SAT and ACT. Are kids penalized for taking again?

[Anonymous]

My son took each of these tests without a great deal of prep. He did well but would like to do better. Do schools in essence penalize for presenting more than one score for each test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son took each of these tests without a great deal of prep. He did well but would like to do better. Do schools in essence penalize for presenting more than one score for each test?

No. Here's why - schools want to be able to report the highest test scores possible for admittees. Some schools got into trouble for encouraging (and subsidizing) ADMITTED students to retake the SAT to bump up the admitted class stats.

[Anonymous]

No, most kids do retake the tests once to get closer to their target. DC took it once and hit close to her target so done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son took each of these tests without a great deal of prep. He did well but would like to do better. Do schools in essence penalize for presenting more than one score for each test?

I don't think so. Some will super score (mix and match the best scores on the different sections from multiple test-taking sessions) and others won't. Keep in mind that what the schools mostly want to do is highlight that both admitted students and the students who ultimately decide to attend their schools have high scores, which makes them appear more selective. And, there are definitely kids who take the SAT multiple times with little variation and then shoot up a couple of hundred points the last time they take the test.

[Anonymous]

Standardized test scores count for more than 8% of the USNEWS rank and may impact another 22% (peer evaluation). A high test score is the best thing an entering student can do to contribute to a school's USNEWS ranking.

[Anonymous]

What target are your children aiming for?

[Anonymous]

DS was one and done. For DD, 4th time's a charm. Both got the score they needed to get to the school they wanted to go. So I saw no penalty. I'd say most kids take it 2-3 times and many kids take both to see which they score higher on.

[Anonymous]

It was 15 years ago, but I took the ACT 7 or 8 times. The college I went to gave automatic merit scholarships for and ACT of 32 and a full ride for 33 or higher. I prepped like crazy, got each section perfect at least once, but still got a 32 every single time.

[Anonymous]

My DS did well on both, but not high enough for his reach schools. He is taking both again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was 15 years ago, but I took the ACT 7 or 8 times. The college I went to gave automatic merit scholarships for and ACT of 32 and a full ride for 33 or higher. I prepped like crazy, got each section perfect at least once, but still got a 32 every single time.

Do schools publish information as to the test score required for a full ride? That would be very helpful in deciding whether to retake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was 15 years ago, but I took the ACT 7 or 8 times. The college I went to gave automatic merit scholarships for and ACT of 32 and a full ride for 33 or higher. I prepped like crazy, got each section perfect at least once, but still got a 32 every single time.

Do schools publish information as to the test score required for a full ride? That would be very helpful in deciding whether to retake.

Schools certainly publish the SAT scores of students accepted and attending the school. From there, it's not hard to imagine what scores are needed to be considered for merit $$. Other schools say straight out that they don't give merit $$-only financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was 15 years ago, but I took the ACT 7 or 8 times. The college I went to gave automatic merit scholarships for and ACT of 32 and a full ride for 33 or higher. I prepped like crazy, got each section perfect at least once, but still got a 32 every single time.

Do schools publish information as to the test score required for a full ride? That would be very helpful in deciding whether to retake.

The only time I've ever heard of it was at CWRU where I went. There was a President's scholarship and a Provost's scholarship based on test scores. I do alumni outreach now and haven't had a prospective student ask me about it in 2-3 years so I'm not sure if the program still exists.