SAT, ACT, how much to keep trying?
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Anonymous
| DD took the SAT without much prep in the summer and got a 1280. Then she studied a lot for the SAT which was today. Last month she took the ACT just to see how she'd do and got a 30. She said today's SAT did not go great. What do we do at this point? Today was a different format, digital, so her first digital test. ACT was paper. I am so torn about what to do next. She can't do ACT paper again, so that will be a new format. SAT would be digital. We are not aiming at top colleges. She has all As and a higher test score would mean aid somewhere and a better shot at our flagship. I just feel like this whole testing thing is really anxiety-inducing. |
Anonymous
| Why can’t she do ACT again? That test will continue to be available on paper. |
Anonymous
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At what point does a parent determine that the scores, are the scores.
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Anonymous
| She may have actually done well on the SAT. The new digital version has a second module for each section that is harder. That may be why she felt she didn't do well. |
Anonymous
She said she aced the first part, found it incredibly easy. Then she got to the second part and everything was hard. She has been studying a LOT and was extremely prepared. |
Anonymous
She could, but does she also try the SAT again? And do I sign her up before seeing her score? It just feels endless. |
Anonymous
Yes, I guess this is what I am asking! I know some kids try and try and try. She was so prepared this time. It is going to be disheartening if she doesn't improve her score or barely does after so many hours of studying. So do we just roll with the 30, or keep trying ACT? Is it better to do ACT with essay instead of with no essay? |
Anonymous
| Wait for the score from today’s SAT before preemptively signing her up for another test. Most students don’t feel like they did well on standardized tests. I’m certain her studying will result in some score improvement. Take a moment to breathe and wait for the score. |
Anonymous
That is a good sign. It was meant to be harder and is weighted accordingly. You will get the results in a couple of weeks. |
Anonymous
My nephew thought he bombed them and scored a 1570. Her reaction is totally normal. |
Anonymous
| I'm confused. The SAT is March 9th. How did she take it today? |
Anonymous
School day testing. My daughter took it today, too. |
Anonymous
They had it at school today. |
Anonymous
| Pick one and focus on it. If she got a 30 on the ACT I'd say focus on studying that and get that up. We did both once than decided to focus on ACT. First ACT was 31 and second (with lots of study) was 34. Yes, we have some "should've/could've" over whether there should've been second SAT attempt, but it is hard to really study well for both. I think the ACT is easier to "learn". |
Anonymous
| Has she worked with a test prep company? More than anything they (at least the good ones do) teach strategies and it can make all the difference. For DD it wasn't the content that was the problem, it was all of the strategies that aren't intuitive. Definitely consider. DD saw a significant score jump after four sessions and two practice tests. It was the best money we spent during the college process. 36 on the ACT in one sitting. |