<p>I’m not a proponent of “more than 1 sitting” either -</p>
<p>I’m not sure that these scores will move, even with study, and frankly, this kid doesn’t have time to spend studying for these particular tests. She needs to study for other tests!</p>
<p>My feeling is that once the scores get into a certain range there’s no predictability where they will fall on any given test. If there’s only an error or two in a section, that can be a matter of luck, a difference in interpretation, even a careless error that doesn’t go to mastery of concepts. I am not even sure that once you’re at that level, any school actually makes a distinction–if you’re past a threshold, your application goes into the pile and you are given good consideration. I think it’s a much smarter approach to put the energy into the work that will enhance the kid’s life and as a happy side effect will enhance the college applications. I have already counseled my D that if she achieves “good enough” she needs to be satisfied with that and move on. (I’m not at all sure she achieved that but that’s a whole 'nother story.)</p>
<p>3girls I agree. When you get past a certain level there is luck involved and missing one question can cost 40 points. She will take each test twice but beyond that it will not make much sense. I know the range she is capable of- where she falls within that range will depend on the day, the test, and some luck.</p>
<p>Ah, but the question is, what is the “certain level” or “certain range”? That’s what I struggle with.</p>
<p>3girls - Do you think it depends on what you are going after? For a kid chasing merit scholarship @ state flagship, I can see retaking the test to raise 1 or 2 points even at the top of the scale. But, for the kids who are going after admission to top-tier schools (and less concerned about merit scholarship), mid-50% maybe good enough. For those kids, time is better spent doing other things. My logic faulted? </p>
<p>Max - Congrats to your D. As for missing school, my D doesn’t like to miss classes – not because she likes the school but rather it’s extremely difficult to catch up. I can’t imagine trying to catch up after missing 3 days.</p>
<p>@IJD, I know perfectly what you mean. My D is taking the SAT in a month, and I sure hope she doesn’t have to take it again. It may not be perfect. but as long as it’s good, I think she’ll be done. </p>
<p>My D.'s SAT score (from sample tests) can vary in a dramatic way. For example, ideally, she can do math perfectly. But often (from the few sample tests she’s done) she can make several to many mistakes, and when she looks back, they are all “stupid” mistakes. I just hope when it’s for real, it’ll be one of her good days.</p>
<p>@FromMD (we cross posted) Thank you! And yes I agree with your first paragraph. I think that makes a lot of sense.</p>
<p>The number is going to vary depending on the kid and what’s realistic for that kid, and on what he is seeking. Of course. But unless the scholarships specify a cut off, my own sense is that the energy is misplaced when you are going after a perfect score and the score is already in the statistical range of perfect. Given that a single error can cost you 30 points and 2 can cost you 60, the difference between 740 and 800 looks larger than it really is. In my experience, kids with very good test scores have done just as well, and sometimes even better, than those with perfect ones. That’s my own sense of things and there may be a more knowing chorus of voices out there explaining why I’m wrong. </p>
<p>Now if there’s a particular reason that a score is suppressed–for example, there’s a kind of question that the test taker is getting wrong consistently–maybe there’s a good reason to try again. </p>
<p>Caveat: I’m not suggesting that my kid is in this range! I’m just commenting on how unforgiving the curve can be and why a 740 may not be colorably different from an 800.</p>
<p>We aren’t there yet with S, but for D, initially the prep and practice tests yielded steady improvement on practice test scores, but after several weeks of practice her scores on these practice tests leveled off and became very consistent. We had figured out the couple of topics she had never covered or had issues with (probability and 3D geometry) and writing(certain grammar basics.) Mastered the SAT trickiness and pacing, etc. The only thing left would have been intensive vocab study to raise the CR and that wasn’t going to happen at that point. Her heart wasn’t in it. The only question was how would the practice scores transfer to an actual test. She luckily happens to be a kid who gets energized by real test situation and tends to score even better. For SAT her actual score mirrored practice almost exactly. The ACT a week later was a good day for her and better than expectations. She declared after the SAT that no matter her score, she would never take it again, was finished. And that was fine.</p>
<p>But if your kid does worse on actual tests than in practice, the decision about retesting is harder. Whether to hope for a good day where they can feel relaxed and reach their best performance. I don’t know. That’s tough. In our family, I suppose it would come down to kid’s wishes in the matter. We would just make sure he understood what the possibilities are with the score he had at hand and how that might change if score bumped up by various amounts and let him decide.</p>
<p>Good point Celeste. It also depends on the temperament of the kid and how much practice is involved for each test.</p>
<p>Tomorrow morning is PLAN test morning for D’s school. Report for duty like any other school day; they should be done around 11 AM.</p>
<p>D and her posse are going to chill out this evening at one of the posse-mates homes after the host finishes swim practice. Perhaps dinner out for the wife & me.</p>
