Anonymous wrote:Colleges won’t know how many times you took it. Just report the two that you use to super score. Is her second one is worse than the first for both sections? If not, you can use the best section scores to super score. Now, my impression from doing a lot of research is that there is zero difference between 1520 and 1550 for the purposes of most college admissions but I don’t think it would hurt to take another test. There is randomness to it. My kid had 1520 on the first try. Didn’t prep at all for the second and got 1570.

Anonymous wrote:99% of time scores actually drop after the 2nd attempt.


But colleges wont know. So have at it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD got 1520 first time and then dropped to 1500 second. She is debating whether to take again. Does it look bad to colleges to take it three times, esp if she doesn't improve? We realize that 1520 is generally a great score but we know that for top schools it's average. For context, she did a handful of test prep sessions before each of her two test dates and a couple of practice tests. Was hoping to improve to 1550 or greater after first score. Currently a junior (MCPS), so would register for the Aug date if doing it again. We are inclined to have her not test again- but would appreciate perspectives from parents who've been through it

Only Georgetown and CMU require applicants to report all scores. The rest will not know how many times your student took the test.

That said, I wouldn't spend effort retaking a 1520. I'd leave it up to her.

Anonymous wrote:This is my question too. My 11th grade DS wants to retake SAT on June 7, it’s 4 weeks away. His highest score is 1420
740 (math) he’s looking at engineering programs like Purdue, etc. we’re in MCPS public and he’s got an excellent GPA in the most rigorous courses. This will be his 3rd time if we say ok. I think it’s too much. Thoughts?

Anonymous wrote:This is my question too. My 11th grade DS wants to retake SAT on June 7, it’s 4 weeks away. His highest score is 1420
740 (math) he’s looking at engineering programs like Purdue, etc. we’re in MCPS public and he’s got an excellent GPA in the most rigorous courses. This will be his 3rd time if we say ok. I think it’s too much. Thoughts?

Anonymous wrote:Taking it again will not only be a waste of time, it will be a major distraction. She should be putting her energy this summer into her essays. Parents should check the common data set for each school she’s interested in, look at section C7 where they have a grid listing 19 separate items that factor into a school’s decision making for admissions. Come up with a plan for his to present her application to each of the schools she’ll apply to, given whatever is listed as most important on that grid. It takes time to do this for each school.

Overemphasizing test scores is ignoring the fact that a number of other factors go into admissions decisions. Those other factors need at least as much time as has gone into test prep and taking the tests. Once she has gotten a 1520, she’s already aced the test. Congratulate her, Pat her on the back, and move forward to the next things that will actually be more significant at this point in gaining admission to wherever she wants to go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD got 1520 first time and then dropped to 1500 second. She is debating whether to take again. Does it look bad to colleges to take it three times, esp if she doesn't improve? We realize that 1520 is generally a great score but we know that for top schools it's average. For context, she did a handful of test prep sessions before each of her two test dates and a couple of practice tests. Was hoping to improve to 1550 or greater after first score. Currently a junior (MCPS), so would register for the Aug date if doing it again. We are inclined to have her not test again- but would appreciate perspectives from parents who've been through it

Once you’re up at 1520, I doubt that it will make much difference when it comes to top schools. They evaluate holistically, Joy based on a few points difference on test scores. Once you’re at 1520, you’re high enough to be in the game. As an example, my GD got into Harvard with 35 on her ACT a few years ago. Her younger sister came along 2 years later with a perfect 36 on her ACT, was waitlisted at Harvard, and was never called off the WL. Being slightly higher on the test didn’t matter; it was something else that made the difference.

When you’re talking about “top schools”, the odds are against every single applicant unless they’re hooked. They’re a reach regardless of how well qualified a candidate is. It needs to be approached as a reach and effort needs to go into creating a balanced list of schools that she will be happy with.

Going from 1520 to 1500 means she has plateaued. She’s reached her ceiling. There’s no point in taking it again, and no kid needs the pressure of taking it repeatedly in hopes of eking out a few more points which probably don’t matter anyway.

To come full circle on my GD, She was WL’d or rejected at several other T20’s in RD, but she was also accepted at several T20s. It was a painful lesson, but if you cast your net wide among the level of schools your kid is qualified for, you’ll likely eventually find a match. But also being realistic, it’s getting harder and harder right now and will be for a few more years. When schools like BU and Northeastern are receiving 80 and 90,000 applications and are accepting only 14% and 7% respectively, you know that the world has changed. Time to adjust.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges won’t know how many times you took it. Just report the two that you use to super score. Is her second one is worse than the first for both sections? If not, you can use the best section scores to super score. Now, my impression from doing a lot of research is that there is zero difference between 1520 and 1550 for the purposes of most college admissions but I don’t think it would hurt to take another test. There is randomness to it. My kid had 1520 on the first try. Didn’t prep at all for the second and got 1570.

OP here. 770 verbal on both, 750 math on first 730 on second. Focused most of her prep on improving math between 1st and 2nd but didn't pan out. Doesn't want to major in STEM. We (including DD) all agree that really no difference between 1520 and 1550 but with all the focus on "what's the middle 50%" for various schools potentially on the list, that's where we get a little tripped up. 1520 puts her in the middle 50 but not at top or above for some schools.

Of course this is all a little nuts--I get that. DH and I both scored in 1300s 30+ yrs ago and were thrilled- hate that there is so much pressure on these kids that 1520 doesn't feel like a home run. Nonetheless, thanks to all offering opinions. It actually is very helpful to read others' thought processes and experiences.

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with posters saying not to retake. If she can get over 50% for schools she wants to apply to, why not?
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