Standardized tests....after how many times taking is too much??

K_Delrosario

K_Delrosario

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May 21, 2009
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Hello all,

I am planning to retake both my SAT and ACT. Standardized Tests are my personal Achilles heel in the application process as it is the most conspicuous blemish of mine.

I will be taking the SAT for the third time in October and the ACT for the second time in September. After how many times taking a test is it too much?
 
Keep doing it until you feel confident that your scores are sufficient. Seems to be the best method.
 
Since USNA takes the best scores, I don't think there is a magic number. However, remember that the SATs and ACTs are expensive. Also, there's a point where your scores are not going to improve very much and the tests simply become a drain. Take them as many times as it takes to reach your goal, but don't go overboard.
 
There are a number of excellent study guides available with practice tests that will certainly help prepare you to do your best on the ACT or SAT. I would recommend investing the time and money in one of them.
 
There is no reason to continue taking the tests unless you do something in between to improve your scores. You do NOT have to take a professional course. As noted above, you can purchase (or even get at the library) various study guides. I'm sure that today there is stuff available on-line.

The key is finding the areas in which you are weak and working on those. If you're really good at math, spend your time on the English section. If you're great a vocab (or whatever they have now) and terrible at reading comprehension, work on reading comprehension. Ditto for the math section.

Just retaking the tests over & over will help a bit but not nearly as much as studying in between. ETS says studying doesn't work but everyone I know who's taken standardized tests thinks differently, based on experience.
 
Test practice absolutely CAN help, IF you do it effectively. My Mid practiced quite a bit before the PSAT, and "knocked one out of the ballpark," so to speak. Just two months later, she only had time to practice for the written part of the SAT. Her scores in that section were in line with her PSAT scores, and were 50 points higher that either of the other sections.

Some tips that helped her:
- Do NOT use a calculator while practicing. The SAT is a test of logic, and if you pay attention, you can usually get it down to 2 possible answers without doing anything. I consistently beat her practice test scores by 50 points or more (me-no calculator) per section until she quit focusing on "button-pushing," and started focusing on THINKING.
- Use a guide that provides the most "actual previous tests" with answers and explanations provided
- The guides usually provide several chapters of tips on how to prep. Study them!
- Once you're ready to do practice tests, do them as if they were real: set a timer, find a room with few distractions, and do at least one complete section at a time
- SPEND TIME CHECKING YOUR ANSWERS! As you do a practice test, if you had a hard time deciding on an answer, circle it. Carefully read explanations for the correct answers for those, as well as for the ones you get wrong.
- If you buy a guide, DO NOT write in it! You can save a lot of $$ by writing all of your answers on spare paper. That way, you can re-use the practice tests, if you work through all the ones in the book, or you can give your book to someone a year younger than you!
 
my DD took the ACT 4 times and the SAT 3 times.... some scores got better, so didnt.. BUT it showed drive and persistance to the USMMA.. They liked the determination that it showed.... Did it help with her appt? maybe, maybe not.. but she did get one, alas she chose CGA.:shake:
 
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