Typical time to take SAT/ACT?

[Anonymous]

What is the typical time to take the first try at an SAT and an ACT? I've heard to take both and see which score seems best and most easily improved. Does it depend at all on high school courses being completed? Does it have to be taken within a certain amount of time of college applications?

I have a high school sophomore, so I'm wondering when he should plan to take it so he can do some prep courses. Speaking of, any recommendations? Is the free Khan academy prep enough? PSAT score was a 1220 with no prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the typical time to take the first try at an SAT and an ACT? I've heard to take both and see which score seems best and most easily improved. Does it depend at all on high school courses being completed? Does it have to be taken within a certain amount of time of college applications?

I have a high school sophomore, so I'm wondering when he should plan to take it so he can do some prep courses. Speaking of, any recommendations? Is the free Khan academy prep enough? PSAT score was a 1220 with no prep.

DP if you take SAT and get 1220 but then take ACT and get much higher score, will colleges only see scores you send so could send only higher ACT or is it set up all scores go no matter what?

[Anonymous]

Students choose which scores to send. College Board will send all SAT scores and Nexus will send over all ACT scores. If your child doesn't list any colleges, the scores do not go over.

I am having my sophomore take the ACT this spring to get a baseline score since her PSAT score was not stellar. She can decide on which test to better prep for after then.

[Anonymous]

What math is your kid in now? That determines timing.

How willing are you to pay for them to take multiple tests? That determines how strategic you need to be (vs taking tons of times).

How much money and time are you willing to spend on prep? That also depends how soon you should start to take the tests.

Is there any chance you want to apply to Georgetown, which requires you to send all attempts?

These are the questions to answer before you can get good advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What math is your kid in now? That determines timing.

Algebra 2 Honors (sophomore year)

How willing are you to pay for them to take multiple tests? That determines how strategic you need to be (vs taking tons of times).

Willing to pay as many times as needed if he's improving and doing the studying/test prep


How much money and time are you willing to spend on prep? That also depends how soon you should start to take the tests.

Assumed he would take a test prep course over the summer between sophomore and junior year, or at least start with the free test prep options (like Kahn academy). Money isn't really an issue.


Is there any chance you want to apply to Georgetown, which requires you to send all attempts?

No on Georgetown. Are there other colleges that require all attempts to be sent? I hadn't heard that. This is a kid who will be shooting for places like Virginia Tech, JMU, Penn State as a business major.

These are the questions to answer before you can get good advice.

[Anonymous]

You have to stay the whole testing period whether your kid finishes early or not.

Is that what you're asking?

[Anonymous]

Spring of Junior year. Again, Fall of Senior year.

As for prep courses, studies have shown that practice tests are the best prep. If your child is disciplined enough to practic3e on his own, that is the best way. Some kids do better in a class, though.

I'm not sure if the rules have changed, but on ACT test, your wrong answers don't deduct points. On the SAT, they do.

If that is still true, be sure your kid knows to answer every question on ACT.
I think, on the SAT, if you don't know the answer, but can narrow down to two possible, you are better off guessing than leaving blank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to stay the whole testing period whether your kid finishes early or not.

Is that what you're asking?

No. "typical time" as in time of year. First attempt spring of Sophomore year? Fall of junior year? Spring of junior year? Etc.

It seems most say to do spring of junior year for a first attempt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to stay the whole testing period whether your kid finishes early or not.

Is that what you're asking?

No. "typical time" as in time of year. First attempt spring of Sophomore year? Fall of junior year? Spring of junior year? Etc.

It seems most say to do spring of junior year for a first attempt.

The scores do not disappear.

My son took it in Spring junior year. Again in Fall, senior year. His score went up 100 points and it was the morning after Homecoming......not great timing.
No SAT class--just practice tests.