How Many Times Should a Student Take the SAT?

The SAT, is a crucial rite of passage for many high school students seeking college admission. However, a common question faced by students and their families is: How many times should one take the SAT?

Of course, the answer is never as straightforward as it seems and depends on a variety of factors such as the student's initial score, the colleges they aspire to get into, and their performance in different sections of the test. Nonetheless, here are a few guidelines and considerations before deciding on the ideal number of attempts.

• Limit SAT Attempts to Three Times Max

  Taking the SAT can be an exhaustive process. It requires diligent preparation and also can impose significant stress on students. Frequent repetition of the test might lead to diminished returns and increased anxiety, potentially harming overall performance.

  Also, college admissions officers may view more attempts as a red flag in your admissions packet, turning your efforts and achievements against you. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, it is advisable to limit the number of attempts to a maximum of three times (other websites and authorities typyically mention four but we recommend three just to be on the safe side).

• Consider a Retake if the Initial Score is Under 1500

  This may sound excessive, but if your initial score is less than 1500, you might want to consider a retake. Many top-tier schools (Ivy leagues, Stanford, MIT, UChicago, etc.) see an average SAT score of 1500+ from their incoming classes, so if you want to aim for the top you'll need a very good score.

  Another reason to aim high is that the law of diminishing returns don't really start to kick in until you hit 1500+. This means that as long as you put in effort to study and do practice questions, you should see your score improve steadily. For actionable tips on how to improve your score, check out our increasing your digital SAT score from 1300 to 1500+ blog post.

Superscore

The concept of "superscoring" has emerged as a game-changer in SAT strategizing. Many colleges and universities (though not all) have adopted this practice, which involves combining a student's highest section scores from different test dates to create a "superscore." This superscore is then used for admissions decisions.

Superscoring has several implications for SAT test takers. Primarily, it means that if you excel in one section during your first SAT but underperform in the other, it may be worth retaking the test.

For example, if you scored very high on Mathematics but fell short in Reading and Writing in your initial test, you could focus on improving your Reading and Writing for the second test. If your score improves, the colleges that superscore will consider your highest scores from both sittings, thereby maximizing your overall score.

Remember to research your prospective colleges' policies on superscoring, as not all institutions follow this practice. Also, it's crucial to balance the potential advantages of superscoring with the need to avoid excessive testing.

Score Choice

Score Choice is another significant feature offered by the College Board, the organization that administers the SAT. It allows students to choose which SAT scores they want to send to colleges. So, if you didn't do as well on one test, you could choose not to send that score to colleges.

Score Choice can relieve some pressure on test day, knowing that a lower-than-expected score won't necessarily end up in your college application. However, as with superscoring, policies on Score Choice can vary widely among colleges and universities. Some might require all scores, and others may choose to superscore even without Score Choice. Therefore, it's essential to investigate the policies of the specific institutions you're interested in.