SAT Score Changes

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

DD just got her second set of SAT scores from the September test. She practiced an online practice for about 30 minutes a day for about 2 months in both the verbal and math sections of the test.

Her scores increased 70 points in the verbal and 50 points in math...but still aren't quite to that 1200 mark she was aiming for to be considered for academic scholorships.

Anyone with experience--would you recommend taking this test a third time or try to hit that 27 mark on the ACT? Her previous score was a 24 on that test.

 

[Darcy03231]

I would do both.

 

[chris1gill]

Where did she practice online? DS is taking the test in January....

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

There is a free site that the state of Texas setup called www.collegefortexans.com where there is a great practice area. I think the fact that she raised her SAT score by 80 points is a pretty good indicator of how good practice can be.

Unfortunately, her writing score dropped 40 points. I don't know WHAT happened...she did say the writing was way more difficult this time.

 

[bballmom56]

It was about 6 years ago when DD was taking them. She took the SATs 4 times - twice before a school sponsored prep course and twice after. She was able to raise her math score 80 points (verbal remained pretty much constant). Since they consider the highest math and highest verbal no matter which test date they were from, she was able to qualify for and receive a particular scholarship.

She never took the ACT, but I wish she had. She might have done better on that. DS recently took the SAT and ACT, but his ACT was exactly equivalent to what his SAT was.

 

[swanmom]

Rafiki,
Did you know that most colleges take the top scores in each area across administrations and not just a total from any one test? What I mean is,
if your on your first test, your scores were: 420 Math, 400 Writing and 500 Verbal = 1320
And then you took it again and scored 400 Math, 350 Writing, and 530 Verbal = 1280
Most colleges would actually put your total score at 1350. They take your best scores from across administrations, (In this example, Math 400, Writing 400 and Verbal 530.) They really want to see what is the best you can do - they don't really care what day it happened. I worked in admissions for many years in a very competitive university and that's how they treated they scores.
That being said, many kids took the test more than twice and, if they really did practice diligently, their scores usually improved some.

 

[Nikel]

No advice. I took the ACT 5 times over 3 years, with never more than 1 point difference, and the SAT once. I was trying for a full academic scholarship myself, but it remained 1 elusive point away.

 

[mickeysgal]

We're in the same boat. DS just got his second set of SAT scores back. He raised his verbal 40 points, the math stayed the same, and his writing score went up by 40 pts. The problem is the verbal still is holding him back. He needs another 50 points on the verbal for the school he wants. I'm just glad that it went up instead of down. He's debating whether to take the SAT for a third time and a second time for the ACT.

 

[MadameLeota]

When the test was still 1600 instead of 2400 I made an 1100 on it...570 on Reading and 530 on Math...it was enough to be THEA exempt so I didn't try again!

 

[mickeysgal]

When the test was still 1600 instead of 2400 I made an 1100 on it...570 on Reading and 530 on Math...it was enough to be THEA exempt so I didn't try again!

Whats THEA exempt?

 

[mylightshines]

Rafiki,
Did you know that most colleges take the top scores in each area across administrations and not just a total from any one test? What I mean is,
if your on your first test, your scores were: 420 Math, 400 Writing and 500 Verbal = 1320
And then you took it again and scored 400 Math, 350 Writing, and 530 Verbal = 1280
Most colleges would actually put your total score at 1350. They take your best scores from across administrations, (In this example, Math 400, Writing 400 and Verbal 530.) They really want to see what is the best you can do - they don't really care what day it happened. I worked in admissions for many years in a very competitive university and that's how they treated they scores.
That being said, many kids took the test more than twice and, if they really did practice diligently, their scores usually improved some.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but since you seem to be knowlegeable and since the OP said 1200 would get her DD a scholarship, I have a question. My DD took the SAT last year in the 7th grade. She made a 300 in reading, 460 in math and 380 in writing. Is that a total score of 1140? How does that rank for most 7th graders? thank you!!

 

[Nancy]

DD got hers today too and was not happy with the results. Good enough for some schools but not the one she wants. So she takes it one more time in December and that's it. This Saturday she has her ACT's.
I'm going to show her that link for the practice test site that was posted here, that might give her the little extra boost she needs.

 

[momrek06]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but since you seem to be knowlegeable and since the OP said 1200 would get her DD a scholarship, I have a question. My DD took the SAT last year in the 7th grade. She made a 300 in reading, 460 in math and 380 in writing. Is that a total score of 1140? How does that rank for most 7th graders? thank you!!

