Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes me relieved that we are one and done.

That's great. If you can get 2200+ the first time it's okay to stop. My DC took it 3 times, although the third time scores did not improve. I think only 2-3 schools he applied to required all testing dates. The rest allowed score choice so he only submitted 2 dates for super score purposes.

DC has some friends who scored 2300+ the first time and still took it again.

OP don't forget SAT subject tests if any schools require those. My DC took those in the May/June Junior year dates (and one sophomore year after the end of the relevant test).

This is part of the problem. Why does one need to score a 2200? Ridiculous.

I think that students aim for a 2200+ if they are applying to a top 20 college or university.

A 2200 SAT (about 33 on ACT) MAY be adequate for Top 20, but it is close to the minimum for a Caucasian with no athletic or legacy hook. Better have terrific grades too. Nothing ridiculous about it. Lots of competition.

You can take the SAT/ACT as many times as you feel you need to. Most schools superscore--this is because they like being able to brag to US news and world report that they have the highest average SAT/ACT scores. What incentive would they have to average scores? That said, some people take it once and are happy with their score. Others take it 3-4 times.

At some point, most people hit a point of diminishing returns when it comes to taking the test over and over and just go with whatever their score is. Probably a good time to take the SAT and/or ACT would be sometime junior year. That gives you time to retake it if you aren't happy with your score.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. Back when I applied to college in the late 80's, it was 2 times at most for the SAT.

It's been 25 years. Times are a changin.