To take or not to take the SAT

Parents Forum
1

My daughter got her ACT scores today - 36 across the board.

Her school arranges for SAT testing for all Juniors - the test date is in two weeks, during the school day. She has done well on the PSAT, but not “perfect score” well. She will likely just miss national merit semi finalist for our state based on last year’s qualifying score. We’re in a state with one of the higher qualifying scores.

So, should she take the SAT? She’s recruitable for her sport at the top schools and is in touch with the coaches already. Some of these schools indicate that all test scores should be sent. Does getting a “not quite perfect” score on the SAT hurt her in this case? Can we really be “one and done”?

Would love to hear opinions on this. We do not have to register or pay for the SAT. I’m sure the school will want her to take it since they’re offering. I’m just seeing the potential downside and not many benefits.

2

No

Yes.

There really is no downside, particularly if she does no prep, other than the 3 hours she could have done something else. If NMSF/NMF does not matter, and the school does not require participation, she can forgo. But if she does take, even for colleges that require all scores, the 36 ACT will supersede any sub-1600 SAT.

We should all have these tough decisions to make. :slight_smile:

Best of luck to her.

3

Congratulations! Instead of taking the SAT, spend those hours doing something fun to celebrate her great ACT scores. She’s done!

4

Yep, this is a good kind of problem to have, for sure. We’re all walking around with goofy smiles on our face tonight - calls and emails with coaches she wanted to hear from and now this. It’s been a really good week.

5

With a 36 ACT, no point in taking the SAT unless she does hit the NM threshold on the PSAT and needs to take the SAT to move to NMF status. (Will she know if she hits the NM threshold before she has to decide whether to take the SAT?)

6

I think you need to ask the coaches about the scores they need to see, but really, I can’t imagine they would care about the SAT with that ACT score.

7

Here is my take on this: The teachers and administrators at the school will be grateful if she takes the SAT, because her score is almost certain to give the school some additional bragging rights.

The cut-off for NMSF does vary a little from year to year. If it looks as though she will just miss the cut-off for NMSF, she might also just make the cut-off. Then she would want to take the SAT anyway. While there would still be time to take the SAT in senior year, there is a lot going on then.

A sub 1600 SAT score, in the range where she would be likely to score, will not hurt her in any way. If she becomes ill right at SAT time, she might want to skip it, but otherwise I think she should go ahead. (I don’t believe that the NMSF cut-offs are known until the fall.)

8

She’s two point off from the cutoff from last year. Not sure we can expect a 2 point drop in the qualifying scores.

2016 cutoff -221
2917 cutoff - 223

My kids score - 221. A two point drop is,as I understand it, uncommon. Is that right?

9

It went up by 2 points from 2016 to 2017, so a 2 point change is not out of the question.

In that case it may make sense to take the SAT when the costs are paid for by the school, just in case it is needed for NM purposes.

10

The NM semifinalists get notice in early September, which leaves enough time to sign up for November or December SAT.