Taking SATs Multiple Times?

[Lynn CC]

DS took it 3 times, once at the end of Junior year, then 2x as a senior.
The middle set of scores actually went down, then back up the 3rd time a little higher than the first set of scores.
Usually 3X is normal, unless your really satisfied with your first score!

 

[rigs32]

The one problem with encouraging multiple testing is that students assume the same rule (schools look at the highest score) applies to graduate and professional admissions as well, which it does not. If you take the LSAT more than once, your scores are averaged. Many schools do the same with the GRE.

And I don't know anyone who DID take the SATs more than once, in the mid-90s.

 

[eeyore kelly]

3 times is the norm around here to send to colleges. A growing trend around here is for 10th graders to take it as practice

 

[Equidae]

I had no idea so many people took the tests multiple times! I took them twice (and a PSAT) when I was a senior in high school. I took the GRE for the second time last year. For both undergrad and graduate school I got in to the school I wanted, so it didn't hurt me. It was expensive to do so and if I had been happy with my grade for the first time I took the SAT or GRE I would have not taken them again.

 

[Sandy V.]

My daughter took the PSAT twice, the SAT 3 times, the SAT IIs once, and the ACT twice. She improved her SAT score A LOT in between the 1st and 2nd time. She took the ACT again because she needed to take the writing portion for the test results to be used by some colleges. Her ACT score stayed about the same.

Thankfully, we are done with all of this process for her, as we are now in the middle of college applications! That is another adventure, and more stressful than I had imagined. Fortunately, she has heard back from Georgetown University on Monday and has been accepted for next year!! So, in DD's words, "At least SOME college wants me!!"

 

[Bob Slydell]

And I don't know anyone who DID take the SATs more than once, in the mid-90s.

Most of my classmates took the SAT's at least twice (in the early 90's) and many took the ACT's once as well. We all had to take the PSAT in 10th grade as well -- we weren't given a choice.

Nobody did things like taking the SAT's as a 7th grader -- that's new to me.

 

[tar heel]

Another trend is for top students to take the SAT for practice BEFORE they take the PSAT. One of the two students in my oldest DS's class who got National Merit Scholarships started taking the SAT when he was a freshmen. I don't know how many times he ended up taking it. Although this seems a little extreme, I would advise anyone whose child breaks 1600-1700 (I would have said 1100 before the writing section was added ) in 7th grade to consider doing that since a good score on the PSAT can mean $.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our ds took the sats twice. He also took an sat prep course that we paid big bucks for through his school. The 2nd sat he took this oct. It turned out that he did better in english, worse in math and worse in the writing. Overall his score improved only 10 points. We arent going to push him or stress him out anymore. He will just have to be happy with the scores he got knowing he did his best and accepting the fact that he is just an average student and should make his college choices based on that.

 

[Feralpeg]

Here it costs $ to take it agian...

Yes, we paid $50 each time DD took the SAT and ACT.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I took my SAT's twice but only because my mom made me. My first try was the morning before my junior prom so I wasn't exactly focused. My second score from the fall of my senior year jumped by 120 points... but I applied for college early decision not long after I took them. As soon as the scores came in I sent them to my college (before I found out if I was accepted or not). When I checked my transcripts in college, they had my lower score (the first one). Not sure if they didn't get the scores in time or what, but they don't even have the record on my transcript!

Turns out I got in on my first score!

 

[froglady]

Most of my classmates took the SAT's at least twice (in the early 90's) and many took the ACT's once as well. We all had to take the PSAT in 10th grade as well -- we weren't given a choice.

Nobody did things like taking the SAT's as a 7th grader -- that's new to me.

The students have to be invited to take it. Johns Hopkins and Duke both have programs that I'm aware of. They target children who score extremely well on standardized tests in elementary school.