<p>I think whether or not to re-take these tests depends on what you are after. If you are looking for merit you may be using a different strategy than if you are not, in which case " good enough" will do.</p>
<p>Re: retesting. I know that for my older D, retesting was a no-brainer. We were trying to make sure she hit the highest merit scholarship level. We also knew that her 1st choice school (the one she’s attending now) took the highest individual scores from each test. So, if she had 20 or 30 points higher on her Math in Dec. than her re-take in June (or whatever) and the opposite in CR, the school counted the highest scores for both tests. I’m going to assume this is the case with at least some other schools and worth researching.</p>
<p>I’m finally able to contribute to the discussion of AP and other college-level courses and possible transfer credits. Since we homeschool, we use the local community college’s dual credit program in place of AP or other programs. Starting in their junior year, high school students can take up to 2 classes each semester (including summer session). D’13 had 21 credits from this program transfer into her current college. D’15 registered for her first two courses today. She’s taking Eng. Comp. 1 and Psychology in the spring.</p>
<p>Welcome W2!! It never occurred to me that my kids would only take each test once. Kids around here generally take both tests once and then continue taking the stronger test one or two more times. I am also trying for the highest possible score for merit money, so continued testing is in her future ( hopefully not more than twice).</p>
<p>The first marking period is over. Yippee!!</p>
<p>2girls, I think people do that here also, though guessing there are more kids doing ACT since it’s Midwest. People (kids) were astonished that D hadn’t taken any test by spring of junior year. And she was sick thinking she’d need to take anything twice as she said everyone she knew had done and some of them 3-4 times. Though she did take the Math2 twice. Point of pride. A 790 put her in only 82nd %ile and being a math kid, she couldn’t bear that thought, had to have the 800. It’s only a hour test, so ‘easy-peasy.’ She had this youth orchestra EC Saturday mornings and never wanted to miss it, waited until the orchestra was done for the year end of May to start testing.</p>
<p>Well my kid is registered for each test twice, and depending on the outcome she will either be done ( I hope) or she could take a final retake in May or June ( I won’t discuss this with her now). Still deciding on the SAT 11’s- she has two already that are in the high 700’s so it’s not necessary unless she wants to do another. She commented that she may take math or physics. </p>
<p>Her practice ACT scores are pretty steady for each subtest. If she gets the same on the real test then she won’t need a third. She will take the second because I already signed her up. Her SAT math practice tests fluctuate by 20-30 points each time ( a range). CR and writing are holding steady. This is nerve wracking as one or two wrong answers on the real test are worth a lot of points. The tutor feels she is ready- we still have another 3 weeks left. </p>
<p>It’s nerve wracking for those of us going for the merit at OOS schools. Once she gets her scores we can start to narrow down the list. </p>
<p>Our area has no special preference for tests. Kids take both.</p>
<p>I knew it was too good to be true. After about a month of even keel, there is a BIG meltdown going on here. 
I wish it didn’t affect me so. I want to be the even voice that conveys calm and sense but her upset twists me up so hard that I’m not sure I’m very convincing. TGIF I guess.</p>
<p>I guess we’re pretty lucky. For college the worst thing that could happen is S will have to attend UW-Madison. He, like my D, is a ‘grade-minder’, and all my kids test smarter than they are, so getting in there shouldn’t be an issue. Though it is for a lot of families, just so worried because it’s tough to get in with a 3.7 these days, yikes. Didn’t used to be that way. But yeah, if there were a financial catastrophe, he could even live at home. The bike path and buses go straight there from where we live, not far. It’s a pretty good school. D didn’t want to go there. The music prof was retiring and they weren’t hiring permanent replacement, so even though she was accepted, it wasn’t a viable option. UW doesn’t really have scholarships for unhooked kids. Except an automatic one-time freshman $7K for NMF. </p>
<p>And if he wants to go far away, there is always UMN-Twin Cities at the same price as UW, or much less if he happens to get a good PSAT score, and perfectly acceptable as far as I’m concerned. </p>
<p>Somehow I was frantic and worried all last year about finding the right place for her at the right price. I’m kind of exhausted still from all that, don’t want to think about these things again yet. Since D chose a big scholarship school, we’re feeling more relaxed about money. S is the last one and I just can’t make myself worry about it. That could change overnight though. </p>
<p>We’ll do some kind of big college tour trip during his spring break, which is very late, in April when all colleges are in session. Doesn’t overlap H or D, so can’t even think of family vacation this year. We’ll go see Duke and some places down that way for fun.</p>
<p>S’s HS is giving the juniors the ACT on a school day in March. S is having major ankle surgery the week before Xmas and it’ll be crutches and then boot for months, no athletics, so he’s looking at Jan. SAT subject tests. That’s where we are right now.</p>
<p>3girls I can relate.
Celeste my daughter says that she would go to SUNY Binghamton ( in state) although it’s not her first choice. It would be her academic and financial safety and it is a fabulous school- she just wants something a little different ( although she can’t say exactly what that is). We have college visits planned for Feb and April.</p>