<p>This question comes up often here, with students with very high SATs asking if they should retake to get them even higher. I think this question is annoying to some folks. but maybe we could discuss it dispassionately if we’re not looking at a particular person who wants to increase a “pathetic” math score of 740.
What are some pros and cons of retaking the SAT?
Pro: many schools “superscore,” which means that (in theory) retaking can’t harm you.
Con: some people think taking the SAT too many times (more than 3?) looks bad.
Pro: Often people really do increase their scores, and this might make a difference at some schools.
Con: Getting that increased score might require sacrificing something else (i.e., SAT2 prep) if additional studying is needed.
Question: Aside from three hours on a Saturday and the fee, what would be the downside of taking the SAT again without additional preparation?</p>
<ol>
<li>Without additional prep, your score is not likely to increase, and may go down.</li>
<li>I personally think that there is a psychological advantage looking at a person who did well on the first try. I know that there are many who dispute this, but, I am more impressed by people who get good scores on their first try so why shouldn’t other people be?</li>
<li>I also think that there is a threshold for scores. If you look at schools’ statistics, getting above a 720 (and definitely above 740, but maybe even >700) is enough.</li>
</ol>
<p>“1. Without additional prep, your score is not likely to increase, and may go down.”</p>
<p>This is the statement I question–or maybe I would say that the first SAT itself constitutes prep for the next one. I suppose you’d have to do a study to really find out.</p>
<p>I don’t know if there is a downside but DD refused to take the SAT 1 again. 3 long hours and the scores might go down. Eventhough if colleges superscore the SAT, her scores could be a lot higher. I think it’s probably affect her self-esteem if it goes down and that is why she did not want to take it again. Her scores are good enough for most schools she applied to.
But I think if you feel you did not perform your best the first time you took the SAT than retaking the SAT again is a good idea.</p>
<p>I think this forum is a great idea so I’m bumping it!</p>
<p>come on peeps, dont be offended if someone who’s score you respect wants to retake.</p>
<p>i, for example, got a 720 on my crit reading score but that was 70 points lower than i got on my last practice test. its all about what an individual expects of themselves and if someone is shooting for the stars, and has worked his or her tail off to get there, and he or she only gets to the moon its their right to be disappointed.</p>
<p>if you can do better, retake.</p>
<p>personally, i am retaking my math because i am missing 1-4 on stupid mistakes now, and writing b/c my mult choice + writing score from 2 sittings, if combined, would be an 800. </p>
<p>you should retake up to 3 times without thinking of consequences.</p>
<p>“Con: some people think taking the SAT too many times (more than 3?) looks bad.”
Eh, well, for class of 10 and beyond, that doesn’t apply anymore, because of Collegeboard’s policy that, essentially, allows everyone a “superscore” (I’m sure there’s a thread on this somewhere else in the forum, check it out.)
And a little anecdote on retaking with really high initial scores. A teacher of mine at my SAT prep class had a student who got a 2380 on her first or second try. Something like that. In her junior year. Anyway, her parents, for some incomprehensible reason, made her- you guessed it- RETAKE it as a senior. Obviously, she got a 2400, but man. I mean, I would assume that 2380 is sufficient, at the very least, right?
Yeah, so, as for the statement, “its all about what an individual expects of themselves,” let’s just make sure it’s not all about what the individual’s parents expect.</p>
<p>I think the new College Board policy will let you decide what scores to send, but I think they will be the entire score–it won’t allow you to superscore yourself (please correct me if I’m wrong). I wonder whether that might bring an end to superscoring.</p>
<p>^ I think it does also. Too bad, that was the only season for taking the SAT over the ACT. Some people think SAT’s new policy will bring an end to the ACT, but I think that is crap. However, I am thinking, if I do really well on two SATs, I might send the best, and include the second one in additional info or something.</p>
<p>In my view, take SAT not more than three times(take it once in your senior year to use your matured knowledge). I did the same and got a superscore of 2400.</p>
<p>How do colleges really use super scoring? My senior S is applying to several LACs, took SAT in junior year, but has not taken it since–due to 2 concussions. He is registered to take it 12/5/09. But is now concerned that colleges will see all scores and that if his scores decrease, it will hurt him --regardless of the highest section version 2 option. I think it’s just pretest jitters and that he should take it again.
His scores: Math 590, crit reading 660, writing 660
Schools of interest: Clark, Drew, Union, Muhlenberg, Brandeis, University of Maine</p>
<p>This answer is much more specific to the ACT, but it’s a gotcha students should know about. Apparently an ACT score only stays current for about two years, and after that it is “archived.” You can report the ACT score to a college from the archives, but only by paying an additional fee EACH time the score is reported. Ouch. My son would have been better off economically just taking another ACT test two years later. He tested at what he and I thought was a “one and done” level in ninth grade, and I had NO idea that a score from ninth grade would be considered an old, “archived” score when he was applying for colleges in twelfth grade. College Board seems to treat all scores from ninth grade on to a year after graduation from high school the same, so this concern doesn’t apply to the SAT. </p>
<p>My answer to your question: retake if you have a reasonable belief you can raise your score SIGNIFICANTLY, where “significantly” is defined as by more points than the error band error your last score. Someone who has already achieved a score of, for example, 2340 </p>
<p><a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat_percentile_ranks_composite_cr_m_w.pdf[/url]”>Higher Education Professionals | College Board; </p>
<p>has a rare score and has better things to do with his time than a retake on the SAT.</p>
<p>I think it’s important to look at the 75th percentile scores of the schools you’re applying to. At HYP, 740 in anything is indeed a score unlikely to gain you admission without a hook. At he rest of the ivies it’s barely average and mostly below for the unhooked.</p>
<p>Thanks tokenadult and hmom5. I am fairly certain that my S has nothing planned for tomorrow morning that is a better use of his time than taking the SAT, although he puts a high value on sleeping until noon. lol He is not applying to Ivies and can use decent merit aid from an LAC. Part of his concern was that if he scores lower, especially on math concepts that he hasn’t taken since freshman or sophomore year, it will look bad. Right now he’s doing very well in AP Statistics, but is panicking because he can’t remember older algebra and geometry. Of course, he could have taken a prep course. In our ruralish area, very few people do that. He learns for the sake of knowledge, not for the test. This may be one time when that comes around to bite him. We shall see…</p>
<p>^ I agree with your son. Why should high school students study for tests that have no intrinsic value? What use is the knowledge used by these standardized tests? I only study for the tests because I want to get into a good college but besides that they are of no use.</p>
<p>To the contrary, I think being able to read thoughtfully, having a good sense of math through beginning algebra, and being able to write with organization are all skills that are well worth developing. I happen to think that each of those skills can be demonstrated in settings outside the standardized test testing room, but if the test scores are low, those skills are worth developing. And if the test scores are high, those skills are worth developing beyond the level sampled by the tests.</p>