What’s the benefit of taking practice tests rather than taking the actual test once , then decide which test to retake if necessary ? Many schools super score test results ( at least with the SAT) so it’s possible to improve your score by taking the test more than once. Our state requires students to take the ACT as juniors as their standardized test measure, so there’s a good chance that students will be taking both tests. Again, it is a personal decision . While several have said that they have been advised by college counselors to only take one test, in our area it is common to be advised to take both. Our outside counselor suggested that my son take both. He previously worked as an admission’s officer at one of the best LACs in our state. Clearly , there is no right or wrong answer . You may want to begin researching specific schools to see if they have a preference or what their requirements are. There may be a geographical component to the recommendations. Of course if you take one test and score highly on that test, there is no benefit to taking the other.
On issue mentioned above is having to send all scores. From another thread:
Unless you’re applying to one/many of those 12 schools having to send “all scores” should be a non-issue.
My D took a practice ACT and SAT (new version) over the summer decided she preferred the ACT. I was fine with that because with the new SAT who knows what was going to happen. Well, she took the ACT in October, did great but wanted 2 points higher so she just took it again last weekend. Her school on Tuesday gave all juniors the new SAT and she figured why not, it’s free. She came home and stated she loved the SAT! She felt like it was basically the same as the ACT but she had so much more time. The ACT gives very little time to go over your answers so you need to be quick and precise. I think because she had just taken the ACT 3 days prior, she felt like the SAT was a breeze. Unfortunately we won’t know her SAT score for at least 2 months so until then we really won’t know. Before Tuesday I would never have thought to take both, but now…