<p>Before I knew that it mattered I took it in Jan 2009 mainly to see how I would do without studying and I got a 2200. I’m tempted to do the same thing again in January 2010 and see how much my scores would improve due to the general stuff we learn in school (without explicitly studying). I’m not sure if I could do a super-rigorous study plan over winter break because I have a whole lot of homework to do and TASP essays to write, and even if I start studying now it might be too late already.</p>
<p>i’m assuming you’re a junior, so taking the SAT 2x isn’t bad at all, in fact most people I know took it twice
SATs were similar for me
took in march 09: 2230
october 09: 2370
no studying for either
if you’re the same type of student as i am, i figured studying would be a waste of time
i think the fact that you’re older and wiser to the format of the SAT helps, but no rigorous study schedule is needed unless you absolutely want a 2400
all i did was a week before each SAT, i did one or two full practice tests
interestingly, i always did worse on the practice tests than i did on the real one.
keep calm and have a good attitude about it going in; then just use common sense, I am sure you will do well!
good luck to you!!</p>
<p>Thanks for the help. Junior over here. Yeah, I’m not too sure how much studying would help - could you elaborate on what “type of student” you are? :D</p>
<p>There’s also a slight plot twist. I took two practice tests already. For one of them, my writing score improved while my CR and math scores were stationary (as compared to the Jan 09 scores). For my second test, my writing went down and my CR and math went up. I think it would be optimal if I took, say, a total of 3 or 4 for superscoring (which Yale and Harvard do, right?).</p>
<p>Do not take it 3 or 4 times, especially if you’re smart enough to get a 2200 without studying. They do superscore (I think), but it doesn’t look good to take it that many times–they’re not looking for perfectionist test-oriented students. If you’re above a 2200, it’ll be the rest of your application that carries you through, not your test score.</p>
<p>Definitely take it one more time if you think you’ll do better. I only took it once (got a 2370), and didn’t really study. My advice would be to take some more practice tests to get really familiar with the format (my scores on practice tests were lower as well), learn some standardized test taking tips, and go over what exactly is covered on the math section (since it’s really not that much material). Maybe do some vocabulary review if you don’t already have a good vocabulary. None of that should take too much time, though–as sunfire said, no rigorous study schedule is needed!</p>
<p>I took practice tests to get familiar with the format, like I said, but I didn’t study the material.</p>
<p>And EricLee, I meant just see the topics that are covered. If you know, for example, that calculus won’t be on the test, you won’t waste time using it on a problem since you’ll know there will be a simpler way to find the solution. But if you feel that won’t help you, then by all means don’t do it! Those were just my suggestions.</p>
<p>LBloom: Yeah I understand… I think I should have rephrased my question a bit better. What I meant was, would I still need to study/improve math if I received a 790 on a previous SAT I, since even if I scored lower than a 790, and HYPS superscores, they technically would disregard the lower score?</p>
<p>I agree wholeheartedly with sunfire- I also took the SATs twice, once in Dec 08 and once in Jan 09. My score went from 2100ish to 2390… a score which I had never, ever, ever gotten on a practice test, btw I think there’s something about sitting in the room and getting that rush of adrenaline that boosts your mindpower.
But 3 max is a good standard…I think you shouldn’t go over twice, personally</p>
<p>What if you’ve been involved in programs like CTY since middle school that enable you to take SATs as early as 7th grade?
I’ve taken the SATs about 5 times…collegeboard only has 4 on record, though. And I still only have a 2260 Will Yale and other colleges take into account, although it may look like I’m a test junkie, that I just started testing earlier?
I really want to take it again in Jan for a 2350+ [see what you CC geniuses have done to me :p] but I’m pretty sure at this point it will hurt me more than it will help me.</p>
<p>“What if you’ve been involved in programs like CTY since middle school that enable you to take SATs as early as 7th grade?”</p>
<p>Yeah, I was Midwest Talent Search (Northwestern’s Program), but my scores from 8th grade are now gone, and i’m sure if they even were here, admissions would see the date and not think twice, except that maybe you were such a motivated eighth grader :)</p>
<p>I’m a little worried. A lot worried, actually. I’m a junior right now, and I’ve taken the SAT four times. Once the summer before sophomore year (I heard it ‘doesn’t count’ because it’s two years before senior year or something?) and three times in sophomore year. </p>
<p>I took it June of soph year just for practice because it doesn’t count, and got Critical Reading 800 Math 680 Writing 670.
I took it Oct because I was applying to a school that required an SAT score. Critical Reading 760 Math 690 Writing 660
I took it Dec again for the school I was applying to because that score was terrible Critical Reading 730 Math 720 Writing 700
and then I took it in June again because I wanted to get that 800 in reading again. Critical Reading 740 Math 690 Writing 760</p>
<p>So basically, all my scores are really really similar, and I know I can do better. I’m planning on taking it one last time to get the score I know I can get. Is that a bad idea? How bad is my situation…?</p>
<p>I’ve taken it 4 times, but the first two were in 6th ad 8th grade, so no one knows about that.</p>
<p>I don’t think the OP would have to study much. I “studied” for about a week before the May 2009 SAT. I did 10-20 practice problems in each section and I wrote a shorter version of an SAT essay. My score went up 190 points from what I got in January with no studying, to a 2300. So, especially since you got a 2200 with absolutely no studying, you probably don’t need to develop any sort of intense preparation schedule to get the sort of scores you want.</p>
<p>I agree with 3. No need to make a ceremony out of the SAT. If you have to take it more than three times, you might as well try the ACT. It’s obviously not your forte.</p>
<p>christiner, i suggest that you do not take the SAT again. 4 times is already pushing it
Instead, if you feel you can still do better, i agree with the above poster that you might want to think about taking the ACT. The ACT is basically an equivalent test to the SAT, but the format and topics are slightly different, so you would have to look into that. Good luck!</p>
I think there’s something about sitting in the room and getting that rush of adrenaline that boosts your mindpower.
Will Yale and other colleges take into account, although it may look like I’m a test junkie, that I just started testing earlier?