Will it look bad if I take the SAT again with a 2390 superscore?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

Hi everyone and happy holidays,

I would like to know if I would be put in a “bad light” to top colleges if I take the SAT again after receiving a 2350 and a 2340 on two tests and I have a 2390 superscore.

I have already taken the SAT twice and received a 2300+ each time, but the very last current SAT is in January and I’ll never have the chance to take it again. I’m so close to a 2400 and I’d like to try to finally reach that score.

HOWEVER, I have heard that taking the SAT more than twice, especially if you receive 2300+ already, makes you look obsessed with scores. I KNOW that colleges don’t give a crap between a person who gets a 2350 and a person who gets a 2400…I just want to have the score. I’m definitely not trying to make myself look better to colleges.

I just want to know…will the top colleges be neutral and not give a crap that I took it three times (rather than twice), or will taking the third exam put me in a bad light and affect me negatively?

Thank you.

2

ehh it might. you already have a really good score, so why do you want a 2400 so badly? it kind of does make you look obsessed with scores.

3

Yeah you shouldn’t retake it. Your scores are pretty impressive already. Any advices on acing it?? I am really screwed up with a score of 1970 on my first trial.

4

Take it with a fake name?

5

You don’t need to retake for any school in the country. You are fine.

6

The best schools are looking for students who spend time on meaningful activities.

7

How exactly will the colleges find out how many times you took the SAT?

The scores are your personal information. You release whatever scores you want to release. CB can’t send any scores without your permission.

Some schools put your SAT scores on your high school transcript, but most schools don’t. You can easily find out by asking your HS directly.

But if you’re really scared of an elite college finding out, why bother chasing 2400?

8

^ Some colleges require all scores (mostly very selective ones, like OP is gunning for).

9

SAT Scenario #1: 2000, 2100.

SAT Scenario #2: 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400.

Most elite schools prob won’t even consider the student in Scenario #1 because the scores are too low. The student in Scenario #2 might at least draw some attention, especially if he/she releases only the 4th and 5th scores. The SAT scores are your personal property. Colleges don’t have access to your scores unless you release them.

Even if a college somehow found out that you took the SAT 5 times, you would have zero chance with Scenario #1. At least you have a chance with Scenario #2.

10

It might make them question your common sense…you have better things to do. Do them. It sounds like you want to do it to prove to yourself you can! There will be lots of “missed it by that much” events in your life. Don’t waste time on useless do overs! You did fantastically! Enjoy it and go have some fun. Study for mid-terms. Play flag football with your friends. Take a nap. All will serve you better. Learn to let go and you will be happier!!! Good luck!

11

@itsemmy - If you want my advice…know your vocabulary (for the essay and reading sections), and make sure you really know your math and writing rules. You don’t want to be stumped by any questions because they can waste your time. I sometimes do the “800” method (I made it up): every day, you keep doing reading sections until you get an 800 on one. You can do this for math and writing, too. Math and writing are in the bag because you can just know the rules…for me reading is more difficult since it’s not rules but your own skill.

12

No; it looks very good if you retake a superscore 10 pts away from the max. Please retake it, there’s a 100% chance you’ll get a 2400. The colleges will definitely know that you’re not trying to show off your score; they will, of course, completely understand that it is only the score that you care about and not that you are obsessed with perfection.

13

“Perfection is the enemy of good enough.” – Voltaire

Resisting your urge to retest will be good for you.

14

Thetex makes a good point. What if your score goes DOWN? That’ll look even worse – you were test-obsessed and it didn’t even pay off.

15

Do something better with your time. Please.

16

Do not retake it! Find something else to do with your newfound block of time.

17

Do the subject tests and call it a day

18

You gave the scores to get in anyplace you want to go if the rest of your application is great. Turn your attention elsewhere in your application, don’t waste any more time on this.