<p>Hey guys, high school freshman here. I was able to take the SAT in eight grade, and did, getting a score of about 1837 or so. Anyways, I planned on taking it a few months ago until I heard someone at a college-planning meeting tell me that colleges see all those scores and it does not reflect too well. I would still really like to take it in sophomore year, but obviously, don't want the aforementioned to occur.</p>
<p>So, should I take it next year, or will it truly hurt me?</p>
<p>And another optional question, is an 1837 for an eighth grader good? I believe it's higher than the average for juniors at my high school, but I know people's SAT scores usually don't change much year to year. Please try and answer this too. Thanks!</p>
<p>Muchas gracias mis amigos.</p>
<p>1837 for an eighth grader is very good. However, I don’t think it’s a good idea to take so many exams. Focus on working on other aspects of your college resume, rather than solely SAT’s. Colleges will be able to see every score you get, so if they see you end up having taken it 5 times, it will probably not go in your favor. Wait till at least the beginning of Junior year, and by then with much studying you should have a very nice score :)</p>
<p>All SAT scores end in zero, so a score of 1837 isn’t possible (but I know you’re just guessing at it, no big deal).</p>
<p>You can certainly take it next year if you’re prepared for it. I never recommend just taking it for fun or to see where you stand. Every attempt should be a serious one, for the reason that selective schools usually want to see all your scores. If you’re mostly interested in just gauging where you stand, just download the free practice SAT from the College Board website and take it under timed conditions. That’s what it’s there for.</p>
<p>I agree with the earlier poster, too, that waiting till the beginning of junior year is a good idea. You’ll have next summer to prep, so you can give it a really good shot.</p>
<p>It makes me really sad that kids in 8th and 9th grade are going to college planning meetings. That said, as was previously stated…log off the college board sites, take lots of great classes that interest and challenge you, find some clubs and activities that inspire you to add something to your school and the world, have life experiences and enjoy high school.</p>
<p>I don’t go on these forums a lot, mostly because I can’t participate in them :P. And it was my mother who went to the meeting, and it was about many things, college being a major topic. Haha.</p>
<p>I am doing just that, but quite frankly I need to be knowledgable ahead of time and early preparation pays off. </p>
<p>Thanks for the answers so far guys. I guess I shouldn’t take it next year.</p>
<p>Oh, and the college committee will know that I took my first SAT in eighth grade right, or will they not even see it?</p>
<p>While college admissions officers will tell you take it only 2 or 3 times, lest you come off as “obsessed” with the test…the thing is, if you don’t hit the target score…you don’t hit it. You are automatically at a disadvantage now. If you had it take it 4 or 5 times to hit the score, but you still hit it, at least you are not being disqualified for not having an on par score. Well…disqualified is too strong a word, but the disadvantage of not hitting the score typical of that college is far greater than the disadvantage of taking the test say 4 times.</p>
<p>I started in probably 7th grade, taking PSATs. In high school, I took four official SATs before finally making my target score (1520 out of 1600 back then…or a 2310 on today’s scale…got it on my final try…literally the last test I could take before apps were due). Before then I was always hovering around 1450-1480 out of 1600, and I’m pretty sure those extra 40-70 points made the difference for me in getting into the Ivies. I came from a high school where 1400 -1450s out of 1600 was pretty average (yea, it was ultra competitive). One kid even got a perfect 1600 and decided to take it again to prove it was no fluke (he got 1600 second time too lol).</p>
<p>All that said, don’t take it just to take it and see what you get. Take it when you know you can prepare well for it and are consistently scoring near your target score. Use practice tests to gauge yourself.</p>
<p>And check out score choice - you should have the option to be able to hide scores.</p>