<p>Starting in grade 10 we decided to not put our D through the pressures of taking standardized tests. We considered applying to colleges that were test-optional. However we ended up deciding that she would sit for the SAT only once, in the fall of her senior year. We knew it was a bit of a crap shoot, but we also trusted that things would work out. They did–her scores were fine and she was accepted ED to her first choice school in mid-December.</p>
<p>Many of her classmates have taken the SATs and/or ACTs multiple times, up to 5 or 6 sittings. Almost all of her classmates took prep courses or were tutored, some starting before the PSATs. That’s simply the culture of living in and attending private school in the Philadelphia Main Line suburbs. We have seen the toll this has taken on many of her friends.</p>
<p>I’m wondering how this compares with what other kids experience. How many times did your kid take the SAT and/or ACT? Did he/she take the PSATs?</p>
<p>S1 took PSATs twice (school administered a practice in soph year and the real thing in junior year. He took SATs only once, Jan of junior year, but that is only because he did so well there was no need to retake. If he did not do well he wd have certainly taken them again, at least once more. This is not counting the SATs in 7th grade for CTY, SATIIs, APs…</p>
<p>D took practice PSAT in 10th grade and real one in 11th. Then she took SAT twice junior year - March and May (did better on math the first time; second time the CR score went up). Took ACT in June of junior year and Sept of senior year (did well on math and science the first time; english scores went up the second time) - overall score was exactly the same though. Only submitted ACT scores (both sets) with college apps.</p>
<p>Did one private SAT class (which fit our schedule and budget), a class at the public library and the after school prep at school (these were practically free). If your student is a good self-studier, I don’t think this is all necessary.</p>
<p>My older son studied on his own for the SAT and ACT. Took each test once in winter of junior year. Both were good - ACT was better - submitted that to colleges and did well. Planning the same low-key approach for younger son.</p>
<p>I work in a college counseling office and see every result under the sun - no pattern whatsoever. Some kids take prep classes all through junior year - take multiple tests - and really never improve much above their original score. Some are still prepping and taking the tests again during the fall of senior year - which I really don’t recommend. They postpone applying to college - passing up EA opportunities - because they want to get their scores up before they apply. Of course, some do improve their scores as they take it again and again - particularly on the ACT - but some go down - perhaps because of the pressure.</p>
<p>My advice is to take each test once in the fall of junior year. Determine which one you did better on - studt for that one - either on your own or with a paid tutor - and take it again during the spring of junior year. Hopefully you can stop at that point. If not, study more over the summer and take it again in the early fall of senior year, and that’s it. Don’t make your life crazy over the SAT/ACT.</p>
<p>I did one ACT with no prep and it was sufficient. I took it again later before I transferred just to see if I’d do any better, and because I never got to take the writing portion, and had a 6 point increase. Would have been higher without the writing portion, though, my English scores were both perfect the second time around but the writing wasn’t. I am not a proponent of taking the tests over and over. If you can’t prep well enough to get the score you need within one or two tries, you’re probably wasting your time. You don’t get to take any tests in college 6 times, best to learn how to do it right the first time.</p>
<p>DD took the PSAT (don’t remember what she got–195ish I think) and took the SAT once and the ACT twice (once in school, then repeated). She never prepared and improved with each taking. Her highest scores were 2110 and 30.</p>
<p>DS did not take the PSAT and took the SAT once and the ACT twice. Again, no prep. 2070 and 31 (32 if superscored).</p>
<p>My feeling was: have them take it cold early while there’s time to work toward improvement. They did pretty well the first time out (they both actually like taking standardized tests–maybe 'cuz there’s no pressure to prepare???) and, with further school-based learning (just from taking more math, english, etc.) they improved. So I say haver her take the test and see how she does. If she scores out of range for the schools she’s interested in have her brush up on vocab and algebra. (There were SAT tests for both in 7th grade for CTY, so we knew they both tested pretty well for their ages then. They did both do vocab CD’s then–we listened in the car and such and poked fun of the woman on the CD’s pronunciations. At the time of the CD’s DD was in 7th and DS in 5th. He’s a heck of a reader though, so his vocab has never needed any boosting.)</p>
