How many times is too many to take the SAT?

[Anonymous]

3 times seems like the right amount.

[Anonymous]

My DS is planning on the possibility of three times and possibly a fourth if needed.

But, he has a LD so he is accustomed to the grind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Then work to figure out why? Are you doing the Practice tests at 8am? Find ways to reduce anxiety.
And if it's not working, I'd stop after 3 tests. Find a place and go test optional if their scores are not commensurate with the GPA/class rigor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

You can take practice tests that are actual real tests (or at least you could prior to going digital).
A good tutor will be using those

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Then work to figure out why?

The last test DS took had some other f**king kid coughing the entire time, and there's no way to deal with that because they won't let you wear earplugs.

[Anonymous]

I'm having to PAY my kid to even take it a second time. And she's not prepping. How do you people convince your kid to take it five or six times? With threats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm having to PAY my kid to even take it a second time. And she's not prepping. How do you people convince your kid to take it five or six times? With threats?

My kids (twins) took it 3 times each and weirdly enough they were ok with this. I can't make them do anything that they don't want to and they generally say no to all my suggestions on principle. But somehow they personally wanted to raise their SAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having to PAY my kid to even take it a second time. And she's not prepping. How do you people convince your kid to take it five or six times? With threats?

My kids (twins) took it 3 times each and weirdly enough they were ok with this. I can't make them do anything that they don't want to and they generally say no to all my suggestions on principle. But somehow they personally wanted to raise their SAT scores.

I'm the PP. My kid is convinced that the SAT's make no difference, and that her just above a 4.0 WGPA with no extracurriculars will get her everything she wants in a college. I tell her she may be wrong, though I hope I'm the one who's wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm having to PAY my kid to even take it a second time. And she's not prepping. How do you people convince your kid to take it five or six times? With threats?

I showed my kid the 25/50/75 SAT ranges of the schools he likes, and he's taking it again to try and get over the 75th percentile score.

If your kid isn't interested in any of the "elite" schools, then "one and done" is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm having to PAY my kid to even take it a second time. And she's not prepping. How do you people convince your kid to take it five or six times? With threats?[/quote

This is exactly why it depends on kid. If kid wants to stop, then it’s enough. If kid is determined to take again, it’s fine to let them.

I begged my kid to stop and not take it again. Already has a score good enough to submit to any school. But is convinced that an extra 20 or 30 points might make a difference. I’ve tried telling him that’s not the case, but he doesn’t believe me.

[Anonymous]

Have any of you considered ever being satisfied with your kids’ actual abilities rather than constantly trying to game the system to effectively buy them the results for skills they don’t possess?

Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

A coach from any Ivy League school who also previously worked in admissions office of a top SLAC said take it many times - take if five times. If your kid is on board, why not? Also, it’s a shorter test now.

[Anonymous]

Three. One retake is enough, any more is excessive and a waste of money and time.

[Anonymous]

I think after 3, MAX, you need to accept that that is the best they can do.

You have to consider your kid’s self esteem.

So many schools are test optional now, it is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have any of you considered ever being satisfied with your kids’ actual abilities rather than constantly trying to game the system to effectively buy them the results for skills they don’t possess?

Just a thought.

My kid is a white female with no sports and minimal extracurriculars. She's gotta stand out somehow.