My kid took a little class the summer before Junior year and took the SAT in August and September. Done in September.

Why do they have to take it specifically in April to graduate? At our large public HS a huge number of kids are done by April. My kid got a 1600 in the fall: it would look so good to take it again after that. That can not be right.

Also, no, not all scores are sent to all schools. Either you misunderstood (totally reasonable...it's complicated) or your counsellor is careless or not knowledgeable.

Most juniors shooting for selective schools are incredibly busy with AP classes, ECs and so on. The math on the SAT and ACT doesn't really go beyond Algebra II, which most juniors will have finished a long time ago. Ideally, you test summer before junior year. If the score hits the target, great, done. But otherwise, you identify the weak parts, work on that, and take it one more time for the superscore.

But taking the SAT/ACT 4,5,6 times is usually an inefficient use of time for really busy and stressed out juniors and seniors. Better to study and prep the summer before junior year and get it done and out of the way. And if needed, prep one more time now that they know their weak points.

I registered DC, also a junior, for September, October, November and December. Seats fill up fast and depending on sports schedule he might have to miss one of the weekends. No harm securing seats. But he’s studying now and trying things his best score December.

In your DCs case, his highest score might come senior year (since he’s not studying now). He’ll have August and September before early apps are due. And October November December for regular app deadline.

As others have stated. 3 is not to many. I have heard test prep folks say that beyond that there are often diminishing returns, however. Also consider the ACT if not happy with SAT. Some students prefer that test.

One DCs said, "I will take the SAT and ACT as often as you want, but I will not take a test that isn't going to count". Meaning, was not willing to do practice tests. Other DC was enthusiastic about prep and attended prep classes.

Unless its GEORGETOWN, u should be fine attempting multiple times

Most schools ignore the number of attempts and just use the superscore. It benefits them to cherry-pick the highest scores too. They look more competitive and academic if they report higher SAT scores.

I had my kid take the SAT and did not have the score reported to the high school. It wasn't their business. Not all scores. They don't get access to all scores if I don't want them to. A few of the best scores, yes. That can be on their record.

Had our student take the SAT & ACT multiple times. Believe super-score helped. There were a few times DC focused on prep for one section vs another, in order to raise that score.

I know someone who took it 6 times, super scored, and got into Yale. Legacy tho...

Don't some highly-regarded private counselors take the position that there is no such thing as too many times for the SAT?

This HS school sounds bossy

Some schools do not superscore but most do

3 times is not too many. Some kids take it 6 times. Superscore means the kids can pick the best math and best verbal from different testing dates. Only MIT and Georgetown want to see the entire scoring history - almost all other colleges in the US allow a student to disclose only the best math and best verbal.

No counselor would say that, you must have misunderstood.

I’m trying to help figure out timing for my junior, and when to take SAT. I had been thinking take #1 in Sept of junior year, #2 April junior year (required by school for graduation), and a #3 attempt Aug before senior year, if needed. Is three times too many? Our counselor has said all scores will be sent to colleges, you don’t get to pick just one. My teen has a very busy summer and I’m not sure much prep will get done this summer, for if he takes it in Sept, it will be more or less a cold attempt. But maybe that will be good practice for PSAT in Oct. Or is it better to have the school required April SAT be attempt #1 (again probably cold, since Jr yr classes and spring sport will eat up free time), then study over following summer and retake in Aug senior yr if wanting higher score?