<p>My two kids, combined, took the SAT and ACT nine times, but their scores improved on 8 of their tests. There is no way they would have been accepted by the schools they are attending, had they stopped after the first test. The ONLY regret I have was in making my oldest take a Kaplan ACT prep course. It was 12 sessions and 4 of the sessions were full-length ACT practice tests. His scores never improved during the class, but we did receive a complete refund.</p>
<p>My DDs took the SAT twice. One took the ACT twice too the other just the once. When it is time for DS to go through it I will advise him to take both the SAT and ACT then sit a second time for whichever one he performs best on. That’s what I should have done with my girls too but now I know better. If his scores don’t put him in mid range for his favorites and/or help him qualify for some merit money I will encourage him to prep and retest it will be his call and my dime. </p>
<p>I am fairly certain that he will select colleges that don’t require the SATII.</p>
<p>I took the PSAT twice (once sophomore year and once junior year), but that was required by my school. I took the SAT twice - one junior year (January), once senior year(October). My progression was as follows, with no real studying other than a practice test or two from the blue book…I tend to do better just by retaking, apparently. </p>
<p>It just never occurred to me to have my daughter take the SAT before the PSAT. The school had the kids take the PSATs in October and the scores didn’t come back until December, and it never crossed my mind she should start prepping for SAT until the PSAT scores were in hand to focus her efforts. I was astonished to find her friends were taking the test in January. Who knew there WAS a test in January?</p>
<p>Back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, it seemed to me that the SAT was offered only twice–in the spring (June, maybe?) to juniors and then in the fall (October, perhaps?) to seniors who weren’t satisfied with their June score, or who hadn’t taken it. I knew of no one who attempted the test more than twice–I didn’t even know it was possible.</p>
<p>I actually had no idea that the SAT is now offered repeatedly throughout the year and that kids get their scores back within a matter of weeks, in time to turn around and take it again right away. </p>
<p>I told my daughter she could have a crack at self-preparation for both the SAT and ACT and that if she aced either of them, the whole ordeal would be over. She took the ACT in Feb and will take the SAT in March. I hope that will be the end of it.</p>
<p>The only thing I’d do differently would have been to encourage her to prep a bit more for the PSAT. I now see the potential importance of an additional 4-5 points which can make the difference between NMSF and commended scholar.</p>
<p>One and done, which I really think is best. I took a couple of practice tests, figured out what I needed to work on, prepared (by myself, with friends, with a tutor my parents insisted on getting me) for two months, and took it in December of junior year.</p>
<p>DD1 - PSAT twice (practice as Soph, real as Junior), SAT 1x (Jr), ACT 1x (Sr)
DD2 - PSAT twice (practice as Soph, real as Junior), SAT 1x (Jr), ACT 1x (Sr)</p>
<p>Both my guys took the ACT as 7th graders via the Duke TIP program. Both did well enough to have an idea of what a target would be when in HS. Again, both took test once with as much practice test prep (S1), or as little, ie none for S2 when juniors. Scores were more than adequate, and really no need to retest. There is already too much stress junior year w/ ACT, SAT, AP tests to encourage a kid to retest. Retest scores rarely increase enough to make a difference on a college app. Just my 2 cents worth…</p>
<p>We are in ACT territory. My older child took it three times, prepping each time and earning her best score on the third try. My younger child was one and done. </p>
<p>I don’t agree with arbitrarily limiting a student to one try. With some additional prep, most students can improve on an early SAT or ACT score. On the other hand, I bet that most admissions officers would view an applicant who took the ACT or SAT more than three times as somewhat obsessive.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed that a number of students seem to sit for various exams completely cold to “get a baseline.” It seems a given that they intend to take the exam repeatedly. Would it not make sense to take the published practice exams, cold if you like, for that purpose, rather than “wasting” a real sitting of the exam?</p>
<p>^I did my first one with no prep because it was my ONLY go. I only had enough money for one try(my parents weren’t paying for it) and I didnt see the use in stressing myself out…</p>
<p>If i had royally messed up, I’m sure I would have found a way to fix it</p>