How many times is too many to take the SAT?
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Anonymous
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DC does great in school but not on standardized tests. They also have pretty bad test anxiety. For instance, on the PSAT, they scored about 1400 on the practice exam, then 1220 on the real exam.
For the SAT, how many times should they take it to get a reasonable score? I feel like they’re capable of around 1500 if taken several times and superscored. Would the colleges care? Do scores improve a lot each time they take the test? |
Anonymous
Taking it over and over won't do anything unless he/she is really adjusting the prep. |
Anonymous
| They keep working on the prep (including a class and tutoring) and scoring well on practices. It’s just real tests that don’t go well. |
Anonymous
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Its quite normal for the real test to drop from the practice test.
My DS botched the answer sheets for his first SAT and got something like 1080. But when he took it again 3 months later he got 1390. He COULD take it again but we're not putting him under the pressure to do it. If your kid goes into the first SAT real situation thinking "its okay, this is just a practice run" they are likely to do better, if test anxiety is a thing for them. |
Anonymous
| Unless you apply to a college that requires all SAT scores to be submitted (eg Georgetown), then the colleges will only see the scores you select to send them. Which would be a maximum of 2 if you use superscores. |
Anonymous
| Just don’t listen to the sanctimommies on DCUM who think it’s somehow not legit unless you get your high score on a single try. |
Anonymous
| My DC took it 5 or 6 times. Seemed stuck in the high 1300's on the real tests, but did well 1500s on the practice tests. We did use a private tutor for a few months who was very helpful, and the final time DC took it scored over 1500. But it was heartbreaking for DC to keep taking the SAT and not improve their score, and in some cases had a lower score, and then finally succeed! We suspect text anxiety was the issue, which was finally overcome. |
Anonymous
Great inspiration on here |
Anonymous
| Four. Four would be one time too many. |
Anonymous
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Twice seems normal to me. Three times for a kid who is kind of obsessed.
But the practice tests are almost always easier than the real test. It's not necessarily "test anxiety" to do worse IRL. |
Anonymous
| I think more than 6. If you took all 6 offered through junior year, that would be a lot and maybe more time than a typical high-achieving kid has to give. If you start taking it too soon or are still taking it fall of senior year (after taking it a bunch junior year), I think you're just spinning. |
Anonymous
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My kid took it 3 times. Score went from 1300 to 1540 between tests 2 and 3.
I honestly think it was test anxiety. She couldn't figure out the timing and was super nervous the first two times. Between tests 2 and 3 she did 2 full length practice tests at home. Went into test 3 feeling relaxed and the outcome was entirely different. It's ultimately not hard material--so much of doing well is just remaining calm and figuring out the time management. |
Anonymous
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There is no magic number. Only Georgetown requires all scores to be submitted.
However, for most kids, results come with good prep, not constant retaking. Space out the retakes and plan one for early senior year (if needed). |
Anonymous
| No more than 3 |
Anonymous
| Do retakes show on college score reports? I read graduate school applications and can see multiple GRE attempts. |