Taking SAT/ACT multiple times

[janette]

My 14yo DD took the SAT in 7th grade as part of the Duke Talent Identification Program. We got a letter today saying she is eligible to take it this year (9th grade) but that it would be part of her permanent record. Seems like it's not a bad idea to have as much practice at this as possible but wanted to check with people who have BTDT.

Any downsides to having multiple scores for the SAT/ACT testing? Does taking it multiple times help your eventual best score?

TIA

 

[lindalinda]

I think taking it multiple times does improve your score. I have never heard of anyone doing worse, but I guess its possible. My childs school has instituted a new rule that you MUST take the SAT/ PSAT in 8th and 11 th grade. I find this ridiculous myself. Why would this be required? This is a public school system, and not all the children go to college.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

Taking it multiple times is great... I think kids naturally improve because they are learning more and more each year- but also get less nervous the more times it is taken.

They generally will take your "highest" scores for entrance to places too so no worries there.

I took the ACT twice in high school and got same composit both times but my social studies and math scores swapped... lol

My son too them twice almost 2 years apart and and increased his composite over 6 points on the second test...

Many start in 7th grade around here taking all those tests- sort of depends on the school and the kids...

 

[sandyhund]

I have never heard of anyone doing worse, but I guess its possible.

It's possible. Granted it was only 10 points. But it's possible.

I took it once the spring of my junior year and then again the fall of my senior year and although I personally didn't do better than before, most people do.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Definitely take it more than once. DS16 took it for the first time as a 6th grader. He has taken it once a year since then... through the talent search and then on his own.

His score climbed 10 points from a 22 to a 32. He is a junior this year and will probably take it again. It's kind of a fun challenge at this point.... not a dreaded hoop to jump through. I think his attitude towards it is directly related to taking it multiple times.

DS 14's score jumped 5 points from the first to the second time he took the test. Familiarity definitely makes a difference!!

Good luck!

 

[disneyjunkie]

My 14yo DD took the SAT in 7th grade as part of the Duke Talent Identification Program. We got a letter today saying she is eligible to take it this year (9th grade) but that it would be part of her permanent record. Seems like it's not a bad idea to have as much practice at this as possible but wanted to check with people who have BTDT.

Any downsides to having multiple scores for the SAT/ACT testing? Does taking it multiple times help your eventual best score?

TIA

My son took the SAT in the 7th and 8th grade as part of the Johns Hopkins program. We were told not to let our kids take the SAT again until 11th grade.

 

[janette]

My son took the SAT in the 7th and 8th grade as part of the Johns Hopkins program. We were told not to let our kids take the SAT again until 11th grade.

Did they say why?

 

[Holly]

My son also took it in seventh grade as part of John's Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.

They left the choice to retake it up to him, and didn't discuss any pros and cons. I wasn't planning on having him retake it until he's a junior, unless anyone has any reasons why he should.

 

[rigs32]

Some college average the scores and others take the highest. As many kids don't really know where they want to go yet, I imagine that's why some say don't take it over and over. Your child will still take the PSAT as "free" practice for the SAT.

If you want your child to practice, it might make more sense to buy a book with practice tests. I bet a top score after taking it once might look a bit better than each year with gradual increases if the admissions decision is a close call.

 

[monarchsfan16]

If you take the tests at the right time your scores generally will improve
I'm another one who's scores went down. I took the SAT in May of junior year, and then again in October of senior year. My scores went down the second time around. I know many other people who's scores went down as well. How I understand it is that basically every senior going to college takes the test October of senior year. The curve is tougher. With your scores they give you a range where your scores could be depending on when you took the test, and mine fell into the same range every time, so the curve explanation is believable
While you can improve, I honestly think you should have her wait awhile. Let her take the PSAT first. Around here, everyone takes the PSAT sophomore and junior falls, and takes the SAT junior spring and senior fall. The PSAT provides the best practice for the test, and is a lot less nerve wracking. The SAT is on the permanent record sent to colleges by the collegeboard. PSAT scores don't appear on that record, although they may be on the transcript. If you really want her to start practicing now, see about having her take the PSAT early. There's a lot less pressure, and you really do get a good feel for the test

 

[EthansMom]

The SAT is necessary for college applications, so it's really not worth taking in the 9th grade. There's not much benefit in taking it the extra time.

Personally, I would save the money and use it to help pay for a good SAT preparation course, if needed, and then have your daughter take the SAT early in her Junior year. If her score isn't as good as she would like, she should have time to retake the SAT later in her Junior or early in her Senior year. But if she works hard in a prep class, she should do just fine on the test the first time. (Most good prep classes will give timed "practice" tests.)

 

[christineann]

My kids took the SAT in 7th grade as part of the Duke program also. It looks good on the college application.

Colleges will take the the highest verbal and the highest math score from all the student's SAT's.

 

[eeyore45]

My sons took it twice junior, senior year - ds gf is a senior this year, she's taken it three times so far, and was going to take it one more time (she has a 34 I think, I do know her score is close to perfect! She wants a 35 or a perfect 36

ANYWAY - she was told not to take it anymore, that colleges will see how often you take it, some take it as a sign of OCD, some take it as a sign of something or other... anyway, she decided to take the counselors advice and not take it again!! (high school guidance) but not sure if that's accurate or not... just what she was told...

I would let them take it 9th grade, but I also signed my kids up for a class and they take it at the beginning of the class, and the end of the class - neither of those scores are "official"... and it did help them.

 

[ozarkmom]

We use the ACT here and my son's score went down the second and third time . The fourth time he scored the same as first but in different areas. Anyway the school that he chose actually takes the best scores from each of your tests and his scholarship was based on that. Overall once your in high school take it many times most people see an improvement.

 

[Caradana]

I'd wait until late in sophomore year to retake the SAT. Some colleges will look at all scores, not highest score, so it's to your son's advantage to take it "at his prime."

 

[dsanner106]

More colleges in the last couple years have gone to a system of averaging all sat scores. I know a young man who is fighting the fight with a major institution that is averaging his seventh grade test scores with his high school score, cheating him of about 150 points and blocking his admission. Be careful, it is no longer the good idea it was even a couple years ago to repeat the SAT multiple times. Take the PSAT, that doesn't count and is just as good for prepping.

D

 

[disneyjunkie]

Did they say why?

We were told once they're in high school, colleges will take all score into consideration.

My son will be in the 10th grade in September. Once things settle down I plan to speak with someone in the college office to get their take on things.

Right now I'm planning to have him take the PSAT this fall and the SAT fall 2007.

 

[tar heel]

My oldest son had a very high SAT score, and according to the College Board's charts, his score was statistically more likely to go DOWN than up. He didn't care about a perfect score, so he only took it once in high school and once for TIP. Interestingly, a middle school guidance counselor had said she expected TIP kids' scores to go up 400 points when they took the SAT as juniors. That's exactly the score my DS made. He also made exactly the score the PSAT predicted.

A potential high PSAT score would be a reason to take the SAT as a freshman since those scores can translate into $$$. The other National Merit winner at my son's school took the SAT a couple times before the PSAT.

This is TIP year for my youngest. I expect him to score in the same general range as his older brother on the math and verbal, but the writing may be a disaster for him. He's not yet perfected the "writing to a prompt" (certainly a skill we all use in every day life - not). It will be interesting to see his score. If it's high, we may have him to take the SAT before the PSAT.

 

[tar heel]

Highest score or average depends on the college. I've got two in college this year . . .