When do High School students take SATs?

[nhrenee]

One website said they should take them in the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of their senior year.

ETA: my ds is about to start his junior year of hs.

 

[Pam]

My son just started his Senior year of HS on Wed.

He took the SAT this past April, when he was a Junior.

 

[nhrenee]

Thank you for the reply. Will he only take it once?
What about "subject" tests?
TIA my head hurts already!

 

[Linda/MA]

My DD is about to start senior year. She took it in May and will take again in the fall. My older DD also took it twice.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I took mine at those times, too. Did horribly both times, too - I fell asleep. Got the lowest scores of anyone in National Honor Society.

Good thing my college disregarded those scores, too. I ended up graduating valedictorian with 2 bachelor's degrees. Guess I'm one of those people who just don't "test well."

 

[nhrenee]

My DD is about to start senior year. She took it in May and will take again in the fall. My older DD also took it twice.

I'm curious. What is the purpose of taking them both times? THANKS! (I did not attend college and dh only took the SATs once, probably for financial reasons.)

 

[Pam]

Actually my DS took it twice - again in June.

He didn't do the subject tests. He raised his score by 30 points the 2nd time. He had really good scores the first time, though but he wanted to take it again because a lot of his friends were. Between his SAT score and his GPA he qualifies for academic scholarships at the colleges he is interested in attending. He did the first time he took the test as well, so I don't know why he took the test twice.

My DD is a Junior in College - she only took the SATS once - in June when she was finishing up her Junior year of HS.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

I took it Spring of my Junior year and fall of my Senior year. I did MUCH better the second time, it is definitely a good idea to take it twice.

 

[Pam]

I'm curious. What is the purpose of taking them both times? THANKS! (I did not attend college and dh only took the SATs once, probably for financial reasons.)

Students want to get a high grade on the SATS because many of the colleges will offer hefty scholarships based on the SAT points/grades and the student's GPA.

apirateslifeforme - Many students who are in the top of their class/grade don't test well. Some of the colleges recently announced that if a student had a good class ranking/GPA, etc., that they didn't need to submit the SAT results to the college.

 

[Linda/MA]

I'm curious. What is the purpose of taking them both times? THANKS! (I did not attend college and dh only took the SATs once, probably for financial reasons.)

To see if you can get a better score! Then you submit the top scores to the colleges you are applying to. With my older DD, she scored higher the first time and those are the scores she used.

 

[nhrenee]

Good thing my college disregarded those scores, too. I ended up graduating valedictorian with 2 bachelor's degrees. "

Wow! Kudos to you. I'm assuming your HS academic standing was more important to your college of choice than your SAT scores?
Thanks. This info is very helpful.

 

[nhrenee]

To see if you can get a better score! Then you submit the top scores to the colleges you are applying to. With my older DD, she scored higher the first time and those are the scores she used.

D'oh! That makes sense I wonder what percentage of students do better the first time they test?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Basically by the end of your Jr year you need to have your score wrapped up if you are applying to colleges early. "Early Decision" deadlines are in July, generally speaking. Then there are other application deadlines to look at.

So look into when application deadlines are for the colleges on your list.

Also make sure that AP's and/or SAT 2 tests are finished if they are required for admission.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Actually, this past year, the SAT changed, and the average SAT score dropped for the first time in 31 years. Test writers are assuming it's because the average test taker takes the test more than one time...and this was the first time the new tests were offered.

My daughter is a new junior in high school. She will take an SAT prep course because her GPA is high. That high GPA combined with a good SAT score will be the difference between geting free tuition and getting a completely free ride in college.

So what difference does it make to take it more than once??? I'd say...at least for me...about $50,000.

By the way. If you have a Junior in high school, you need to pay particular attention to preparation for the PSAT. National Merit finalists, semi-finalists, and commended students come from those scores....and that is a nearly guaranteed free ride in college.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

By the way. If you have a Junior in high school, you need to pay particular attention to preparation for the PSAT. National Merit finalists, semi-finalists, and commended students come from those scores....and that is a nearly guaranteed free ride in college.

Good point to make!!! Forgot to mention that!

Yes the PSAT...You need to ask the school quick for the info. My dd is a sophmore and they are having ALL the sophmores take the PSAT for FREE this year as practice. The PSAT test is in Oct and signups are NOW.
If anything it is good practice for the SAT.

 

[Bearvet]

DS17 is a senior this year, so we're right in the thick of things. Last fall he took the PSAT which is supposed to also be an indicator of how you'll perform on the SAT. His HS offered this for free.

He took an SAT prep course offered at his school in March (of his Jr year) and took the test in April. His goal was to get a score of 700 in each (the math and the verbal) and just missed his targets - his score was in the mid-600s. He took it again in June, focusing mostly on raising his math score which he did (710). He plans to take it again in Oct to bring up his verbal score, which is probably not necessary, but he wants to achieve his goal. His guidance counselor told him to read as many diverse materials as possible to help increase his vocabulary - they come up with such obscure words!

The SAT prep course was minimally helpful, but it did get him moving. I highly recommend getting the College Board SAT blue book (about $20) and take the practice tests. That seems to help the most. Many colleges are not looking at the new writing section yet because it's so new. The colleges he's looking at do not require SAT IIs (subject tests) which he's happy about. Some of his friends did take them and did fairly well on them.

Also, when you register for the SAT you can list 4 colleges to automatically receive the scores which all colleges require (receiving "official" scores); otherwise you pay to send them to each college. I wish DS took the PSAT as a sophomore - he may have been better prepared for it as a junior if he had.

 

[Snowysmom]

My younger son is a senior this year. He took the SAT last November and will take it again next month. Most juniors take the SAT's in the spring of the junior year and the fall of senior year. He also took the SAT II in June, math and biology. Now come the college applications!

 

[Madaboutthemouse]

I only took the SATs once and that was at Christmas of my junior year. I was happy with my scores and didn't feel the need to take it again. I did not do very well (by my standards) on the PSAT so I was surprised with how high my first attempt SAT scores were. I figured I would be taking it twice. My DH did take it twice...summer after his junior year and Christmas of his senior year. Our college took your highest verbal and your highest math score to figure your composite score even if those scores were from two different test dates.

 

[wdwgirl03]

I took the SAT in May of my junior year. I didn't even bother taking it over since most of the schools I applied to preferred the ACT.

My sister's going to be a junior this year...YIKES!!!