SAT, ACT: how many times to test?

[Anonymous]

How many times did your kids test and how did their scores improve?

I think it’s worth it to test early and keep testing. What about you?

Here:
29
31
33
34
36

1120
1440
1520
1560

[Anonymous]

I have twins. One took the ACT, one took the SAT. Each took their respective test 5 times (they drove this craziness--not me.)

In our experience they didn't improve after the third time taking the test.

With our youngest child (currently in 10th grade) we will strongly encourage them to take it a max of 3 times.

[Anonymous]

We plan to have DC take the SAT in Aug or Sept at the beginning of junior year (next year) after prepping over the summer. I anticipate a couple more attempts after that but I think most people see diminishing returns after 3 tries, and there will be plenty of other things to focus on.

[Anonymous]

Kid 1: 35 then 36 (3 weeks apart)
Kid 2: 30 then 32 (math is very low and would need a tutor to improve, didn’t bother)

[Anonymous]

The tutor we use for DCs recommended that we plan for three tries at the ACT.

[Anonymous]

Mine took sat twice
1: 1520
2: 1490
super score 1540

Took Act once: 35

[Anonymous]

It's not about how many times. It's about when you test and how much (quality) prep. Most score higher the later they test.

Some kids are ready to get their top score in fall of junior year. Others need the benefit of that additional year of academic experience and score highest by fall of senior year. Still others score higher in one section junior year and then focus on the other section next time they test in fall of senior year, and end up superscoring.

Quality prep = going over all answers on practice tests, right and wrong but especially wrong, until you fully understand why the wrong answer is wrong and the right answer is right. Ideally, with help, like a class or tutor.

[Anonymous]

Mine took it 4 times. The second one was a mistake (hadn't studied, winged it, in hindsight should have cancelled the score immediately). The 3rd one was the first digital test, he was disappointed in his math score.
1480 (730m/750v)
1490 (740m/750v)
1520 (750m/770v)
1530 (790m/750v)
super score 1560

[Anonymous]

Kid 1 -
26 and 30 on ACT (took it cold, then did some math prep on her own). B/B+ student, so this score was fine.

Kid 2
SAT 1480 (780 math), ACT 34, taken around same time (early junior year). No prep, no re-test (I think he did about as well as he could have and was not applying to very selective schools)

[Anonymous]

Kid 1
800M/720V 1520
780M/760V 1540
Superscore 1560

Kid 2
460M/560V 1020
550M/510V 1060
Superscore 1110

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine took it 4 times. The second one was a mistake (hadn't studied, winged it, in hindsight should have cancelled the score immediately). The 3rd one was the first digital test, he was disappointed in his math score.
1480 (730m/750v)
1490 (740m/750v)
1520 (750m/770v)
1530 (790m/750v)
super score 1560

This narrative really illustrates why admissions officers consider test scores in the context of the high school. 1480 is objectively a very good score, 99th percentile, and at a rural or urban school where that score is an outlier, the kid might very well stop there. The parent wasn’t pushing it. Studying for the test isn’t like taking a dual enrollment course where the content might be interesting or valuable in and of itself. It was the social environment in the high school that caused this kid to take the test three more times, ultimately raising his score 80 points. So in a very real sense the difference between this kid’s 1560 and the 1480 reported to colleges by a kid from a less competitive high school reflects a difference in their environment, not a difference in their ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine took it 4 times. The second one was a mistake (hadn't studied, winged it, in hindsight should have cancelled the score immediately). The 3rd one was the first digital test, he was disappointed in his math score.
1480 (730m/750v)
1490 (740m/750v)
1520 (750m/770v)
1530 (790m/750v)
super score 1560

This narrative really illustrates why admissions officers consider test scores in the context of the high school. 1480 is objectively a very good score, 99th percentile, and at a rural or urban school where that score is an outlier, the kid might very well stop there. The parent wasn’t pushing it. Studying for the test isn’t like taking a dual enrollment course where the content might be interesting or valuable in and of itself. It was the social environment in the high school that caused this kid to take the test three more times, ultimately raising his score 80 points. So in a very real sense the difference between this kid’s 1560 and the 1480 reported to colleges by a kid from a less competitive high school reflects a difference in their environment, not a difference in their ability.

Thank you doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine took it 4 times. The second one was a mistake (hadn't studied, winged it, in hindsight should have cancelled the score immediately). The 3rd one was the first digital test, he was disappointed in his math score.
1480 (730m/750v)
1490 (740m/750v)
1520 (750m/770v)
1530 (790m/750v)
super score 1560

This narrative really illustrates why admissions officers consider test scores in the context of the high school. 1480 is objectively a very good score, 99th percentile, and at a rural or urban school where that score is an outlier, the kid might very well stop there. The parent wasn’t pushing it. Studying for the test isn’t like taking a dual enrollment course where the content might be interesting or valuable in and of itself. It was the social environment in the high school that caused this kid to take the test three more times, ultimately raising his score 80 points. So in a very real sense the difference between this kid’s 1560 and the 1480 reported to colleges by a kid from a less competitive high school reflects a difference in their environment, not a difference in their ability.

Thank you doctor.

😂 right?
Colleges wouldn’t know bow many times these kids tested. 1480 is fine, but it is not the same as a 1560.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine took it 4 times. The second one was a mistake (hadn't studied, winged it, in hindsight should have cancelled the score immediately). The 3rd one was the first digital test, he was disappointed in his math score.
1480 (730m/750v)
1490 (740m/750v)
1520 (750m/770v)
1530 (790m/750v)
super score 1560

This narrative really illustrates why admissions officers consider test scores in the context of the high school. 1480 is objectively a very good score, 99th percentile, and at a rural or urban school where that score is an outlier, the kid might very well stop there. The parent wasn’t pushing it. Studying for the test isn’t like taking a dual enrollment course where the content might be interesting or valuable in and of itself. It was the social environment in the high school that caused this kid to take the test three more times, ultimately raising his score 80 points. So in a very real sense the difference between this kid’s 1560 and the 1480 reported to colleges by a kid from a less competitive high school reflects a difference in their environment, not a difference in their ability.

Sounds like a lot of assumptions about pp and their kid and their motives that pp didn’t actually say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many times did your kids test and how did their scores improve?

I think it’s worth it to test early and keep testing. What about you?

Here:
29
31
33
34
36

1120
1440
1520
1560

Mine only took SAT once and refused to take it again just to get a perfect score.