Ok as the parent of two sons graduating in May...one Masters and one Bachelor....WHY ARE 7th GRADERS TAKING THE SAT???

Have times changed THAT much since my sons were in jr/sr high???

 

[KarenB]

There is a free site that the state of Texas setup called www.collegefortexans.com where there is a great practice area. I think the fact that she raised her SAT score by 80 points is a pretty good indicator of how good practice can be.

Unfortunately, her writing score dropped 40 points. I don't know WHAT happened...she did say the writing was way more difficult this time.

Youngest DS, a senior in HS, just got his second SAT scores back today. He went up in math about 70 points, up in reading/verbal about 20 points, but he also went down in writing by about 40 points. He is accepting these scores and not taking it a third time. He actually got 2 acceptance letters back today. I thought that seemed really early.

 

[momrek06]

Youngest DS, a senior in HS, just got his second SAT scores back today. He went up in math about 70 points, up in reading/verbal about 20 points, but he also went down in writing by about 40 points. He is accepting these scores and not taking it a third time. He actually got 2 acceptance letters back today. I thought that seemed really early.

If your son has applied "ROLLING ADMISSIONS" they act on them RIGHT AWAY!!!

 

[JoyLuck]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but since you seem to be knowlegeable and since the OP said 1200 would get her DD a scholarship, I have a question. My DD took the SAT last year in the 7th grade. She made a 300 in reading, 460 in math and 380 in writing. Is that a total score of 1140? How does that rank for most 7th graders? thank you!!

The paper scoring sheet she received should say what percentile those scores represent. The only problem may be that normally they only list HS Junior and Senior percentiles. So, unless a large amount of 7th graders were offered the test, she would probably only be ranked in a percentile with HS students...not a very fair assessment for your daughter. Also, the 1200 most students shoot for is only considering the critical reading and math portions, as most (but not all) schools 'throw out' the writing portion of the test. So, in essence, students aim for a minimum of 600 in the C.R. and a 600 in the math. (not as easy as it sounds ) HTH

 

[DVCLiz]

7th graders who take the SAT have been solicited by a screening program - in our case it was the Duke University TIP (Talent Identification Program.) If you scored a certain percentile on a standardized test (again, for us it was a 95% or better on any of the test areas on the ERB test - this was 7 years ago for DD19) you were invited to take the SAT as a seventh grader. They used the scores to identify really bright students - I think if you made a 1000 or better you went into a more specialized pool of students and were maybe eligible for some type of scholarship along the way. DD made a 970, I think - good but not quite good enough to do anything with. My younger DD didn't meet the 95% requirement in any of the subjects - she had a couple in the 90s but not a 95%, so she didn't take the SAT.

It didn't mean anything in the long run except a practice before the real thing for DD19. Except DD13 felt a little bad she didn't get the same chance...

 

[mickeysgal]

If your son has applied "ROLLING ADMISSIONS" they act on them RIGHT AWAY!!!

What is this?

 

[momrek06]

What is this?

Colleges with Rolling Admissions

What does this mean? In the most basic terms, it means that the admissions offices at these schools review and decide on applications as they are received until there are no openings left in the entering class.

Some schools operate under a rolling admissions policy from the very beginning of the application season. Others publish priority and/or regular deadlines after which they employ rolling admissions policy on a space available basis. Regardless of when or how such a policy goes into effect, rolling admissions policies can be the saving grace for a student who, for whatever reason, finds herself applying to college a bit late in the game. Also, if you are applying very late in the application season, it's always recommended that you check with a school to find out if it is still accepting applications before you send yours in.


HTH

 

[mickeysgal]

Colleges with Rolling Admissions

What does this mean? In the most basic terms, it means that the admissions offices at these schools review and decide on applications as they are received until there are no openings left in the entering class.

Some schools operate under a rolling admissions policy from the very beginning of the application season. Others publish priority and/or regular deadlines after which they employ rolling admissions policy on a space available basis. Regardless of when or how such a policy goes into effect, rolling admissions policies can be the saving grace for a student who, for whatever reason, finds herself applying to college a bit late in the game. Also, if you are applying very late in the application season, it's always recommended that you check with a school to find out if it is still accepting applications before you send yours in.


HTH

Thanks! DS is our oldest and all this college stuff is all new to us.