Taking the SAT or ACT is never as simple as
registering for the test and showing up. There are so many other decisions at play, so it is very important to be clear about which tests you need to take (AP, SAT Subject Tests, IB, SAT, ACT etc.), how many times and when you should to take them. Here is a list of what your peers have asked us about their testing plans lately:
Q: I took the January/March SAT and am planning to take it again, but am having trouble choosing between the May and June SAT and SAT Subject tests. What do you recommend?
You should only take the SAT or ACT when you have prepared sufficiently and feel “test-ready”. Assuming that you have adequately prepared:
i. If you are studying for AP/IB curriculum exams, plan to take the SAT II Subject tests in May. Any preparation for AP/IB exams can be used to take SAT II subject tests that cover the same topic.
ii. AP/IB exam students who take their SAT IIs in May are then able to get some relief after their school exams and still continue preparing for the June SAT.
Q: I am planning to take the SAT in May, should I plan to take it again in June or wait until October?
You should only retake tests after first identifying and addressing any knowledge gaps, followed by rigorous test preparation. The October SAT is the perfect time to retake the test because you can use your summer to get prepared and see an even greater score improvement.
Q: How many times should I plan to take the SAT? What about the ACT?
Many colleges accept SAT super scores, so you should plan to take it up to 3 times and combine your best score from each section. Make sure you take the time between attempts to analyze your score report and see where you need to make improvements to boost your score. At TestRocker, we do that for you! For the ACT we advise our students not to take the test more than 2 times because, based on our experience, you won’t see a significant improvement between a 2nd and 3rd ACT attempt.
