<p>Most advice to take SAT in 11th grade. Why? By 9th grade, SAT math is already known to most students. </p>
<ol>
<li>Math learned in the 10-12 grade is not on the SAT (ACT is different). </li>
<li>Vocabulary .... needs some special training. It is easier to make it in the 9th grade, when student has extra time, than rush it later. </li>
<li>In grades 10-12 students are very-very busy with SAT subject tests, APs, and GPA.<br></li>
<li>Why not take SAT early, and be done with it, and enjoy freedom?</li>
</ol>
<p>Doing well on the SAT requires mature analysis skills, not just route knowledge. The math questions are designed to trick you, the reading requires you to interpret author’s intent, and the essay requires more mature writing. These skills are absent in the typical freshmen and thus 9th graders aren’t recommended to take the SAT. Of course there are some freshmen with these required skills and they do well on the test, but most don’t do well.</p>
<p>You’d have to be three years ahead in math to know all of Algebra II by the beginning of ninth grade. I don’t even think most people on here took pre-calculus in ninth grade, and people on here are insane. </p>
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<p>I always thought studying for the SAT was one of the easier parts of the college application process, compared to AP tests and Subject Tests and essays and the harder classes I took.</p>
<p>You want to take it in 11th grade because you want to be absolutely sure your daughter can score well. A lot of schools will want all your test scores and prohibit score choice, so it is in your daughter’s best interest to score well on the first try. Taking it in 9th grade might not be your daughter’s best shot at a high score.</p>
<p>I totally agree with Kerkolus. If you just can’t stand the suspense, have your D take several full length SAT practice tests. Simulate actual testing conditions. Use official CB tests. See if she is consistently scoring in the target range for the schools you’re aiming for. Then, and only then, take the test.</p>
<p>My D is a junior who took the SAT in December for the first time. She was very happy but not surprised by her score because she had taken many practice tests first. When she showed up for the test, she noticed a freshman acquaintance there. She asked him why he was taking the SAT, and he said his mom thought it would be a good idea to sign him up. Well, he scored about 1700. That’s far from where he needs to be for the schools he’s aiming for. Some of those schools will require him to report all his scores. IMHO, this was a dumb idea that his mom had. She should’ve had him just take practice tests if she was curious how well he’d do.</p>
<p>If you are a JHU or CTY program student (who has scored the top .5% in a standardized test, you can take the SAT in 7th and 8th grades. Our kids did this and it does NOT count or get saved unless the student specifically requests that it be saved. Both our kids scored higher in those grades than the median score of entering freshmen at our instate public flagship.</p>
<p>Fast forward to JR year, when they retook the SAT. S became a NMF and D scored very well. Didn’t see any point for them to take the exam any more than they already did. Not sure if anyone can sign up as a 7th or 8th grader to take SAT, but it might be worth inquiring if you and your kiddo REALLY want it. Wouldn’t see the point in taking the test in 9th grade–they grow a lot between 8th & 11th grades (for most students).</p>
Decide what type of score that you kid should have depending on what kind of college kid is interested in.
Take a practice SAT under the exact timing conditions. A practice booklet is on the college board website
If it’s close to what you (and kid) are willing to accept (say within 200 points), then study and go for it.
The frosh score may have to be reported to colleges even if bad because some colleges require you report all scores
My kid studied in summer before Jr year and took it early Jr year (Oct or Nov?) around same time as PSAT (so studying killed 2 birds with one stone) and it was before Jr yr was really underway
Believe it or not, you kid does get smarter between Frosh and Jr yr. But if you don’t need a really high score, then it doesn’t matter.
I am a big believer in taking the test once and done.</p>
<p>I tutored my middle school daughter in math (reg 7th and alg 1 in 8th) at the
same time i practiced sats with my senior son. 95% of the math on the sat was
the stuff my daughter was learning in Alg 1 . It was just the 2 or 3 problems at the end
that needed additional skills. So, I agree with the original poster on math. But
the critical reading and writing gets so much better with all the lit and writing
classes in high school. All 3 of my kids scored quite a bit higher on the jr psat
than the sophomore one with no additional prep work.</p>
<p>The reason our kids too the SAT in 7th and 8th grades was because S actually ENJOYED taking tests that he found challenging. I did NOT push him in any way. Because he was taking the tests, D didn’t want to be left behind and also opted to take them. Our kids did NOT do any particular prep between 8th grade and retaking it in 11th, other than whatever they learned in school. The scores dramatically increased between those years.</p>
<p>Their scores were high enough that they could have been accepted to flagship U after 8th grade, but they aimed higher and succeeded.</p>
<p>My understanding is that 7th & 8th grade scores get purged from the kid’s College Board account, but starting with 9th grade they become “permanent.” So if your target college doesn’t accept Score Choice, you have to report that 9th grade score. So my point is, don’t risk creating a bad 9th grade score when you don’t have to. Only take it in 9th grade if you need it for some scholarship program or if you are very, very sure you will get a high score because you will be stuck with that score on your account.</p>
<p>You do have an option to keep your 7th / 8th grade SAT scores as part of your record by asking College board to keep it as part of your permanent record if they are really good scores.</p>