, you can prepare some more—much less intensively if you prepared conscientiously on the first go round—and take the test a second time.</li>
</ol>

<p>Of those who take the SAT, three students in eight take the test twice but only one student in eight takes the SAT three times—so students taking the SAT three times are already beginning to call attention to themselves. If there were exceptional circumstances the first two times you took the SAT and you know you can do much better, a third try is acceptable, but realize that admissions officers will begin to wonder why you’re taking the SAT so many times. Only one student in thirty takes the SAT a fourth or fifth time, so taking the test more than three times is probably not a good idea.</p>

<p>Besides, taking the SAT is a big hassle, costs money, and forces you to wake up early on a Saturday morning—surely you’ve got better things to be doing with your time. </p>

<p>It seems like 3 is acceptable, but borderline.</p>

<p>It also has this to say:</p>

<ol>
<li>Will colleges take only my best SAT scores?
Don’t count on it.</li>
</ol>

<p>While it’s true that some colleges plug SAT scores and GPA’s and other data into a weighted formula to calculate an “index” for each student, how they do this varies greatly from school to school. Some schools average all your scores, while other schools take the highest math, reading, or writing scores—whether or not these scores occurred on the same test date. But don’t bother asking a college’s admissions office; it’s highly unlikely any admissions officer will give you the complete story on how their school weights the SATs.</p>

<p>Regardless of how exactly a particular school weights SAT scores, however, you can be sure that every college you’re applying to will see any score you see—not just your best ones—and there can be no doubt that any and all of your scores will have some kind of impact in the minds of the admissions officers. Again, the ideal is to take the SAT as few times as possible, and to do as well as possible each time you take the test—and that means preparing. </p>

<p>RocketReview</a> Revolution</p>