PSAT, old SAT, new SAT, ACT should I stop or try for a second go around?

Test Preparation
1

Hi I am a HS junior and recently took the PSAT and SAT in October 2015 and the ACT in December 2015. Due to the switch from old SAT to new SAT this year, my HS counselors suggested we take all of them to be on the safe side.

I don’t know my PSAT scores yet. I think it is going to be released early January 2016.

My October 2015 SAT scores are overall 2310 (Critical reading 720 Writing 790 Math 800)

During the summer of 2015 I also took two subject tests
Chemistry 760
Math level 2 800

Then in December 2015 I took the ACT with writing, and while my composite scores are solid, my writing scores are lower than I anticipated. My ACT composite score is 35 (English 35 Math 34 Reading 33 Science 36), but my writing score is 23 (Ideas And Analysis 9 Development and Support 8 Organization 9 Language Use and Conventions 9).

I honestly don’t know how they came up with a 23 from those scores but I understand colleges don’t superscore ACT scores and writing, meaning that if I sit for another ACT but end up with a lower score even with a higher writing score I would be in the same predicament again.

I am trying to decide whether I should give another shot to the old SAT - the last one is on Jan 23 then it’s done, or give the ACT another try…I don’t feel like I should try to sit for the new SAT, given that I don’t know much about the new tests, and my counselors said they don’t know much about the new tests and it’s best to wait till next fall to try it, however by then I will be a senior and I was hoping to be done with all these standardized tests this year.

Is a 2310 in SAT stronger than a 35 in ACT especially considering my poor writing scores? I am seriously considering another shot at the SAT in Jan 2016 given that this is the last time the old tests are offered and my only shot at improving…my counselor said my SAT scores are probably good enough and it’s a toss up between getting a better superscore vs having a rock solid one single test, as some school might consider a single sitting with a good score better than a series of tests with a marginally better superscore. Is this true?

Any thoughts whether I should march forward with the SAT and leave the ACT behind, or retake the ACT so I have two sets of test scores?

Is there any benefit to sitting for the new SAT at all?

2

I would say you are done with testing. Congratulations!
Do NOT take the new SAT.
Work on other areas, EC, service hours, etc.

3

35 and 2310 are both well above average at any school in the United States. Retaking wouldn’t do you any good, and might be harmful. It could make you seem obsessive to colleges.

Taking the new SAT would not benefit you at all unless you get National Merit Semifinalist designation and need to verify to advance to Finalist, and even if you are a National Merit Semifinalist, your old SAT might count. I wouldn’t worry about that until next fall either way.

Outside the whole National Merit thing, there is absolutely no need to take the new SAT. However, you should consider taking SAT subject tests if you haven’t taken them yet.

4

Your SAT subject test scores are great too. Do not take any more tests.

5

Thank you, but does it mean I should use my old SAT scores only and forget about the ACT totally? I have already taken two subject tests last summer and probably will take Physics SAT subject test this summer. I am just worried about the low writing scores on my ACT being an issue. Should I even bother to submit my ACT scores to colleges?

6

Don’t worry about the ACT writing score. Since they changed the format this fall, almost everyone’s ACT writing score is garbage. Many schools are moving away from requiring ACT + writing for next year. Send just your SAT score if it makes you feel better, but the ACT score is great too.