Test scores for UK schools (asking out of curiosity)

Parents Forum
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I am considering having DS28 take the SAT or ACT this year (9th grade).

Someone told me that if I let him do this, then I am “giving up” on him attending Cambridge or Oxford, because the UK schools don’t allow retakes, and don’t accept scores that are more than two years old, so they won’t take a 9th grade score, but if he takes it again they won’t take that score either. They also said that the same schools won’t take kids who take AP’s in 9th grade, for the same reason.

I don’t have any reason to believe my kid is more or less likely to go to school in the U.K., but my focus on this age is on keeping doors open. However, I find this very hard to believe, so I am curious. Can someone tell me how UK admissions for US kids really works and satisfy my curiosity?

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I will let someone more knowledgable answer the UK piece, but why are you considering having him take a test during freshman year?

Studies show that students score higher when they are older, and experts advise taking the test for the first time in spring of junior year. With this schedule, there will be enough time to review the fall PSAT and study to improve the score for spring, while still having several dates to take it again before needing to submit.

If you are looking for an understanding of where he might score, the College Board provides practice tests.

I’m trying to think of a good reason to take an actual test as a freshman.

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There is a CTY program he thinks he wants to do, and it’s one way to qualify.

There are other ways, so we’re still trying to figure out what to do.

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Untrue. But he will need to provide all scores.

Also untrue. But the challenge with AP is they need to be in relevant subjects, not just a hodgepodge. A 5 in AP Latin won’t matter to Cambridge if he’s applying for physics.

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Thank you!

That matches with what I took away from the Cambridge website which was that you have to submit all scores but the focus is on specific AP’s. So, you can get into Physics with a 5 in Latin if you also have a 5 in BC Calc and Physics C and maybe Chemistry or Computers.

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