Timing of first SAT

[Anonymous]

My DD is at an area private and was told by some upperclassmen that it would be in her best interest to take the SAT at the end of her freshman year given that she is on an advanced math track so that she doesn't forget all the Algebra I and Geometry she learned in middle school. However are 9th graders allowed to take the SAT? I had never heard of that so wanted to check here to see if other parents knew of this. TIA!

[Anonymous]

They can but it’s not a good idea. Wait.

[Anonymous]

If she’ll keep going in math, good precalc or calc classes will keep her in shape for SAT math.

[Anonymous]

9th graders are allowed to take the SAT. Kids sometimes take the SAT in 6th or 7th to qualify for certain gifted programs.

I've always been skeptical of the idea that you need to take it after Algebra 2 or you will forget it all. PreCalc and Calc build on Algebra 2. I do think that if you take it in a later grade you might want to review geometry.

[Anonymous]

One of my child's friends took the SAT for the first time in March of 10th grade, did very well...but was recently told by the college counselor that colleges want to see test scores from 11th grade and on, so the student will be re-taking the SAT.

[Anonymous]

My kid prepared to take the SAT the summer between 9th and 10th grade. They scored very well (over 1560), and so there is no reason to retake it. If a college won’t accept this score, that’s not where my child needs to be.

If they had not been on track to score very high, they would have waited until junior year at least to take the test the first time. There is no general advantage to taking the SAT as a freshman—no, your kid will not forget math if she continues to take it in school, but, yes, some kids take the SAT early and get it out of the way. Do what your kid is most comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my child's friends took the SAT for the first time in March of 10th grade, did very well...but was recently told by the college counselor that colleges want to see test scores from 11th grade and on, so the student will be re-taking the SAT.

That’s not true in the slightest. I would be wary of anything that counselor says after hearing that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my child's friends took the SAT for the first time in March of 10th grade, did very well...but was recently told by the college counselor that colleges want to see test scores from 11th grade and on, so the student will be re-taking the SAT.

That’s not true in the slightest. I would be wary of anything that counselor says after hearing that!

I'm sure different admissions officers have different views on this. No hard and fast rules.

[Anonymous]

The better answer is to stay agile in math, reviewing before the SAT if needed.

A kid will certainly know more vocabularly and have more practiced analytical skills the later they take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9th graders are allowed to take the SAT. Kids sometimes take the SAT in 6th or 7th to qualify for certain gifted programs.

I've always been skeptical of the idea that you need to take it after Algebra 2 or you will forget it all. PreCalc and Calc build on Algebra 2. I do think that if you take it in a later grade you might want to review geometry.

+1

And getting more English under their belt can help a LOT with verbal sections.

It’s fine to take a crack at it that early if she really wants to, but I’d recommend August/September of junior year as a first shot, with planned test prep (on her own or through a service) over the summer after 10th.

[Anonymous]

I suspect the upperclassmen were effing with your daughter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect the upperclassmen were effing with your daughter

DP, but not necessarily. The advice to take it soon after completing Algebra 2 is very common, it’s just that for most students that is after 10th (or 11th). There are drawbacks to taking it as early as 9th that the older students may not have been thinking about when passing on the advice related to math timing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my child's friends took the SAT for the first time in March of 10th grade, did very well...but was recently told by the college counselor that colleges want to see test scores from 11th grade and on, so the student will be re-taking the SAT.

That’s not true in the slightest. I would be wary of anything that counselor says after hearing that!

I'm sure different admissions officers have different views on this. No hard and fast rules.

Not on this one. Zero percent chance that advice is good advice.

[Anonymous]

If you cant remember basic math a year after you learn it, you shouldn't be on the advanced math track.

How are you going to get through 3 more years of math if you don't know algebra or geometry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The better answer is to stay agile in math, reviewing before the SAT if needed.

A kid will certainly know more vocabularly and have more practiced analytical skills the later they take it.

Doesn't matter, superscore