SAT and ACT : HOW OFTEN?

This is an "it depends" answer. Many colleges don't care how often you take the test and even use sub-test scores from different dates to compile your total score! For example, maybe you did better on the Verbal part of the SAT in May but better on the Math part in October. Some schools give you the benefit of using your May Verbal score and your October Math score to determine a total score. This policy leads some high school counselors to recommend taking the test as often as possible or at least as often as a student wants.

However, some admissions directors admit "off the record" to discriminating when a student has taken the test more than twice. They are typically at the competitive colleges. The point they make is that if all other things are equal between two candidates, they pick the one who has taken the test only a couple times. Taking it more than twice is at least a sign of poor planning on the student's part. That certainly is not the impression you want to make as an applicant.

You need to find out how the colleges you are considering handle multiple test scores. If they don't care, so be it. If they do care, then here's a strategy you can use if you take the ACT. At the time you register and take the ACT, do not indicate any colleges that are to receive your scores. After you've taken it and you know your scores, decide what test date(s) you want submitted. Then tell ACT which scores to send. ACT will send only the scores for the date(s) you pick! That way the admissions officers don't know how often you've taken the test. This technique costs more because you'll have to pay extra for the score submission. So what? If it's the price of improving your application, I say it's a small price to pay. A final caveat regarding this strategy: If you are running out of time to meet application and financial aid deadlines, you can't use this approach.

This strategy cannot be used if you take the SAT. Whenever you ask ETS, the test publisher, to submit your scores to a college, they send your scores for every time you've taken the test up to the last six times!

Is recommended that you plan on only taking the test twice or once if you do well as a junior. There is no evidence that simply taking the test numerous times will raise your score. In fact, research shows that it won't change in any statistically significant way (except between the spring of your junior year and the fall of your senior year if you've only taken it once as a junior).

The evidence from many schools is that the best way to raise your score is through significant, serious preparation. Retaking the test is not going to change the average score for students. Using released tests that are available from ETS/SAT and ACT is the way to get your experience! Why put yourself through the turmoil of taking it on Saturday morning just for the sake of "practice"?

So, the recommendation is to prepare for it very seriously as a junior with the thought of not taking it again as a senior. If you need to take it again, you still have the fall as a safety net. Students who plan on taking it a number of times, "When do you plan on taking it seriously?" Of course, if you still don't have the score you need after taking it in the fall of your senior year, you'll need to take it again.

In addition, you should that many scholarships, especially ones provided by states, require a specific test score and if you are close, it is definitely worth the time and effort to take the test again. It could be worth thousands of dollars!

Think about you just read and prepare seriously, Do Not Joke around.

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